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Hello!  If you are reading this then you know that I am a proud Airbnb superhost and I bet that you’ve already read my posts about our favorite bedding for Airbnb rental properties, our favorite Airbnb towels, and easy ways to create a baby-friendly Airbnb.  Well, today I am here to spill the beans on another one of my must-haves for my 5-star vacation rentals!  I was recently asked what I think is the best TV for Airbnb rental properties in 2023 and I have a VERY easy answer because I’ve found a system that works wonderfully for both me (as a host) and for my guests.

Are you new here?  Let us introduce ourselves! I am Sarah, and I love to travel!  We use this blog to share our family travel adventures and, over the past few years, have added Airbnb superhost to our resume.  We currently own four condos along beautiful 30A.

If you aren’t familiar with 30A, check out my popular What is 30A blog post!   Being an Airbnb host turned out to be something I absolutely love, and we can proudly say that in the last year, we had over 300 stays and an average rating of 5 stars.

I self-manage my short-term rental listings through Airbnb and work very hard to provide an all-around wonderful guest experience from start to finish, including curated recommendations before they visit to clear and easy-to-follow instructions during their stay.

Owning short-term rentals and Airbnb hosting has been the best decision our family has ever made, and I love sharing our experiences owning these vacation rentals and what works best for us!

Our favorite TVs for Airbnbs

We have a clear favorite TV that we use throughout all of our rentals.  And they aren’t necessarily the same brand because, as you’ll read below, that doesn’t really matter to us!

Our favorite TV for Airbnb rentals is any Roku Smart TV, and I am here to tell you why I love them so much.  There is a lot to share here, so make sure to read this entire post, but when it comes down to it, I love the Roku smart TVs because:

• I can enable guest mode allowing guests to log into their own streaming accounts
• it’s easy to streamline instructions across all TVs
• controllers are universal and easy to replace
• they are generally inexpensive

UPDATE 2023:  I have found some great deals on the TVs that I talk about in this post at Walmart recently.  I just purchased a 65″ TCL ROKU TV for $368 and a 55″ TCL ROKU TV for $248 to put in our newest rental property!

We use Roku Smart TVs in all of our rentals

We have a total of eight Roku Smart TVs in our three short-term rentals, and while they vary in the brand name, they have all worked out wonderfully for us.  I can say that I have not encountered a single TV-related issue in the three years we have been hosting.

This is a big win because in the past, when I personally stay at vacation rentals, I almost always have issues with the TVs.  Usually, it’s a bulky cable box and complex instructions or multiple controllers/input changes required to simply check the weather.

The main living room Roku TVs in our two studio condos are the 55″ TCL Roku TV model.  You can’t beat the price, and they get the job done for us!  They are slim enough to be mounted on the wall and keep a low profile, and we find the 55″ size is nice in a studio space where you may be sitting pretty close to the television.  I think we could have done a 65″ in this space as well and been fine, too!  They do come in a variety of sizes at an equally great price point, including 65″, 75″, and 85″, as well as smaller 50″ and 43″ versions.

In our newest one-bedroom condo in Seacrest Beach, we have a Hisense 58″ RokuTV that is very similar to the TCL TV above.   We were on a time crunch, so we picked this one up in person at Walmart.

But what about the Samsung Frame and other fancy TVs?

I know, I know, they are nice and trending, but I am not sold on a more expensive TV being a better option for a vacation rental.  In fact, in theory, expensive isn’t always better when it comes to practical everyday use.    I don’t think the benefits are worth the increased cost, and while picture quality does matter, as long as you have 1080p or 4K, I think you are fine.  The UHD smart products are wonderful for your home use, but I just am not sold on them being the best overall investment for Airbnb hosts.

I take the same approach here as I do when it comes to deciding on towels and Airbnb bedding.  I want them nice enough for guests to enjoy but inexpensive enough to replace often if I need to, and, like it or not, you’ll likely have to replace a TV sooner than later.  I personally noticed a large 2-foot-long scratch across one of my TVs recently, and while I have absolutely no idea when and how it got there, it was an easy and fairly inexpensive decision to replace it.  And I didn’t cry.  If it were a Samsung Frame, then I probably would have shed some tears.

