Lockers in Hostels: Everything You Need To Know (2023)

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Wondering if the lockers in hostels can store everything you travel with?

Use Lockers In Hostels to Travel Like a Pro

If you’re new to hostel travel, like I once was, you might be wondering how to keep your luggage secure. All the spaces in hostels are shared, so privacy and security could be a concern.

Hostels are the way to travel on a budget whether you’re solo traveling or with friends and trying to save a few bucks and meet some people along the way.

In conventional hotel travel, we leave our bags in the room, our belongings likely strewn about, with no worry about what might happen to them.

In hostels though, you shouldn’t do that. Some people do, but you don’t want to be that person. You’ll want to display good hostel etiquette.

Showing good etiquette and organization while keeping your belongings safe means utilizing something almost every hostel offers, lockers!

All the hostels I’ve ever stayed at have had lockers that can be utilized for locking up personal items. Not all of them do, so choose wisely with my guide to choosing hostels.

Using lockers during travel might be a new idea for you, especially if you’re new to hostel travel. I’m here to familiarize you with hostel lockers so you can properly utilize this tool to optimize your travel organization and security.

FAQs About Lockers In Hostels

How Big are the Lockers? What Can They Fit?

The exact size of the hostel lockers will vary from place to place. I’ll tell you though that it’s probably bigger than you’re thinking.

These aren’t the lockers we had in high school. These will usually hold a suitcase easily, sometimes with room for a backpack and an extra pair of shoes.

These aren’t the little safes you’re used to seeing in hotels. The hostel lockers are big enough to keep whatever you don’t need to carry around with you.

What Should You Put In the Lockers?

I’m a one-bag traveler now, but I know that might be a little intense for some people, so I’ll tell you what I used to do when I was traveling with a backpack and a carry-on.

I’d keep the carry-on in the locker, along with anything that I didn’t need for the day. I packed my backpack with whatever I needed for that day, along with my necessities.

Some people might like to keep their passports and cash locked up in the locker, but I prefer to keep mine on me. Your mileage may vary on that.

Where are the Lockers?

The location of the lockers will vary. Sometimes they’re in a bank against the wall. I’ve also seen individual cabinets fitted with lockable latches next to each bunk.

The ones next to your bed are nice, as they’re easier to get in and out of without disturbing your roommates. The locker bank is more common.

Something you won’t think about until you’re in the moment is getting into your locker for something you forgot when everyone is sleeping, and you’re wishing you were asleep.

Maybe it’s late at night, maybe it’s early in the morning. It’s going to happen though. And if you’re considerate like I am, you might agonize over whether to disturb people or not.

The point is to try to put some thought into what you’re locking up and what you’re keeping on you.

Will My Stuff Be Safe In the Lockers?

It can be strange to leave your stuff behind in a shared space like a hostel. But much like the lockers at the gym, spa, or maybe at your work, they’re perfectly secure, especially if you have the right lock.

This is part of the beauty of bringing your own lock. Only you have the combo (or key, if you choose a padlock). Make sure to add it to your hostel packing list.

Some might think it’s a sales tactic to offer lockers but not locks, then have them available for purchase. I see it as an advantage to bring your own that only you have access to.

Equipped with a travel lock like the one recommended above, there’s no need to hesitate when it comes to leaving your things in the hostel locker.

Will My Stuff Be Safe if I Don’t Use the Lockers?

Short answer, maybe. I say it’s better to be safe than sorry. I’ve got a whole post on hostel safety that dives further into this and gives some safety tips.

Hostel guests are generally a group of people on the same mission with the same respect for each other and each other’s belongings. Hopefully, you’ll be so busy making friends that it won’t even be an issue.

But sometimes, people will be opportunistic. If something is laying around a dorm room or common area, and someone wants it, well you get the idea.

I say it’s better to not even give them the opportunity. Keep your stuff organized. I keep small stuff and daily carry items in my backpack and leave clothes and any other bulky items secured in the locker.

You will see people leaving their clothes and accessories around the room. Don’t let this tempt you to do the same. You could wind up missing something.

Don’t let this steer you away from hostel travel. Just keep your stuff together so it’s not even an issue that needs to be on your mind.

Can I Leave My Bags After I Check Out?

When it comes to travel plans, sometimes things don’t line up exactly as we want them to. Sometimes checkout is at 10:00 a.m. and you don’t have to be at the airport until 7:00 p.m.

That leaves you with a lot of time to do some last-minute souvenir shopping or try that restaurant you were meaning to go to but haven’t yet.

But if we have to check out, what do we do with our bags? Good question!

Talk to reception and ask them if there’s somewhere you can leave your bags for a few hours. You’re a paying customer. They’re inclined to oblige.

Sometimes, there’s a separate locker bank in the common area for such occasions. They’ll likely let you use it, especially if you throw them a little tip.

If there are no lockers, there’s likely a staff room or other area where they’ll offer to keep your bags. This isn’t ideal, but it’s acceptable if you use one of the locks in that pair that I recommended to lock the bag you leave behind.

If you’re a one-bag traveler like me, maybe just take the backpack with you. Again, it’s not ideal, but if you’ve got a comfortable pack with a good harness system, it’ll be alright.

If you have the lock though, don’t hesitate to lock up the bag and leave it (they can be heavy when they’re fully packed out).

The nice thing about these travel locks is their versatility. They’re flexible and they fit in padlock mechanisms, zippers, and just about whatever you need.

How Do I Find the Right Hostel?

I mentioned earlier that not all hostels have lockers. The good ones all do though, so make sure you choose one that has lockers.

When I book my hostels, I always use Booking.com. I’ve found their interface to be the easiest, and their reservation system to be the most flexible, and have the better prices.

When you find a hostel you might be interested in, check the photos to make sure you see locker banks. They’ll also usually list it under the amenities section. If you don’t see it in either place, maybe choose a different hostel.

You do not want to stay in one that doesn’t have lockers. If you’re only staying for one night, you might be able to get away with not having one.

But all the best hostels offer lockers anyway, so if one doesn’t, I always find that to be a bit strange and look for something else, even if I’m only going to be there for one night and might not need the locker.

Summing Up Lockers In Hostels

I’ve tried to preemptively answer any questions you might have about lockers in the hostels.

Traveling in hostels is a different style of travel so things like locks and lockers are things you don’t really think about until you get there.

Worrying about the safety of your belongings is one of those things that can hold someone back from making a decision to travel in hostels. I understand that. I think about little details like this ad nauseam myself.

It can be intimidating leaving your stuff behind if you’re not familiar with hostel travel. I hope our chat today has put your mind at ease.

That’s my goal here, to open people up and encourage them to travel in hostels and discover that lifestyle even if it’s a bit outside their comfort zone.

Remember, it was for me too and now look at me. Here I am screaming from the internet mountaintop raving about it. Try it out, maybe you’ll be next!

Have fun out there!