Guests often choose to stay at Airbnbs over hotels because they want a space where they can cook real meals, not just microwave mac and cheese.
A well-stocked kitchen can make a huge difference in your guests’ experience and can boost your chances of getting 5-star reviews. When travelers have everything they need to cook, store food, and clean up easily, it instantly makes your Airbnb feel more thoughtful and comfortable.
Below is my list of must-have kitchen items that will make guests say:
“Wow, this place has everything!”
To make things easier to follow, I’ve broken everything down into categories. I’ve also linked some of my favorite products for each item – ones that we keep stocked in our own Airbnb kitchen, and guests frequently comment on how easy it is to cook there.
In addition to the items below, I also recommend keeping some consumable items in your kitchen. Keep an eye out for a new blog post coming soon on the best consumable items to keep stocked in your Airbnb kitchen.
Pro Tip:
Because Airbnb kitchens tend to have a lot of items, it’s helpful to leave a small “Where to Find…” list on the fridge or inside your welcome book so guests can quickly locate things without digging through cabinets.
Essential Small Appliances:
For small appliances, what to include is dependent on the size of your space. If you have a small studio Airbnb with a kitchenette, you may choose to stick with just the essentials (oven, microwave, refrigerator, coffee maker, toaster).
For larger spaces that have a full-size kitchen, guests typically expect to have more amenities available for use.
First, here are what I consider to be the essential small appliances to include:
- Coffee Maker
- Choose one based on the number of people your Airbnb can host:
- 1-2 guests: Single-Serve Keurig
- 2-4 guests: Keurig with drip Coffee Pot stored in cabinet
- 4+ guests: Keurig with coffee pot combo
- Choose one based on the number of people your Airbnb can host:
- Toaster
Optional, “nice-to-have” small appliances:
Keep in mind that you don’t need to spend top dollar for small appliances. Remember that these appliances may experience more wear and tear than your personal small appliances. Therefore, they may need replacement more frequently.
Eating Essentials:
These items are going to be frequently used, so I would recommend purchasing items that are budget-friendly and will always be in stock. This way they can easily be replaced without creating mismatched sets.
Tip: avoid buying dish sets from Home Goods as their stock turns over frequently and you may not find the same dishes if you need replacement.
We use the Amazon Basics plates, bowls, and utensils. I love that you can buy the plates/bowls and utensils as a set to start, and then purchase individual items for replacement if needed.
A good rule of thumb for how many of each item to buy is: 2x the number of people you can accommodate. So for a space sleeping 4, you want 8 of everything. This helps prevent guests from running out of dishes after one meal.
Here are the essential eating items to include:
- Plates and Bowls Set
- Glasses
- Plastic Tumblers
- Coffee Mugs
- Wine Glasses
- Eating Utensils
- Kitchen Knife Set
Additional notes:
- Opt for colored vs white coffee mugs, white mugs will show stains more quickly
- Choose a fun color or pattern to add personality to the kitchen
- Keep a knife sharpener in the kitchen
Cooking & Baking Essentials:
Having cooking and baking essentials is important for guests, especially if they are staying longer than just a day or two.
Here are the essential cooking items to include:
- Mixing Bowls – can double as serving bowls
- Stainless Steal Pots and Pans Set
- Cooking Sheet
- Casserole Dish
- Pizza Pan
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Strainer
- Cutting Boards
Additional notes:
- If you go with a different pots/pans set from above, make sure it still includes a larger stock pot and a stir fry pan with a lid. Guests really appreciate having these for larger meals.
- Avoid wood cutting boards, as they occasionally are not cleaned properly and can be more work for you to maintain.
Quality Cookware Utensils:
These are items that some Airbnbs tend to forget, and guests will notice at the most inconvenient time (for example, after they’ve made a pizza and can’t locate a pizza cutter!).
Amazon sells a great set of spatulas, spoons, a whisk and tongs. I’ve linked that under the first bullet point. Otherwise, you can choose to buy those things separately.
Here are the essential cookware utensils to include:
- Spatulas and Serving Spoons
- Tongs
- Whisk
- Pizza Cutter
- Kitchen Scissors
- Can Opener – you can match the color to your kitchen scissors!
- Wine Bottle Opener
- Ice Cream Scoop
- Grater
- Oven Mitts and Pot Holders
Food Storage Essentials:
If you are providing cooking essentials that can make larger meals, it makes sense to offer a way to store leftovers. In fact, I have had many guests note how nice it was to have access to food storage containers and Ziploc bags during their stay. It’s one of those things you didn’t know could make such a difference in your kitchen!
I bought the glass food storage set below and left some at the Airbnb, and kept some for my own home as well.
Here are the essential food storage items to include:
- 2-3 Food Storage Containers
- Ziploc Bags
- Plastic Wrap
- Aluminum Foil
Cleaning & Safety Supplies:
Lastly, you want to provide guests with enough products for them to clean up after making meals. Additionally, safety is always key, especially in the kitchen where there are knives and hot cooking surfaces.
Here are the essential cleaning and safety supplies to include:
- Dish soap
- Hand soap
- Sponges or dish scrubber
- Quality Dish Towels
- Fire Extinguisher
- First Aid Kit
- Multi-Purpose Spray
- Disinfectant Wipes
- Small Broom/Dust Pan
- Trash Bags
- Flashlight
Additional notes:
- If you leave dish soap and hand soap out on the counter, consider getting matching, refillable containers for a more cohesive and less cluttered look.
- Opt for non-white dish towels as they may stain easily (think blackberries, colored frosting if someone is celebrating a birthday, etc.)
Final Thoughts:
You might be reading this list and thinking:
“Wow… that’s a lot of stuff.”
And you’re right, a well-stocked kitchen does take some initial setup. But these small investments pay off quickly when guests notice how easy it is to cook in your space. Thoughtfulness goes a long way as a host, and guests absolutely notice when an Airbnb kitchen is stocked better than expected.
Happy guests almost always lead to better reviews; and better reviews lead to more bookings! 🙂
