Review scores: why homes rated 4.9 book fewer nights
Published on 29 October 2026
In Brussels, homes with a near-perfect score charge the most but book the fewest nights. The explanation, and the score to aim for.
Brussels homes rated 4.9 or above have the highest median rate (€154) but only 84 nights booked a year, against 182 for homes rated between 4.8 and 4.89.
| Group | Homes | Median rate / night | Nights booked (median) | Gross revenue / year (median) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.9 and above | 628 | €154 | 84 | €13,100 |
| 4.8 to 4.89 | 509 | €147 | 182 | €24,300 |
| 4.6 to 4.79 | 726 | €138 | 180 | €21,600 |
| below 4.6 | 562 | €125 | 114 | €14,900 |
A perfect score is often a young score
A score of 4.9 or more is easier to keep when a home has received few reviews. This group includes many new or lightly booked homes. And because nights booked are estimated from the number of reviews, a home with few reviews mechanically looks less booked.
The sweet spot: between 4.6 and 4.89
Homes rated between 4.6 and 4.89 are the ones that work hardest: 182 and 180 nights a year, for a median gross revenue of €24,300 and €21,600. Below 4.6 everything drops: the rate (€125), the nights (114) and the revenue (€14,900).
The takeaway
A perfect score is not the goal. Staying above 4.6 is: below it, guests drop away. Cleanliness, an accurate listing and an easy check-in weigh most on the score.
Source: Inside Airbnb, data scraped on 20/09/2026 (Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International). Entire homes with at least one review in the last 12 months. Gross revenue = listed rate × estimated nights booked, before fees and costs. Method and sources.