Smart lock or lockbox for a short-term rental?
Short answer
A smart lock is usually the better fit for a short-term rental with frequent turnovers, because each stay can get its own code that stops working after checkout. A lockbox costs less and needs no power or Wi-Fi, but every guest shares the same code until you change it by hand. Many hosts keep a lockbox as backup entry.
The basics
Choose a smart lock if you host often and want a new code for every stay without driving over. Choose a lockbox if you host rarely, want the lowest cost or the door cannot take a smart lock. Many hosts use both: the smart lock as the main entry and a lockbox with a spare key as backup.
How they compare
| Factor | Smart lock | Lockbox |
|---|---|---|
| Code per stay | Yes, can be automatic | No, shared until you change it |
| Changing the code | Remote, from an app or platform | In person |
| Power | Batteries | None |
| Connection | Often needs Wi-Fi or a hub for remote codes | None |
| Upfront cost | Higher | Lower |
| Main failure risk | Dead batteries, lost connection | Code shared beyond the guest |
Smart locks and Airbnb
Airbnb supports connecting certain smart lock models (opens in a new tab) from Schlage, August and Yale in the US and Canada. When connected, Airbnb can create one code per stay. Airbnb also requires a backup way to enter the home, so a smart lock alone is not enough.
If you use property management software, it may manage lock codes instead. Check which system will send codes before you connect both. The software check helps with that.
Lockboxes
A lockbox holds a physical key behind a combination. It is simple and does not depend on batteries or the internet. The trade-off is the code. If you do not change it between stays, past guests still know it. Changing it means a trip to the door, or asking your cleaner to do it at each turnover.
A worked example
Hypothetical host with 8 stays a month:
- Smart lock: each guest gets a unique code. No trips to change codes. The host checks battery levels once a month.
- Lockbox only: to change the code for each stay, the cleaner resets it 8 times a month and the host sends the new code each time. One missed reset means a past guest's code still works.
At this volume, the smart lock saves effort and reduces risk. At 1 or 2 stays a month, a lockbox with a code change at each turnover may be enough.
Smart locks fail most often from dead batteries. Replace them on a schedule, not when the lock warns you, and always keep a working backup entry.
How to choose
- Count your monthly stays.
- Check whether your door and Wi-Fi can support a smart lock.
- Check whether your platform or software supports your lock model.
- Plan your backup entry, such as a lockbox with a spare key.
Our self check-in guide covers how to write arrival instructions that work with either option.
Do it for your rental
Tick where you list and what you already use. See whether it's enough and what conflicts.
Check smart lock compatibilityFrequently asked questions
Is a smart lock better than a lockbox for Airbnb?
For hosts with frequent stays, usually yes, because each guest can get a unique code that expires after checkout. A lockbox works for low-volume hosts who can change the code by hand.
Which smart locks work with Airbnb?
Airbnb supports certain Schlage, August and Yale models in the US and Canada. Check Airbnb's help page for the current list before you buy.
Do I need a backup entry with a smart lock?
Yes. Airbnb requires a backup way to enter when you connect a smart lock, and it protects you if batteries or the connection fail.
How often should I change a lockbox code?
Change it between stays if you can, so past guests cannot get in. If that is not practical, a smart lock may suit your rental better.
On this page
Do it for your rental
Tick where you list and what you already use. See whether it's enough and what conflicts.
Check smart lock compatibility