Booking window

The booking window, also called the availability window, is how far into the future guests can book your calendar. If it is set to 3 months, a guest planning 5 months ahead cannot book you.

Examples on this page use made-up homes and numbers to show the method. They are not client results.

Where it is set

Each platform has its own setting, usually offered as 3, 6, 9, 12 or 24 months, or “all future dates”. Airbnb and Vrbo do not share it.

Example

Imagine two similar homes. One is open 12 months ahead and the other only 6. A guest planning a summer stay in January can book the first and cannot even see the second.

How to choose

• Check your booking lead time. The window should be comfortably longer than your longest typical lead time.
• Large homes and holiday destinations usually need 12 months.
• If you are unsure about prices far ahead, keep the window long and set far-off dates at a higher rate rather than closing them.

Put it to work

• Guide: Vrbo listing not showing in search? Check your minimum stay
• Service: Co-Hosting, where we rebuild your listing against the homes beside it and keep it current, with nothing to pay upfront.

Related terms

• Booking lead time
• Minimum stay
• Occupancy rate

Written by the HostTuneUp team.