Left luggage lockers in Switzerland make it much easier to explore between hotel check-in, train connections, or flights without carrying a suitcase all day. Major Swiss railway stations have self-service lockers, and useful storage options are also available at Zürich and Geneva airports. The important details are the locker type, size, rental period, payment method, and access hours.
Quick Answer
Left luggage lockers in Switzerland are widely available at major railway stations and at Zürich and Geneva airports. SBB lockers vary by station, size, and locker type. Many modern lockers use a 6-hour base period and allow storage for up to 96 hours. Payment may be by card, Twint, mobile payment, or CHF coins.
Last checked: October 1, 2026. Dates and figures were verified against official sources.
Key Takeaways
- Modern SBB lockers commonly start at CHF 5–12 for the first six hours in low season, depending on size.
- Red/grey lockers and digital blue lockers can normally be used for up to 96 hours.
- Locker sizes, prices, payment methods, and access hours vary by station.
- Large or bulky bags can often be left at a staffed SBB Travel Centre instead.
- Keep your collection QR code, digital link, or physical key secure until you retrieve your bags.
Where to Find Left Luggage Lockers in Switzerland
You will find luggage lockers at many major and regional railway stations across Switzerland. SBB maintains an official list of stations with luggage lockers, including major hubs and many smaller destinations.
Among the most useful locations for visitors are Zürich HB, Geneva Cornavin, Bern, Lucerne, and Lausanne. These stations place lockers within the station complex, so you can leave your bags shortly after arriving by train and collect them before continuing your journey.
Major Swiss stations with lockers
- Zürich HB has S, M, L, XL, and XXL lockers in the ShopVille area.
- Geneva Cornavin has lockers in the station’s east wing and keeps that locker area open continuously.
- Bern station has a large locker bank on the gallery upper floor.
- Lucerne station provides S through XXL lockers with continuous access.
- Lausanne station currently lists small and large lockers at Platform 1 and in the west underpass.
Airport luggage storage
Zürich Airport offers both SBB lockers and a staffed left-luggage office. The Zürich Airport baggage service lists SBB lockers at Check-in 3 in Airport Shopping, while the staffed office is at Arrivals 2, Terminal 2, Level 0.
At Geneva Airport, automatic lockers are located inside the SBB railway station connected directly to the terminal. According to Geneva Airport’s luggage-storage information, the lockers are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
How to Use SBB Left Luggage Lockers
SBB currently uses several locker systems, so the exact process depends on the equipment at your station. The screen, QR code, or key at the locker tells you which system you are using.
The official SBB locker instructions describe three main systems.
Red and grey lockers
- Place your luggage in an empty locker.
- Close the door until it clicks.
- Pay the amount shown on the screen.
- Take the printed receipt containing the collection QR code.
- Keep the receipt safe while you are away.
- Scan the QR code when you return to open the locker.
Digital blue lockers
- Scan the QR code on the locker system with your smartphone.
- Select an available locker.
- Enter a valid mobile number and email address.
- Pay the displayed rental charge.
- Open the assigned locker, place your luggage inside, and close it.
- When you return, use the collection link sent by text message or email to open the door.
Pro Tip: If your phone battery dies while using a digital blue locker, SBB says you can open the collection email on another phone, tablet, or computer and retrieve the access link there.
Older blue cash lockers
Older cash-operated blue lockers use a physical key. Put your luggage inside, close the door, pay the required CHF coins, turn the key, and keep it safe until you return.
Why Use Left Luggage Lockers?
The main benefit is freedom of movement. A locker lets you walk through an old town, visit museums, eat at a restaurant, or take a short excursion without pulling a suitcase through crowded streets and stations.
They are especially useful when you arrive before hotel check-in or have several hours between hotel check-out and your next train or flight. Because many lockers are inside railway stations, you can collect your bag immediately before continuing your journey.
Lockers can also be more practical than carrying a heavy suitcase over cobblestones, stairs, hills, or crowded public transport. You pay for the storage period and locker rather than arranging a separate luggage transfer.
