House Manual
What is an Airbnb welcome book?
An Airbnb welcome book is a digital or printed guide hosts give guests at check-in. It collects the Wi-Fi password, house manual, house rules, local recommendations and check-out steps in one place — replacing scattered notes and repeat questions. Think of it as your property's concierge: everything a guest needs, beautifully organised.
Most hosts start with a loose note or a Google Doc and bolt things on over time. It works — until a guest can't find the Wi-Fi and messages you mid-dinner. A welcome book fixes that by giving every answer a home, in an order guests can skim, on whatever device they have in hand.
What to include in an Airbnb welcome book
A complete welcome book includes nine sections: a warm welcome, Wi-Fi and essentials, a house manual, house rules, a local guide, check-in and check-out steps, emergency info, and your contact details. Together they answer the questions guests ask most — so the stay feels effortless and your inbox stays quiet.
- A warm welcome — two or three lines in your voice.
- Wi-Fi & essentials — network, password, and a one-tap QR code.
- House manual — appliances, heating/AC, parking, bins. Pairs with our house manual template ›
- House rules — short, friendly, framed as "how we keep this place lovely."
- Local guide — your favourite cafés, walks and restaurants.
- Check-in & check-out — clear, skimmable steps.
- Emergency info — nearest hospital, exits, who to call.
- Contact — the best way to reach you.
- Extras — house favourites, upsells, the little touches.
Want the full breakdown with examples and what to leave out? Read the deep-dive: What to include in an Airbnb welcome book (the 9 sections) ›
Digital vs printed: which should you use?
Use a digital welcome book as your primary guide and keep a small printed copy at the property as backup. Digital books send before arrival, update instantly across properties, and work on any phone via a link or QR code. Hosts who switch to a digital guidebook consistently report fewer repeat guest questions.
Fewer
Hosts consistently report fewer repeat guest questions after switching to a digital guidebook. (Industry observation — we're running our own host poll to publish a first-party number.)
| Digital | Printed | |
|---|---|---|
| Send before arrival | Yes | No |
| Update instantly | Yes | Reprint |
| Works on any phone | Yes (link/QR) | In-home only |
| Survives no-signal moments | Needs the link | Always there |
| Best use | Primary guide | Backup copy |
Our template is a print-ready, fillable PDF, so you can send it digitally before arrival and leave a printed copy on the counter. More on this: Digital vs printed welcome books ›
How to make an Airbnb welcome book in Canva
To set up your Airbnb welcome book: open the fillable PDF, type in your property name, Wi-Fi, house manual and local picks (or print it and write them in), then save your copy. Print one for the property and send the PDF to guests before arrival — most hosts finish in under an hour. An editable Canva version is coming soon (free for early buyers).
1
Open the fillable PDF
Download your file and open it in any free PDF reader — no special software or account needed.
2
Add your details
Type in your property name, Wi-Fi, house manual and local recommendations — or print it and write them in.
3
Make it yours
Add your own welcome note and house favourites so it reads in your voice, not like a blank form.
4
Print or send
Print a copy for the property and send the PDF to guests before arrival.
Best value
Skip the blank page — start from a designed template
~9-page fillable PDF (US Letter), every section laid out, print-ready. Instant download, yours forever. An editable Canva version is coming soon (free for early buyers).
Free vs paid welcome book template
A free welcome book template is a fine starting point, but usually means a generic layout, limited pages and no property-type tailoring. A paid template gives you a cohesive, designed system — more sections, a matching house manual and rules, and print-ready, mobile-friendly PDF formatting — so it looks five-star, not like a filled-in form.
If you just want to try the format, grab our free welcome-book sample first. When you're ready for the polished version that matches the rest of your guest experience, the full template or the Complete Host Suite is the upgrade.
Examples by property type
The best welcome books match the property. A cabin highlights firewood, well water and trail maps; a beach house covers outdoor showers, tides and parking; a city loft leans into transit and dining. Start from a base template and tailor the local guide and house manual to your guests' real questions.
Airbnb welcome book FAQ
What is an Airbnb welcome book?
An editable digital or printed guide hosts give guests at check-in, collecting Wi-Fi, the house manual, house rules, local recommendations and check-out steps in one place.
What do I need to edit it?
Nothing special. It's a print-ready, fillable PDF — open it in any free PDF reader, type your details in, or print it and write them by hand. An editable Canva version is coming soon (free for early buyers).
Is a digital or printed welcome book better?
Use digital as your primary guide (it sends before arrival and updates instantly) and keep a small printed copy as backup. Hosts using digital guidebooks report up to 61% fewer guest inquiries.
Can guests open it on their phone?
Yes. The digital version is mobile-friendly and works from a shareable link or a QR code you place at the property.
Build the rest of your guest experience
The welcome book is the hub — these match it end to end:
