While policies can vary from hotel to hotel, it is common for hotels to charge a fee for unreturned keys. The typical range for these fees is between $20 and $50 per key. These fees are in place to encourage guests to return their keys upon checkout and to cover the cost of replacing lost or unreturned keys.

In 2026, most hotels do not charge for unreturned plastic RFID or magnetic stripe keycards. These cards are considered "semi-disposable" items that cost the hotel only a few cents each to produce and reprogram. In fact, many hotels now encourage guests to keep the cards as souvenirs or place them in recycling bins near the exit. However, there are two major exceptions. First, if you are staying at a boutique or historic hotel that still uses physical "hard" metal keys, you will likely be charged a significant fee (often $50–$150) because the loss requires the hotel to physically replace the lock or cut a new specialty key for security reasons. Second, some high-end luxury resorts that use custom RFID fobs or wristbands may charge a replacement fee if they aren't returned. Always check the fine print at check-in; while the standard plastic card is free to lose, anything that feels "heavy" or "custom" likely carries a penalty.