What Airbnb does not reimburse: consumables and wear
What Airbnb does not reimburse: consumables and wear
Airbnb does not reimburse consumables or normal wear. Shampoo, coffee and worn textiles fall outside cover.
The line has been explicit since April 2026. Damage is reimbursed, use is not. Mixing both into one claim weakens the legitimate part of it.
Airbnb Host Damage Protection Terms, April 2026 versionIn 60 seconds
Consumables such as shampoo, coffee, washing-up liquid or toilet paper are not reimbursed. They are a cost of operating.
Normal wear is also excluded. A sagging sofa cushion after two years is use, not damage.
Stays booked outside the platform are not covered. The booking must have gone through Airbnb.
Do not mix legitimate and illegitimate items in one claim. An obviously overreaching item drags the credibility of the rest down with it.
The line between wear and damage is decided by the before. Without a documented starting condition it is pure assertion.
What Airbnb requires
Normal wear and tear, consumables and off-platform stays are not reimbursable. Guest-caused damage is reimbursed where supported by admissible evidence. This is a platform rule, not law.
Where the line runs
| Not reimbursable | Reimbursable |
|---|---|
| shampoo, coffee, washing-up liquid | broken inventory |
| textiles worn out over years | a fresh burn mark |
| scratches from normal use | a floor scratched during one stay |
| off-platform bookings | bookings made through Airbnb |
How to prove damage is new is covered in Proving damage in a holiday flat; what else changed is in Airbnb evidence rules 2026.
Common mistakes
Shampoo and coffee are excluded and weaken the remaining items.
What built up over years cannot be attributed to one guest.
The line between use and damage lives in the before picture.
What to do next
Limit the claim to real damage attributable to the guest. Do it with BildProof, about two minutes a room →
Price consumables into your cleaning fee, not into a damage claim.
Capture the starting condition at every turnover so wear and damage stay separable.
Frequently asked questions
Is a stain on the mattress wear or damage?
It depends on the before. A single fresh stain after a stay is damage if the mattress was clean beforehand. A mattress yellowed over years is wear. What decides it is whether you can show the condition before the stay.
Can I claim cleaning costs?
Only where the effort goes well beyond a normal end-of-stay clean. Regular cleaning is covered by your cleaning fee. Exceptional soiling, however, is reimbursable damage if you can evidence it.
What happens if I over-claim?
One obviously unjustified item damages the legitimate rest. A host who claims for shampoo and coffee reads as less credible overall. Claim precisely and claim less, but claim what you can prove.
This page gives general information as at the date shown. It does not replace legal advice on an individual case.