The Airbnb House Manual Template Every Host Should Steal (Free)

A house manual is the practical cousin of the welcome book: it’s the “how everything works” document your guests reach for when the oven won’t turn on or they can’t find the trash. A good one prevents the small, repetitive questions that eat up your evenings.

Here’s a complete template you can copy and adapt. Everything in brackets is a placeholder — replace it with your own details.

The fill-in-the-blank template

Welcome to [Property Name]!

We’re so glad you’re here. This manual has everything you need for a comfortable stay. If anything’s unclear, message us at [contact method] — we’re happy to help.

Getting in Check-in is after [time]. [Door code / lockbox instructions]. If you have any trouble getting in, call or message [phone/name].

Wi-Fi Network: [network name] Password: [password]

The basics

• Thermostat: [location and how to use]
• Kitchen: coffee and basics are in [location]. The dishwasher [how to run it].
• Trash & recycling: [where bins are, collection day if relevant]
• Laundry: [washer/dryer instructions, if available]
• TV & streaming: [how to turn on, which apps guests can use]

House rules

• Quiet hours: [times]
• Smoking: [policy]
• Pets: [policy]
• Max guests: [number]
• Parking: [exactly where]

Nearby favorites

• Coffee: [name]
• Dinner: [name], [name]
• Groceries: [name]
• Worth a visit: [name]

Before you check out (by [time])

• Start the dishwasher / wash dishes
• Take trash to [location]
• Turn thermostat to [setting]
• Lock all doors and windows
• Leave keys [where]

Emergencies Fire extinguisher: [location]. Circuit breaker: [location]. Local emergency number: [number]. For anything urgent, reach us at [phone].

Thanks for treating our home with care — enjoy your stay!

How to make it actually get read

A template is only half the battle. Even the best manual doesn’t help if guests never open it. A few things that make a real difference:

• Keep it short. Guests skim. Bullet points and bold labels beat paragraphs.
• Put the Wi-Fi where they’ll look. In the manual and on a small printed sign near the entry or router. Most guests grab their phone before they read anything.
• Make it easy to open. A physical binder is easy to ignore; a link or QR code they can scan on arrival gets opened far more often.
• Lead with what they need first. Getting in and Wi-Fi at the top; local tips and rules below.

Printed, PDF, or digital?

Each format has a trade-off:

Format	Pro	Con
Printed binder	Physical, always in the home	Can’t be updated remotely; guests must be on-site
Canva / Word PDF	Looks polished	Painful to update; often ends up outdated
Digital guidebook	Always current, works on any phone, shareable link + QR	You need a tool to build it

Many experienced hosts pair a printed sign or binder with a digital version so the info stays current no matter what.

Skip the copy-paste: build it in minutes

If you’d rather not wrangle a Word doc, Welcomebookly turns this exact template into a shareable digital manual: fill in the sections, get a link and a printable QR code, and update it anytime without reprinting. It’s free while in beta, and there’s no account required.

You can also grab a head start with our other free tools — the House Rules Generator and the Wi-Fi Sign Generator — and drop the results straight into your manual.