Picture this: you’ve just wrapped up a weekend at an Airbnb. The place was clean, fairly priced, exactly as described, and your host was friendly and responsive. It wasn’t a once-in-a-lifetime experience—but it was a solid, pleasant stay.

So, how many stars do you give? Three? Maybe four? You’re not alone if your instinct is to save five stars for something “extraordinary.”

But here’s the catch: on Airbnb, five stars is the standard.

The Truth About Airbnb’s Star Ratings

Unlike many review platforms where 3 stars means “average” and 4 stars means “good,” Airbnb uses a different system. Hosts are expected to maintain near-perfect ratings. If their average dips below 4.8 stars, they lose their Superhost badge. Fall below 4.3? Their listing might be removed entirely.

That’s because Airbnb only counts the Overall rating—not the separate scores for Cleanliness, Accuracy, or other categories—toward a host’s average. It’s a single score, based on your general impression of the stay.

So, what does a 5-star review on Airbnb really mean? It doesn’t mean everything was flawless—it means you had a great stay and would happily return.
To help you leave a review that matches your experience, we’ve put together this simple guide:

Guest Overall Rating Guide

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – Everything went smoothly. Nothing major to complain about.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – There were several issues that need improvement.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ – Serious problems; the stay fell short of expectations.
⭐️⭐️ – The property shouldn’t be listed in its current state.
⭐️ – The experience was terrible—this host should be banned from hosting.

Understanding the Other Categories

When rating the six other key factors, aim to assess them individually—just like you’d evaluate different parts of a hotel stay.

• Check-in: Was the home easy to find and access?
• Cleanliness: Were surfaces, linens and bathrooms clean?
• Accuracy: Did the property match the listing’s photos, description and amenities?
• Communication: Was the host responsive and helpful?
• Location: Was it convenient or close to what you needed?
• Value: Did the experience feel worth the price?

Here’s a simple way to help you match your answer with the right star rating:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – Yes, absolutely.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – Mostly, yes.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ – Somewhat.
⭐️⭐️ – Not really.
⭐️ – Not at all.

These categories are created with realistic expectations. While no host is perfect, what truly matters is how they manage any problems that arise. For example, if the Wi-Fi stops working but the host quickly addresses it and keeps you informed, that still counts as a good service.

What Not to Penalise a Host For

Some things are simply out of a host’s control or not worth docking stars:

• It is raining a lot during your stay
• The house isn’t near a grocery store
• A bug found its way inside
• A bit of dust on a shelf or lampshade
• A faint stain on otherwise clean towels
• An odd-looking neighbour
• A brief power outage
• A faulty lock that the host fixed quickly

A 5-star review means you were happy with your stay overall—even if everything wasn’t perfect.

Final Thoughts: Be Kind, Be Fair

Reviews shape the Airbnb community. They help build trust, encourage great hosting and guide future guests. And while Airbnb’s 5-star expectations may feel a bit inflated compared to Google, that’s the nature of the platform. Understanding this can help you leave more thoughtful reviews—and support hosts who are genuinely doing their best.

So next time you have a good stay, don’t hesitate to give it five stars. Save the lower ratings for when things truly go off track—and if there’s something that could have been better, hosts genuinely appreciate hearing about it through private feedback as it helps them improve the experience for future guests.