Giving your guests an easy check-in experience is a must. It’s the first impression. You get reviewed on Airbnb specifically for it. It will also free you. Free you from having to meet guests when they arrive. Free you from worrying whether an unscrupulous guest could make a copy of your key. Free you from accidentally locking anyone out because the last guests forgot to put the key back under the mat. Central to this is using the right Airbnb lock.

There is a right Airbnb lock for every host and every home. Here’s a complete breakdown of every Airbnb lock I employ at my place to guarantee a smooth check-in for guests.

1 Electronic Keypad Airbnb Lock

This electronic keypad lock* is my top choice Airbnb lock on the market. It’s the one I use on my own Airbnb (that’s my front door in the video). The battery has lasted 9 months so far, and will give me a warning before it eventually dies so I can replace it in advance. If I’m not around when it dies I’ve also got a back up solution (see 2 below). You can also get Wi-Fi enabled locks like this, but I think that would just add unneeded complexity and be more prone to failure (such as during a power cut or the Wi-Fi being down). Wifi Locks also cost more.

Installation: Super easy. No drill required. Take a look at the video to see me install it in about two minutes.

Code Change: Super easy. Here’s how to change the code:

1. Enter the six digit admin code found in the box
2. Hit the top button and everything goes blue.
3. Press 1, and wait a few seconds
4. Enter the new code and wait a second
5. Enter the new code again.
6. DONE!

My cleaner sets the code for me after each guest. We have a system so we both automatically know what the new code will be, but she always messages it to me just in case. (Tip – don’t make it something obvious like the date!)

Best for: Homeowners with a classic-style front door.

2 Wall Mounted Airbnb Lockbox 

Cheaper than the electronic keypad lock at 1, this wall mounted lockbox* would be a good alternative if you are the property owner and don’t mind drilling into the wall.

The only draw back for me with this option is that you have to give your guests a physical key, which they could lose or make a copy of.

As such, this is my back up option should the battery on my Electronic Keypad Lock die when a guest arrives and I’m not around to let them in (which I never am since I automated the whole thing). It’s got a spare key to the electronic keypad lock inside. I’ve never had such an emergency yet, but since these lockboxes are so cheap it seemed a worthwhile investment.

Installation: Again super easy but a drill is required. Just drill four holes into a wall and screw it on.

Code Changes: Super easy. Just flip a switch when the lockbox is open, put in your new code and flip the switch again.

Best for: Homeowners with awkward doors that won’t take an electronic keypad lock, or as a backup option.

3 Portable Lockbox Padlocks

This portable lockbox padlock* is a really simple solution and probably the cheapest option. If you are a tenant or your Airbnb is in an apartment block, this would be a great way to give your tenants easy access.

This is also a great solution where your guests need a key to access an apartment building as well as your own front door – the lockbox could be attached to a railing near the entrance of the apartment block, for example, or you could put it in your mailbox.

But that’s not what I use it for. I use this lock when I go surfing and need to leave my car key somewhere safe – I put it in the lockbox and attach it to a chunk of metal under the car out of site. I will also use this method when I rent my car out to guests using Turo (see my tips for doing this and other ways of up-selling on Airbnb).

Installation: Super easy. No drill required. Takes about a second (see video).

Code Changes: Super easy. When unlocked, simply rotate the arm 90 degrees, push the arm down, put in your new code and release.

Best For: Apartment hosts, Turo car rentals, (and surfers!)

4 Internal Door Electronic Airbnb Lock

Similar to option 1 above, but for internal doors. This internal door electronic airbnb lock* would be great if you rent out individual rooms to your guests who have shared use of common spaces. Again, it also removes the potential for lost or copied keys.

I don’t personally own one of these, but I helped a friend install one on her door in her own AirBNB and it was very easy. She was using it on a  closet door to keep her cleaning and refill supplies away from guests.

Installation: Easy. No drill required. Takes about a 2 minutes.

Code Changes: Super easy. Works in much the same way as option 1.

Best For: Hosts who rent out individual rooms to guests, or for storage closets.

5 Manual Internal Door Airbnb Lock

This manual internal door lock* is basically the low-tech alternative to number 4. I use this for spaces I don’t want my guests to have access to. When I started the Great Airbnb Experiment, I was using my own house and so closed off my master bedroom from guests to put all our personal belongings in. I replaced the doorknob with this lock to keep guests out. I’ve now also added one to our store cupboard.

Installation: about 2 minutes.

Code Changes: N/A

Best For: Keeping guests out of your stuff.

6 – BONUS! – Chain Lock With Code

Since I’ve automated my Airbnb to work without my involvement, I have a gardener who takes care of mowing the lawn. But to get to the back garden he needs to come through the gate. Rather than give him a key (which would make it difficult if I needed to change gardeners) I’ve just put a chain lock with a code* on the gate instead.

It’s sturdy and waterproof. Its just a basic bike/motorbike lock and would probably be what I’d use if I rented bikes to my guests. You can read my thoughts on setting up a bike rental for guests here. If a guest wanted to rent a bike I would send them my PayPal link and then the code after they’d sent me the rental fee.

Installation: Super easy. No drill required. Takes about a second.

Code Changes: Super easy. When unlocked, simply rotate the wheel on the inside of the lock, put in your new code and release.

Best For: Gate access or bike rentals.

7 – BONUS 2! – Cable lock  

I have kayaks canoes and paddle boards at my AirBNB. To keep them locked up I use this Steel Cable lock* – it is coated in plastic so it won’t rust. It’s long enough that I can loop it from the nose of one kayak, through the nose of a canoe and paddle board, and then all the way over to the tail of each too.

To attach it to a surfboard or SUP, you will also need one of these surfboard and paddleboard lock adaptors*. It closes shut around the leash anchor point.

Installation: Super easy. No drill required. Takes about thirty seconds to thread the cable through all the gear.

Code Changes: Super easy. When unlocked, simply put the reset key into the side of the lock, enter in your new code and you are set.

Best For: Kayaks surfboards and paddle board rentals.

Feel free to ask me any questions about setting up any of these locks. Know another method for giving guests a great check-in experience? Please share it with me in the comments below. If you have a different door situation which won’t fit any Airbnb lock above and can’t work out what your best option would be, let me know and I’ll try to come up with a solution for you.

Thanks for reading.