Booking lead time is the number of days between the day you book your ski rental and the day it starts. Last season, the average guest on alpy.com booked about 21 days ahead, or three weeks.
That number comes from our own booking data. It’s not a generic survey. It’s the pattern we see across our partner shops in 10 countries, over five winter seasons. We pulled it together to answer a simple question: when do skiers actually book, and does it change from season to season, guest to guest and country to country?
How far ahead does the average skier book ski rental?
On average, skiers booked about 21 days before their rental started last season. Five seasons ago that figure was about 18 days. It climbed to its highest point, about 23 days, in 2023/24, and has eased back a little since.
| Season | Average days between booking and rental start |
|---|---|
| Five seasons ago (2021/22) | about 18 |
| Peak (2023/24) | about 23 |
| Last season (2025/26) | about 21 |
Three weeks is an average, and averages hide a lot. Plenty of guests book months ahead and plenty book in the last couple of days. It’s a habit, not a deadline.
Do repeat guests book earlier than first-timers?
Yes, by a wide margin. In every one of the five seasons we looked at, returning guests booked about twice as far ahead as first-time guests.
- Returning guests: 30 to 36 days ahead.
- First-time guests: 13 to 17 days ahead.
We can’t see why, but it’s easy to guess. Someone who has skied with us before knows their dates, knows how the booking works and knows there’s no reason to wait. First-timers often book once the trip feels real, which is closer to departure.
Which countries plan furthest ahead?
It depends where you’re from. For the 2025/26 season, we compared the average lead time for our larger markets.
| Country | Average days between booking and rental start (2025/26) |
|---|---|
| Israel | 28.5 |
| United Kingdom | 26.8 |
| Italy | 7.0 |
That’s a four-fold gap. Israeli and UK guests booked about four weeks ahead. Italian guests booked about a week before they started skiing, probably because many of them ski closer to home and decide late, but that’s a guess, not something the data shows.
These are habits, not character traits. A UK skier flying to the Alps has flights and a chalet to sort out, so the rental gets booked along with everything else. A skier who can drive to the mountains for the weekend can decide on Thursday.
Are ski trips getting shorter?
A little, yes. The average rental length has fallen steadily across all five seasons, from about 4.1 days to about 3.7 days.
Shorter rentals tend to go with shorter trips and long weekends. It’s one more reason lead times vary so much: a short trip is easier to decide on late than a full week away.
So when should you book ski rental?
The data tells you what skiers do. It doesn’t tell you what’s best for you. Three weeks is the average, but peak weeks fill up much earlier than that.
Our guide on how far in advance you should book ski hire gives specific windows for standard weeks, Christmas, February half-term and Easter. If you’re not sure whether booking online is worth it, read whether it’s cheaper to pre-book ski hire.
Alpy Tip: Booking early carries little risk. Every booking on alpy.com has free cancellation until the day before, so you can reserve your skis or snowboard as soon as your dates are fixed and still change your plans later. For a sense of what you’ll pay, see our ski hire price guide for the Alps.
Booking early matters most when you’re travelling in a busy week, with a group, or with children who need several sizes. If you’re skiing a quiet week close to home, the average guest’s three weeks is plenty.
FAQ
How far in advance do people book ski rental?
On average, skiers booked about 21 days before their rental started last season, according to alpy.com’s own booking data. That’s up from about 18 days five seasons ago, and down slightly from a peak of about 23 days in 2023/24.
Do repeat customers book ski rental earlier?
Yes. Across the five seasons we looked at, returning guests booked 30 to 36 days ahead on average, while first-time guests booked 13 to 17 days ahead. Experienced guests are likely to know their dates and book early, while first-timers often wait until the trip is nearly confirmed.
Which country books ski rental furthest ahead?
Among the larger markets we looked at for 2025/26, Israeli guests booked furthest ahead at about 28.5 days, followed by UK guests at about 26.8 days. Italian guests booked the latest, about 7 days before their rental started.
Is it risky to book ski rental early?
Not on alpy.com. Every booking has free cancellation until the day before, so you can reserve early and change your plans later if you need to. Booking early also gives you the widest choice of shops, sizes and grades, which matters most in busy weeks.
How long do people rent skis for?
Rentals have been getting shorter. The average rental length fell from about 4.1 days five seasons ago to about 3.7 days last season, based on alpy.com’s own booking data. Short trips and long weekends may be one reason.
Skiers book a little earlier than they did five seasons ago, returning guests book a lot earlier than newcomers, and where you’re from changes the answer. Whatever your habit, booking ahead keeps your options open, and free cancellation means you don’t lose anything if plans change.
Ready to book your ski or snowboard rental? Compare partner shops and book your ski or snowboard rental now → Save up to 65% compared to walk-in resort prices, with free cancellation until the day before. Over 12,000 customers have rated alpy.com 4.7 stars on Trustpilot.
