Airbnb Guest Welcome Kit.
What to put in the welcome basket, what it should cost per stay, and the consumables to keep stocked between guests.
STRKit Editorial
Updated September 2026
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A good Airbnb welcome kit is small, consumable, and specific to your area. The version that works for most listings costs $25–$40 per stay: water, the first morning's coffee, one local treat, breakfast basics, backup toiletries, and a one-page local guide. Below are three tiers by budget, the par levels for consumables you restock every turnover, and the handful of things hosts regret including.
Welcome basket by budget.
Pick the tier that matches your nightly rate, then adjust for length of stay.
Essentials
$10–$15 per stay
Budget listings, short stays, high turnover
- Bottled or filtered water (2 per guest)
- Coffee pods or ground coffee for 2 days, plus tea
- One shelf-stable snack (granola bars, pretzels, local chips)
- Handwritten welcome note with the WiFi password
Standard
$25–$40 per stay
Most 2–3 bedroom listings, stays of 3+ nights
- Everything in Essentials
- A local treat (bakery item, regional candy, roasted nuts)
- Breakfast basics: oatmeal packets, a small jar of local honey or jam
- Sparkling water or a non-alcoholic welcome drink
- Travel-size backup toiletries in case a guest forgot something
- Printed one-page local guide: 3 restaurants, 1 grocery, 1 pharmacy
Premium
$75–$120 per stay
Luxury listings, $250+ nightly rates, milestone bookings
- Everything in Standard, presented in a reusable basket or crate
- A bottle of local wine or craft beverage (check local rules first)
- Fresh fruit delivered the day of check-in
- A small branded keepsake guests take home (tote, mug, candle)
- Personalized note referencing the reason for their trip
Pro tip: the note matters more than the basket. Two handwritten lines that reference the guest's trip (“Enjoy the wedding this weekend”) outperform a bigger basket with a generic card, and cost nothing.
Consumables to restock every turnover.
These aren't gifts, they're expectations. Running out of any of them is a one-star-deduction event. Set par levels and have your cleaner confirm them on every turnover.
Toilet paper
Par level: 4 rolls per bathroom + 6 in the closet
Paper towels
Par level: 2 rolls out + 4 in reserve
Coffee pods / ground coffee
Par level: 2 servings per guest per day, plus 20%
Tea assortment
Par level: One box of 20 bags, mixed caffeinated and herbal
Sugar, creamer, salt, pepper, cooking oil
Par level: Small containers, replaced every 4–6 stays
Dish soap, sponge, dishwasher pods
Par level: Full bottle at check-in; new sponge every turnover
Trash bags
Par level: One roll per bin size, stored under the sink
Hand soap and body wash refills
Par level: Refill wall dispensers when under one third
What to leave out.
The welcome-kit mistakes that show up in reviews and cleaning bills.
Anything perishable that outlasts a single stay
Milk, cheese, and cut fruit become a cleaning problem and a review risk if they turn.
Alcohol without checking local rules
Some jurisdictions treat a complimentary bottle as furnishing alcohol. Verify before you gift it.
Strongly scented candles or diffusers
Scent sensitivities are common. Unscented or lightly scented only, and never lit-on-arrival.
Nuts as the only snack
Allergies. Offer a nut-free option alongside anything containing nuts.
Cheap branded swag
A flimsy keychain reads as clutter, not hospitality. Skip it or make it something people keep.
Common questions.
What should be in an Airbnb welcome kit?
At minimum: water, coffee and tea for the first morning, one snack, and a note with the WiFi password. Standard listings add a local treat, breakfast basics, backup toiletries, and a one-page local guide. Budget $10–$15 per stay for essentials and $25–$40 for a standard welcome basket.
How much should I spend on a welcome basket?
Scale it to your nightly rate and length of stay. A useful rule is 3–5% of the booking value, capped where it stops making sense: $15 for a two-night budget stay, $40 for a week-long family booking, $100 or more for luxury listings where the basket is part of the brand.
Do welcome baskets actually improve reviews?
Small, thoughtful touches are one of the most common things guests mention in written reviews, and a welcome kit is the cheapest way to create one. It will not rescue a bad mattress or a dirty bathroom, so fund the fundamentals first and treat the welcome kit as the finishing layer.
What is the difference between a guest welcome kit and a host starter kit?
A host starter kit is everything you buy once to furnish the property: mattress, linens, cookware, smart lock. A guest welcome kit is the consumable basket you restock for each stay. This page covers the welcome kit; our Airbnb Starter Kit covers the full furnishing checklist.
Fund the fundamentals first.
A welcome kit is the finishing layer. These are the purchases that carry the review.