Add visual descriptions to photos in your listing

Adding visual descriptions (alt text) to listing photos is a meaningful action hosts can take to be inclusive of more guests. They help by describing what’s in the photo for guests who are blind, have low-vision or can’t load listing images.

How visual descriptions help guests

Visual descriptions are useful for:

• Making images accessible to people who are blind or low vision who use screen readers to read visual descriptions aloud.
• Helping users with slow or unreliable internet connections. When images don’t load, visual descriptions may be shown in place of the image.
• Providing context and keywords to search engines, helping them know what your image is about.

Edit visual descriptions

After you’re done, a badge will be added to the photo indicating that there’s a visual description.

Tips for writing useful visual descriptions

Unlike photo captions which help convey the mood of a photo, visual descriptions should accurately and objectively describe the contents of a listing photo.

1. Be brief. Descriptions must be fewer than 250 characters, so include important details first.
2. Be objective. Describe only what’s shown in the photo. Details about what you love, or the mood of the space should be added to your photo captions instead.
3. Describe all unique or important objects in the photo.
4. Describe the space shown in the photo, including any stand-out features about its size, style and lighting.

Example visual description

Visual description: ‘A modern armchair with plush grey cushions and blue throw pillows sits between a side table and a tall lamp near a large, sunny window. A world map covers the wall behind the chair.’