Hotel Check-In and Check-Out: Usual Times, Etiquette and Late Check-Out

Most hotels let guests check in from mid-afternoon, commonly somewhere between 2pm and 4pm, and expect them to check out by late morning, often between 10am and noon. The exact times are printed on your booking confirmation and differ a good deal between properties, especially at B&Bs and inns. If you need to arrive early or leave late, ask in advance; hotels can usually help when rooms allow, sometimes for a fee.

Why the times are what they are

The gap between check-out and check-in is when rooms are cleaned, linen is changed and anything broken gets fixed. On a busy day, a housekeeping team may have a long list of rooms to turn around in a few hours, which is why an early arrival cannot always be accommodated even when the receptionist would like to help.

Checking in smoothly

1. Have the essentials ready. Your booking reference, the card used to book and, where asked, photo ID.
2. Expect a card hold. Many hotels take a pre-authorisation to cover extras such as the bar or room service. It is released after check-out, though banks can take a few days to clear it.
3. Make requests early. A quiet room, a ground-floor room or extra pillows are easier to arrange at the desk than after you have unpacked. The guide on how to get a quiet hotel room explains which requests are worth making.
4. Ask the useful questions. Breakfast times, Wi-Fi details, parking arrangements and the last orders time at the bar.
5. Look round the room before settling in. If something is wrong, from a dead bulb to a smell of smoke, report it straight away while moving is simple.

Arriving early or late

Early check-in

If you turn up before the official time, the desk may have a room ready, particularly midweek. If not, most hotels will store your luggage so you can head out without it. Some charge for a guaranteed early arrival, and a few sell it as a separate rate. When it really matters, such as after an overnight flight, it can be simpler to book the room from the night before.

Late arrival

Let the hotel know if you will arrive late in the evening. Larger hotels have night staff, but smaller places may lock the front door, leave keys in a key safe or need a number to call. An unannounced late arrival can sometimes see a booking released, so a short message saves trouble.

How to ask for late check-out

Ask the evening before or when you check in, rather than at 11am on the day. Hotels plan cleaning schedules ahead and are more able to say yes with notice. Late check-out may be free if the hotel is quiet, charged by the hour, or included as a member benefit; it is one of the perks weighed up in the look at hotel and airline loyalty schemes. Sunday mornings and quiet weekdays tend to be easier than busy Saturdays.

Check-out etiquette

• Leave the room in reasonable order. There is no need to make the bed, but gathering used towels in the bathroom and putting rubbish in the bin is appreciated.
• Know what is yours to take. Toiletries and tea or coffee sachets are generally fine; bathrobes, hangers and hairdryers are not.
• Be upfront about the minibar and any breakages. Sorting it out at the desk is far easier than by email later.
• Read the bill before paying, and ask about anything you do not recognise.
• Hand back keys or key cards unless the hotel tells you otherwise.
• Do a final sweep: chargers behind the bedside table, the safe, the bathroom hook and the wardrobe.

If you would like to thank housekeeping or the porter, the guide to tipping in UK hotels covers what is usual. Packing the night before also makes the morning calmer, and the routine in how to pack for a weekend trip works just as well in reverse.

Common questions

Can I leave my bags after checking out?

Almost always. Hotels usually keep luggage in a locked room for the day and give you a ticket to collect it. Smaller B&Bs may ask you to arrange this in advance.

What is express check-out?

Some hotels let you settle the bill by email or through an app and simply drop the key card in a box. It saves queueing on busy mornings, but check the final statement once it arrives.

Do I have to check out in person?

Not always, but at smaller places it is polite to say goodbye and return the key so the hosts know the room is free.

Is it rude to ask for an early check-in?

Not at all, as long as the request is phrased as a question rather than an expectation. A friendly "is there any chance" goes a long way, and a no is usually followed by an offer to look after your bags.