How Secure Are Swiss Luggage Lockers?
Station lockers are designed for temporary unattended luggage storage, but no locker eliminates every risk. SBB specifically states that it is not liable for loss of or damage to items stored in its lockers.
Warning: Keep passports, essential medication, large amounts of cash, irreplaceable documents, and other items you cannot afford to lose with you rather than leaving them in a public locker.
Protect the item that opens your locker as carefully as you would protect a room key. That may be a printed QR-code receipt, a digital collection link, or a physical locker key.
SBB also says illegal goods may not be stored or handed over through its lockers. At Zürich Airport’s staffed baggage service, dangerous or prohibited items are not accepted.
Cost of Left Luggage Lockers in Switzerland
Locker prices depend on the station, locker size, season, and rental period. At several large SBB stations, the published low-season price for the first six hours currently ranges from CHF 5 for a small locker to CHF 12 for an XXL locker.
| Station | Published first 6 hours, low season | Published first 6 hours, high season | Maximum rental |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zürich HB | S CHF 5; M CHF 7; L CHF 9; XL CHF 10; XXL CHF 12 | S CHF 6; M CHF 8; L CHF 10; XL CHF 12; XXL CHF 15 | 96 hours |
| Bern | S CHF 5; M CHF 7; L CHF 9; XL CHF 10; XXL CHF 12 | S CHF 6; M CHF 8; L CHF 10; XL CHF 12; XXL CHF 15 | 96 hours |
| Lucerne | S CHF 5; M CHF 7; L CHF 9; XL CHF 10; XXL CHF 12 | S CHF 6; M CHF 8; L CHF 10; XL CHF 12; XXL CHF 15 | 96 hours |
| Geneva Cornavin | S CHF 5; M CHF 7; L CHF 9; XL CHF 10; XXL CHF 12 | S CHF 6; M CHF 8; L CHF 10; XL CHF 12; XXL CHF 15 | 96 hours |
| Lausanne | S CHF 5; L CHF 9 | S CHF 6; L CHF 10 | 96 hours |
At the major SBB stations above, extra six-hour periods are charged when you collect your luggage. SBB also warns that prices can change during regional events and holiday periods.
Do not assume every station uses these prices. Some stations have different locker systems, sizes, and rental periods, including older cash lockers with a 24-hour standard period.
Locker Sizes and What Fits
Choose a locker by its actual dimensions rather than relying only on labels such as small or large. A rigid suitcase may not fit even if its general category sounds suitable.
At Zürich HB, Bern, Lucerne, and Geneva Cornavin, the modern five-size locker banks currently use these published dimensions:
| Size | Published dimensions | Practical use |
|---|---|---|
| S | 35.1 × 55.5 × 45.7 cm | Small backpacks, handbags, or compact soft bags |
| M | 35.1 × 55.5 × 62.0 cm | Compact cabin bags or larger backpacks |
| L | 35.1 × 55.5 × 94.5 cm | Longer suitcases or several smaller soft bags |
| XL | 52.5 × 85.5 × 45.7 cm | Wider luggage or combinations of smaller bags |
| XXL | 52.5 × 85.5 × 94.5 cm | Large suitcases or several bags, if they fit within the dimensions |
Lausanne currently uses a different locker design at the listed banks: S lockers are 24.8 × 75.0 × 42.0 cm, while L lockers are 44.7 × 88.0 × 61.5 cm.
If you have several bags, SBB allows you to rent several lockers. You rent them one after another rather than as a single transaction.
How Long Can You Leave Luggage in an SBB Locker?
Modern red/grey SBB lockers and digital blue lockers have a maximum rental period of 96 hours. Older blue cash lockers have a maximum of 72 hours.
For modern six-hour systems, the rental is extended when you go beyond the initial period, and the additional amount is paid before the locker opens. If you exceed the maximum storage period, SBB can empty the locker and transfer the contents for collection through the appropriate SBB facility.
If you need storage for days or weeks rather than a short city stop, a staffed luggage service is usually more suitable.