How to choose the best TV for Airbnb properties

Before I go into more detail about WHY I personally like using Roku Smart TVs, let’s talk about some things you need to consider when deciding what TV to buy for your rental properties.  And then we’ll chat a bit about how to decide which size to buy and everything you need to know about using a Roku smart TV, including how to set up Guest Mode, which is a game-changer when it comes to being an Airbnb host!

Then I’ll share a few more tips that will set you up for success.

Things to consider when buying a TV for Airbnb rental properties

Airbnb is full of unique rentals, and no two are the same!  First things first, you need to ask yourself the following questions because while my system is great for a beach condo rental or city-style Airbnb listing, it may not be ideal for that treehouse you have or a secluded glamping tent.

Do you have cable?

I choose to provide my guests with basic cable.  Literally, it’s coax plugged directly into the wall, so there is no confusing cable box or secondary controllers to worry about.

Then, through Roku guest mode, they can log into their own streaming accounts, which most guests prefer to do anyway.  My cable is included in my monthly HOA dues, and while some people splurge for the HD box, it’s a better fit for me to plug it directly into the wall so that it can be hidden behind a mounted TV and utilize the one main TV controller.

When a guest turns on the TV in guest mode, they will set their checkout date and then go to the Roku TV home screen.  The first box will say cable tv, and when they click there, they can watch cable tv.  It’s as simple as that.  The other boxes will have the popular streaming apps, and when they click on each of them, they can log into their own account.  The TV will automatically log them out at 12 pm on their checkout date.   More about this later!

And while you can choose to do it this way, it’s not 100% necessary.  If you didn’t have a cable source plugged into the TV, then your guests would only have the option to stream, which isn’t a dealbreaker.  But if you can offer cable, it’s nice for the handful of guests who don’t use streaming services or just want to check out the local news and weather.

Do you have internet?

You must have internet access to use a smart tv, and it needs to be reliable and fast enough to stream.  So, if you do not have internet within your rental, you are going to have to either use cable or a TV / DVD player setup.  The good news is that you can probably find a whole lot of DVDs at your local Goodwill to provide your guests with video options!

Who is staying with you?

As I touched on above, your guests do matter in this decision.  If you are renting primarily to snowbirds who may not appreciate a smart TV, then maybe it’s not your best bet.   On the other hand, if you have bunk beds and welcome families, the kids (and their parents) are probably going to love individual TVs built into the bunks and the ability to log in to their Netflix or Disney+ accounts.

You will find that a majority of your guests under 50 will be familiar with how to use Roku products and Roku controllers.  And while I know most Airbnb guests have Amazon Prime accounts, I personally prefer Roku over the Amazon Fire and Amazon Fire Stick products.

Are your guests watching a lot of TV?

When deciding on the number of TVs to place in a vacation rental and the sizes to purchase, ask yourself if you expect your guests to watch a lot of TV.  If you are offering an unplugged-style vacation retreat nestled in the mountains, maybe you don’t want a TV in every room.   If you have a rental in downtown NYC, it probably doesn’t matter either way.  If you are hosting guests in a family vacation destination such as the beach, you probably do want one in each room, especially for those rainy days.

What do you want to provide for guests?

It’s typical for a new host to want to provide it all, and many will say that they plan to offer free Netflix and Hulu.  Sure, the monthly cost is minimal for the added value, but is it really necessary?

Most guests already subscribe to these and would prefer to log into their own accounts to access their favorite shows.  If you do not have Roku Guest Mode enabled and a guest does this, there is a good chance they will forget to sign out, and then your TV will remain logged into their account until they notice and change their password.  Then you have to walk the next guest through how to sign back into your account, and can I stop here? It’s just a hassle, and my question is, why? Because…

Do you really want to let all guests share common streaming accounts?

This was a big thing for me to consider as a mother.   There are so many shows out there, and if you have a few sets of couples enjoying MA shows, that’s what the account will recommend to future guests.  Then if your next guest is a family with grade school kids, you’ll find that the account may suggest inappropriate and irrelevant content.   On the flip side, a mother and father on their first getaway, sans kids, likely don’t appreciate the suggestions to watch more Cocomelon.

Have I convinced you yet?

