Free Airbnb Welcome Book Template – Download & Impress Guests

Welcome, fellow hosts! If you're like us, you're always looking for ways to make your guests' stay smoother and your hosting life easier. After more than a decade as Superhosts across different countries, we've learned that a clear, welcoming guidebook is one of the most powerful tools in our arsenal. It’s not just a binder of rules; it’s the first real handshake with your guests, setting the tone for their entire trip.

A great welcome book anticipates questions, solves problems before they happen (like the classic 'how does the coffee maker work?' at 6 AM), and shows you truly care. This simple touch can slash repetitive questions, boost those glowing 5-star reviews, and ultimately, make your hosting journey more rewarding. But you don't need to be a design guru or spend a fortune to create one. Based on what's worked for us, we've curated a list of the best free Airbnb welcome book template options out there to help you get started.

We've done the digging to find standout templates that solve the problem of creating a professional guest guide without the cost. In this list, you'll find everything from editable Canva designs to free tiers of sophisticated digital guidebook platforms. For each resource, we provide a direct link, an honest assessment, and practical insights to help you choose the perfect fit for your property and hosting style.

The main limitation for all of these templates is, as a PDF or printed document, they're a static resource. Once you send your welcome book or print it, you cannot update it in real-time for guests. For dynamic, always-up-to-date information, a digital guidebook is often a better long-term solution.

1. SmoothStay's Professional Canva Template: Our Top Pick

As hosts with over a decade of experience, we designed this free Airbnb welcome book template to be the exact resource we always wanted. It's a comprehensive, professionally designed starting point for creating a guide that immediately elevates your guest experience. We've packed it with over 20 essential pages, covering everything from check-in instructions and Wi-Fi access to detailed appliance guides and curated local recommendations. It’s built to solve the real-world challenge of providing thorough information in a beautiful, easy-to-digest format.

Key Features & Benefits

This template's primary strength is its balance of professional polish and practical application. It’s fully editable in the free version of Canva, which means you don't need any design skills or paid software to customize it. Simply add your property photos, tweak the text, and adjust the colors to match your branding.

• Host-Tested Content: The layout and sections are based on thousands of guest interactions. We included prompts for information guests actually ask for, saving you time and preventing repetitive questions.

• Comprehensive Structure: With 20+ pages, it covers critical areas like house rules, emergency contacts, local transit, and top restaurant picks.

• Professional Design: It's designed to look like a high-end, custom guide, which helps build guest trust and reinforces the quality of your rental from the moment they arrive. For more insights on what to include, you can learn more about crafting the perfect vacation rental welcome book.

Practical Considerations

To access the template, you'll need to provide your email address, and a download link will be sent to your inbox. It’s available in both US Letter and A4 formats with three pre-designed color schemes.

2. Lodgify

Lodgify, a well-known vacation rental software provider, offers a solid airbnb welcome book template free as part of a detailed how-to guide on their blog. From our perspective as hosts, this resource is less about flashy design and more about building a strong foundation. It’s an excellent starting point for new hosts who need a structured outline of what information is truly essential for guests.

The guide accompanying the template is particularly useful, breaking down each section from welcome messages to checkout procedures. This practical, step-by-step advice helps ensure you cover all your bases, which is critical when you're just starting out. You can access the template and the full guide on the Lodgify blog.

Why It Stands Out

What makes Lodgify's offering valuable is its source. Coming from a reputable industry leader, the template is grounded in practical hosting knowledge. It prioritizes function over form, making sure hosts communicate the most critical information clearly. This approach is perfect for those who want a simple, no-fuss document they can print or save as a PDF.

• Best For: New hosts who need a basic, well-structured template backed by expert guidance.

• Access: Downloadable via a form on their blog post, likely requiring an email submission.

• Pros: Sourced from a trusted industry vendor, includes helpful practical advice, and is a great foundational tool.

• Cons: The template is basic in design and not optimized for easy editing in platforms like Canva or Word.

3. TheGoodocs

TheGoodocs offers a practical collection of airbnb welcome book template free options for hosts who prefer working with traditional word-processing software. For hosts who want a simple, no-fuss binder they can quickly edit in Google Docs or Microsoft Word, these templates are an excellent choice. We've found that sometimes a straightforward, printable document is the most reliable way to get essential information into guests' hands.

