Listing question - minimum days

[Elizabeth4059]

I just listed my house yesterday and have a 5 night minimum on it. Should I take that down and open to any nights for better chance of bookings with no reviews?

[Debbie1461]

I have a 2 night minimum. The cost of cleaning or doing it myself isn't worth one night. I am satisfied with the reservations I receive. 

[Priyanka102]

Start with a 2 to 3 night minimum until you get your first few reviews. A 5-night minimum can limit bookings for new listings. Once you have some reviews and momentum, you can always raise it again.

[Aditya20]

If your new it wont prioritize longer stays but smaller stays are more trouble u want to get 3 bookings within 15 days basically

[Razni0]

Hi, if you are a newbie, then it is crucial for you to get reservations immediately and, of course, good reviews to get booked further. So I think it would be better to offer discounts for long-term stays instead of taking bookings only for 5 days. Meaning for 1 day you could charge a bit higher, which would cover your cleaning or transport charges, and from the second day onwards u could give a discount, this is how I manage my listing. I encourage long-term stays by offering a good discount.

[Ashot7]

Great question, and welcome to hosting!
Since your listing is brand new with no reviews yet, I would strongly recommend removing the 5-night minimum for now and opening your calendar to any length of stay. Here is why: In the early days, your main goal is not revenue — it is visibility and social proof.
Airbnb's algorithm favors listings that get bookings, and shorter stays give you more chances to collect reviews faster. The first 3 reviews are the most critical.
They define how guests perceive your listing and how Airbnb ranks you against neighboring properties.
Focus all your energy on making those first guests extremely happy. A few things that work well early on: offer a small discount to attract your first guests, leave a personal welcome gift in the apartment, or write a handwritten note. Guests deeply appreciate that personal touch — and it almost always results in a 5-star review. Once you reach around 10 reviews and your listing gains momentum, you can start setting a minimum night requirement and shift your focus toward quality, pricing optimization, or upgrading the space for guests. Be patient in the beginning — every superhost started exactly where you are now.

Good luck!

[Sarika16]

HI Elizabeth4059,
For an Airbnb room, it's usually better not to have too many restrictions if you want to attract more bookings. Most guests are traveling for vacations, business trips, or short stays, and they want a comfortable and hassle-free experience. If there are too many conditions, potential guests may choose another property instead.

Try highlighting the amenities and services you provide, such as free parking, Wi-Fi, microwave access, kitchen facilities for cooking, laundry, and nearby attractions or places to visit. Guests are more likely to book when they clearly understand the value your property offers.

If guests enjoy their stay, they may extend their reservation and leave positive reviews. Good reviews help build trust and can attract even more future bookings and repeat customers.

[Adaily0]

On slow season( now) is hard to have a 5 days  booking and up in Florida, unfortunately for us hostess/owners , unless on special dates like long weekends , holidays, we need to cover home expenses and the hard work some how, most people during this period just do 2 or 3 days (“ mini vacation “) specially weekends , if you have a mortgage , bills, to pay i will say yes, its better something than empty .