Your Airbnb listing isn't showing up in search. What to check

You search your town on Airbnb, scroll through pages of results, and your listing isn't there. It's a worrying moment, but in most cases the listing isn't penalised. It's being filtered out by a setting, or the search you ran doesn't match it. Work through these checks in order.

1. Search like a guest

First, make sure you're searching the way a guest would. Log out, or use a private browser window. Enter:

• Specific dates, ideally a couple of weeks out.
• A realistic number of guests.
• The area guests would search, not your exact street.

Many listings "disappear" because the host searched with no dates, which shows a mix of listings, or with dates the listing isn't available for.

2. Check the listing is live

In your listing settings, confirm it's published and not snoozed or unlisted. It's easy to forget you paused it over a holiday. Our post on pausing your listing covers how the different options work.

Also check for any message from Airbnb about required information, like a registration number, that's missing. Some areas require one, and a listing may be limited until it's added.

3. Check the calendar and trip settings

This is the most common cause. A listing won't show up for dates it can't accept. Look at:

• Blocked dates. Are the nights you searched actually open?
• Availability window. If your calendar only opens three months ahead, you won't appear for searches further out. Our post on how far ahead to open your calendar covers this.
• Minimum stay. A three-night minimum hides you from every two-night search. Our post on setting a minimum stay explains how to balance it.
• Advance notice and preparation time. If you need two days' notice, you won't show for searches starting tomorrow. A blocked night between stays can also leave gaps that don't fit common trip lengths. Our post on preparation time between bookings has more.
• Check-in day restrictions. If guests can only arrive on certain days, searches starting on other days won't include you.

4. Check guest count and filters

If your listing sleeps four and someone searches for five, you won't show. The same applies to filters. Guests often filter for Wi-Fi, a washing machine, parking, free cancellation or Instant Book. If an amenity you have isn't ticked in your listing, you'll be filtered out for anyone who selects it. Go through your amenities list carefully.

5. Check the map pin

If your location is set slightly wrong, you might appear in a different neighbourhood from the one guests search. Check the pin in your listing location settings.

If it shows, but on page five

Once you've confirmed the listing appears with the right dates and filters, the question changes from "why is it hidden?" to "why does it rank low?". That's mainly about:

• Price compared with similar listings. Being noticeably more expensive for the same thing pushes you down.
• Photos. Our post on whether Airbnb ranks by photo quality covers what matters there.
• Reviews and ratings, including how recent they are.
• Your title and description, which affect how many people click.

Our listing optimisation tool checks the parts of your listing you control and suggests specific improvements.

If nothing explains it

If the listing is published, the calendar is open, the filters match and it still doesn't appear for any search, contact Airbnb support. Occasionally there's a technical issue or a restriction on the account that only support can see. Our post on what to do if your listing is suspended covers the more serious cases.