10 Most Commonly Stolen Hotel Amenities. How Many Are You Guilty of Stealing, Floridians?

Most travelers check out of a hotel with a suitcase full of clothes, a phone charger they almost forgot on the nightstand, and at least one tiny bottle of shampoo they’re way too proud of.

But according to a January 2026 survey, some guests leave with a lot more than just fond memories and a half-used bar of soap.

A new report from Deluxe Holiday Homes surveyed 1,239 hotel staff members and owners about what items most often disappear from guest rooms. The answers paint a picture that’s equal parts funny, shocking, and slightly concerning for housekeeping departments everywhere.

Some items make sense.

Others will make you wonder how they even fit into a carry-on.

Towels Are the Undisputed Champion of Hotel Theft

If hotel towels had a frequent flyer program, they’d all be elite status by now.

Nearly 88 percent of surveyed hotel staff said towels are the most commonly stolen item from rooms, with 1,090 out of 1,239 respondents reporting frequent towel disappearances.

That makes towels the clear number one item guests sneak into their luggage.

Why towels? They’re soft, useful, and easy to justify in a traveler’s mind.

People tell themselves they paid for the room, the room had towels, therefore the towels feel emotionally prepaid.

That’s not how hotels see it.

Industry experts say towels cost hotels more in replacement expenses than any other stolen item.

They’re easy to fold, easy to stack, and easy to hide under a hoodie in a suitcase. Compared to trying to smuggle out a lamp or a coffee maker, towels are low risk and high comfort.

Some travelers also get attached to the “feel” of hotel towels, especially at higher-end chains.

After one night wrapped in something fluffier than what’s at home, temptation wins.

Bathrobes Feel Fancy, and That’s the Problem

Bathrobes came in second place, with almost 66 percent of hotel staff saying guests frequently take them.

Unlike toiletries, robes aren’t complimentary. Not even a little.

But confusion (or selective confusion) plays a role here.

Some guests assume that if a robe hangs in the closet like a welcome gift, it must be included. Others know exactly what they’re doing and decide the luxury is worth the risk.

According to one hospitality expert, many hotel bathrobes cost at least $50 each, and often much more at upscale resorts.

Think about places like the Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons, or boutique spa resorts where the robe feels like a wearable cloud. Guests sometimes decide that cloud belongs in their personal collection now.

Hotels often charge missing robe fees after checkout.

But by then, the robe is already halfway to a new zip code.

Hangers Somehow End Up in Suitcases Too

This one surprises people until they think about it.

About 55 percent of respondents said hangers frequently go missing. That means more than every second guest has either taken a hanger or seriously considered it.

It sounds ridiculous, but there’s logic behind it.

Travelers buy new clothes on trips. They run out of hangers at home. They’re packing in a rush. A hanger slides into the suitcase “just for now” and never comes back.

Some hotel hangers are also sturdier than the flimsy wire ones from dry cleaners. A solid wooden hanger with clips feels like an upgrade.

Multiply that by millions of stays per year, and hotels end up replacing a small forest’s worth of closet gear.

Toiletries Live in the Gray Zone of Guilt

Toiletries rank high on the list, with 53 percent of hotel staff saying guests regularly take items like soap, shampoo, tissues, and shower caps.

This is where things get morally fuzzy.

Most travelers believe small, single-use toiletries are fair game. And in many cases, they are.

Mini bottles and wrapped soaps are designed to be used (and taken if you don’t use them). Hotels restock them anyway, and they’re built into operating costs.

The confusion starts when guests stretch the definition of “toiletries.”

Taking one mini bottle is normal. Taking eight because you found the housekeeping cart unattended feels less normal.

Pocketing full-size pump bottles bolted loosely to the wall definitely crosses a line.

The study notes that guests feel less guilty about toiletries because they’re framed as complimentary.

Compared to stealing a blanket, grabbing a spare soap feels harmless, even if it adds up across thousands of rooms per night.

