The Airbnb Essentials List Every Host Needs: A Complete Printable Checklist

Are you ready for the only comprehensive Airbnb essentials list you need to set up your short-term rental? Here is the full checklist I use with every. single. thing. you need at your Airbnb.

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Getting your Airbnb furnished and stocked is so much fun but gosh, it is no joke.  There are so many little details to remember and get right. Having a full Airbnb essentials list to work from can make your life so much easier during the setup process.

After setting up 10 Airbnb listings, I now have the process down, as well as  a complete checklist I work from every single time. 

In this post you’ll find a comprehensive list of all the essentials you’re going to need at your Airbnb, along with some of my top 10 picks that I couldn’t host without.

This post is all about my comprehensive Airbnb essentials list.

Table of Contents:

Airbnb Essentials List: Top 10 Things Not to Forget

Here are my top 10 favorites on the Airbnb essentials checklist that I’ve found really take a guest’s stay from good to great. These things will let your guest know that you’ve paid attention to every little detail to make their stay as comfortable as possible!

1. Full Length Mirror

There is nothing worse than staying somewhere where theres no place to check your outfit before heading out for the day! Have your guests’ back with this a really pretty full-length mirror. Its a two-for-one because this beautiful mirror is also the perfect decor piece in your space.

2. Folding Stool

A folding stool is an essential if you’ve got hard-to-reach cabinets in your kitchen. Plus, it’ll let your short-stature guests you’ve thought of them 😉

3. Luggage Racks

Luggage racks are a great addition to your amenities list, especially if you’re not providing dressers. They’re a great way for guests to feel a bit more comfortable during their stay by not having to shuffle through their suitcase on the floor.

4. Area Rugs

If you’ve got wood, vinyl, or tile floors, area rugs in each room are a MUST to keep things looking cozy and put-together. They can bring so much character to a room depending on what style and color you choose. But if you’re looking to keep things neutral, I love this beige oriental rug and its super inexpensive.

5. Pillow Protectors

Having pillow protectors on the pillows just makes me sleep better at night (does that count as a pun?). Having that extra barrier to help keep….whatever its is….from seeping through onto your pillows and getting them stained and dingy will help your pillows last longer and will just put everyone a little more at ease about the whole sharing pillows with other strangers thing.

6. Pizza Pan

This is actually new to my essentials list! It was one day that my husband and I were setting up one of our units and I ordered a frozen pizza on Instacart when we started to get hungry…only to realize I have nothing to cook the pizza on! This is a great addition to your kitchen essentials list.

RELATED: The Superhost’s Complete Airbnb Kitchen Essentials Checklist

7. Makeup Cloths

These makeup wash cloths are complete game-changers. They subtly let the guest know not to use your white washcloths for removing makeup and provide them a designated towel to do that with.

8. Whiskey Glasses

Many hosts think to stock wine glasses and beer glasses, but they may not think to stock whiskey glasses. For those whose drink of choice may be whiskey or any cocktail really, its nice to offer a specific glass for those as well. Because it just tastes different in the right glass. These lowball glasses are great for any type of cocktail or on-the-rocks drink.

9. Phone Charging Strip

A charging strip will go very appreciated by guests. Especially if your place sleeps a lot of guests, you’ll want to provide many places for charging phones and other devices. This is often the first thing guests look for after a long day of travel and a low phone battery.

10. Water Filter Pitcher

I love this amenity if you don’t have a filtration system at your place. Its so nice to check into a place that has cold water waiting for you– and its so very settling to know that its filtered and safe to drink.

*BONUS* -Snacks!

Finally, snacks! I like to offer something very simple such as packets of oatmeal for the morning, a few chocolates, or a bag of popcorn for the hungry guest who arrives in late after a long day of travel. The small gesture can feel like a very warm welcome to your guests.

The Complete Airbnb Furnishing List:

Because I shop for furniture before getting all the other essentials I need at a short-term rental, I chose to keep this list separate from the Airbnb Essentials list. If you’re already up and furnished, skip to the next section.

The Complete Airbnb Essentials List:

^{Each item is a clickable link to the recommended product on Amazon}

“Secret Weapon” Essentials for Airbnb Hosts:

These are the items that I call my “secret weapons” of Airbnb hosting. I keep a little bin of these things in my car at all times for when I’m doing a setup or a routine property walkthrough, and one of these things saves me every single time.

Printable Airbnb Checklist:

Conclusion

There you have it! I hope you enjoyed my complete Airbnb essentials list and found it helpful for your next short-term rental setup! Best wishes, and if you’re looking for more great read, you might find these helpful as well:

How to Design an Airbnb: A Step-by-Step Process to an Instaworthy STR

How to Get the Perfect Airbnb Bed: 5+ Airbnb Bedding Tips

New Airbnb Hosts: Click here to setup your host account for the first time!

This post was all about the Airbnb essentials list every host needs.