Yes — a small share of Airbnbs have had hidden cameras, but the large majority do not. The most-cited figure comes from a 2019 IPX1031 survey, in which 11% of travelers said they had found a hidden camera in an Airbnb. That's roughly 1 in 9 — unsettling, but it also means the clear majority of stays had none at all.
So the honest answer to "do Airbnbs have hidden cameras?" is: most don't, a minority do, and the only way to know about your rental is to check. Here's the real picture — how common they are, why they show up, what Airbnb's rules say, and how to check in about a minute.
How common are hidden cameras in Airbnbs?
There's no perfect, up-to-date number — these things are under-reported by nature. But the data points we do have line up:
- The 2019 IPX1031 survey found 11% of travelers had discovered a hidden camera in an Airbnb.
- Miniature WiFi cameras have since dropped below $20 on Amazon and AliExpress, lowering the barrier for a host who wants to install one.
- Airbnb itself took the issue seriously enough to ban indoor cameras outright in 2024 (more on that below).
Put together: the risk is real but not the norm. Think of it the way you think about a hotel door lock — most of the time it's fine, but you still check, because the check is free and the downside of being wrong is serious.
Why would an Airbnb host hide a camera?
Most hosts who use cameras aren't voyeurs — they're worried about property damage, unauthorized parties, or extra guests. That's the charitable explanation, and often the true one. But it doesn't make an undisclosed indoor camera acceptable, and a small number of cases are exactly what they look like.
The problem is that from a guest's side, you can't tell the host's motive from the device. A lens pointed at the bed is a lens pointed at the bed. That's why the rule is simple: any undisclosed camera inside a rental is a violation, full stop.
Does Airbnb allow cameras?
Not indoors. Since April 30, 2024, Airbnb prohibits all indoor security cameras in listings — anywhere inside the unit, disclosed or not. The earlier rules, which allowed disclosed cameras in common areas like a living room, no longer apply.
Outdoor cameras (a doorbell camera, for example) are still allowed, but the host must disclose them and their location before you book, and they can't monitor indoor or enclosed private spaces.
So in 2026, any camera you find inside an Airbnb is a policy violation — grounds for a refund, a rebooking at Airbnb's expense, and removal of the host from the platform.
Where guests actually find them
When cameras do turn up, they're almost always disguised as an everyday object with a clear view of the bed or the seating area. The repeat offenders are smoke detectors, bedside alarm clocks, air purifiers, USB chargers, tissue boxes, and picture frames.
For the full, frequency-ranked list — and the tell-tale signs for each object — see our main guide on how to find hidden cameras in an Airbnb. Worried specifically about a mirror? That's a different check: how to tell if a mirror is two-way.
How worried should you actually be?
Calibrated, not anxious. The base rate is low, and a quick sweep on arrival closes most of the gap. You don't need to tear the room apart or travel with specialist gear — a phone and two minutes covers the realistic threats.
The one thing not to do is nothing. The cost of a check is a couple of minutes; the cost of skipping it, in the rare bad case, is your privacy.
How to check your Airbnb in 60 seconds
Do this in the first five minutes, before you unpack:
- Lights-off flashlight sweep. A lens reflects a bright glint when your phone light hits it — the single most reliable check against any camera.
- WiFi scan. List the devices on the network and look for camera brands or unknown hardware.
- Bluetooth scan. Surfaces BLE cameras and stray trackers like AirTags.
- Magnetic check. Your phone's compass sensor spikes near concealed electronics.
Each step takes about fifteen seconds. The full walkthrough, with the exact things to look for, is in the 60-second sweep guide.
Bluewex runs all four scans in one tap. Download free →
What to do if you find one
Stay calm, then: document it with photo and video, don't disturb the device, step outside, and report it to Airbnb support directly — not the host. If it was intentionally hidden to surveil you, file a police report; hidden surveillance in private spaces is illegal in most US states and EU countries. A refund is the floor, not the resolution.
Frequently asked questions
Do Airbnbs have hidden cameras?
A minority have. A 2019 IPX1031 survey found 11% of travelers had found a hidden camera in an Airbnb, so roughly 1 in 9 — but the large majority of stays have none. Because you can't know in advance, a 60-second sweep on arrival is the sensible move.
Does Airbnb allow indoor cameras?
No. Since April 30, 2024, Airbnb bans all indoor security cameras, disclosed or not. Outdoor cameras are allowed only if disclosed before booking and not pointed at private spaces. Any camera inside the unit is a policy violation.
Where are hidden cameras most often found in Airbnbs?
In objects with a clear view of the bed or seating area: smoke detectors, bedside alarm clocks, air purifiers, USB chargers, tissue boxes, and picture frames. Two-way mirrors are far rarer but are the worst case.
How do I check my Airbnb for hidden cameras?
Run a flashlight lens-glint sweep in the dark, a WiFi network scan, a Bluetooth scan, and a magnetic check — all within the first five minutes, before unpacking. An app like Bluewex combines all four into one scan.
What should I do if I find a hidden camera?
Document it, leave it in place, step outside, and report it to Airbnb support directly. File a police report if it was intentionally hidden. Don't settle for a refund alone if the host placed it knowingly.
The bottom line
Do Airbnbs have hidden cameras? A few do; most don't. The risk is real enough to check for and small enough not to lose sleep over. Spend the two minutes on arrival, and you've handled it.
If you want help with the sweep, that's exactly what Bluewex does — free on iOS and Android.
Travel safe.
Related guides: How to Find Hidden Cameras in an Airbnb · How to Check a Hotel Room for Hidden Cameras · Full Airbnb Safety Scan