Airbnb pre-approval: when to send it and what to check

An Airbnb pre-approval lets someone who sent an inquiry complete their booking without waiting for another response from you. Sending the invitation does not confirm a stay or block the dates. It is valid for 24 hours, and your reservation requirements still apply, according to Airbnb’s pre-approval guidance.

For a host, the decision starts before the button: can you accommodate this guest on the terms in their inquiry? If a detail about the stay still needs clarification, answer that question first. Pre-approval should follow your checks.

First, identify what you received

Open the conversation and check the status Airbnb displays alongside the trip details. A friendly message from a guest is not enough to treat a stay as confirmed.

• Inquiry: a potential guest asks a question before requesting to book. You can reply with a message without pre-approving them. Airbnb asks for a response within 24 hours.
• Reservation request: you need to accept or decline within 24 hours. Exchanging messages does not replace that decision. The dates are blocked while the request awaits your response.
• Confirmed reservation: your task is now to provide the stay on its recorded terms. Withdrawing a pre-approval cannot undo a confirmed booking.

Airbnb’s response guidance distinguishes replying to an inquiry from deciding on a request. Its instructions for reservation requests explain the calendar block. If a request expires without a response, the dates remain blocked until you manually unblock them; check your actual availability before reopening them.

A pre-approval applies to one inquiry. Instant Book is a listing setting and a separate decision.

What to check before pre-approving

Use this checklist to review what you can offer; these are not extra Airbnb requirements:

1. Dates and nights: reread arrival and departure. A weekend mentioned in a message may differ from the dates selected in the inquiry.
2. Guest count: check that the group fits your advertised capacity and that your extra guest fee settings match what you intend to offer.
3. Property readiness: check preparation, cleaning and any operational restrictions already described in the listing. Resolve concrete questions about the stay before sending the invitation.
4. Price: check the amount and calendar pricing settings. The pre-approval uses those settings; a verbal agreement will not change the displayed amount.

These checks help you spot mismatches while there is still an inquiry to clarify. For example, if the message mentions four people but the inquiry shows two, ask for a correction before proceeding.

How to send it without promising a hold

On desktop, Airbnb documents this route: Messages → guest conversation → Pre-approve → Yes, pre-approve. A pre-approval applies only to the inquiry’s date range. Check the official instructions if your account’s controls look different.

The calendar remains available. You can pre-approve several guests for the same dates, letting them know others are interested. Avoid saying “I’ve reserved those dates for you.”

Hypothetical example: two people inquire about the same holiday weekend. You can clarify the terms with both, but check the calendar status before continuing to offer the dates. An open conversation does not mean a hold for that guest.

If you need to withdraw or correct something

You want to withdraw the invitation. Until the guest has booked, Airbnb lets you withdraw a pre-approval without consequences. On desktop, open the conversation, click the reservation, select Withdraw pre-approval and confirm. If you sent several invitations, review each relevant conversation.

The invitation expired. A guest can still try to accept it, but you must approve the request again before the reservation is confirmed, as explained in Airbnb’s expired pre-approval guidance. Check the request and availability before deciding. Expiration does not update the price: Airbnb’s pre-approval article says the original price is retained and you need to withdraw the original pre-approval to change it.

The button is missing. Check for blocked dates and outstanding account information. Do not open a night you cannot actually sell just to make the button appear.

The booking is already confirmed. Stop and check that reservation’s terms. Withdrawing an invitation and canceling a stay are different actions; our Airbnb cancellation policy guide explains that boundary.

A message that makes the next step clear

Editorial suggestion using fictional dates for you to adapt:

Hello! I’ve sent a pre-approval for your inquiry for December 12–15, for two guests. You can review the price and complete the booking on Airbnb while the invitation is valid. The dates remain available and someone else may book them before you finish. If you need different dates or a different guest count, please let me know before completing the booking.

Then monitor confirmation on Airbnb. As an operational precaution, check confirmation and arrival details before preparing access instructions. Your next task is getting check-in ready.

Guidance checked on November 4, 2026, for Airbnb home listings. It does not describe hotels, services or experiences, or replace the specific requirements and notices shown in your account.