Airbnb Kitchen Essentials: A Complete Checklist for New Hosts

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The kitchen is at the heart of most vacation rentals. In fact, most people choose to stay in an Airbnb over a hotel specifically so they can cook. So, today, I want to share my favorite Airbnb kitchen essentials!

This Airbnb hosting blog post will ensure your Airbnb kitchen is ready to go when you welcome your first guest. And, if you are just getting started, make sure to read my full room-by-room Airbnb Setup Checklist!

Short on time? My Amazon Airbnb Kitchen List has all of my favorites!

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Hi, I’m Sarah! I am proud to be a top-rated Airbnb host with several properties on scenic 30A in the Florida panhandle. Here at Our Little Lifestyle, I share valuable first-hand Airbnb hosting tips, buying guides, and more to help set you up for success.

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Setting Up Your Airbnb Kitchen

Let’s jump right into setting up your Airbnb kitchen. Whether you have a small kitchenette in a studio condo or own a large multifamily home with an oversized kitchen, this Airbnb kitchen essentials checklist has it all.

Short on time? Make sure to save this post. And you can click the link below to shop all my Airbnb buying guides on Amazon right this minute!

And here are just a few additional Airbnb Shopping Guides that you may enjoy:

Airbnb Kitchen Essentials List

In the following section, I will break down Airbnb kitchen items into nine categories, starting with kitchen appliances and ending with tools and tips for keeping your Airbnb kitchen organized.

The links will generally go to my favorite item. However, I have many options in my Amazon Airbnb Kitchen List, so check that out. It is organized by category and roughly follows the same order as this post. It has dining room furniture at the bottom of the list, including barstools, tables, and other Airbnb kitchen ideas.

#1 Airbnb Kitchen Appliances

Appliances are the significant components of a proper Airbnb kitchen. If you have a full-size kitchen, you will want all of the full-size, high-quality appliances you would have at home. In addition, you will also want to have a variety of small appliances available.

If you have a kitchenette, you must envision how your guests will use the space and make the most of it. There are quite a few differences between a full Airbnb kitchen and a small kitchenette space.

For example, my small studio with bunk beds has a tiny kitchenette. It is basically a small sink, a mini fridge, a microwave, and a coffee maker. I include a set of dishes, flatware, and drinkware, but nothing else. However, I make what’s included clear in my listing to avoid surprises at check-in.

On the other hand, my one-bedroom condos in Seacrest Beach have a dishwasher, a full-size refrigerator, and a convection microwave, but no oven or stove. So, I have a variety of small appliances such as electric cooktops, crock pots, and toaster ovens on hand. Again, I list exactly what is in the kitchen area to ensure everything is clear.

So, it’s important to know your space and how the kitchen will be used when deciding what you need for your unique Airbnb kitchen or kitchenette. That will help you make the most out of this Airbnb kitchen checklist.

Large Appliances

If your space does not already have these items, you will need to measure for them. You will want a refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave, and oven/stove. I recommend purchasing these from a local Home Depot, Lowe’s, or appliance store.

Small Appliances For An Airbnb

When it comes to small appliances, there are a handful of must-haves and many great extras that you can also include. Also, I am saving coffee and coffee makers for the next section, so I will leave those items off these lists.

Essential Small Appliances:

Additional Small Appliances:

#2 Airbnb Coffee Setup

I kept coffee separate because I actually have a dedicated blog post all about choosing the best coffee maker for your Airbnb. And it covers many of the things you should consider when planning your Airbnb coffee setup.

In a nutshell, I like to provide a Keurig Mini on the counter and a full-size coffee maker in the cabinet. Depending on your rental and target market, you can offer a French press or a higher-end coffee machine like a Nespresso.

Additionally, you should coordinate with your cleaners regarding what is left out at each turn. We leave a starter set of 2 K-cups, a regular Maxwell House coffee pouch, creamer, and sugar. I do list these out in my Airbnb House Manual, and links to the ones I buy are all in my Amazon Airbnb Kitchen list.

You can offer an extensive coffee bar spread with syrups and unlimited K-cups. Just make sure to read my Airbnb Coffee Maker blog post first to see why that may not always be a good idea. One of the unfortunate realities about Airbnb hosting is that it’s often the case that no good deed goes unpunished!

#3 Airbnb Dishes, Glassware, Flatware, Utensils

After appliances, the next priority will be the plateware, flatware, drinking glasses, and cooking and serving utensils.

AIRBNB HOSTING TIP: Especially when it comes to silverware, choose items that are frequently in stock and easy to replace as needed. This helps you avoid mismatched sets!

Also, do not order the bare minimum. If your place sleeps 8, you should have AT LEAST 8 of everything, but I recommend 2x that number, as things are often in the dishwasher from the previous meal. You should also have a few of each item in your storage or owner’s closet to replace broken or lost items as needed.

I actually have a post all about the Airbnb essentials that I always buy extras of!

Airbnb Silverware

I like to use the Sussex from Target because they are easy to replace. You can buy a full set in either 20, 45, or 65 pieces. You can also buy spoons, knives, and forks in separate 6-packs, which is great when they go missing, but you don’t want to replace the entire set.

If you would rather shop on Amazon, here is an excellent Amazon Basics set available on their site. You also want a nice, easy-to-clean silverware tray in both the silverware and utensil drawers.

If you have a full kitchen, you want a high-quality knife set (with a sharpener) available to your guests. My top choices by price point and quality are the Astercook Knife Set, the Martha Stewart Knife Set, and the Amazon Basics Knife Set.

And, make sure you have a set of steak knifes, especially if you have a grill at your rental property!

Airbnb Dishes

My go-to is this Threshold Beaded-Rim Dinnerware Set from Target. I also linked several Amazon options in my Kitchen List. I also include a set of melamine plates and bowls.