The templates are print-ready and designed for both A4 and US Letter sizes, making them versatile for international hosts. You can find multiple styles, from professional to more luxurious designs, allowing for a degree of brand alignment without needing any graphic design skills. Simply open the file, replace the placeholder text, and print. You can find the templates directly on TheGoodocs website.

Why It Stands Out

The standout feature of TheGoodocs is its accessibility and simplicity. There are no complex design tools to learn; if you can use Google Docs, you can create a welcome book in minutes. This is a huge advantage for hosts who want to create a physical binder without the learning curve associated with platforms like Canva. The templates are well-structured, covering all the necessary sections a guest might need.

• Best For: Hosts looking for a fast, simple, and printable solution using Google Docs or Microsoft Word.

• Access: Direct download and editing via a shared Google Docs link.

• Pros: 100% free with attribution, incredibly easy and fast to edit, perfect for creating physical binders.

• Cons: Requires attribution on the free tier, and the designs are more basic than professionally designed Canva templates.

4. Template.net

Template.net offers a vast library of templates for hosts who prefer working with traditional office software. Their airbnb welcome book template free collection is available in familiar formats like Word, Google Docs, PSD, and Apple Pages, making it an excellent resource for those who want to avoid learning new design platforms. This flexibility is key for hosts needing to make quick, offline edits and print a guidebook with minimal hassle.

The platform is a solid choice for creating a straightforward, printable welcome book. Its online editor allows for on-the-fly customizations directly in your browser before you download the file in your preferred format. This feature is particularly useful for hosts who may not have design software installed on their computers and want a simple, direct editing experience.

Why It Stands Out

The primary advantage of Template.net is its sheer variety of file formats, which is a significant departure from the Canva-centric options on our list. For hosts comfortable with Microsoft Word or Google Docs, these templates provide a familiar editing environment. While some designs require a premium subscription, many functional and well-designed options are available for free, offering a practical solution for hosts on a budget.

• Best For: Hosts who prefer editing in traditional software like Word or Google Docs and need a quick, printable solution.

• Access: Many templates are free to download and edit; some premium designs require a subscription.

• Pros: Supports multiple formats (Word, Google Docs, Pages), includes a convenient online editor, and offers a good selection of free options.

• Cons: The design quality can be inconsistent across different templates, and the best options are often locked behind a paywall.

5. Evolve

Evolve, a well-known vacation rental management company, offers a straightforward and practical airbnb welcome book template free to download. This resource is presented within a blog post that doubles as a guide, providing context and best-practice advice from a trusted industry name. It focuses on the core information every guest needs, making it an excellent resource for hosts who want a no-frills, effective solution.

The template is designed to be printed and filled out, covering essential topics from emergency contacts to check-out procedures. While it's a basic document, the value comes from the professional guidance Evolve provides alongside it, ensuring hosts understand the why behind each section. This approach helps you create a guide that is not just informative but also enhances the overall guest experience by anticipating their needs.

Why It Stands Out

What makes Evolve's offering valuable is its backing by a major industry player. The template is simple, but the accompanying advice is host-tested and geared toward professionalism and clarity. It strips away the design complexities and focuses purely on communicating critical information effectively, which is often exactly what new hosts need to get started without feeling overwhelmed.

• Best For: New hosts or those who prefer a simple, print-and-fill template backed by professional guidance.

• Access: Direct download link available within a blog post.

• Pros: Actionable content from a trusted brand, great for first-time hosts, and a clear, focused layout.

• Cons: The design is very basic with limited customization, and you must navigate the blog content to find the download link.

6. iGMS

iGMS, a well-known vacation rental software provider, offers a straightforward and practical airbnb welcome book template free to download. This template is presented alongside a detailed article that walks hosts through exactly what information to include, making it an excellent resource for those who value content and clarity. As hosts, we know that a well-structured guide is more effective than a pretty but confusing one, and iGMS prioritizes function over pure aesthetics.

This resource is ideal for hosts who want a no-nonsense, content-first approach. The template is logically organized, with clear sections for everything from emergency contacts to local recommendations, ensuring you cover all the essential bases. It’s a solid foundation that you can either use as is or expand upon with your own branding and design elements.

