Best Bed Types for Airbnb
Your guests won’t always notice when you get it right, but they will definitely remember when you don’t.
Choosing the right beds for your short-term rental (STR) can make or break your guest experience. Cleanliness, comfort, safety, and layout are all top concerns that influence whether guests sleep soundly—or leave a less-than-stellar review. After reviewing insights and recommendations from experienced STR hosts across Facebook groups and community forums, we’ve distilled the most commonly cited priorities into a single guide to help you make informed, guest-centric decisions.
Why Bed Selection Matters
Guests rarely write glowing reviews about a good bed—but they’ll absolutely call out a bad one. From sagging mattresses to mysterious stains, bedding issues are among the fastest ways to lose a 5-star rating. What’s more, the bed is the most-used piece of furniture in any rental, making it your single most important investment in both satisfaction and durability.
To uncover what matters most to seasoned STR owners, we curated hundreds of comments and posts discussing bed setup and maintenance. The chart below summarizes the recurring themes and how often they were mentioned:
1. Cleanliness & Bed Bug Protection (90% of Hosts Say: Non-Negotiable)
Bed bugs = calendar-wiping nightmare. Clean beds aren’t just nice; they’re critical.
What hosts swear by:
Never use second-hand beds or frames.
Waterproof, zippered mattress encasements that block moisture and bugs.
Vinyl-covered box springs or plain memory foam bases—skip anything upholstered or tufted.
2. Comfort That Works for Most Guests (80%)
No one agrees on the perfect mattress, but most guests love a medium-firm setup with a quality topper. It’s the Goldilocks zone: not too soft, not too hard, and easy to tweak.
Host hacks:
Memory foam toppers soften cheaper mattresses without a full replacement.
Offer both soft and firm pillow options.
Think about your average guest type—young couples, seniors, families? Comfort needs vary.
3. Easy to Maintain, Easy to Fix (75%)
Beds take a beating. Metal frames that bend or split? No thanks. Hosts want setups that can handle adult weight, kid jumps, and quick repairs.
Look for:
Platform frames (no box spring needed) with replaceable slats.
No tech, no drawers, no drama: integrated storage is a guest-lost-item trap.
Keep extra slats, Allen wrenches, and screws onsite. Yes, seriously.
Pro tip: Hosts keep a stash of bed tools and parts on hand to avoid last-minute disasters.
4. Smart Layouts Beat Maxed-Out Headcounts (70%)
More beds don’t always mean more profit. In fact, cramming in too many can lead to layout complaints, refund requests, and party-prone bookings.
What the pros recommend:
Two guests per true bedroom. Sofa beds are fine for extras—if they’re quality.
Skip the air mattresses unless you’re in an extreme pinch.
Bigger beds (like a king in the primary) earn better reviews than twin-twin bunk setups.
Layout tip: Crowded rooms = flagged listings. Avoid the “party house” look.
5. Durable & Safe Materials (60%)
Choose frames and mattresses that last through years of wear and tear without going mushy or making noise.
What works:
Hybrid or all-foam mattresses resist sagging.
Avoid extra-soft beds that lose structure fast.
Check weight ratings—especially for bunks. Look for 500–600 lbs. minimum.
6. Kid-Safe Options for Family-Friendly Listings (50%)
Even if you don’t market to families, many guests travel with kids. Safety pays off.
Recommended:
Bunk beds? Use guard rails and add clear age disclaimers.
Keep a pack-and-play or toddler bed bumper onsite.
Reinforce mounted beds and triple-check hardware.
Final Word: Beds Aren’t Just for Sleeping
A guest might not thank you for a great bed, but they’ll absolutely ding you for a bad one. Prioritize cleanliness, comfort, durability, and layout—and you’ll get smoother stays, fewer refunds, and reviews that actually mention the bed (in a good way).
Because at the end of the day, you’re not just giving your guests a place to sleep. You’re giving them a reason to book again.
→ Need help picking a mattress? Check out The Princess and Her 5-Star Reviews for host-tested options.