If not, let me say it again.  It is 100% not necessary to provide guests access to complimentary streaming services, and while it’s a noble thought, there is too much potential for this to backfire.

How much do you want to pay?

Hosting vacation rentals is a business, and budget matters.  How much can and do you want to spend on TVs?  If you are outfitting a studio condo, maybe it’s not a big point of debate; however, if you have a 5-bedroom beach house with multiple living spaces, costs add up fast when buying 8-10 televisions!   You never want to buy a cheap basic TV, but as long as it is a Roku-enabled smart TV, the cost shouldn’t be an indicator of “value” for you.  You don’t always get more bang for your buck!

Does the TV brand really matter?

On that note. I don’t think it does. Yes, it feels good to see Samsung across the bottom of your TVs, but as long as the TVs work well and are easy to use, I don’t think people care.  I like the TCL Roku TVs because they have worked well for me. The logo is small and centered on the TV and doesn’t look as “cheap” as some of the other off-brand Roku TVs.   I think the subset of people who care about the brand name of a TV in a rental property is very small.

What size TV should you buy for an Airbnb?

In general, the bigger, the better.  For a living space, a 65″ smart TV is probably ideal, and a 55″ one is sufficient.  In a bedroom, you need to consider how far away the TV is from the bed.  If the TV is near the foot of the bed, a 55″ should be fine there as well.  If it is across a large room, then you may want to splurge for the 65″, especially in the master bedroom.

In our 30A studio condo with bunk beds, we have two smaller Roku 32-inch 1080p smart TVs from Onn.

You MUST make sure that your TVs are easy to use

This is key.   I promise you nobody wants to go on vacation and mess with a bulky cable box, 3 different controllers, various inputs, and pages of instructions.   Have you heard of the principle Keep It Simple Stupid? KISS can also mean keep it simple and smart or keep it short and sweet, but however you interpret it, it’s the key to a great guest experience.  You can read more about that in my Airbnb Coffee Maker blog post!

That is why I love Roku-enabled smart TVs.  Regardless of which brand name you buy, they all have the same interface, which allows you to provide one set of instructions for all of the TVs in your vacation rental.  I tell my guests how to set up guest mode; well, actually, I don’t. It is the TV that does.

I simply tell my guests:  TV: Our condo is equipped with Roku Smart TVs and set up in guest mode.  Please feel free to enjoy cable TV or log into your favorite apps with your own accounts. You can set a check-out date at the beginning, and it will automatically log you out at that time.  And I have never had a question about how to use the TV.

The Guest Mode feature from Roku makes it the best TV for Airbnb rentals

So, let’s talk more about the Roku guest mode because, as I mentioned above, this feature alone makes them the best TVs for short-term rentals.

What is Roku Guest Mode?

From Roku.com: The next time guests are in town, you can share your  Roku TV^™ without having to share your account credentials. When you set up a feature called Guest Mode, your guests can confidently sign into their subscription channels knowing their sign-in details will be automatically removed on the date they specify or earlier if they choose. Once your guests are signed in, they can enjoy the personalized streaming experience they are accustomed to at home, with the same library of titles, recommendations, and next episodes to binge-watch. Most importantly for you, your guests will not be able to access your channels, make purchases, or change your settings. When they first use your Roku device, your guests will be asked to select a sign-out date when your Roku device will sign them out of all their subscription channels automatically. If preferred, your guests can sign out of all subscription channels from the home screen at any time during their stay.

Roku even has a nice PDF with an overview / easy instructions that you can download here.

How to enable Roku Guest Mode

While I could share basically the same thing with you here, it is best if you click here to view the Guest Mode setup guide directly from Roku. It’s super easy, and their instructions are wonderful and easy to follow.

Setting up a welcome message on your Roku TV

If you clicked through to read the Guest Mode setup instructions above, you probably saw that you have the ability to set a welcome message.  I love this!  Our vacation rentals are called Our Little Retreats, so ours reads, “Welcome to Our Little Retreat.”   You can go as far as customizing the welcome message for each set of guests, but it’s an extra step to remember, and it would be awkward if you had the wrong names up there.

Universal Roku controllers make it easy

What I also like about Roku smart TVs is that the controllers are universal.  Now, this does cause an issue when you have multiple TVs in one room requiring you to point them directly at each TV,  but it is not common to have more than one per room, and the ability to use them on any TV comes in handy in a rental.