Blankets Are Bulkier Than You’d Expect Thieves to Prefer

You’d think size alone would protect blankets. You’d be wrong.

About 36 percent of surveyed hotel staff said blankets commonly disappear, despite being bulky and harder to pack. It typically costs between $75 and $150 per blanket to replace, so replacement costs can stack up fast depending on brand and quality.

So how do people get away with it?

Cars help.

Road trippers have more space than airline travelers. Long-stay guests also get more comfortable and start treating the room like a temporary apartment.

There’s also a psychological factor. Guests who feel unhappy with a hotel experience sometimes justify taking larger items as “compensation.”

Not exactly ethical, but it happens.

Pillows Keep Leaving the Building

Nearly 32 percent of respondents reported pillow theft at hotels, which raises several practical questions, starting with how.

Pillows are awkward, obvious, and not exactly subtle to carry through a lobby. Yet they still rank high on the disappearance chart.

Part of the reason is brand marketing.

Some hotel chains promote their pillows heavily, like Westin’s famous Heavenly Bed line. Guests fall in love with the sleep experience and want to recreate it at home.

Many hotels sell their pillows online for this reason, but some travelers skip the checkout page and go straight to the suitcase method.

The problem is that pillows compress, but not enough to be invisible.

Housekeeping notices. Accounting notices.

Eventually, so does the guest’s credit card on file.

Hair Dryers Aren’t Safe Either

Hair dryers ranked at about 27 percent stolen rate, which surprises anyone who’s ever tried to untangle one from a hotel bathroom drawer.

They’re not tiny, and they’re often attached with cords or stored in custom bags.

Still, more than a quarter of hotel staff say they’ve seen them taken.

This tends to happen more at mid-range hotels where dryers are loose and easy to remove.

Travelers who forgot theirs at home or burned one out mid-trip sometimes decide the hotel unit is their emergency replacement.

Pens Are a Popular Freebie Grab

Branded pens came in at about a 22 percent “stolen” rate, though you can’t really call them stolen. These are freebies that hotels expect guests to use and take home.

Hotels place them near notepads, directories, and room service menus. They double as tiny advertisements once guests get home.

From a marketing standpoint, it works.

A pen with a hotel logo sitting in a kitchen drawer is a mini billboard. Compared to the cost of replacing linens, pens are cheap exposure.

Still, some properties report guests taking handfuls at a time, which turns a marketing perk into a supply order problem.

Dishes and Remote Controls Round Out the List

Yes, people even steal dishes and remote controls from hotels.

About 14 percent of respondents said dishes go missing. Plates, mugs, and glasses sometimes get packed accidentally with leftovers or intentionally by guests who like the design.

Boutique hotels with custom dishware see this more often than big chains using generic items.

Remote controls came in at around a 12 percent stolen rate.

That one creates instant chaos for the next guest and a headache for staff.

Most likely, remotes get packed by accident in bedding or bags.

Because let’s face it: A remote control from a hotel in Denver won’t do much good in a living room in Tampa.

Why Guests Keep Taking Things They Know Aren’t Free

According to a Deluxe Holiday Homes expert, hotel theft costs the US industry around $100 million per year.

A big part of the issue is confusion mixed with convenience.

Small branded items feel like gifts. Guests assume they’re built into the price.

Larger items fall into a different category, yet people still take them anyway.

There’s also a vacation mindset at work. People behave differently when they’re traveling.

Normal rules sometimes feel softer. Boundaries blur. The same person who’d never take a towel from a gym might take one from a hotel without blinking.

Chain scale matters too.

Guests may feel less guilt taking from a large brand like Marriott or Hilton than from a small independent inn, even though the financial impact is still very real.

The Difference Between Complimentary and Costly

A simple rule helps separate what’s usually okay to take from hotels and what’s definitely not.

Single-use toiletries, disposable slippers, pens, and notepads are usually safe.

Reusable items like towels, robes, pillows, electronics, and linens are not.

When in doubt, assume the fluffy, wired, or expensive-looking object isn’t a parting gift.