Why It Stands Out

What makes the iGMS template valuable is its origin from a reputable property management software company. This means the structure is based on industry best practices and designed to address common guest questions efficiently. The accompanying guide provides context for each section, explaining why certain information is crucial, which is particularly helpful for new hosts trying to anticipate guest needs and streamline communication.

• Best For: Hosts who prefer a simple, content-focused template backed by an industry expert.

• Access: Downloadable from their website, though email submission may be required.

• Pros: Clear and logical structure, backed by a trusted industry name, and easy to customize for any property.

• Cons: The design is quite basic and prioritizes information over visual style.

7. Highnote

Highnote offers a modern, web-based airbnb welcome book template free that shifts the focus from printable documents to dynamic, shareable digital guides. Based on our experience, guests often prefer quick access on their phones, and Highnote excels at delivering a mobile-first experience. It's designed for hosts who want to embed multimedia like video tutorials for a smart lock or a complex coffee machine, which can significantly reduce guest questions.

This template is structured as a "presentation" or microsite that you share via a simple link, making it incredibly easy for guests to access before and during their stay. The platform guides you through creating sections for check-in instructions, house rules, and local recommendations. Its digital nature means you can update information like Wi-Fi passwords or restaurant suggestions in real-time without reprinting anything.

Why It Stands Out

What makes Highnote unique is its strong emphasis on multimedia and ease of sharing. While a PDF is static, a Highnote guide is an interactive space where a welcome video can replace a page of text. This approach is perfect for demonstrating how to use specific amenities, which we've found is far more effective than written instructions alone. It’s a completely different and more modern approach to the traditional welcome book.

• Best For: Hosts who prioritize a digital, mobile-friendly guide and want to use video tutorials.

• Access: Free to use the template and publish a guide after creating a Highnote account.

• Pros: Quick to create and update, excellent for visual content, and no printing costs.

• Cons: Not designed for printing, and customization options for layout and branding are limited.

Your Next Step to Happier Guests and Easier Hosting

You now have a comprehensive list of the best free Airbnb welcome book templates available, from versatile Canva designs to dedicated digital guidebook platforms. We've walked through printable PDFs, interactive digital versions, and everything in between, sharing what we've learned from each approach. The core takeaway is simple: a well-crafted welcome book is one of the highest-impact, lowest-cost tools in any host's toolkit.

Based on our decade of experience as Superhosts, we know that the right welcome guide does more than just answer "What's the Wi-Fi password?". It anticipates guest needs, sets clear expectations, and showcases the unique personality of your property and local area. It’s your silent co-host, working 24/7 to ensure guests feel confident, comfortable, and cared for. This proactive communication is the foundation of 5-star hospitality.

Selecting the Best Approach

What should your next step be? The ideal decision relies on your hosting style and the guest experience you aim to provide. While other hosts may have different approaches, here’s what has proven effective for us:

• For the DIY Host with One or Two Properties: If you prefer a hands-on approach and like a printable format, our free Canva template is an excellent, risk-free starting point. These templates are simple to edit, print, and leave for your guests.

• For the Tech-Savvy Host with One Property: If you're comfortable with digital tools and want a flexible, easily updated guide, the SmoothStay free digital guidebook is perfect. It caters to hosts who enjoy organizing and sharing detailed information.

• For the Advanced Host Seeking Scalability: If you're managing multiple properties or want to provide a top-tier, mobile-first experience, consider the paid plan of the SmoothStay digital guidebook. This AI-powered platform is tailored to meet the needs of modern hosts.

In the end, the most effective Airbnb welcome book template is the one you actively use and keep current. Avoid striving for perfection at the expense of progress. Choose a template that resonates with you, invest a few hours in personalizing it, and put it into action. You'll notice a decrease in repetitive questions and an improvement in guest feedback. You're not just offering accommodation; you're crafting an experience, and your welcome book is the introduction.

Ready to elevate your guest experience beyond a static PDF? At SmoothStay, we built the digital guidebook we always wished we had as hosts. If you're just starting out, we offer a completely free version of our digital guidebook that's great for solo hosts. It’s built by hosts, for hosts, with guest-first features and fair pricing when you’re ready to grow.