Airbnb doesn't publish their algorithm. But patterns emerge from data.
The 12 Known Ranking Factors
Tier 1: Critical (Biggest Impact) 1. Response Rate & Time - Respond to 100% of inquiries within 1 hour 2. Acceptance Rate - Declining bookings tanks your ranking 3. Review Score - 4.8+ is the threshold for top placement 4. Review Recency - Recent reviews weight more than old ones
Tier 2: Important 5. Booking History - Properties that book get shown more 6. Calendar Accuracy - Blocked dates that could be open hurt you 7. Price Competitiveness - Relative to similar listings 8. Wish List Additions - Social proof signal
Tier 3: Contributory 9. Photo Quality - Click-through rates from search 10. Description Completeness - Filled profiles rank higher 11. Amenity Completeness - More amenities selected = more filter matches 12. Instant Book - Slight preference for instant book enabled
What We Know Works
Hosts who focus on Tier 1 factors see measurable ranking improvements within 2-4 weeks.
The algorithm rewards consistency. One bad month can take three good months to recover from.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Airbnb decide which listings to show first?
Airbnb uses a combination of quality signals (reviews, response rate), relevance (matching search criteria), and personalization (guest history and preferences).
What hurts Airbnb search ranking?
Slow response times, declined bookings, cancellations, low review scores, and inactive calendars significantly hurt ranking.
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