24-hour free cancellation period for reservations in California

Under a new California law going into effect July 1, 2024, guests may cancel certain reservations (as defined in our Terms of Service) for stays in California for up to 24 hours after the reservation is confirmed and receive a full refund, regardless of the cancellation policy that otherwise applies to the reservation. This only applies to reservations that were confirmed at least 72 hours before check-in.

To improve the booking experience, Airbnb will apply this 24-hour free cancellation period to all reservations for stays in California.

Which guest reservations are eligible

Reservations for stays in California can be canceled by the guest for a full refund for up to 24 hours after the reservation is confirmed, as long as the reservation was confirmed at least 72 hours before check-in.

Cancellation and booking confirmation times are based on the local time zone for listings in California, Pacific Time.

How cancellations impact Host payouts

Hosts will not be entitled to any payout for the canceled reservation. In most cases, this means that the Host will not be paid for the reservation. If for any reason the Host is paid despite the guest’s cancellation under this rule, Airbnb may recover that amount as provided in our Payments Terms of Service.

Calendar is unblocked after a guest cancels

When a guest cancels their stay during the 24-hour free cancellation period, we’ll automatically unblock the dates on the Host’s calendar so they can host other guests.

When and how guests will be refunded

Guests who cancel within 24 hours of receiving a confirmation will be issued a full refund to their original form of payment within 30 days of the cancellation.