What age is ok to leave a teenager home alone overnight?

I’d love to hear from other parents on this — when did you first feel comfortable leaving your teen home alone overnight?

Our teenager is quite responsible and independent. She’s perfectly fine staying home alone in the evening, actually enjoys the quiet and space to herself, and always checks in if she’s unsure about something. We’ve never had any issues with her being home in the evenings while we’re out for a few hours.

That said, she’s never spent the whole night home alone yet, and we haven’t allowed it so far. But lately she’s been hinting that she’s ready, and I’m honestly not sure what the “normal” age is for that kind of independence. I know every child and family is different, but I’m curious what others have done.

Did you wait until your teen was 14? 15? Older?

Was it a gradual process — like a short trip close to home, or just one parent away while the other returned later? Or did you go all in and let them stay alone while you were out of town for a full night?

We’re not talking about leaving her alone for days or anything — just one night, maybe while we’re visiting friends or family a few hours away. I just want to make sure we’re being realistic and thoughtful. She seems mature, but I also know that unexpected things can come up.

So — when did you take that step? And how did it go?

Would love to hear any stories, advice, or things you wish you'd considered beforehand.