Airbnb Supplies: A Complete Checklist for Vacation Rental Hosts

There’s a lot of work that goes into creating the perfect experience for your Airbnb guests. It’s more than merely providing essentials that guests have come to expect. You’ll also want to purchase a few special items that will make your vacation rental guests feel like they are well taken care of, complement your location, and set the tone so that they can unwind.

Generally, when it comes to deciding which Airbnb supplies to purchase for your guests, you should think of your property as commercial accommodation. Purchase the same quality of toiletries, linens, and other items that you usually see in hotels. 

However, since many Airbnb properties don’t really match the traditional concept of a hotel, you’ll also need to consider the type of guests that your property attracts. Follow the tips below to make your space suitable and attractive to your target audience.

Airbnb Supplies Essential Checklist

Here is a complete checklist of what Airbnb supplies you’ll need, followed by some tips on where to buy them.

For the Bathroom

• Bath towels
• Hand towels
• Toilet paper
• Hand soap
• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Body wash
• Body soap (a soap bar will need to be replaced after every guest, but it means less plastic than disposable bottles of body wash).
• Body lotion
• Shower hanger
• Towel hanger
• Hair dryer
• Bath mat
• Garbage can

Hosting tip: You can also consider leaving disposable toothbrushes, toothpaste, and disposable razors. While these aren’t bathroom essentials, they are items that guests typically forget (and only realize after all the stores have closed).

For the bedroom

• Bed linen
• Pillows (more than one pillow per guest is ideal)
• Tissues
• A safe for valuables
• Bedside table and lamp
• Garbage can
• Notepad and pen
• Hangers for clothing
• An alarm clock

For the kitchen

• Tea and coffee
• Kettle
• Sugar and seasonings
• Dishes
• Pots and pans
• Silverware
• Cups
• Wine glasses
• Ice trays
• Coasters
• Tupperware
• Cleaning supplies
• Dishwashing liquid
• Hand soap
• Trash bags
• Mop
• Broom
• Dustpan
• Oven Mitts
• Dish towels

Living room

• Reading items like local magazines, travel guides, or your welcome book for the coffee table
• Stationery
• Board games
• Coasters
• An area rug for warmth
• Indoor plants
• A few decor pieces like wall art, throw pillows, etc.

Hosting tip: Guests typically travel with a few mobile devices that need to be charged daily. Extension cords and power strips with USB ports are an added touch your guests, especially digital nomads, will appreciate.

Appliances

• Washer and dryer
• Television
• Cable and/or subscription streaming service
• Clothing iron
• Wi-Fi

Safety equipment

• First-aid kit
• Smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector
• Fire extinguisher(s)
• Contact list for emergency services
• Wi-Fi thermostat
• Electrical coverings, safety gate, and other items for childproofing
• Disaster kit
• Anti-slip mats

While this list is a general checklist that can be applied to all Airbnb properties, you should also make sure to tweak your essentials to match the types of guests that your property attracts. Also, look at your guest communication and reviews, if you receive requests for specific items regularly, it’s your cue to go shopping for your vacation rental.

Airbnb Supplies Checklist by Guest Type

Here are some additional items to consider for your Airbnb supplies checklist. These items will help you cater to the various types of guests and show that you’re a considerate Airbnb host.

For business travelers

Business travelers tend to have more convenience and efficiency-focused requirements when it comes to Airbnb toiletries and vacation rental amenities. For some extras, consider buying spare smartphone chargers and setting up a laptop-friendly workspace somewhere quiet in your vacation rental property. A coffee maker would also be a great addition to your property, for pretty much every guest type!

For leisure travelers

If guests are staying at your property while on vacation, you’ll want to make an extra effort to make your place feel like a home away from home. In this case, it will be the small details that matter most to your guests.

Upgrading to more expensive brands for toiletries and purchasing an Egyptian cotton linen collection are two simple ways to help your guests relax.

“All bed linens are not created equal. Something that surprised me was that some bed linens, despite the price being on par, or close to, are not going to work. [For] most properties, I have a linen company who wash and lend me the sheets and towels. They are then responsible for ensuring the quality and pressing, and so everything always looks good.”

— Elaine Watt, Holiday Let Success

You should also make sure that you have a well-stocked kitchen, with the assumption that your guests might like to cook. 

For couples

For couples that are using Airbnb for a romantic getaway, make your guests feel like they are escaping everyday life. Airbnb supplies that are nice extras to purchase for couples include:  

• A welcome gift basket (with a welcome letter) 
• Fresh flowers
• Bubble bath

For guests with pets

Guests who are traveling with their furry friends will certainly appreciate it if you leave a few pet-related supplies in your vacation rental property somewhere. You don’t need to go as far as pet food, but perhaps some extra bowls for water, pet-friendly furniture covers, a roll of poop bags to clean up the garden of your Airbnb property, and additional cleaning supplies.

For families with children

If your guests tend to bring their children along when staying at your Airbnb property, you should make sure that you have all of the items that parents need to feel safe and comfortable. Invest in childproofing and extra guest linens. You may also want to add: 

• A crib
• A play area for the children
• Age-appropriate toys (stored separately from any dog toys)
• Night lights

Where to Buy Airbnb Supplies

It’s generally advisable to purchase your Airbnb supplies in bulk, especially small-sized items like toiletries that you can easily store out of sight. Not only will you get access to wholesale pricing, but it will also mean that you don’t have to shop as often for refills.

Discount stores and box stores provide great deals on bulk Airbnb towels, sheets, and more. You can also purchase Airbnb toiletries from online shopping sites.

For purchasing supplies in bulk, many vacation rental hosts rely on: 

• Costco
• Amazon
• Target
• Walmart

Online shopping sites are also particularly useful for stocking up on supplies because you can set up automatic shipments so that you never have to worry about finding time to order them again.

It also makes it easier to decide what to buy, as you can easily filter according to review, price, color, etc. That said, you can’t check the expiration date and you might find that what you bought yesterday is set to expire next already.

Subscription orders are pretty much essential if you have multiple Airbnb listings and you want to make sure that they are always well-stocked. Then, you can simply adjust your monthly purchases over time based on your needs.

Protecting Your Airbnb Supplies Investments

Although you want to provide a great experience for each and every guest, don’t overlook the importance of protecting the investment you’ve made in vacation rental supplies.

You might worry about the Airbnb risks of purchasing certain amenities, in case guests disrespect your property. However, there are ways to protect your property, such as checking your guests’ reputation thoroughly before accepting a booking.

For more expensive items, such as Airbnb furniture and appliances, these items will be covered under Airbnb’s insurance policy, as well as your own insurance that you purchased for your Airbnb business.

If you’re in doubt about whether the supplies and amenities of your property will be covered by your insurance, make sure to ask your insurance agent or Airbnb first.

The Final Item on Your List

Once you’ve stocked the necessary supplies, it is time to start making money with your vacation rental. To set your business up for success and make sure you are keeping various aspects under control, opt for vacation rental software.

Vacation rental software such as iGMS will streamline your daily tasks and help optimize your business operations.