Extended Stay America is one of the few hotel chains with a single published pet policy. Its pet-friendly hotels allow up to two pets per suite, each no longer than 36 inches and no taller than 36 inches. The fee is a non-refundable cleaning charge of up to USD 25 per pet per day, plus tax, for the first six nights, and up to USD 15 per pet per day after that. Larger pets, or more than two, need the property manager's approval. Service animals are exempt from the fee.
This guide is based on the pet-friendly hotels page on Extended Stay America's own website, read in October 2026. The chain says the pet fee is subject to change, and the wording "up to" means a hotel can charge less, so confirm the fee with the hotel when you book.
Extended Stay America pet policy at a glance
| Rule | What Extended Stay America says |
|---|---|
| Number of pets | Maximum of two pets per suite |
| Size | No longer than 36 inches and no taller than 36 inches |
| Larger pets or more than two | Need the property manager's approval |
| Fee, nights 1 to 6 | Up to USD 25 plus tax per pet per day, non-refundable cleaning fee |
| Fee, night 7 onward | Not to exceed USD 15 plus tax per pet per day |
| When you pay | Stays of 6 days or less: all pet fees at check-in. 7 days or more: first 7 nights at check-in, then every 7 days |
| Service animals | Exempt from the charge |
The size rule, not a weight limit
Most hotel chains set a weight limit, often 50 or 75 pounds. Extended Stay America uses height and length instead. Its pet policy says pets can be no longer than 36 inches and no taller than 36 inches, and that larger animals need the property manager's approval.
That is good news for many medium and large dogs. A Labrador or a Border Collie will usually fit, because a 36 inch height limit is far taller than most dogs stand at the shoulder. The length limit is the one to measure. If you measure from nose to the base of the tail and your dog is close to 36 inches, call the hotel before you book. Very large breeds, such as Great Danes, Mastiffs and Wolfhounds, are likely to need approval.
Older listings on some booking and pet travel sites still show a 50 pound limit at some Extended Stay America hotels. The chain's own page now uses the 36 inch rule, so treat the official page and the hotel as the authority.
How much the Extended Stay America pet fee costs
The fee is per pet, per day, and drops after the sixth night. At the maximum rates, the cost for one pet works out like this:
- 3 nights: 3 x USD 25 = USD 75 plus tax.
- 6 nights: 6 x USD 25 = USD 150 plus tax.
- 14 nights: USD 150 for the first six, plus 8 x USD 15 = USD 120, so USD 270 plus tax.
- 30 nights: USD 150 plus 24 x USD 15 = USD 360, so USD 510 plus tax.
With two pets, double those figures. Because the policy says "up to," a hotel can charge less, and some Extended Stay America listings on third-party sites show lower rates for the later nights, so ask the hotel what it actually charges.
When you pay
Extended Stay America collects pet fees in advance. For a reservation of six days or less, you pay all pet fees at check-in. For seven days or more, you pay the first seven nights of pet fees at check-in and then each seven days after that until the end of your stay. If you are staying a month, expect a pet charge on your folio every week.
Which pets are allowed
The official policy talks about pets in general and does not list species, so dogs and cats are both welcome under the two pet, 36 inch rule. If you are bringing something else, such as a bird or a rabbit, call the hotel first, since the property manager makes the call on anything outside the standard terms. The same applies to a pet that is noisy or reactive: a long stay means neighbors through the wall for weeks, so mention it up front and ask for a quieter suite if one is available.
Why Extended Stay America suits a move with a pet
Extended Stay America hotels are built for longer stays. Every suite has a kitchen, and the hotels have guest laundry, which matters with a dog. The chain itself says its pet-friendly hotels are aimed at people on vacation or being relocated who do not want to leave a pet behind. If you are between homes during a move, waiting for a lease to start or working a temporary job in a new city, a suite with a kitchen and a pet allowed can be far more practical than a standard hotel room.
For a long stay, though, the daily fee matters. Over a month, one pet can cost around USD 500 in pet fees at the maximum rates. Compare that with chains that charge one flat fee: many Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites hotels we checked, such as Staybridge Suites Denver Downtown, charge USD 150 per pet for a stay of seven nights or more, as covered in our Holiday Inn and IHG pet policy guide, and several Hilton extended stay hotels charge USD 125 for five nights or more, as covered in our Hilton pet policy guide. Get quotes from two or three hotels before you commit to a long booking.
Larger pets and a third pet
If your dog is longer or taller than 36 inches, or you have three pets, the policy does not say no. It says you need the property manager's approval. Call the hotel, describe your pets, and ask for the approval to be noted on your reservation, ideally in writing by email. Do not rely on getting approval at the front desk on arrival, especially for a long booking.
