Updated October 2026
Most Airbnb hosts should keep three full sets of sheets per bed, known as par 3: one on the bed, one clean in the cupboard and one in the wash. For towels, a common industry guide is three bath towels and three to four washcloths per guest, plus three hand towels per sink and three bath mats per bathroom. Raise that to par 4–5 if you send laundry out or have frequent same-day turnovers.
This guide explains how par levels work, what Airbnb expects as a minimum, and gives worked quantities for a studio, a one-bed and a two-bed rental.
What is a linen par level?
A par level is the number of complete linen sets you keep for each bed or guest. Par 3, the standard in short-term rentals and hotels, means one set in use, one clean and ready, and one being laundered. Minoan's linen buying guide describes it this way, and notes that two sets can be enough if you wash in-house, while more than three is wise if you send laundry out or have frequent turnovers.
The point of par 3 is that a turnover never depends on laundry finishing on time. With par 1 or 2, one stain, a broken machine or a delayed laundry van means a guest arrives to a bed that isn't made.
What linens does Airbnb require?
Airbnb's Help Centre article on essential amenities lists the basics it strongly encourages every host to provide: toilet paper, hand and body soap, a towel for each guest, a pillow for each guest, and bedding for each guest bed. You can only tick the Essentials amenity if you provide all of them, and Airbnb says listings that claim essentials without providing them may face penalties, including removal.
That is the floor, not a good standard. One towel per guest is the minimum, but most guests expect a bath towel and a hand towel, and on longer stays a change.
How many sheets do you need per bed?
At par 3, per bed, STR Specialist recommends:
3 fitted sheets
3 flat sheets or 3 duvet covers
6 pillowcases (2 on the bed, 2 decorative, 2 backup)
For sleeper sofas and daybeds, it suggests 2–3 sheets sized to the surface and 4–6 pillowcases. In our own specs, we treat a sofa bed like any other bed at par 3, and add two waterproof mattress protectors per bed (one on, one in the wash), a zipped protector on every pillow, and one spare duvet insert per unit. Protectors save your most expensive items from stains that sheets don't stop.
How many towels does an Airbnb need?
STR Specialist's per-guest guide:
Bath towels: 3 per guest
Washcloths: 3–4 per guest
Hand towels: 3 per bathroom sink
Bath mats: 3 per full bathroom
Base towels on maximum occupancy, not the average booking. If a studio sleeps two, stock for two even if most guests travel solo, because the stays that need every towel are the ones that review you.
Worked quantities: studio, one-bed and two-bed
These are the par 3 quantities we use in our own rental specs. We work to two sleeping pillows per guest and three pillowcases per pillow, so each pillow has a full rotation of its own.
Studio, one queen bed, sleeps 2, one bathroom
Fitted sheets 3; duvet covers 3; flat sheets 3 if you use them
Sleeping pillows 4; pillowcases 12
Bath towels 6; hand towels 6; washcloths 6; bath mats 3
One-bed, queen bed plus queen sofa bed, sleeps 4, one bathroom
Fitted sheets 6; duvet covers 6; flat sheets 6 if you use them
Sleeping pillows 8; pillowcases 24
Bath towels 12; hand towels 6; washcloths 12; bath mats 3
Two-bed, two queens plus queen sofa bed, sleeps 6, two bathrooms
Fitted sheets 9; duvet covers 9; flat sheets 9 if you use them
Sleeping pillows 12; pillowcases 36
Bath towels 18; hand towels 12; washcloths 18; bath mats 6
Our hand-towel count is two per bathroom at par 3 (six in stock per bathroom), slightly more generous than STR Specialist's three per sink. Add a few colored pool or beach towels if your building has a pool or you're near the sea, so guests don't take the white bath towels outside.
When should you go above par 3?
STR Specialist suggests par 4–5 for frequent same-day turnovers, off-site laundry, large groups or stays with mid-stay cleans. Outsourced laundry usually needs at least par 4, because one set is always in transit. If you manage several units in the same building, a shared stock with labeled sets can be more efficient than separate par levels per unit.
Which sheets are best for Airbnb?
Minoan explains the trade-offs:
Percale cotton: crisp, light and breathable, suited to warm climates, but creases easily.
Sateen: smoother and heavier, warmer, better for cooler climates.
Polyester or poly-cotton blends: cheaper, wrinkle-resistant and easy to care for, but less breathable for hot sleepers.
Hospitality-grade linen: more durable and cheaper per piece, but fewer colors and larger minimum orders.
We standardize on white for sheets and towels in almost every rental. White can be bleached, sets can be mixed across beds and units, and it photographs as clean and hotel-like in listing photos. STR Specialist makes the same point about standardizing colors and products to simplify swaps.
How do you make linens last longer?
Rotate sets. Always use the oldest clean set first and put freshly washed sets at the back, so wear spreads across all sets.
Label sets with a small tag or laundry-safe stamp, especially if you manage several units.
Treat stains before washing. STR Specialist recommends a separate stain bin, cold water for protein stains such as blood, and checking items before they go into a hot dryer, which can set stains permanently.
Count monthly. Track losses and damage so you can top up before you drop below par.
Plan storage. Par 3 needs a lockable cupboard or owner's closet big enough for the clean set and spare consumables.
FAQ
How many sets of sheets does an Airbnb need?
Three per bed (par 3) for most hosts: one on the bed, one clean and one in the wash. Two can work if you launder on site and have time between guests.
How many towels should I leave per guest?
At least one per guest is Airbnb's essentials minimum. Most hosts leave a bath towel and a hand towel per guest, and keep three bath towels per guest in total stock.
What color sheets are best for Airbnb?
White. It can be bleached, mixed across beds and looks clean in photos.
Do I need more linens if I use a laundry service?
Usually yes. Par 4–5 covers the sets that are in transit.
How Desynte can help
Our Short-Term Rental Furnishing Kit (USD 29) includes exact linen and towel quantities for studios, one-beds and two-beds, plus room-by-room furnishing checklists, durable material specs and an Excel budget tracker. If you're deciding whether furnishing will pay for itself, see our analysis of furnished versus unfurnished rentals.
