Airbnb listing photo tips: how many photos and what to shoot
Airbnb needs at least 5 photos to publish, but most strong listings show every room from more than one angle. Here is Airbnb's own advice, plus a simple shot list.
Every room or space should have at least one photo so it can appear in your photo tour (Airbnb Help: photo tour).
The first 5 photos matter most because they are prominently displayed on your listing, and you can reorder them in the photo tour (Airbnb Help).
Horizontal photos, since images get cropped to squares in search results; turn off the flash, use natural light, shoot straight ahead and mix wide, mid-range and close-up shots (How to take great photos).
High resolution: Airbnb's photo tips say at least 1200 by 800 pixels, and its help center says at least 1024 by 683 (photo tips, photo tour).
Captions that explain what the photo does not show, like "The drop-leaf dining table seats up to 10 people when fully extended."
Realistic photos. Avoid ultra-wide angles and over-editing that make a space look bigger or brighter than it is (Setting clear expectations).
How many photos? Our rule of thumb
Airbnb sets the minimum at 5 but does not give an ideal number. Our own rule of thumb, used in the free score, is about 3 photos per room (wide, mid-range, detail) plus the outdoor areas and any standout amenity. For a 2-bedroom place that usually lands between 20 and 30. The free score gives full photo-count points at 25 or more.
Shot list
Cover photo: your single best feature (view, porch, pool, the main living space in good light)
Living area, wide and from a second corner
Kitchen, wide, plus a detail (coffee setup, cooktop)
Each bedroom, wide, plus the bed and storage
Each bathroom
Workspace, if you list one
Outdoor spaces: yard, deck, patio, grill, fire pit
Parking and entry, so arrival is clear
Standout amenities: hot tub, bikes, game room, beach gear
Accessibility features, if any (step-free entry, wide doorways)
Score your listing free
Paste your title, description, amenities and photo count into the free ListingLift score and get your top 3 fixes in seconds. Nothing leaves your browser.