The Ultimate Guide to Airbnb Amenities: Elevating Guest Experience

While many factors determine the success of a vacation rental business, the Airbnb amenities you offer at your property are definitely one of the most important ones.

Amenities usually differentiate your listing from all the other short term rentals available in the market. Thus, as a host or property manager, you need to learn how to use them strategically to provide the ultimate guest experience.

Having the right amenities and displaying them well in your listing will help boost reservations, welcome more guests, achieve a higher occupancy rate, generate more income, get more 5-star reviews, and grow your business.

In this article, we’ll show you how to choose the best Airbnb amenities for your property based on its location and target guests.

We’ll cover the differences between must-have essentials that all guests expect to find in a rental and unique amenities that can make your property truly stand out.

We’ll also discuss how to use the available amenities in your listing in the best possible way to rank higher in guest searches and attract more bookings.

Table of Contents

1. Must-Have vs Unique Amenities
2. Selecting the Right Amenities for Your Listing
3. Presentation and Promotion of Amenities in Your Listing
4. Feedback Loop: Using Guest Reviews to Improve Amenities
5. The Role of Amenities in Airbnb Pricing

Must-Have vs Unique Amenities

Airbnb amenities can be divided into two broad categories:

1. Must-have Airbnb amenities, also referred to as essentials; and,
2. Unique amenities.

Let’s take a look at what’s included in each of these two groups:

Must-Have Amenities for Airbnb

The Airbnb website has defined a list of essentials that each listing is expected to provide to ensure a comfortable stay for guests. If you’re supplying each of these items, you can check off the Essentials box when setting up the Amenities section of your Airbnb listing.

The Airbnb essentials include:

• Hand soap
• Body soap
• Toilet paper
• One towel per guest
• One pillow per guest
• Linens for each guest bed

However, to be realistic, providing just these basic items is not enough to elevate the guest experience and maximize the performance of your short term rental.

Many other amenities have become a must for Airbnb properties, considering their unique position in the hospitality industry.

Here is an Airbnb amenities list by room:

Airbnb Kitchen Amenities

The most important items to furnish your Airbnb kitchen with for a good guest experience include:

• Fridge and freezer
• Kitchen stove
• Microwave
• Coffee machine
• Electric water kettle
• Cooking utensils including pots, frying pans, and baking sheets
• Cutlery
• Dishes, plates, and bowls
• Cups, mugs, and glasses
• Kitchen table with a few chairs (if you don’t have a dining room)
• Dishwashing detergent
• Hand soap
• Hand towels
• Kitchen towels
• Basic cleaning supplies
• Garbage bins and garbage bags
• Coffee and tea
• Basic condiments and spices, such as sugar, salt, pepper, and cooking oil

Keep in mind that a well-furnished and supplied kitchen is reported as one of the top Airbnb amenities. Many travelers choose vacation rentals over traditional hotels exactly because of the ability to cook their own meals and enjoy local foods.

Airbnb Living Room Amenities

Along with the kitchen, the living room is another important part of every short term rental property.

The best amenities for Airbnb living rooms are:

• Couch with throw pillows and blankets
• Armchairs
• Coffee table
• TV table
• Basic decorations, such as paintings and vases
• Rug
• Curtains or shades

Remember that the living room is where your guests will rest in the evening after a long day of exploring the city, enjoying the beach, or working from home, depending on the type of guests you cater to. This means that you should offer enough amenities to make the place comfortable, cozy, and enjoyable.

Airbnb Bedroom Amenities

Furnishing a bedroom with the right must-have amenities is tricky because everyone has different sleeping preferences.

Nonetheless, these are the items that each Airbnb bedroom should have to provide the basics for comfortable sleep:

• Bed frame
• Comfortable mattress that is regularly replaced (every 5-10 years)
• A selection of soft and firm pillows
• Mattress protector
• Lightweight and heavyweight duvets
• Two sets of linens including fitted sheets, duvet covers, and pillowcases
• Closet, wardrobe, and/or shelves
• Bedside table(s)
• Bedside lamp(s)
• Curtains, shades, or blinds
• Fan

Try to choose a mattress that’s neither too soft nor too hard. Regarding linen, go for natural materials like cotton that do not cause allergies, provide good thermal control, and are relatively durable. Choose colors that are easy to wash and don’t fade too quickly.

