Stoke secured their Premier League status courtesy of a win that increased Hull's own relegation worries.
Ricardo Fuller swivelled and shot Stoke ahead after a Liam Lawrence corner had ricocheted into his path.
Kevin Kilbane had a shot palmed round the post for Hull, who were rescued by the woodwork when Glenn Whelan's shot struck the angle of the goal.
But Lawrence powered in a 25-yarder to confirm Stoke's win, even though Hull's Andy Dawson scored a late free-kick.
Stoke can celebrate an impressive achievement considering their resources and a season in which they started as one of the favourites for relegation.
Hull were grouped with them as strong contenders to go straight back down to the Championship after promotion - a seemingly unlikely prospect after their promising start to the season.
But one win in 19 Premier League games has seen the Tigers slide down the table and, although they have managed to stay out of the clutches of the bottom three all season, their form suggests that may not be the case for much longer.
Hull: Myhill, Ricketts, Turner, Zayatte (Geovanni 67), Dawson, Garcia (Mendy 60), Boateng, Kilbane, Barmby, Fagan, Cousin (Manucho 60).
Subs Not Used: Duke, Hughes, Halmosi, Marney.
Goals: Dawson 90.
Stoke: Sorensen, Wilkinson, Shawcross, Abdoulaye Faye, Cort, Lawrence, Delap, Whelan, Etherington (Pugh 85), Beattie (Cresswell 78), Fuller (Kelly 90).
Subs Not Used: Simonsen, Olofinjana, Camara, Sonko.
Booked: Etherington.
Goals: Fuller 41, Lawrence 73.
Att: 24,932
Ref: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).
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