Hotel Room Inspection Checklist: 60 Checks Before the Next Guest (Free Printable)
November 8, 2026
A guest checks in after a long journey. The air conditioning rattles, the shower runs cold, and the smoke alarm on the ceiling has no battery. None of these took long to fix. All of them could have been found by a two-minute look before the guest arrived.
Housekeeping makes a room clean. An inspection makes sure it works. This checklist covers the 60 things most worth checking in a guest room, grouped by area so one person can walk the room in order. It's written for small hotels, guesthouses and villas, where the person inspecting is often also the person fixing.
Download the free printable checklist (PDF)
How to use this checklist
How often. Give every room a quick look at each turnover, and a full inspection with this checklist once a month. Add a full inspection after any repair, and before a room goes back on sale after it has been closed.
Who does it. Whoever knows the rooms best. In a small property that's often the head housekeeper or the maintenance person. What matters more than who is that it's the same standard every time, which is the whole point of a written list.
Pass, Fail or N/A. Mark each check one of three ways:
- Pass means it works and looks right.
- Fail means something needs doing, however small.
- N/A means the room doesn't have it (no balcony, no minibar).
Write a short note beside anything that fails. "Drips" is less useful than "Bathroom cold tap drips, washer?"
The checklist
Entry and door
| # | Check |
|---|---|
| 1 | Door locks and unlocks smoothly with the key or key card |
| 2 | Deadbolt or security latch works |
| 3 | Peephole is clear |
| 4 | Door closes fully on its own |
| 5 | Room number sign is secure and readable |
| 6 | Door, frame and hinges are undamaged |
| 7 | "Do not disturb" sign is present |
Bedroom
| # | Check |
|---|---|
| 8 | Bed frame is steady and doesn't squeak |
| 9 | Mattress has no stains or sagging, and the protector is on |
| 10 | Headboard is secure |
| 11 | Every light and lamp works |
| 12 | Bulbs match in color and brightness |
| 13 | Sockets and USB charging points work |
| 14 | Switch and socket covers are intact, with no scorch marks |
| 15 | Curtains or blinds open and close fully, and block light |
| 16 | TV turns on, channels work, and the remote has working batteries |
| 17 | Wi-Fi card is present and the password is correct |
| 18 | Drawers, wardrobe doors and hangers are all there and work |
| 19 | Walls and ceiling have no marks, cracks or damp patches |
| 20 | Floor or carpet has no stains, loose edges or trip hazards |
Bathroom
| # | Check |
|---|---|
| 21 | Hot water comes through quickly and gets properly hot |
| 22 | Shower pressure is good and the head isn't clogged |
| 23 | Taps don't drip, and their handles are tight |
| 24 | Sink, shower and bath drain freely |
| 25 | Toilet flushes, refills and then stops running |
| 26 | Toilet seat is secure |
| 27 | No leaks under the sink or around the base of the toilet |
| 28 | Grout and sealant are clean, with no mold or gaps |
| 29 | Extractor fan works |
| 30 | Mirror is secure and uncracked |
| 31 | Towel rails and hooks are secure |
| 32 | Shower screen or curtain keeps water off the floor |
| 33 | Non-slip mat or surface is in place, and any grab rails are firm |
Air conditioning and heating
| # | Check |
|---|---|
| 34 | Unit starts and cools (or heats) the room |
| 35 | Thermostat or remote responds |
| 36 | Filter is clean (note the date it was last changed) |
| 37 | No rattles, buzzing or unusual noise |
| 38 | No drips or water stains below the unit |
| 39 | Air smells fresh, not musty |
| 40 | Condensate drain is clear |
Appliances and electrics
| # | Check |
|---|---|
| 41 | Fridge or minibar is cold, with no ice build-up |
| 42 | Kettle or coffee machine works, and its cable is sound |
| 43 | Hairdryer works, and its cable isn't frayed |
| 44 | Safe opens and locks, and is reset to its default code |
| 45 | Phone has a dial tone |
| 46 | Iron works, if one is provided |
| 47 | Clock and alarm are set to the right time |
Safety
| # | Check |
|---|---|
| 48 | Smoke alarm sounds when its test button is pressed |
| 49 | Carbon monoxide alarm works, where there's a fuel-burning appliance |
| 50 | Fire evacuation plan is on the back of the door |
| 51 | Route to the fire exit is clear, and exit signs are lit |
| 52 | Sprinkler head, if fitted, is unblocked and unpainted |
| 53 | Window restrictors are fitted where required |
| 54 | No exposed wiring or overloaded adapters |
| 55 | Front desk or emergency number is displayed |
Fire safety rules differ by country and local authority. Treat this section as a starting point and add anything your local fire code requires.
Windows and balcony
| # | Check |
|---|---|
| 56 | Windows open, close and lock |
| 57 | Seals keep out drafts and rain |
| 58 | Insect screens are intact |
| 59 | Balcony railing is firm, with no loose fixings |
| 60 | Balcony door locks, and the balcony drain is clear |
A tip: word every check so that Pass means good
Look back at the list and you'll notice every check is written so that Pass is the good answer. "No leaks under the sink" rather than "Leaks under the sink?" It sounds fussy, but it means anyone reading a finished checklist can look straight down the Fail column to find the work, without stopping to work out whether "Yes" was good or bad on each line.
If you add your own checks, keep to the same rule.
What to do when a check fails
A failed check is only useful if it turns into a repair. Five steps make sure it does:
- Write it down where the team will see it, not just on the sheet in your pocket.
- Give it a priority. A dead smoke alarm comes before a scuffed baseboard. If a fault makes the room unsafe or unusable, take the room off sale until it's fixed.
- Give it to one person. "Someone should look at the tap" means nobody will.
- Check it was fixed. Look at the repair, or test it, before the room goes back on sale.
- Keep the history. When the same air conditioner fails for the third time this year, you'll want to know, because that's when replacing it becomes cheaper than repairing it.
Paper or phone?
Paper works well when:
- you have one property and a handful of rooms;
- one person both inspects and fixes;
- you only need to know what's wrong today.
Paper starts to struggle when:
- Several people share the work. The sheet with the failed check is in one person's pocket while another is doing the repairs.
- You need proof. A photo of the cracked tile, or a signature to say the room passed, is hard to attach to paper.
- You want history. Finding last March's inspection for Room 12 means a box file and some luck.
- Inspections need to happen on time. Nothing reminds you that the monthly inspection is due.
If paper suits you, the printable version of this checklist is free and always will be. If you're starting to feel the pain above, a phone-based checklist fixes most of it.
Run this checklist on your phone
With RepairDesk360, this checklist becomes an inspection template your team runs on their phones. Each check is marked Pass or Fail, with a photo or signature where you need one. A failed check raises an issue automatically, and you can turn it into a repair request with a priority and a person responsible. Inspections can be scheduled to repeat, so nobody has to remember that Room 12 is due.
Your guests and staff can report problems between inspections too, by scanning a QR code. They don't need an app or an account.
Inspections are part of the Growth plan, at one flat price for a team of up to six. You can start on the free plan to try reporting and work orders, and upgrade when you're ready.