The Guide to Hilton Silver Status

Hilton Honors™ Silver Status is the lowest-level tier in the Hilton Honors elite status program, coming in below Hilton Honors™ Gold Status and Hilton Honors™ Diamond Status. Whether you’ve reached this tier by staying at Hilton properties or received it as a perk of your credit card, you may be wondering what kind of extras this status provides.

Here's a look at the perks Hilton Honors Silver status offers its members as well as how to earn this entry-level Hilton Honors status.

As a Hilton Silver status member, you’ll receive the following perks when you stay at Hilton properties:

• 20% bonus points: You’ll earn 10 base points on purchases made directly with Hilton plus a 20% bonus, which yields 12 points per dollar on most Hilton spending (as long as you book nights directly with Hilton).

• Free bottled water: Receive two free bottles of water when you check in to select Hilton hotels.

• Elite rollover nights: Roll over any extra nights you earn above the Silver status tier and use them toward the next year’s elite status qualification.

• Fifth night free: Redeem enough Hilton Honors points for four award nights in a standard room and receive the fifth night for no extra cost.

• All-inclusive spa discount: Receive a 15% discount at all-inclusive spas at properties under the Hilton umbrella.

» Learn more: The complete guide to earning Hilton Honors points

Multiple ways of earning Hilton Silver elite status exist, but the first two may be more difficult to achieve and require frequent travel, while the final option is the easiest for those with good credit.

Earn base points

Hilton Honors members earn 10 base points per dollar at most Hilton hotels, except at Tru and Home2 properties, where they earn 5 points per dollar. To achieve Hilton Silver status, you need to earn 25,000 base points on hotel stays in a calendar year.

Stay at Hilton hotels

Another way to earn Hilton Honors Silver status is by staying at one or more of the 19 hotel brands that are part of the Hilton portfolio. Complete either 10 nights or four stays to become a Silver member in the Hilton Honors program.

Open a co-branded credit card

The Hilton Honors American Express Card gives cardholders automatic Hilton Honors™ Silver Status, even with a $0 annual fee (see rates and fees). Terms apply.

With this credit card, you’ll earn 7 points per dollar on Hilton spending, 5 points at U.S. restaurants (including takeout and delivery), U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations and 3 points per dollar on all other purchases. Terms apply.

» Learn more: How to build the best Hilton credit card strategy

» Learn more: Which is better, Hyatt or Hilton?

As mentioned above, Hilton Silver isn’t worth a lot, but there are a few ways to climb up the status ladder without staying at Hilton properties.

Consider points pooling

Hilton allows up to 11 Hilton Honors members to pool their points. This can include family members or friends, and you can use this feature to your advantage.

For example, you’re a Hilton Silver member and your friend is a Hilton Gold or a Hilton Diamond member. If you plan on traveling together, combine your points and book a room under the name of the person with the highest elite status level. This way, you’ll get all the perks associated with status without needing to reach it yourself.

Hold the right card

As discussed above, the Hilton Honors American Express Card gives card members automatic Silver status with Hilton. However, other cards can get you even higher status.

For example, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card and the The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card include automatic Hilton Hilton Honors™ Gold Status, and the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card includes automatic top-tier Hilton Honors™ Diamond Status for cardholders. Terms apply.

If you hold The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, you also get Hilton Gold status (enrollment required). Terms apply.

All these cards provide Hilton status in exchange for holding the card, meaning you don’t have to meet the status qualifications the hard way by staying a certain number of nights at Hilton hotels. Terms apply.

Receive a status gift

If you have a family member or close friend who’s a Hilton elite member, both of you can take advantage of status gifting.

Any member who has stayed 60 nights with Hilton can gift Gold status to another program member. Once they reach 100 nights, they can gift Diamond status to someone else — and that someone could be you.

» Learn more: How to think about hotel elite status this year

Unfortunately, Hilton Honors Silver status isn't worth much. Still, it’s a steppingstone if you plan on moving up the status ladder of the Hilton Honors program. Having said that, you can also achieve higher status by holding the right credit card or accepting the gift of Gold status from another member.

(Top photo courtesy of Hilton)