How to Sell Items From Your Rental to Guests
By StayScan Editorial Team · Published · Last updated
Learn how to sell bed linen, mugs, candles and local art to Airbnb and vacation rental guests. Ideas, pricing tips and a simple setup. Try StayScan free for 30 days.
Yes, you can sell items to your guests. Many hosts offer the bed linen they use, the mugs from the kitchen, a candle from the bathroom or a print from a local artist, and guests often say yes. It turns a question ("Where can I buy that?") into a small, happy extra for both of you.
What sells best to guests?
The items that do well are the ones guests already like during their stay. Good starting points are:
- Bed linen and towels that guests loved sleeping on or using
- Mugs, glassware and kitchen items that match the look of the property
- Candles, diffusers and bath products with a signature scent
- Local art, prints and crafts from artists in your area
- Local food and drink such as coffee, tea, honey or regional treats
Choose things you can source reliably and restock easily. Unique, one-of-a-kind pieces also work well because guests can take home a memory of the stay.
How to set up items for guests in four steps
- Pick five to ten items to start. Too many options make guests hesitate.
- Write a short description for each one. Say where it came from and how it feels to use.
- Add a clear photo taken in the property, so guests can picture it in their own home.
- Set the price and stock. Track how many you have, so sold-out items show clearly.
In StayScan you can add these items to a Shop section of your guidebook. Guests browse the shop on their phone, choose an item and pay you directly through the payment methods you set up.
How to price guest items
Price items at a fair retail value, not at a markup that feels like a surprise. A useful rule is to start near what a guest would pay in a shop nearby, then check what similar items sell for online. Guests buy more when the price feels reasonable and the item feels special.
How to handle handover and returns
Decide before the first sale when items are handed over. Some hosts hand items over at check-out. Others add them to the next morning. Mark an order as handed over once it is done, so your records stay clear. If a guest cannot take an item, mark the order as not received and the stock goes back on the shelf.
Tips that keep guests happy
- Mention the shop once, in your welcome message, not in every message.
- Keep the tone helpful. A guest who loved the mugs should feel invited, not pressured.
- Check your platform terms first, since some booking platforms restrict payments made outside their own system.
Frequently asked questions
Can I sell items to Airbnb guests?
Many hosts do, by offering items in their guidebook. Check the rules of your booking platform first, because some restrict payments made outside their own system.
What is the best item to sell to guests?
Items that guests already use and enjoy, such as bed linen, mugs and candles, tend to sell best, because the guest already knows the quality.
How much should I charge?
Start near the price a guest would pay in a nearby shop, then adjust based on what sells. Fair prices get more repeat purchases than high markups.
Do I need to hold stock?
Yes, keep a small stock of each item. StayScan tracks how many you have left and shows sold-out items clearly.
Does StayScan take a cut of the sale?
No. Guests pay you directly through the payment methods you set up. StayScan does not handle the money.
Ready to add a shop to your guidebook? Start your free 30-day trial with no credit card, or read how paid extras fit alongside your shop.
StayScan is a digital guidebook for Airbnb, VRBO, Booking.com and Agoda hosts: one QR code gives guests Wi-Fi, check-in steps, house rules and local tips in 30+ languages. Create your guidebook with a 30-day free trial, no credit card required.