Early check-in and late check-out: how much to charge, when to say yes, and how not to mess up

Almost every week it happens: a guest writes asking to check in at 11 am, or stay until 6 pm. And you don't know whether to say yes, no, or how much to charge. In this post, I explain how to manage early check-in and late check-out profitably, without breaking the cleaning schedule or losing money by saying yes to everything.

Early check-in (early arrival) and late check-out (late departure) are extras that your guests value highly. Well managed, they are an additional source of income. Poorly managed, they disrupt your operations, burn out the cleaning team, and cost you money. Let's look at it in detail.

What exactly are they and why do they matter

Your listing has a standard check-in time (usually from 3 pm or 4 pm) and check-out time (around 11 am). These times are not arbitrary: they are designed so that between one guest's departure and the next guest's arrival, there is time to clean, inspect, and restock.

When a guest requests:

• Early check-in: arrive before the official time. For example, at 11 am instead of 4 pm.
• Late check-out: leave after the official time. For example, at 3 pm instead of 11 am.

The big question: do you charge, give it for free, or say no?

It depends. And that's what this post is about.

When to say yes for free (and why it's beneficial)

Saying yes for free isn't giving away money: it's generating good reviews and increasing the likelihood of direct bookings in the future. But only in these cases:

1. No reservation the day before or after

If the guest arrives on a Monday and no one stayed on Sunday, letting them in at 11 am costs nothing. The same if they leave on a Friday and no one arrives until Saturday: they can stay until 6 pm without issue.

2. It's a reasonable time

Half an hour earlier or an hour later than the official time is reasonable. It doesn't cause friction, and the guest will remember.

3. The guest is coming from very far away

If they are coming from Australia with a flight landing at 8 am, they've been awake for 24 hours. Letting them in at 11 am is humane and guarantees a great review.

4. It's low season

In low season, gaps between reservations are large. Take the opportunity to offer flexibility and stand out.

Practical rule: if saying yes doesn't incur real cost (extra cleaning, messing up the calendar), do it. The review is worth more than the €20 you would charge.

When to charge (and how much)

Here's the important part. You charge when the extra causes you cost or risk:

• Blocks the possibility of accepting another reservation
• Forces the cleaner to come before their usual schedule
• Compresses cleaning time and increases the risk of errors
• Requires you to be available outside regular hours

Typical rates in Spain

Service	Approximate fee	When to apply
Early check-in (1-2h earlier)	€15-25	No reservation the day before
Early check-in (3-5h earlier)	€30-50	Cleaning can be done earlier
Early check-in (full day)	50% of a night	Blocks the night before
Late check-out (1-2h later)	€15-25	No reservation that day
Late check-out (3-5h later)	€30-50	Cleaning can be reorganized
Late check-out (full day)	50-100% of a night	Blocks the next night

These prices are indicative for apartments costing €60-90/night. If your apartment costs €200/night, scale proportionally.

How to charge

There are several options depending on the platform:

• Airbnb: you can send a "charge request" from the app or adjust the reservation.
• Booking: charge directly in cash or via Bizum/transfer upon arrival. Booking doesn't facilitate extras within the platform.
• Direct bookings: easiest. Charge upon confirmation.

If you want to delve deeper into how charging for extras affects the deposit and security deposit, we have a full post on the topic.

When to say no (without offending)

Sometimes you have to say no. And that's okay. These are the cases:

Same-day reservation

If the previous guest leaves at 11 am and the next wants to check in at 12 pm, it's not possible. Your cleaner needs at least 2-3 hours, assuming everything is perfect. The correct response is: "It's not possible today because there's another reservation. We can store your luggage in the apartment from 11 am and you can check in at 4 pm".

The cleaner can't come earlier

If your cleaner has other properties in the morning and can't arrive before 2 pm, don't invent excuses. Communicate honestly.

They ask for something unreasonable

Entering at 7 am when check-in is at 4 pm, or leaving at 10 pm when check-out is at 11 am. This isn't flexibility; it's an extra night. Charge accordingly.

