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Hilton is one of the largest hotel chains in the world, with more than 8,000 properties across the globe. Odds are, you've stayed in a Hilton hotel at least once in your life. Here's everything you need to know about earning entry-level Hilton Silver status and why it's actually worth doing so.
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What is Hilton Silver Status?
Hilton Honors is the loyalty program for Hilton guests. It's free to join and allows you to earn points on your stays. After spending a certain number of nights at a Hilton property or reaching a spending threshold on Hilton purchases, you'll earn elite status. The Hilton Honors program has three tiers of elite status above the member level: Silver, Gold, and Diamond. Each tier comes with its own unique benefits and can be worthwhile for Hilton loyalists to earn.
What Does Hilton Silver Status Get You?
As the first tier of status, Hilton Silver doesn't get you a ton of benefits. However, there are a few notable perks you'll enjoy during your stay.
20% bonus points
Hilton Honors members earn a flat 10 points per $1 spent at most properties. With Hilton Silver status, you'll earn an elevated 12 points per dollar. The difference isn't much, but every little bit helps.
Note that not all Hilton brands earn a base of 10x points per dollar. You'll earn just:
- 6 points per $1 at Tru & Home2 Suites
- 3 points per $1 at LivSmart Studios
Related: When Do Hilton Honors Points Expire?
Fifth night free on award stays
While Marriott Bonvoy allows all members to get their fifth night free on award redemptions, Hilton limits its similar benefit to just Hilton elites. If you want to stretch your points as far as they can go, getting a free night on a five-night stay is a great option.
Other Hilton Silver status benefits
Hilton Silver members also receive the following benefits:
- 15% off at an all-inclusive spa within the Hilton portfolio of brands.
- Two free bottles of water when you arrive.
- Roll over your extra nights for a head start on next year's status.
How to Get Hilton Silver Status
There are two primary options for earning Hilton Silver status: through stays and through credit cards.
Earning Hilton Silver through stays
To earn Hilton Silver the old-fashioned way, you'll need to complete one of the following metrics:
- Stay 10 nights at a Hilton property.
- Complete four stays at a Hilton property.
- Earn 25,000 base points.
A stay is one stint at a Hilton property, no matter how many nights you book. For example, if you chose to book a four-night trip to the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills, you'd earn four qualifying nights and one qualifying stay.
So, if you frequently take long trips, you'll earn Silver status through your total number of nights. If you often take one- or two-night trips for work, you might earn Silver through stays.
All Hilton Honors members earn 10 base points per $1 spent, so you'd need to spend $2,500 with Hilton to earn Silver status from points alone. However, many travelers will earn Silver before meeting that spending requirement.
Earning Hilton Silver through credit cards
The even easier way of earning Hilton Silver status is through credit cards. And you can even do so for just $0 out-of-pocket.
That's because you can earn Hilton Silver by being a cardholder of the Hilton Honors American Express Card. It's rare for a no-annual-fee card (Rates & Fees) to offer elite status to cardholders, so this is a great opportunity to achieve Hilton Silver status with minimal effort.
Beyond Hilton Silver status, the card doesn't offer too many benefits. However, it does have an impressive earning potential, offering the following rates:
You can quickly rack up points to use on your next adventure when you're a cardholder.
- Earn 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Card after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 1/14/2026.
- Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
- Earn 5X Points per dollar on purchases at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations.
- Earn 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
- Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors™ Silver Status with your Card. Silver Status gives you a 20% Bonus on Base Points you earn on every stay, plus, you receive the fifth night free when you book a standard room stay with 100% Points.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- No Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- Rates & Fees
- Earn 7X Points per dollar on eligible purchases charged directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton Honors portfolio of brands
- Earn 5X Points per dollar on eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations
- Earn 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
Related: Using Hilton Credit Card Spending for Elite Status
Can You Earn Hilton Silver Status for Life?
Unlike Hilton Lifetime Diamond, you cannot earn Hilton Silver status for life. If you want to retain your status benefits year over year, you'll need to re-qualify each year.
But, as you saw above, you can do so just by carrying a no-annual-fee card. So, it's not hard to effectively have this status for life.
Is it Worth Earning Hilton Silver Status?
Hilton Silver status is incredibly easy to earn. All you need is the Hilton Honors American Express Card and you'll receive Silver benefits as long as you're a cardholder. Since it doesn't cost anything to add to your wallet, it's absolutely worth earning Hilton Silver status.
That said, the benefits aren't substantial. If you have to go out of your way to earn enough qualifying nights or base points, it might not be worth the effort.
Final Thoughts
Hilton Silver status is the first tier of elite status, so you shouldn't expect a ton of premium benefits. However, bonus points and a free fifth night on award stays are both helpful perks, especially if you want to stretch your points as far as possible.
Several other Hilton credit cards — like the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card and the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card — offer a higher tier of status. If you want the most benefits, these cards could be worth exploring.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Hilton Honors American Express Card (Rates & Fees)
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