Airbnb Calendar Settings That Protect Your Turnover Days

Advance notice

Advance notice sets how close to check-in a guest can book. Airbnb's options are same day (with a cut-off time), at least 1 day, at least 2 days, at least 3 days and at least 7 days. Choose the shortest notice you can handle comfortably. If you clean the place yourself and live far away, same-day bookings may cause more trouble than they are worth.

Preparation time

Preparation time blocks days before or after a reservation so you have room to clean and reset. Airbnb blocks these days automatically on your calendar. If your cleaner needs a full day between guests, or you have a long drive, set preparation time instead of blocking dates by hand.

Minimum and maximum trip length

Set a minimum and maximum stay so you do not end up with one-night gaps that are hard to fill, or very long stays you did not plan for. If you do not set a limit, Airbnb applies a 31-night maximum automatically.

Instant Book and short-notice bookings

With Instant Book, guests reserve without waiting for you to approve. Airbnb says Instant Book is not available when a guest books within 2 days of check-in and needs to arrive outside your check-in window. In that case you receive a request and can decide whether the arrival time works for you.

A quick setup checklist

1. Write down how long a normal turnover takes you or your cleaner.
2. Set preparation time to cover it.
3. Set advance notice to the shortest option you can handle.
4. Set minimum and maximum stay to match how you want to operate.
5. Repeat the equivalent settings on every other site you use.

Sources

• Airbnb Help: Booking settings, Instant Book, advance notice and preparation time
• Airbnb Help: Sync calendars