The wildcard: luggage storage

This saves you 80% of situations. If you can't offer early check-in, suggest:

• Leave luggage in the apartment (if you trust the current guests) or in a locked storage/entrance hall
• An external luggage storage in the area (many cities have Bounce, Radical Storage, etc., for €5-7 per bag)
• If the apartment has a secure common area (locked landing, garage), a temporary solution

The same applies to late check-out: if the guest has a flight at 10 pm, they don't have to stay in the apartment. Collect luggage, shower at the airport gym, done.

It's a detail highly valued and saves you problems.

How to automate the offer

To avoid improvising each time, automate:

1. Automatic message 48 hours before check-in

In the message you send before arrival, include something like:

"If you need to check in earlier than 4 pm or stay later on the day of departure, let me know and I will confirm availability. Early check-in: €20 (if available). Late check-out: €25 (if available). If not, we will store your luggage for free."

This does three things:

• Tells the guest it's an option
• Sets a clear price
• Offers a free alternative

2. Strategically block calendars

If your apartment has good occupancy, consider blocking the night before or after as "non-reservable" 24-48 hours in advance, to sell it as a premium early/late option if needed.

3. Coordinate with cleaning

Your cleaner must know 24 hours in advance if there's early check-in. If not, it won't work. If you manage several properties, this coordination is critical.

Costly mistakes

Saying yes to everything for free

You train your guests (and your listings) to expect unlimited flexibility. And one day, you won't be able to provide it, resulting in a bad review.

Never charging

You're giving away product. If all your competitors charge €25 for late check-out, you can too. And if you decide to give it for free, do so consciously.

Forgetting to register in SES

Note: check-in in SES Hospedajes is done when the guest actually enters. If you do early check-in at 11 am, that's the official entry time, not 4 pm from the booking. Be careful with this if you manually submit traveler reports.

Not communicating the policy in the listing

If your listing says nothing, guests assume what they want. Include a clear phrase in the description: "Early check-in and late check-out available upon request for an additional fee, subject to availability".

How it affects your profitability

Numbers vary, but a reasonable estimate:

• Apartment with 200 nights of occupancy per year
• 15% of guests request early or late check-out (30 per year)
• Of these, you charge an average of €20 to half (15 per year)
• Extra income: €300 per year

It's not spectacular, but it's €300 almost effortlessly. And if you manage multiple properties, it scales well.

More important than the money: the guest who receives this preferential treatment returns, recommends, and leaves a better review. The real ROI is in loyalty.

How Autoregistro fits in

One thing people forget: when you do early check-in, the actual entry time of the guest changes. And that affects the traveler report you need to send to SES Hospedajes (which has a 24-hour window from the actual entry).

With Autoregistro, this is automatically resolved: the guest fills out the online form upon arrival, the data goes automatically to SES with the correct time, and you don't have to remember or rewrite anything if the entry is earlier. No manual forms, no stress.

It costs €1 per month per property (less than a coffee) and saves you the hassle of coordinating registrations when entry times change at the last minute. You can see it at autoregistro.es.

FAQ

Is it legal to charge for early check-in and late check-out?

Yes, absolutely. They are optional extra services you offer voluntarily. As long as the price is clear beforehand and the guest agrees, there is no legal issue.

Do I have to offer it always?

No. It's an optional service subject to availability. If you have a reservation on the same day or your cleaner can't come, say no and that's it.

How do I charge on Airbnb without breaking the rules?

Airbnb allows "charge requests" for agreed extras. Communicate first via chat, reach an agreement, then send the request. It's within policy.

What if the guest refuses to pay but insists on entering early?

Offer the free alternative: luggage storage. If they insist on entering, say it's not possible. It's your house; you set the rules (always politely).

Is it better to increase the base price than to charge extras?

No. The base price is what all guests see; extras are only for those who need them. Keep the base price competitive and monetize extras for those who ask.