Luggage storage, and the billing detail that doubles the price
Luggage storage in most cities costs a few euros a bag per day, either at a staffed station desk or through a network that books space in nearby shops and hotels. The detail that decides the price is the billing unit: a calendar day and a rolling twenty-four hours are not the same thing, and on an overnight the difference doubles the bill.
The billing unit is the whole story
Two networks can advertise the same daily price and charge you differently for the same bag, because they measure a day differently. One bills by calendar day, from midnight to midnight. The other bills by rolling twenty-four hours from drop-off.
| Billing unit | Units charged | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Calendar day | 2 | The booking crosses midnight, so it touches two calendar days |
| Rolling 24 hours | 1 | Nineteen hours fits inside a single window |
For a daytime booking the two are identical. For anything crossing midnight, the calendar-day operator costs twice as much for the same service. Neither is dishonest, and neither puts it where you would see it. Check the wording before you book, not after.
Station desk or app network
| Station or airport desk | App-booked network | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Inside the station or terminal | Shops, cafés and hotels nearby |
| Size limits | Often capped, extra for oversized | Usually none advertised |
| Hours | Fixed, sometimes short | The host’s hours, which vary |
| Price | Higher at airports, variable at stations | Generally lower, per bag per unit |
| Best for | Tight connections, no phone signal | A day in the city between checkout and a night train |
We are not publishing per-city prices yet. Storage prices vary by host within the same city and change without notice, so a table without a date on it would be wrong within a month. When we publish them they will carry the date we checked.
Luggage storage — questions
What is the difference between left luggage and luggage storage?
Nothing. "Left luggage" is the British term for the same service, usually at a station. Searching both phrasings is worth doing, because station facilities and app-booked networks rarely appear in the same results.
Are there size or weight limits?
The app-booked networks generally advertise no size or weight limit, which is their main advantage over a station facility. Traditional airport and station desks often cap at around thirty kilograms per item and charge more above a certain size.
Is it safe?
Reputable networks vet the host sites and attach a stated guarantee per bag. Read the guarantee amount rather than the word "insured", and never store a passport, medication or anything you cannot replace, whatever the guarantee says.
Can I store bags overnight?
Yes, and this is exactly where the billing unit costs you. Check whether the host is open when you intend to collect, because a shop that closes at seven means an overnight booking you cannot end until it reopens.
What if the station storage is closed or full?
This is the usual reason people end up on the app networks. Several Italian stations removed self-service lockers on security grounds and run staffed deposits with shorter hours, which is worth knowing before you arrive at eight in the evening.
Can I store luggage at the airport before check-in?
Usually yes, at a desk in the terminal, and usually at several times the price of a storage point in the city. If you are coming from the city anyway, storing there and travelling out later is almost always cheaper.
Should I book in advance?
On an ordinary day, walking in is fine. Book ahead when you arrive on a public holiday, during a major event, or first thing on a Monday, which is when city-centre hosts near the main station fill up.
What happens if my train is late and I collect after closing?
Terms vary and this is the failure case worth reading before booking. Some hosts hold the bag until the next opening at no extra cost, some charge another full unit, and a station desk may simply be shut with your bag behind it.