How to book an Extended Stay America stay with a pet
- Choose a hotel and confirm on its page or by phone that it is pet friendly.
- Measure your pet if it is a large dog, and check the 36 inch rule.
- Call the hotel to tell it you are bringing a pet and to confirm the daily rate it charges.
- For a larger pet or a third pet, ask the property manager for approval in advance.
- At check-in, expect to pay the pet fees up front for the first week.
Extended Stay America lists a reservations number, 800.804.3724, on its website, but for pet questions the hotel itself is the best contact. Our guide on how to find pet-friendly hotels covers the same checks for other chains.
How to measure your pet for the 36 inch rule
The policy gives two numbers, length and height, but does not say exactly how to measure them. A sensible way to check at home:
- Stand your dog naturally on a flat floor.
- For height, measure straight down from the highest point of the shoulders to the floor.
- For length, measure from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail, with the head in a natural position.
- Write both numbers down, and if either is close to 36 inches, mention them when you call the hotel.
Most dogs under about 80 pounds will be well under 36 inches tall, so length is the measurement more likely to matter. Long-bodied large breeds can come close. Giving the hotel real numbers in advance is better than a front desk judgment call on arrival day.
Preparing your pet for a long hotel stay
A few weeks in a hotel suite is a big change for a dog or cat. Before you go, the ASPCA's travel safety tips recommend making sure your pet is microchipped and wears a collar and tag with your contact details, ideally with a temporary travel tag showing your cell number and destination, and carrying a copy of your pet's medical history in case of an emergency. During a move, a pet that slips out of an unfamiliar door is a real risk, so check the tag before you leave and keep the suite door closed when you carry bags in and out.
Once you arrive, keep the routine close to home: the same food, the same feeding times and the same walk schedule. Cats in particular settle faster with a litter box set up in a quiet corner and a hiding spot, such as an open carrier with a familiar blanket.
Service animals at Extended Stay America
Extended Stay America's pet policy says service animals are exempt from the pet charge. That matches the law: under the ADA service animal rules, hotels must admit trained service dogs, cannot charge pet fees for them, and may only ask whether the dog is required because of a disability and what task it has been trained to perform. Emotional support animals are not service animals under the ADA and can be charged the normal pet fee. Our guide to service dog hotel rights has more detail.
Living with a pet in an extended stay suite
- Bring your pet's own bed, bowls and a few toys. A familiar setup helps a dog settle over a longer stay.
- Use a crate if your pet will ever be alone in the suite, and ask the hotel about its rules for unattended pets.
- Set a walking routine and find the nearest grass or park on your first day.
- Keep pet food sealed in the kitchen, and wipe up spills to avoid extra cleaning charges.
- Tell housekeeping when your pet is in the room, so nobody walks in on a nervous dog.
- Pack your pet's vaccination records and the name of a vet near the hotel.
Common mistakes with Extended Stay America pet stays
- Assuming a weight limit applies and turning down a hotel that would have taken your large dog.
- Assuming the 36 inch rule is no problem for a very long dog without measuring.
- Forgetting that the fee is per pet, so two pets cost double.
- Budgeting for a month at USD 25 a day when the rate drops to USD 15 after six nights, or the other way round, budgeting for USD 15 when the first six nights cost more.
- Not getting the manager's approval in writing for a third pet or a large dog.
Extended Stay America for a road trip
For a single night on a long drive, Extended Stay America's USD 25 per pet is reasonable, but you would be paying for a kitchen you may not use. A chain with a flat or no fee may be cheaper for one night. Our hotels with no pet fee guide lists options, and our road trip with a dog guide covers planning the drive.
A sample stay: three weeks between homes
Say you are relocating with one dog and one cat, and the new apartment is not ready for 21 nights. At the maximum published rates, the first six nights cost USD 25 per pet per day, or USD 300 for both pets. The next 15 nights cost USD 15 per pet per day, or USD 450 for both. The total is USD 750 plus tax for three weeks. Paid weekly, that is about USD 350 at check-in, then roughly USD 210 a week after. A hotel charging a flat USD 150 per pet for a long stay would cost USD 300 for the same two pets, so it pays to compare.
Before you book
Extended Stay America's pet policy is unusually clear. Two pets, a 36 inch size rule rather than a weight limit, a daily fee that drops after six nights, and payment in advance by the week. Confirm the actual rate with the hotel, measure a big dog, get approval for anything outside the rules, and work out the total for your whole stay before you book.