Key takeaways
- $6,950 in the US, including a single room, three meals a day and more than 90 hours of teaching.
- UK from £4,150 in 2026 and £4,450 in 2027, with a payment plan and bursaries.
- Small groups: no more than 8 students per teacher, and you go without anyone you know.
- Book early: California dates until February 26, 2027 were sold out on October 31, 2026.
Worth it if you…
- keep running into the same patterns in relationships or work
- want a structured week away, with everything included
- can afford the full price without debt you'll regret
- are willing to keep practising for months afterwards
Skip it if you…
- are in a mental health crisis; talk to your therapist first
- want to go with your partner: you can't
- need flexible dates: popular weeks sell out months ahead
- expect a quick fix; graduates say integration takes long
How much does the Hoffman Process cost?
The Hoffman Institute publishes three US rates. The standard rate is $6,950, which covers the course, a single room and all meals; bathrooms are shared but lockable. There's no hotel to add, only your travel to the venue.
| Rate | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| US Sustainer (standard) | $6,950 | Covers the program, lodging and meals |
| US Sponsor | $9,950 | Standard rate plus a tax-deductible donation |
| US Supported | varies | Scholarship rate, funded by donations |
| UK 2026 | £4,150–5,696 | Depends on venue and room; early arrival extra |
| UK 2027 | £4,450–6,070 | Payment plan: half before, six monthly instalments after |
Both offices include course materials and follow-up: in the US a call with your teacher before and after the week, in the UK two online sessions in the first three months.
What happens at the Hoffman Process?
The Hoffman Process, officially the Hoffman Quadrinity Process, was developed by Bob Hoffman in 1967. It's a week of group work, exercises and guidance from teachers, focused on what the institute calls counterproductive beliefs, perceptions and emotional patterns. You stay on site for the whole week, with no more than eight students per teacher.
- BeforePreparationA call with your teacher (US) or the enrolment team (UK) and self-assessment material.
- 7 daysThe residential weekMore than 90 hours of instruction in the US. Participants describe long, emotionally taxing days.
- AfterIntegrationA follow-up call, a manual and recordings. A DMARGE writer was told integration takes about two years.
You can't attend with your partner, a friend or a relative. The institute also offers separate couples retreats and online programs, which aren't the Process itself.
Hoffman Process dates 2027
The US Process runs almost every week in California, and regularly in Connecticut. On October 31, 2026 every California date until February 26, 2027 was marked sold out; the first dates without a sold-out tag were February 20–26 in Connecticut and February 27–March 5 in California.
Feb–Oct 2027
- Weekly in California, about 30 dates
- Connecticut in most months until August
- Canada and UK: own sites
Deposit, payment and cancelling
In the US a $700 deposit holds your spot, and the rest is due 15 days before the start. In the UK the deposit is £500, with the balance three weeks before. The US Process page doesn't state cancellation terms, and the UK site refers you to its terms and conditions.
- 1To bookDeposit$700 in the US, £500 in the UK.
- 215 days before (US)Balance dueUK: three weeks before.
- 3Before you payGet the cancellation termsAsk in writing what happens to the deposit and balance if you can't go.
- Ask for the cancellation and transfer terms in writing before paying the deposit.
- Don't book non-refundable flights until your date is confirmed; the UK office says the same.
- Ask about the scholarship rate if the full price would strain your budget.
Hoffman Process reviews and criticism
Most first-hand accounts we read are positive but sober. A DMARGE writer who paid about $6,000 found it helped him see negative patterns but said he wasn't “cured”, and that the daily work afterwards is the hardest part. GQ covered it as a retreat entrepreneurs rave about. The institute itself says studies have documented reductions in anxiety and depression.
The criticism in the sources we checked is about the price, the emotional intensity and celebrity marketing, rather than about cult-like practices. As with any intense retreat, it isn't a substitute for treatment if you're struggling.
Hoffman Process review: how we rated it
Questions people ask
How much does a Hoffman retreat cost?
In the US the standard rate is $6,950, including a single room, three meals a day and more than 90 hours of instruction. A $9,950 rate adds a tax-deductible donation, and scholarships are available. In the UK the 2026 price starts at £4,150 and the 2027 price at £4,450.
What happens at the Hoffman Process?
It's a residential week of group work, exercises and teacher guidance, with no more than 8 students per teacher. It works on counterproductive beliefs, perceptions and emotional patterns. Participants describe the days as long and emotionally demanding.
How long is the Hoffman Process?
Seven days, staying on site. In the US it runs in California and Connecticut, in Canada in Alberta, and in the UK at two country venues.
What is the Hoffman Process?
A week-long personal-growth retreat developed by Bob Hoffman in 1967, officially called the Hoffman Quadrinity Process. It's run by the Hoffman Institute Foundation, a US non-profit, and its international partners.
Can I go with my partner or a friend?
No. The Hoffman Institute asks participants to attend without anyone they know personally.
Is the Hoffman Process therapy?
It isn't presented as a replacement for therapy. The institute points to studies showing reductions in anxiety and depression; if you're in a crisis or treatment, talk to your therapist before you book.
Sources
Checked on October 31, 2026.
Show all 5 sources
- Hoffman Institute (US)What is the Hoffman Process: rates, inclusions, group size, locations
- Hoffman Institute (US)Process dates 2026–2027, deposit and balance
- Hoffman Institute UKUK prices 2026–2027, venues, payment plan, bursaries
- DMARGEHoffman Process review (2022, updated 2025)
- GQInside the retreat entrepreneurs are raving about