How to Become an Airbnb Superhost (and Why It Matters)

To become an Airbnb Superhost you must meet four criteria over the assessment period: a 4.8+ overall rating, at least 10 completed stays (or 100+ nights across 3+ reservations), a host cancellation rate under 1%, and a 90% response rate. Hit all four and Airbnb awards the badge at the next quarterly review.

The Superhost badge is Airbnb's way of recognising exceptional hosts. But beyond the recognition, it carries real business benefits, including increased visibility, guest trust, and booking conversion. Here's everything you need to know about earning it, keeping it, and making it work for your property business.

What is Superhost status?

Superhost is Airbnb's programme for recognising hosts who provide outstanding experiences. Hosts who meet the criteria receive a badge that appears on their profile and listings, signalling quality to potential guests.

Airbnb reviews Superhost eligibility every quarter (January 1, April 1, July 1, October 1). You must meet all requirements at each assessment to maintain your status.

What are the official requirements?

To earn and keep Superhost status, you must meet these four criteria:
At Least 10 Completed Stays (or 100 Nights)

You need either 10 completed reservations or 100 nights booked across at least 3 completed reservations in the past year. This ensures you have enough experience to be evaluated fairly.

Tip: Longer stays count toward nights but not reservation count. Balance your booking strategy accordingly.
90% Response Rate

You must respond to at least 90% of new messages within 24 hours. This includes enquiries, booking requests, and messages from guests with confirmed reservations.

What counts: New conversations and booking requests only. Ongoing message threads don't affect this metric.

What doesn't count: Pre-approved guests messaging you, or messages after a guest's checkout date.
Less Than 1% Cancellation Rate

Your host-initiated cancellations must be below 1%. One cancellation for every 100+ stays is acceptable; more than that disqualifies you.

Exceptions: Cancellations due to extenuating circumstances (as approved by Airbnb) may not count against you, but don't rely on this.
4.8+ Overall Rating

Your overall star rating must be at least 4.8 out of 5. This is calculated from your last 365 days of reviews.

The challenge: This is typically the hardest requirement. Every 4-star review hurts your average significantly.

Why does Superhost status actually matter?

Increased Visibility

Airbnb's search algorithm favours Superhosts. While the exact boost varies, Superhosts consistently report appearing higher in search results and in the "Superhost" filter that many guests use.

Guest Trust

The Superhost badge is a trust signal. Guests booking with a Superhost feel more confident, especially first-time Airbnb users who worry about quality. This trust translates directly to bookings.

Higher Conversion Rates

When a guest is comparing similar properties, Superhost status often tips the decision. That badge communicates "other guests had great experiences here" without needing to read every review.

Financial Perks

Airbnb occasionally offers Superhost-exclusive benefits:
Travel coupons for personal use
Priority customer support
Early access to new features
Referral bonuses for new hosts

Pricing Power

Superhosts can often charge a premium. Guests are willing to pay more for the assurance of quality that the badge represents.

How do you achieve Superhost status?

Master Your Response Time

Set up notifications: Enable push notifications on your phone. Download the Airbnb app and ensure notifications are always on.

Use saved replies: Create template responses for common questions. Personalise them slightly for each guest, but have the framework ready.

Communicate handover: If you're unavailable for more than a few hours, have a co-host or team member who can respond on your behalf.

Respond to everything: Even messages that don't seem to need a response. A quick acknowledgment counts and protects your rate.

Never Cancel (Almost)

Block your calendar properly: If you need dates for personal use, block them well in advance. Last-minute blocks lead to cancellation requests.

Prepare for emergencies: Have a backup plan for maintenance issues. Know a handyman, have a spare cleaning service, and keep essential supplies stocked.

Use co-hosting: If you travel frequently, have someone who can manage unexpected situations.

If you must cancel: Ask the guest to cancel from their end if possible (offer full refund). A guest cancellation doesn't count against you.

Earn Those 4.8+ Ratings

This is where most hosts struggle. Here's how to consistently achieve high ratings:

Accuracy is everything: The single biggest cause of low ratings is mismatched expectations. Ensure your photos and description are honest and current. Under-promise, over-deliver.

Cleanliness obsession: Cleanliness is the most-reviewed category. Invest in professional cleaning or have rigorous checklists. Check yourself after each clean.

Communication standards:
Confirm booking within an hour
Send check-in details 2-3 days before arrival
Message on check-in day to ensure smooth arrival
Check in mid-stay for longer bookings
Thank guests after checkout

Thoughtful touches:
Welcome pack with essentials (tea, coffee, snacks)
Local recommendations personalised to their trip
Handwritten welcome note
Extra amenities they don't expect

Solve problems immediately: When something goes wrong, respond instantly and generously. A quick fix often leads to a better review than no problems at all.

