How to Become an Airbnb Superhost: The Exact Criteria and Timeline

For many short-term rental hosts, achieving Airbnb Superhost status is a big milestone. It’s more than just a shiny badge on your profile; it’s proof to future guests that you take hosting seriously and consistently deliver five-star stays.

And trust me, I know. I’ve been a Superhost for all but the first quarter of my nine-year Airbnb journey (yes, I’m totally tooting my own horn here). If someone can stick with it that long, through leaky sinks, lost keys, and guests who thought “checkout at 11” meant “leave after lunch, ”then you can too.

Let’s break down the exact criteria, the timeline Airbnb uses to evaluate hosts, and some practical tips (with a few of my own stories sprinkled in) to help you reach this coveted status.

What Is a Superhost and Why Does It Matter?

Superhosts are Airbnb’s way of highlighting top-performing hosts who go above and beyond for their guests. The designation is reviewed every three months, and once you earn it, it can significantly boost your visibility on the platform.

Guests often filter searches to only show Superhosts, and listings with the badge tend to attract more bookings and higher nightly rates. Over the years, I’ve seen firsthand how much this little orange badge matters: guests really do trust it. And when I travel myself, I also filter for Superhost listings. For me, it’s more peace of mind and less risk of a not-great stay.

The Official Airbnb Superhost Criteria

To qualify, you need to hit all four benchmarks during the review period:

Maintain a 4.8+ Overall Rating (my rating is 4.93)
- This rating is based on the average of all guest reviews.
- Even one or two low reviews can drop your score, so consistency is key.
- In my case, I’ve had my fair share of 4-star reviews (usually from guests who gave a 4 on criteria like “location” and “value”). But by focusing on consistent hospitality, the 5-star reviews have always carried me through.
90%+ Response Rate
- Airbnb wants hosts who communicate quickly and effectively.
- This means replying to guest messages within 24 hours at least 90% of the time.
- My trick? I treat my Airbnb notifications like text messages from a friend. Guests don’t need a novel. Sometimes just a quick, “Got it! See you soon!” is enough.
1% (or fewer) Cancellation Rate
- Hosts must not cancel confirmed bookings unless there’s a serious, unavoidable reason.
- More than 1 cancellation per 100 reservations could disqualify you.
- Over nine years, I’ve literally never canceled a reservation. One time the dishwasher was broken and we were waiting on the replacement part to fix. Instead of canceling, I let the guest know what was happening, that no work would happen during their stay, and offered a 20% discount (because honestly, no one wants to hand wash dishes on vacation – I totally recognized the inconvenience). Lesson: always be in communication.
10+ Stays in the Past Year (or 100+ Nights Over 3 Stays)
- Airbnb wants to see consistent hosting activity.
- If you manage a high-demand property, you might hit this benchmark quickly.
- Personally, this one has never been an issue. If anything, the challenge was keeping up with the demand. (Usually in the summer I have back-to-back bookings so tight that I would have liked an off night here and there so I could do some deep cleaning and general maintenance. Superhost life isn’t always glamorous!) I totally realize this is not exactly a problem!

The Timeline: When Airbnb Reviews Your Performance

Airbnb evaluates hosts every quarter (January, April, July, and October). You don’t need to apply; Airbnb automatically checks your stats.

If you meet the criteria, your profile is updated with the Superhost badge.
If you fall short, don’t worry: Airbnb will reevaluate you at the next quarterly check.

The fastest possible timeline to becoming a Superhost is about 3 months if you start hosting right before a review period. For most hosts, it takes closer to 6–12 months.

When I first started, I didn’t even know Superhost status existed. With a background in customer service, design, and being a traveler myself, I was naturally able to succeed with hosting 5 star stays. I don’t say this to brag, rather, my point is that hosting is not for everyone. For me, it came naturally, and over time I optimized. That’s why I say: it’s not about being perfect, it’s about being consistent.

Real-World Examples of Hitting the Benchmarks

Response Rate: I keep notifications on my phone and smartwatch. I may not always answer my texts right away (sorry, Mom), but Airbnb guests? They get priority. I am really good at setting my phone down, only to realize hours later that I don’t know where I put it. That’s why my smartwatch is a life-saver.
Ratings: One thing I’ve noticed over the years is that even if I don’t have the most comfortable couch (yikes, I cringe thinking about those early days with the dorm-style futon!), or top-of-the-line cooking equipment, guests are just so happy to have a space that is clean. If you only focus on one thing, have it be cleanliness. This includes things like regularly washing couch pillow covers, and deep cleaning the oven.
Cancellations: My opinion is: there are very few reasons a host should cancel. Emergencies, yes. Unforeseen critical repairs, yes. Last minute family in town? No. And even if something stops working, like the hot tub or in my case, dishwasher, check with the guest. Be honest. Offer a discount. But if you only have one bathroom and the toilet is malfunctioning….well, that might be a reason to cancel.

Tips for Becoming a Superhost Faster

Automate Guest Communication: Use Airbnb’s automated message feature to send check-in instructions, thank-you notes, and review requests. I’ve been doing this for years, and it’s saved me from typing the same information hundreds of times.
Keep Your Calendar Updated: Sync across Airbnb, VRBO, and any direct booking platform. Double bookings will force you to cancel on guests who were just so excited to book your place. And, some platforms charge hosts hefty cancelation fines.
Provide Thoughtful Touches: Guests remember the little things. For me, it’s totally ordinary stuff like scissors, bottled water, doggie poopoo bags, pens/pencils/notepads, extra phone chargers.
Document House Rules Clearly: Saves awkward conversations later. (I now know better, and for every reservation I double check if they are bringing pets).
Plan for Emergencies: Backup cleaner, handyman, and co-host = peace of mind, especially if you are out of area.
Find a lot more info in my other article “Does Being a Superhost Really Boost Bookings? The Data, Host Experiences, and What Actually Moves the Needle.”

Setting Realistic Goals

If you’re just starting out, don’t stress about getting Superhost status immediately. Focus first on:

Delivering great hospitality.
Cleanliness.
Learning from early guest feedback.
Building systems for communication and cleaning.

Superhost isn’t the end goal, it’s the natural result of consistently being a thoughtful, responsive, and reliable host. Take it from me: nine years in, my properties aren’t perfect (and neither am I), but guests know I’ll always show up for them. That’s what really matters.

Final Thoughts

Becoming an Airbnb Superhost takes dedication, and it’s absolutely achievable. The badge reflects consistency, not perfection.

If I can do it for nine years straight (minus that rookie first quarter), you can absolutely do it too. Keep communicating, keep caring, and keep those sheets crisp. Your badge will follow, and so will happier guests, better reviews, and a stronger short-term rental business.

Happy Hosting, friends!

– KP