Airbnb guest rating for hosts

[Jessica2776]

Why isn’t anyone demanding that Airbnb revise the host rating system to mirror the way we rate guests? When I rate a guest, I’m asked to score them on cleanliness, communication, and following house rules—and even if I give them a 4 in one category and 5s in the others, they still receive an overall 5-star rating. But when a guest rates us the same way—with one 4 and two 5s—we automatically get a 4-star review. There’s a clear disconnect here that unfairly impacts hosts. The overall rating should reflect the average of all category scores, for both guests and hosts, to ensure fairness and balance in the review process.

[Shelley159]

Hi @Jessica2776 

The overall host rating is not calculated, it's asked as a separate question. Here's a very detailed analysis of exactly what a guest is asked during the review process:

https://community.withairbnb.com/t5/Support-with-your-bookings/A-Host-s-Guide-to-Navigating-Guest-Ex...

[Jessica2776]

@Shelley159 Yes agreed, but that still makes my point. How can someone give me 5 stars for all the specifics and then 4 stars overall and that is acceptable?

[Joan2709]

@Jessica2776 

Also, Airbnb tells guests that 4stars is "Good", but we all know that Airbnb considers 4-stars as "bad" for Hosts:

[Jessica2776]

Absolutely! If I get all 4 stars then I don't get promoted via the algorithm and my booking decline. Also guests view 4 stars as bad too and would rather book a 5 star

[Elegant-Homes-Retreat0]

Hi @Jessica2776 👋,

You’ve raised an incredibly valid point, and it’s something many thoughtful hosts have questioned for a long time. The discrepancy between category scores and the final overall rating really does feel inconsistent—especially when guests are told 4 stars is “Good,” but the Airbnb algorithm treats it as damaging for hosts.

As you said, if we give guests 4s and 5s in subcategories, they still receive a 5 overall. Hosts, on the other hand, often get penalized for the same combination. That inconsistency affects visibility, trust, and Superhost status, and it can be both frustrating and discouraging.

Thanks @Shelley159 for sharing the guide—it’s a great resource. But as @Joan2709 pointed out, the messaging to guests needs to be clearer. If Airbnb truly considers 5 stars “exceptional,” then they need to adjust their platform logic or update how ratings are explained to both guests and hosts.

Fairness in the review system is crucial for building long-term trust in the platform—for everyone.

Thanks for starting this important conversation. You're definitely not alone in this!

[Alison782]

Totally agree how unfair it is PLUS I gave a guest a two star rating for cleaning and for house rules and they gave her a five star rating overall - this is clearly a ridiculous situation.  I was then told I could have rated this guest lower using the overall rating for guests - I did ask where to find this as I"d never seen it when reviewing - I still can't find it. There should be one so that I can say yes their comms are 5* but overall it's a two because I would never recommend them to another host. Hey Ho - without us there wouldn't be places to stay but we don't seem to get a fair deal on this rating system