Hotel Cost Per Night Calculator
Hotels frequently advertise base room rates that exclude taxes, resort fees, and parking. The true cost of a hotel stay can be substantially higher once all mandatory charges are included. This calculator computes the all-in cost per night and the total stay cost by combining your room rate, daily resort fees, the applicable hotel tax rate, nightly parking, and the number of nights. Use it to compare hotels on a level playing field.
Hotel cost formula
Nightly all-in = (Room rate + Resort fee) x (1 + Tax rate / 100) + Parking
Total stay = Nightly all-in x Nights
Taxes are applied to the room rate and resort fee combined, as this is how most US states and municipalities calculate hotel occupancy tax. Parking is typically taxed separately or excluded from hotel tax in many jurisdictions; this calculator adds parking as a flat post-tax amount. Adjust if your destination taxes parking at a different rate.
Hidden hotel costs to watch for
- Resort fees: can range from $15 to $50 or more per night, especially at Las Vegas, Miami, and Hawaii properties.
- Hotel parking: valet parking in central business districts often costs $40 to $80 per night; self-parking is typically $20 to $40.
- Hotel taxes: New York City hotel room taxes can exceed 19% when all levies are combined. Chicago, Los Angeles, and Houston also have high combined rates.
- Early check-in or late check-out fees: may add one half-day's room rate.
- Wi-Fi fees: most full-service hotels now include Wi-Fi, but some budget properties charge $10 to $15 per day.
Hotel cost per night calculator: frequently asked questions
What is the true cost per night at a hotel?
The true cost per night includes the advertised room rate plus taxes and fees divided by the number of nights. Hotels often advertise pre-tax rates, and mandatory resort fees, destination fees, and parking charges can add 20% to 40% to the displayed price. Always calculate the all-in nightly cost before comparing hotels.
What is a resort fee and is it mandatory?
A resort fee (also called a destination fee or amenity fee) is a mandatory daily charge added to the room rate at check-in or check-out. It covers amenities such as pool access, gym, WiFi, and parking, regardless of whether guests use them. The US Federal Trade Commission has scrutinised resort fees as a form of drip pricing. The fee is mandatory and non-waivable at most properties that charge it.
What hotel taxes apply in the United States?
Hotel taxes in the US vary by state and city. They typically include state sales tax (0% to 10%), a local hotel occupancy tax (4% to 8%), and sometimes a tourism or convention centre levy. Combined hotel tax rates in major US cities often range from 12% to 18% or more. This calculator applies a combined tax rate you enter, so you can use the rate specific to your destination.
How is the effective cost per night calculated?
Effective cost per night = (Room rate per night + Resort fee per night) x (1 + Tax rate) + Parking per night. The total stay cost multiplies this by the number of nights and adds any one-time fixed costs (such as a per-stay parking flat fee).
Should I compare hotels using the nightly rate or total stay cost?
Always compare using the total stay cost including all taxes and mandatory fees. A hotel with a lower advertised rate but a high resort fee may cost more in total than a hotel with a higher headline rate but no resort fee. This calculator makes that comparison straightforward.
Official sources
- US Federal Trade Commission on hotel resort fees (drip pricing): ftc.gov hotel resort fees.
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI lodging component: bls.gov/cpi.
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 14 June 2026. See our methodology.