Airbnb Bathroom Amenities

Another space that needs to be carefully planned, furnished, and provided with enough amenities is the bathroom.

Following is a list of the must-have bathroom amenities for every Airbnb owner or manager:

• Shower curtain
• Toilet brush
• Garbage bin
• Shampoo and conditioner
• Body soap
• Hand soap
• Toothbrushes and toothpaste
• Toilet paper
• Cotton swabs
• Cotton pads
• Two sets of hand towels and bath towels
• Hairdryer
• Bath mat

Depending on the guests that you aim to attract to your Airbnb, you might need to provide additional extras in your bathrooms. The bathroom is one room that can definitely make a property stand out from the rest and that’s a major determinant in guest experience and guest satisfaction.

Most importantly, remember to thoroughly and diligently clean the bathrooms between guests.

Airbnb Entertainment Amenities

No matter what types of guests frequent your short term rental, you must offer them some entertainment options. If your budget is tight, you don’t need to go overboard. A few basic items would usually suffice to elevate the guest experience.

The most popular Airbnb entertainment amenities include:

• Board games
• Deck of playing cards
• Books
• TV
• Streaming services or cable TV
• Map of the local area
• List of local tourist attractions
• Local guides
• List of fun things to do in the area

In most cases, these items are positioned in the living room.

Airbnb Safety Amenities

Providing a safe experience for your guests is even more important than providing a comfortable experience. When working on the safety and security of your vacation rental, make sure to check out both Airbnb regulations and local requirements as many markets specify what safety measures need to be followed by hosts.

In most cases, the must-have amenities related to guest safety cover:

• Smoke detectors and alarms
• Carbon monoxide detectors and alarms
• Fire sprinklers
• Fire extinguishers
• Home security system
• Outdoor cameras (Indoor cameras are prohibited, and you should make sure to inform guests of any outdoor cameras)

Keep in mind that all these devices have to be regularly inspected and maintained as needed to continue offering the expected level of safety to your guests.

Airbnb Tech Amenities

Technology is becoming an increasingly important part of the hospitality industry.

The key tech-based amenities in a short term rental include:

• WiFi
• Smart thermostat
• Good lighting
• Air conditioning and heating

That’s one set of essentials that’s highly dictated by the type of guests that you aim to bring to your rental. Guests who come to enjoy the local beach will have very different technological requirements and expectations from those coming to work remotely.

Airbnb Outdoors Amenities

When figuring out how to get more bookings on Airbnb, remember the outdoor amenities that you should provide as a careful host or property manager.

These include:

• Free parking (that’s one of the top Airbnb amenities as defined by the platform itself)
• Smart locks for self-check-in and check-out (that’s another amenity that’s highly valued by guests as they appreciate flexibility and privacy)

Furthermore, you can offer a wide range of additional, non-obligatory outdoor amenities to make your guests’ stay unforgettable.

Unique Airbnb Amenities

Now that we’ve covered the essentials that every Airbnb needs to provide to guests, it’s time to look at enhancing guest experience amenities. You can offer many different items to make your property more attractive than all competitors.

Following is a list of some of the most demanded, standout amenities that can set your Airbnb listing apart from the competition:

• Swimming pool
• Hot tub
• Pool towels, if you offer a swimming pool or a hot tub
• Barbecue area
• Patio furniture set
• Children’s playground
• Fireplace
• Arcade games, such as table tennis, foosball, or air hockey
• Musical instruments
• Washer and dryer
• Iron and ironing board
• Home office
• Baby crib
• Baby high chair
• Baby playpen
• Pet food and water bowls
• Pet litter box
• Welcome basket or package
• Complimentary drinks
• Local food samples
• Homemade breakfast or other meals
• Local tours
• Free or discounted access to local attractions

Indeed, the list of unique Airbnb amenities ideas is infinite. What extras you decide to offer to your guests depends on your target renters, your local market, and your budget as a host.

