Towels rank first among items hotel guests steal when checking out, according to a January 2026 report by vacation rentals platform Deluxe Holiday Homes on items that most frequently go missing from hotel rooms.
The report shows that nearly 88 per cent of hotel staff who participated in the survey said guests frequently take towels.
More than half of hotel toiletries also fail to stay in rooms, with 53 per cent of hotel staff reporting that visitors often walk out with them.
Pens are the most commonly snatched freebies, with over 21 per cent of hotel owners saying these branded items regularly disappear from hotel rooms.
The survey interviewed 1,239 hotel staff members and owners, who were asked to identify items they had seen guests take or had heard were stolen. Respondents could select multiple items.
Each item received a percentage score based on how many participants identified it as commonly taken. Towels topped the list, with 1,090 mentions out of 1,239 respondents, meaning nearly nine in every ten survey participants said these bathroom essentials frequently disappear.
According to a hospitality industry expert from Deluxe Holiday Homes, the high theft rate is linked to how easy towels are to pack and sneak out. “Hotels lose more money replacing towels than any other stolen item,” the expert said.
Bathrobes ranked second, with nearly 66 per cent of hotel owners reporting that they are commonly taken. More than 800 survey participants identified bathrobes as frequently stolen.
“Sometimes guests think bathrobes are free to take, but that is never the case. They are quite luxurious items, costing hotels at least Sh6,450 ($50) each,” the expert noted.
Hangers came third on the list of the most stolen hotel room items. About 685 survey participants, representing 55 per cent of respondents, reported seeing or hearing about guests taking them.
Lightweight and easy to pack, hangers end up in suitcases almost as often as towels. Toiletries such as soap, shampoo and tissues followed closely, with 53 per cent of respondents saying they are commonly taken. Around 657 hotel employees reported seeing these bathroom products go missing.
“The blurry line between what is complimentary and what counts as theft means guests feel less guilty pocketing these items, especially since hotels regularly restock them,” the expert said.
Blankets ranked fifth, with 448 participants, or 36 per cent of those surveyed, saying visitors commonly steal them. Despite their bulk, blankets still go missing, adding to high replacement costs for hotels.
“Hotel theft costs the industry around $100 million annually in the US alone. Part of the issue is confusion about what guests are actually allowed to take home,” the expert said when commenting on the study.
He added, “Items like branded pens or mini soaps feel like freebies, so people assume they are meant to be kept. But there is no confusion about blankets or bathrobes. Guests know these are not gifts, but some choose to take them regardless.”