Order backup Roku controllers and batteries

Since the Roku controllers are universal, they are easy and inexpensive to replace.  If you have Roku TVs in your vacation rentals, order several backup controllers now.  TV controllers have a way of sneaking into your guest’s suitcases; it’s never on purpose but can really leave you in a bind for the next guest.  This is another reason I am against cable boxes in vacation rentals.  It is such a hassle to track down a replacement remote from the cable company in this situation.

Also, buy AAA batteries and put them inside all of the Roku replacement controllers.  Leave a stash of controllers in a cabinet or in your cleaner’s closet so that they are easily accessible. You’ll thank me later!  And for most of my Airbnb must-haves (including extra controllers and batteries), make sure to check out this post!

The only downside of a Roku smart TV

I have encountered one issue with our Roku TVs that I do want to chat about; however, I think it’s going to be an issue regardless of which smart TV you choose to use.  You MUST have reliable internet service to use a Roku TV.  I have run into an issue a couple of times where there was an area-wide internet outage, and guests are not able to get past the first screen stating “no network connection” when they turn on the TV.  This means that guests can’t even turn the basic cable on, which is a downside, as opposed to a TV controller where you can change input with an actual input button vs. a home screen.

However, I do think the benefits far outweigh the risks, and honestly, if you have an internet outage, you probably have bigger issues than a guest wanting to access the local news and being unable to.

PRO TIP: Always mount your TVs and hide your cords

While I am here, I have to share one more tip.  Always, and I mean always, mount your TVs in your vacation rentals.  It is so much safer than leaving them on a stand, opens up more space, and also looks nicer.  You do not need a fancy swivel mount unless your space requires it, like in my studio condo, where the bed is opposite the couch with the TV in the center.

In most cases, something like this basic TV wall mount is all that you need, and I think the closer to the wall it is, the more streamlined it looks! I actually do not even like mounts that tilt because your guest will rarely put them back to normal, and the TVs always look like they are falling down.

Also, make sure to hide your cords.  This is an easy way to make your space look better.  This basic cover is sufficient, and while it’s perfect if you have white walls, it can also be cut and painted to any color you chose.

What do you think is the best TV for Airbnb rental properties?

So, that was probably more than you thought you wanted to know about TVs for Airbnbs, but I hope you found this post helpful!  There is a lot to consider, and of course, this is all my personal opinion.  If you have a better TV option that works well for you,  leave me a comment! I’d love to hear about it!

UPDATE SPRING 2023: I have found some great deals on the TVs that I talk about in this post at Walmart recently.  I just purchased a 65″ TCL ROKU TV for $368 and a 55″ TCL ROKU TV for our newest rental property — more about that soon!

Looking for more Airbnb recommendations?

When it comes to being an Airbnb superhost, I am always sharing great advice here on my blog! The little things make a big difference.  You can click here to read all of my previous posts and including choosing the perfect bedding for vacation rentals, the best Airbnb mattress, what towels I buy for mine, easy ways to make your vacation rental baby-friendly, and more!

Rent our Seacrest Beach, Florida Airbnbs

We book our 30a condos exclusively on Airbnb, and you can read all about why we chose to host exclusively on Airbnb here.  We have been so happy with our Airbnb experience, and I truly enjoy welcoming guests into our space and strive to provide a top-notch guest experience from start to finish.   Do you want to see our rentals?  Just click here to view all 4 of our Seacrest Beach vacation rentals and check for dates and availability.  We would love to host you on 30A, and you’ll quickly find out why we love it there so much!

Not sure what airport to use for 30A?  Check out my 30A Airport Guide!

More About Becoming an Airbnb Superhost

Have you thought about becoming an Airbnb host?  If you are thinking about purchasing a short-term vacation rental property and becoming an Airbnb host, I have a whole section here on my blog full of tips and helpful advice.  This has become quite a passion of mine, and I am always happy to chat with readers about my experience.  I love to share advice and answer your questions, so you are always welcome to either leave me a comment on this post or shoot me a message on either one of my Instagram accounts linked below!

Thinking about becoming an Airbnb host?  Click here to find out what you can earn!

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