If you want to learn more, I have another post only about choosing Airbnb dishes and silverware. It includes a bunch of other options.

Airbnb Glassware

Airbnb Utensils

#4 Airbnb Kitchen Cookware & Storage

Isn’t it crazy how much you need to consider when setting up a well-equipped kitchen at your Airbnb?

Well, it doesn’t stop there. If guests will be cooking at your place, you also need the proper cookware and storage containers.

I like using Pyrex sets for storage, as they can double as cookware. The glass also comes cleaner than plastic food storage options.

Airbnb Cookware / Cooking Items

Again, if you don’t to open up a million seperate links, all my Airbnb kitchen favorites are all included in my Amazon Airbnb Kitchen Essentials List!

#5 Kitchen Maintenance & Cleaning Supplies

The good news is that you now have the bulk of the items you’ll need to purchase for your Airbnb kitchen. Next, let’s consider some of the cleaning and maintenance/safety items you’ll need on hand.

For consumables, we provide a roll of paper towels, small dish soap, and a fresh sponge. It is always important to list out exactly what you include in your House Manual so that guests know what to pack.

We also have fresh kitchen towels on hand. These grey microfiber dish towels are my favorite. I also keep an open container of Cascade pods and a roll of trash bags under the sink as an added bonus. I do not advertise these because, as ridiculous as this sounds, they tend to walk away somewhat often.

Below are the other items we include, most kept under the sink. These are intended for guests to use and seperate from our cleaner’s cleaning supplies which they bring with them.

Airbnb Cleaning Supplies

#6 Cooking Essentials for Your Airbnb

It will be up to you to decide how many additional cooking supplies to include in your short term rental property. And, it really depends on how much you anticipate guests are going to be cooking at your rental property.

For example, ours are walking distance to dozens of great restaurants, which is the big draw of Seacrest Beach and Rosemary Beach, Florida. So, we don’t provide a lot of extras.

Often, these are items the guests will be happy to have there upon arrival, but not necessarily things that you need to advertise providing, as they may run out or get misplaced.

At a minimum, you always want to have salt and pepper available, but here is a complete list of items to consider. I would refrain from keeping a lot of open food items, such as butter and flour. While you have the best intentions, these can be a turnoff to many guests.

Plus, while the likelhood of tampering is low, it is always possible and a risk that comes with having open food items and cooking suppies in an Airbnb.

Cooking Essential Items / Consumables

#7 Helpful Extras for Your Airbnb Kitchen

We could stop here, but there are a few other rental-specific things to consider offering. I highly recommend including extras such as pitchers and ice packs in the freezer. As well as ice trays if you don’t have an automatic ice maker.

Then, ask yourself if you need any of the following items. I added lighter, but I actually try NOT to have lighters and candles in my rentals due to the obvious risk.

If you haven’t read my list of 9 things not to include in an Airbnb rental, it’s a must read!

Airbnb Kitchen Extras

TIP: Keep an Airbnb borrow basket in your kitchen. I coined this concept, and my guests love it! You can read more about my borrow baskets in my Airbnb Must Haves blog post, but this is a great way to allow guests to take and leave items. At the same time, it keeps these items out of the way, tidy, and not really your responsibility.

#8 Kitchen Amenities for Children & Babies

If you cater to families with children and/or babies, you should also include any necessary items for them. In my post about how to make your Airbnb baby-friendly, I share great advice.

In the kitchen, you will likely want an easy-to-clean high chair or booster seat, as well as a bottle-drying rack for babies. You should also have appropriate toddler/child plateware and cups. I have several options listed toward the bottom of my Airbnb Kitchen List on Amazon.

#9 Things to Keep Your Airbnb Kitchen Organized

Now that your Airbnb kitchen is stocked and ready, let’s keep it looking top-notch! This is one part of my Airbnb where I choose to label items using this top-rated label maker. I place small one to two-word labels inside my Airbnb kitchen cabinets. These share where small appliances should be stored and make it easy for guests to put things back where they belong.

You want to leave counters clean and open. Avoid putting any unnecessary clutter on the countertops.

Pick up a set of cord widers on Amazon to stick on the backs of small appliances. Keep extra batteries and lightbulbs in the cabinet above the refrigerator or wherever they are out of the way yet accessible.

You also want to make sure your kitchen is adequately reset between guests. It should look exactly as it does in your listing photos. This means removing excess items that your guests will inevitably leave. And it’s always just to be “helpful,” right?

Lastly, plan for routine maintenance monthly or quarterly. Use TrueFresh tablets in your disposal and dishwasher. Every time I am at our place, I rearrange and reset it to how I want things. Annually, you need to deep clean.

Read my Deep Clean & Refresh Your Airbnb blog for some great tips and a free deep-cleaning Airbnb checklist!

Shop My Airbnb Kitchen List

Read My Full Airbnb Setup List

More Airbnb Hosting Resources

Congratulations! Now that your kitchen is set up, your Airbnb is one step closer to becoming a reality. I hope this Airbnb essentials list came in handy for you, and make sure to read my other posts about things new hosts often forget!

As mentioned above, I have many Airbnb posts full of valuable first-hand knowledge here on my blog. They cover everything from buying the best bedding for your Airbnb to what you need to do before listing your Airbnb and everything in between. You can view them all in the Airbnb hosting section of my blog.

If you are just getting started or want to view my Airbnb hosting resources from start to finish, check out my FREE 5-Star Airbnb Hosting Guide.

I invite you to join my Airbnb Hosting Group on Facebook. It’s a great place to bounce ideas off me (and other hosts) and ask for advice!

QUICK LINK: Complete List of Airbnb Buying Guides