An Airbnb Experience is a paid activity you host for guests, a walking tour, a cooking class, a craft workshop, anything built around something you genuinely know well. It isn’t a listing anyone can throw together in an afternoon: Airbnb reviews every application against a real eligibility bar before it goes live. This guide covers what that bar actually is. If you’d rather rent out a room or your whole home, see our Airbnb host guide instead, and if you’d rather offer a service like photography or personal training, see our Airbnb Services guide.

Do you actually qualify to host an Experience?

Airbnb’s own standards for Experiences, confirmed on its Help Center, require your expertise to come from at least one of:

  • Five or more years of hands-on experience in the activity itself.
  • Multi-generational or cultural knowledge, skills passed down or deeply tied to a community or tradition.
  • Recognised media coverage or endorsements in the field.

On top of that, you’ll need identity verification, a background check where applicable, and any licence, insurance or certification the activity genuinely requires, a food hygiene certificate for a cooking class, for example. The venue itself has to be safe, clean and a sensible size for the group you’re hosting.

What the application actually involves

Your listing needs at least 5 high-quality photos and a detailed itinerary built from three or more distinct activities, not a single 20-minute stop. Airbnb reviews applications before anything goes live, so this isn’t instant: expect your listing to be checked against its standards before it’s approved to publish.

The 20% host service fee

Airbnb charges Experience hosts a 20% service fee, calculated on the price guests pay and deducted automatically from your payout, confirmed directly on Airbnb’s Help Center. Price your Experience with that in mind rather than assuming you’ll keep the full booking price.

How to apply to host an Airbnb Experience

  1. Check you meet the eligibility bar above.

    Years of experience, cultural knowledge, or media recognition, plus any licence the activity needs.

  2. Plan an itinerary with at least three activities.

    A single photo stop or a 20-minute demo isn’t enough on its own.

  3. Take at least 5 strong photos.

    These are what convince a guest to book, and part of what Airbnb reviews.

  4. Submit your application.

    Airbnb reviews it against its published standards before your listing can go live.

  5. Price with the 20% fee in mind.

    Set a price that still works for you after Airbnb’s cut.

Is hosting an Airbnb Experience worth it?

Pros

  • No property or nightly turnover to manage, just the activity itself.
  • A genuine way to monetise a skill you already have.
  • You set your own price, group size and schedule.

Cons

  • A real eligibility bar to clear, not open to everyone with a hobby.
  • Airbnb’s review process takes time before you can go live.
  • A 20% service fee comes off every booking.
  • You need appropriate insurance and any licence the activity requires.

Common questions

Do I need five years of experience to host an Airbnb Experience?
Five years of hands-on experience is one route to qualifying, but not the only one. Multi-generational or cultural knowledge, or recognised media coverage of your work, can also meet the bar Airbnb sets.
How much does Airbnb take from Experience bookings?
A 20% service fee, calculated on the guest’s booking price and deducted automatically from your payout.
Do I need insurance to host an Airbnb Experience?
You need whatever licences, insurance or certifications your specific activity requires, for example food hygiene certification for a cooking class. Airbnb’s standards require this before your listing can go live.
How long does the application take?
Airbnb doesn’t publish a fixed timeframe. Your application is reviewed against its published standards before your listing can go live, so build in some lead time rather than expecting to launch the same day you apply.
Is there a limit on the Airbnb Experience host referral reward?
Yes. Airbnb pays a referral reward on only the first 25 referred Experience hosts per referring member, and the referred host has to publish their first Experience and complete a qualifying first booking, meeting a minimum booking value, within 180 days.

Sources and checks