One of the best things you can do in this regard is to check out top-performing local comps. These are other Airbnb listings in your area that are similar to yours in terms of property type and size and that have the highest rankings and the biggest number of guest reviews.

You can get inspired by the amenities they supply to guests, as these are likely to be the most sought-after extras in your market.

But to really distinguish yourself from other hosts, it’s a smart move to offer something that no one else in the area offers. This will attract more bookings and secure a lot of happy and satisfied guests.

Selecting the Right Amenities for Your Listing

Other than the essentials listed above, there is no universally right mix of Airbnb amenities for all properties. A number of different factors should determine your choice of amenities to provide to guests.

Here are the leading factors to take into consideration:

Choosing Amenities Based on Your Target Guest Demographic

First and foremost, you need to decide on your target guest type and then figure out what amenities fit their needs and expectations best.

For instance, catering to digital nomads planning to use your rental as a home office is very different from hosting families with small children and pets who want to stay at your property during their beach vacation.

If you plan to welcome those who work from home, you must furnish a comfortable home office and provide superior coffee-related amenities. Fast and safe internet is also an absolute must. A microwave is also a good idea for quick lunch options.

On the other hand, in case you want to provide stays for families with kids, you need to offer a wide range of children-related amenities. Some of these include a baby crib, playpen, high chair, changing mat, cabinet safety locks, and a selection of toys and games.

If you choose to have a pet-friendly Airbnb, then a few must-have amenities include food bowls, water bowls, and scratching posts.

Deciding on Amenities Based on Your Market

The second determinant of the best Airbnb amenities for your particular property is the local market.

For example, if you own a vacation rental in a warm climate most of the year, you can consider adding a swimming pool to attract additional guests. Meanwhile, a hot tub might be the more appropriate choice for a rental in a cold climate.

Additionally, in case your market is bustling with tourist activities that will keep your visitors out most of the time, you don’t need to worry too much about entertainment options in your rental. Instead, you need to make sure that you provide everything needed for a comfortable rest and sleep after a busy day in the city or in nature.

Meanwhile, if your property is located in a quiet area without many options, you should focus on indoor and outdoor entertainment amenities such as a patio, a barbecue, board games, and streaming services.

Moreover, you need to conduct diligent vacation rental market analysis using reliable short term rental data to see what amenities are demanded by guests in your market. It doesn’t make sense to add things that visitors are simply not interested in.

Selecting Amenities for Your Property Type

The third factor in the selection of the best amenities for Airbnb is the property itself.

You should capitalize on the already available amenities and offer them to guests. For instance, if you rent out a condo with access to a swimming pool and a gym, make sure that guests can use these amenities. There’s no need—and probably even possibility—to add a hot tub.

On the other hand, if you invest in a single-family home with a lot of outdoor space, it’s worth considering building a swimming pool or furnishing a nice area for sitting and eating. You might also be able to add an arcade game, which is not really an option in an apartment.

Balancing Cost and Impact on Amenity Selection

Finally, the most important step when furnishing your vacation rental with amenities is conducting a cost-benefit analysis. In other words, as a savvy host or property manager, you need to ensure that every little extra you add is worth the cost and will result in positive cash flow changes.

While some Airbnb amenities are relatively cheap, others can add up to thousands of dollars, including purchase, installation, maintenance, and supplies.

At the same time, based on your property type, location, and guests, there is no guarantee that the more expensive amenities will increase your revenue and profit considerably. Indeed, the cost might not be compensated for by the resulting rise in Airbnb income.

Thus, you need to use reliable data and analytics from trustworthy sources to analyze how the addition of each amenity would affect your daily rate, occupancy rate, earnings, and ROI.

Short term rental property owners and managers can use the Mashvisor Airbnb data, which comes directly from the listing platform, to access key analytics such as nightly pricing, occupancy, income, cap rate, and cash-on-cash return.

Moreover, you can use the interactive Mashvisor Airbnb calculator to customize your property analysis to compute how different amenities might impact your bottom line based on the performance of local comps.

Presentation and Promotion of Amenities in Your Listing

After you’ve added the best amenities to your vacation rental, it’s equally important to highlight them in the right way in your Airbnb listing.