Get Enough Bookings

You need 10 completed stays or 100 nights. If you're not hitting this naturally:
Lower your minimum stay temporarily
Ensure your pricing is competitive
Enable Instant Book for more conversions
Keep your calendar updated and available
Accept more last-minute bookings

What mistakes cost hosts their Superhost status?

Forgetting About the Assessment Date

Assessments happen quarterly. A single bad quarter can cost you status. Stay aware of when your assessment is coming and ensure you're meeting all criteria.

One Bad Stay Derailing Your Average

One 3-star review requires several 5-star reviews to balance out. If you receive a bad review:
Respond professionally (other guests read host responses)
Learn from legitimate criticism
Focus on getting more positive reviews quickly

Delayed Message Responses

That message that arrives at 2am still counts. If you're asleep for 8 hours daily, your window to respond is really 16 hours, not 24. Set up alerts or use a co-host.

Cancelling "Just Once"

One cancellation with only 10-20 stays can immediately disqualify you. The 1% threshold is unforgiving at low volumes.

Neglecting Regular Guests

Long-term guests or repeat bookers might feel they don't need the full welcome experience. But they still review you. Maintain your standards regardless of guest familiarity.

What should you do if you lose Superhost?

Losing status isn't permanent. Here's how to recover:
Identify the cause: Check your Airbnb stats to see which requirement you missed.
Address the gap: Focus specifically on the weak area for the next quarter.
Maintain other areas: Don't let other metrics slip while fixing one.
Wait for reassessment: You'll be evaluated again at the next quarterly checkpoint.

In my experience, most hosts who lose status regain it within a quarter or two if they take action quickly.

Superhost vs Guest Favourite

Airbnb has introduced "Guest Favourite" badges alongside Superhost. The difference:
Superhost: Host-level recognition based on your overall performance
Guest Favourite: Property-level recognition for top-rated individual listings

You can have both, and they serve different purposes. Superhost signals you're a reliable host; Guest Favourite signals this specific property is exceptional.

How do you build sustainable quality beyond the badge?

While Superhost status matters, don't chase it at the expense of sustainable business practices:
Price appropriately: Don't undercut yourself just to get more bookings for qualification
Screen guests reasonably: Don't accept every booking if your gut says otherwise
Maintain your property: Long-term maintenance matters more than short-term ratings
Protect your wellbeing: Answering messages at 3am isn't sustainable forever

The best hosts build systems that deliver Superhost-quality experiences without burning out.

Own Your Audience Beyond Airbnb

The Superhost badge sits on rented ground. Airbnb owns the relationship with your guests, sets the rules, and takes a cut of every booking. The hosts who build a durable business use the badge to win trust, then bring guests onto a channel they control: direct booking and repeat stays, so they are not dependent on one platform's algorithm.

If you want help turning Superhost-level hosting into a business that runs without you, that is exactly what I work on with mentoring clients. Book a discovery call to talk it through, or get the operations and automation tools in the tools membership.

Conclusion

Superhost status is worth pursuing, because the visibility, trust, and booking benefits are real. But treat it as a byproduct of excellent hosting rather than the goal itself.

Focus on creating genuine value for guests: clean spaces, accurate descriptions, quick communication, and thoughtful touches. Do that consistently, and Superhost status will follow naturally.

And when you get that badge, don't get complacent. Maintaining status requires the same standards that earned it. Every guest experience matters, every quarter.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to become a Superhost?

Airbnb assesses eligibility every quarter (1 January, 1 April, 1 July, 1 October). You need at least 10 completed stays or 100 nights within the past year, so most new hosts qualify at the first assessment after they have enough bookings, often within three to six months of going live.

Does losing Superhost hurt my listing?

Losing the badge removes the trust signal and the Superhost search filter benefit, which can soften bookings. Your listing does not get penalised beyond that, and status is recoverable at the next quarterly assessment once you fix the metric you missed.

What are the four Superhost requirements?

A 4.8+ overall rating, at least 10 completed stays (or 100+ nights across 3+ reservations) in the year, a host cancellation rate under 1%, and a 90% response rate to new messages within 24 hours. You must meet all four at the assessment.

Which Superhost requirement is hardest to keep?

For most hosts it is the 4.8+ rating. A single three or four-star review can drag your average down, so accuracy in your listing, spotless cleaning, and quick communication matter more than anything else.

Can Superhost status reduce my reliance on Airbnb?

Indirectly, yes. The badge builds the trust you need to turn first-time guests into direct, repeat bookers, where you keep the guest relationship and avoid platform fees.