Minimum Stay Restriction Calculator
Find out which nights in the week need a minimum length of stay or closed to arrival rule, and which should stay open.
| Date | Occupancy on books % |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | |
| Day 2 | |
| Day 3 | |
| Day 4 | |
| Day 5 | |
| Day 6 | |
| Day 7 |
How to use the free Minimum Stay Restriction Calculator
- Enter your figures in the fields above – use real numbers from your PMS, channel manager or accounts.
- Tap the button to see the result instantly. Change any value to compare scenarios.
- Copy, print or save the result and use it in your daily or monthly review.
This Minimum Stay Restriction Calculator runs fully in your browser on mobile or desktop – no sign-up and nothing is uploaded. Free minimum stay restriction calculator for hotels. Enter a week of occupancy on books and ALOS to see which nights need MinLOS, CTA or no restriction.
Why a minimum stay can earn more than a full night
On a peak night — a Saturday in a hill station, New Year's Eve in Goa, a big wedding date — you will probably sell every room. The problem is the nights around it. If you take only one-night bookings for the peak night, the Friday and Sunday may stay half empty. A minimum length of stay (MinLOS) or closed to arrival (CTA) rule makes guests who want the peak night also buy a softer night, so the whole stretch fills.
The rules this calculator uses
- MinLOS 2 on a high-demand night when the next night is much softer: anyone arriving on the peak night must stay through the following night.
- CTA on a high-demand night when the previous night is softer: no arrivals on the peak night, so guests must arrive the night before.
- MinLOS 3 is suggested only when both shoulders are soft, occupancy is very high and your guests already stay 2.5 nights or more on average.
- No restriction when the nights on both sides are also busy. Then a higher rate does the job better than a restriction.
The peak day you choose (an event or festival) uses a lower threshold, because demand for that night usually arrives late.
Where restrictions go wrong
- Too early: restricting a night 60 days out can stop bookings that would have come anyway. Apply them when the pattern is clear.
- Too long: a MinLOS of 3 at a business hotel where guests stay one night simply loses business. Check your average length of stay first; the hotel nights calculator helps you count stays correctly.
- Forgotten: remove the restriction once the shoulders fill or 3–5 days before arrival, so last-minute one-night guests can still book.
- Channel gaps: load the same restriction on your booking engine and every OTA through the channel manager.
If you would rather reward longer stays than force them, compare the result with a discount using the length of stay discount calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between MinLOS and CTA?
MinLOS sets the minimum nights for bookings arriving on a date. CTA (closed to arrival) blocks arrivals on that date but still allows guests who arrived earlier to stay through it.
When should I remove a minimum stay restriction?
Remove it when the softer neighbouring nights have filled, or a few days before arrival if rooms are still open, so that last-minute one-night guests can book.
Do minimum stay rules hurt OTA ranking?
Restrictions reduce the number of searches you appear in for that date, which can lower conversion. Use them only on genuinely high-demand nights and for short periods.
Want a revenue expert to check your numbers?
Get a free OTA, pricing and reputation audit from Revgrow360 — no obligation.