Learning how to change amenities on the Airbnb website is an important part of learning how to list on Airbnb. Luckily for hosts and property managers, this is a very easy and straightforward process from a technical point of view. To do this, go to Your space on your Airbnb host profile, go to Amenities, and select all applicable options.

Remember that the amenities you offer and list play an important role in the Airbnb SEO algorithm. Listings with more amenities will rank higher in guest searches. So, as part of your Airbnb listing optimization, you need to add all your current amenities and keep the list up to date by adding any new amenities as they become available.

Unfortunately, this might not be enough to boost your ranking on Airbnb and get more bookings. There are a few other things that hosts and Airbnb managers can do for improving Airbnb listings on the platform.

For example, you should include your top Airbnb amenities in your listing photos. This is an excellent way to make your listing more visually appealing to both the Airbnb algorithm and potential guests choosing between your rental and competitors.

Furthermore, you should strategically place your property’s best amenities in the listing title and description. Things like swimming pools, hot tubs, and outstanding experiences can really make your property stand out from the rest and attract more bookings.

The good news is that technology can make updating and unifying your listing titles and descriptions easier and faster. The Mashvisor vacation rental software features help you set up titles and descriptions in a single place and push them to all your distribution channels.

Specifically, the Mashvisor vacation rental channel manager enables you to bring all your listings under one roof for quick and straightforward management. Then, under the Listings tab, you can edit your properties’ titles and descriptions to always have the most up-to-date list of amenities.

So, when choosing vacation rental software for your property, make sure to get one that helps you present and promote amenities in your listings.

Feedback Loop: Using Guest Reviews to Improve Amenities

As a vacation rental property owner or manager, you need to know that getting the right amenities is not a one-time thing. If you want to have a continuously well-performing business, constantly improving amenities should be an ongoing process.

The most crucial factor in this process is the feedback you get from guests who stay at your property. To communicate meaningfully with your guests, you should not only read through every single review but also actively seek feedback from guests, even those who do not write a review.

As part of your management strategy, you should send check-up messages to your guests a couple of days after they check out to make sure that everything was fine with their stay and that they made it home safely.

In the same message, you can kindly ask for suggestions and recommendations on how you can improve your property to serve future guests better.

After all, this is the most straightforward way to understand the exact needs and expectations of your target guests.

Once you see a pattern in suggestions, you can consider adding the requested amenity after performing a cost-benefit analysis to ensure that the expense will be worthwhile.

And if you need help in streamlining and automating guest communication as part of the feedback you receive from guests, you can check out the Mashvisor unified inbox feature. You can automate messages to guests to get ideas about additional amenities as well as many other aspects of the required communication.

The Role of Amenities in Airbnb Pricing

The ultimate goal of adding more amenities to your Airbnb property is to make more money from your vacation rental. Having better amenities than competitors helps attract more bookings and bring more guests.

However, there is one more way in which having a better furnished and supplied rental allows you to generate more revenue: through pricing.

As all hosts and property managers know, building a vacation rental pricing strategy is a complex process, with many different factors at play.

One of these factors is the number and type of amenities you offer. It’s pretty simple: The more extras you provide with your short term rental, the higher your daily rate can be. Each additional amenity allows you to increase your nightly price further and remain competitive in the Airbnb SEO algorithm and in the eyes of potential guests.

Meanwhile, you can use the Mashvisor Airbnb dynamic pricing tool to automate your pricing strategy. Our tool uses historical and current data from the Airbnb website to suggest the optimal nightly price for each night your property is available for rent, maximizing revenue and return on investment. Needless to say, the suggested price takes into account the available amenities and how they compare to the competition.

Final Words

Carefully selecting and marketing your Airbnb amenities plays a crucial role in creating and advertising a memorable guest experience.

While every host should offer essentials, the choice of additional amenities should be guided by your property, location, and target guest type and based on diligent analysis. You must ensure that all extras help you get more bookings, generate more revenue, and enhance your ROI.

Moreover, to remain competitive, you need to continue monitoring changing trends in your market and constantly updating the list of amenities that you offer.

Meanwhile, if you need help managing your listings efficiently, check out the Mashvisor vacation rental software.