Late check-out is one of the best perks for travelers with hotel status, but it's one that even top-tier Diamond members in the Hilton Honors program can't count on: It's not a guaranteed benefit of status, so it's incredibly hit-or-miss. But Hilton is shaking things up next year, opening a pathway for guests to pay to lock in a later departure time … that could eliminate any hope of getting late check-out for free, no matter your status.
As first reported by LoyaltyLobby, the hotel chain is working on a new system for selling guaranteed late check-out to all guests. That's expected to roll out sometime in 2026, with fees that range from $40 for basic Hilton properties to $60 at luxury locations like Conrad and Waldorf Astoria.
It's unclear exactly what time “late check-out” will get you – and whether it will vary from property to property. Here's what you'll pay for a late-checkout depending upon what Hilton brand you're staying at.
| Late checkout fees | Brands |
|---|---|
| $40 | Hampton Inn, Hilton Garden Inn, Home2 Suites, Homewood Suites, LivSmart, Spark, Tempo, and Tru |
| $50 | DoubleTree, Embassy Suites, Motto, Signia, and Tapestry Collection |
| $60 | Canopy, Conrad, Curio Collection, Hilton, LXR, and Waldorf Astoria |
Once this new fee structure goes live, you'll be able to purchase late check-out as an optional add-on within 72 hours of your stay, space permitting. There will only be a select number of rooms available for late check-out each day. And properties will be allowed to limit (or even withhold altogether) late check-out availability at their discretion.
By selling off late check-out to a limited number of guests, any hope of getting to stay later for free could evaporate, no matter your Hilton status. Then again, with the current guessing game for checking out late at Hilton properties, the option to pay $40 to $60 for a guaranteed late check-out could be an improvement for many travelers.
While other chains like Hyatt and Marriott guarantee 2 p.m. or 4 p.m. check-out for their mid-level and top-tier elites (with IHG providing space-available 2 p.m. check-out across the board), Hilton has fallen far short. No matter your status, it's entirely based upon availability – and up to each individual hotel whether to give guests a later check-out time.
In fact, you won't find any mention of any specific late check-out times on Hilton's website or mobile app.
In our experience, it's incredibly hit or miss … with far more misses than hits. A few members of our team with Hilton Diamond and even Gold Status have gotten the occasional 2 p.m. or even 4 p.m. checkout time over the last few years. But most times, they've been politely told late checkout simply wasn't possible during their recent (and even not-so-recent) Hilton stays.
Some Hilton properties currently offer a confirmed late check-out with a fee during the checkout process. Hilton is now apparently planning to roll out late check-out fees systemwide, based on a standardized scale.
Part of the problem for Hilton may be that there are simply too many top-tier elites to guarantee late checkout for all of them. Hilton status is incredibly easy to earn through American Express credit cards.
Bottom Line
Hilton is planning to start offering guaranteed late check-out in 2026 … if you're willing to pay for it.
While that might not entirely eliminate any hope of a free late check-out at Hilton properties, it will get much harder. On the flip side, it will give Hilton fans a way to guarantee a later check-out time when they really need it – something that even top-tier Diamond members can't currently count on.
Lead photo courtesy of Hilton
