What are essentials on Airbnb?

Essentials are the Airbnb amenities that could be considered Airbnb must-haves – the things that any guest can reasonably expect to find at your accommodation. Typically this includes toilet paper, soap, linens, a towel, and a pillow. You can then layer unique Airbnb amenities atop of these essentials: the amenities to make your Airbnb stand out from the crowd.

More than any other hotel booking channel, Airbnb is a platform of experience; a place where users can find the most personal, boutique and unique stays.

This means that in order to stand out on the platform, and earn the five-star reviews that will maximise bookings and revenue, you need to serve up something more than the basics as part of your listing. But which items, amenities and experiences should you offer?

Why are Airbnb essentials a must-have for a great guest experience? 

Essential amenities add comfort to the guest experience – they ensure that the guest can find everything that they reasonably need right there at the accommodation, without needing to go shopping or ask for help from their host.

Beyond the basics, the best Airbnb amenities can be a real differentiator for your property. By offering things that few other Airbnb hosts do, you can exceed the expectations of your guests and make your stay truly worthy of a five-star review.

There are also a number of must-haves for Airbnb host safety and guest safety – emergency items that ensure you and your guests can deal with potential dangers like fire.

Your list of Airbnb amenities essentials will change depending on the type of accommodation you offer on the platform. A guest who books an overnight stay at a bed and breakfast will have a different definition of ‘essentials’ than a guest who books a long-term stay at a fully-featured apartment.

The complete Airbnb essentials list

The Airbnb amenities checklist below includes the essentials that any type of Airbnb accommodation should offer – hotels, B&Bs, apartments and more.

Airbnb bedroom essentials

Along with a sturdy, comfortable bed, the best hosts offer the following basic amenities/Airbnb bedroom essentials:

  • Two pillows per guest (ideally one firm, one soft)
  • Freshly laundered bed linen (bottom sheet, top sheet, quilt/duvet cover, pillow cases)
  • Mattress protector
  • Wardrobe, closet, shelving or hanging space (including hangers)
  • Bedside table and lamp
  • Blinds or shades for privacy and to block light
  • Appropriate climate control (air conditioner/heater/fan)

Airbnb bathroom essentials

Along with the standard furnishings – bath/shower, sink, toilet, mirror – every host should provide the following Airbnb bathroom essentials as standard:

  • Hand soap
  • Body wash
  • Shampoo and conditioner
  • Bath towels
  • Bath mat
  • Hand towels
  • Towel hangers/hooks
  • Hairdryer
  • Toilet paper
  • Toilet brush, cleaner and fragrance

Airbnb kitchen essentials

The items that count as Airbnb kitchen essentials can vary dramatically from property to property, depending on whether you offer your guests the opportunity to cook for themselves. At the most basic level you should offer the following Airbnb kitchen essentials:

  • Fridge and freezer
  • Coffee and tea
  • Electric kettle
  • Toaster and/or stove
  • Basic cooking utensils
  • Cutlery
  • Crockery
  • Mugs and glasses
  • Dish soap, dish cloths, drying rack
  • Kitchen towels
  • Basic cleaning supplies (dustpan, broom, general purpose cleaner and cloths)
  • Rubbish bin and bin bags
  • Fire extinguisher, fire blanket, smoke alarm and first aid kit

Airbnb living area essentials

The living room arguably demands the fewest essentials, so as a host you have plenty of creative licence. Nevertheless there are a few Airbnb living area essentials that should always be offered:

  • Comfortable seating
  • Coffee table/end tables
  • TV
  • WiFi
  • Appropriate climate control (air conditioner/heater/fan)

Airbnb dining area essentials

Often the dining area will form part of your living area, so Airbnb dining area essentials are simply a comfortable place to sit and eat, though that doesn’t necessarily have to be a proper dining table and chairs.

Airbnb amenities ideas for hosts

As critical as the items listed above might be, you aren’t going to set yourself apart. So what are some truly unique Airbnb amenities ideas? What can form the difference between a four-star rating and a five-star rating, a happy guest and a guest who is truly blown away?

Best Airbnb amenities

On top of the Airbnb host must-haves, the most successful Airbnbs feature a number of high-end amenities that place guests in the lap of luxury. Examples include:

  • Bedroom: Extra linen, slippers, full-length mirror, memory foam pillows.
  • Bathroom: Bath robes, washing machine and dryer, iron and ironing board, high quality toiletries, feminine products, beach towels.
  • Kitchen: Fully equipped kitchen, coffee machine, juicer/smoothie maker, basic food supplies, tupperware.
  • Living area: Streaming services, work space, candles, gaming consoles, board games.

Unique Airbnb amenities

How can you truly stand out from the crowd? The following Airbnb amenities can help to put your guest experience head and shoulders above the rest.

  • Welcome basket or message
  • Complimentary welcome drinks/bottle of wine
  • Freshly baked bread or other home cooked food
  • Access to a pool or spa
  • Unique bath or shower (outdoor or waterfall shower, claw foot or spa bath)
  • Massage chair
  • Arcade games (table tennis, eight ball, air hockey, foosball)
  • Musical instruments
  • A local, handmade guide book
  • Private tours

Deliver on Airbnb essentials with ease using Little Hotelier

Running a successful property stretches far beyond your Airbnb essentials checklist – no amount of amenity can make up for poor communication, a lack of organisation, or time lost of manual tasks. Operational basics are every bit as important as amenity basics, and with the help of Little Hotelier, you can ensure your property doesn’t just run like clockwork, but maximises the opportunity that Airbnb provides.

Little Hotelier helps small, independent hoteliers implement and manage their Airbnb essentials effectively. By integrating Little Hotelier with Airbnb, you can easily manage and track essential items, ensuring they are always offered to guests.

What’s more, as an all-in-one booking system, you can do this across all your booking channels, including direct bookings. The result: up to 46% in bookings, 43% more revenue, and an ROI of 63x!

  • Connect with 450+ OTAs: From Airbnb, Booking.com and Expedia to the most niche booking channels on the internet, Little Hotelier seamlessly connects to an incredible number of OTAs.
  • One login, one calendar: Log into one screen to monitor and manage all your bookings, including those on Airbnb. Update price and availability across all channels from one calendar in a handful of clicks.
  • Get more direct bookings: Reduce OTA commission fees with Little Hotelier’s direct booking engine, and gain more control over your bookings.
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By Dean Elphick

Dean is the Senior Content Marketing Specialist of Little Hotelier, the all-in-one software solution purpose-built to make the lives of small accommodation providers easier. Dean has made writing and creating content his passion for the entirety of his professional life, which includes more than six years at Little Hotelier. Through content, Dean aims to provide education, inspiration, assistance, and, ultimately, value for small accommodation businesses looking to improve the way they run their operations (and live their life).