Can You Reserve SBB Luggage Lockers in Advance?
SBB’s official locker-rental instructions are based on using an available locker when you arrive. The published process starts at the locker itself and does not provide an advance-reservation step for ordinary station lockers.
That means you should allow a little extra time when arriving at a busy station, especially if you need a large compartment. If the size you need is unavailable, check whether the station has staffed luggage storage.
Payment Methods for Swiss Station Lockers
Payment depends on the locker system. Newer red and grey lockers accept a broad range of methods, while some digital blue lockers require a smartphone.
- Red/grey lockers: commonly accept CHF coins, major payment cards, Twint, and several mobile-payment methods.
- Digital blue lockers: payment is completed on a smartphone using supported cards or Twint.
- Older blue cash lockers: payment is made with CHF coins.
SBB has been converting many blue lockers to cashless operation, so you should not assume a particular station still has coin-operated equipment.
Access Hours at Major Stations
Locker access is often very long, but it is not identical everywhere. Check the locker area rather than assuming every railway station is open around the clock.
- Zürich HB: the ShopVille/stairway lockers are currently accessible Monday to Friday from 4:15am to 1:15am and continuously on Saturday and Sunday.
- Geneva Cornavin: the listed locker area is always open.
- Bern: the gallery lockers are always open.
- Lucerne: the city-level lockers are always open.
- Lausanne: the Platform 1 and west-underpass locker areas are always open.
Those hours apply to the locker areas described above, not necessarily to ticket counters, shops, or staffed luggage offices in the same station.
Alternatives When a Locker Is Too Small or Unavailable
If your suitcase does not fit, a staffed luggage facility may be the better choice. SBB Travel Centres at selected stations accept bulky luggage, subject to capacity and counter opening hours.
The official SBB staffed luggage-storage service currently lists a 23 kg limit per luggage item. Daily storage is based on local locker rates, currently CHF 6–16, while a one-month storage period is CHF 120.
Zürich Airport also has staffed storage for larger or longer-term needs. In 2026, its office is open daily from 06:00 to 22:00. Published 24-hour rates are CHF 17 for hand baggage up to 8 kg, CHF 22 for baggage up to 25 kg, and CHF 28 for bulky baggage.
Hotels are another useful option for guests arriving before check-in or leaving after check-out. Ask whether luggage storage is available and whether you must collect your bags by a particular time.
Private baggage-storage services may also operate in larger cities. Compare their opening hours, collection rules, liability terms, and distance from your next train or flight before choosing one.
Tips for Using Left Luggage Lockers
A few simple checks can prevent most storage problems. The most important step is making sure you can return to the locker area before you need your bag.
- Measure unusually large or rigid luggage before relying on a particular locker size.
- Keep the QR receipt, collection link, or physical key somewhere separate from the stored bag.
- Do not assume all lockers accept cash.
- Leave extra time to collect your luggage before a train or flight.
- Remember that SBB does not refund part of the fee simply because you end the rental early.
- If one locker is too small, consider renting more than one or using staffed storage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are left luggage lockers in Switzerland?
Left luggage lockers in Switzerland are self-service compartments where travelers can temporarily store suitcases, backpacks, and other bags. They are especially common at railway stations. Locker sizes, payment methods, prices, and access periods vary by station and by the type of locker system installed.
How much do SBB luggage lockers cost?
SBB locker prices depend on the station, size, season, and locker system. At Zürich HB, Bern, Lucerne, and Geneva Cornavin, current low-season prices for the first six hours are CHF 5, 7, 9, 10, and 12 for S through XXL lockers.
How long can I leave luggage in an SBB locker?
Modern red and grey SBB lockers and digital blue lockers can normally be rented for up to 96 hours. Older blue cash lockers have a maximum rental period of 72 hours. Charges increase when you keep a locker beyond its initial rental period.
Can I reserve an SBB locker in advance?
SBB’s published locker instructions describe a walk-up rental process that begins at the locker and do not provide an advance-reservation step for ordinary station lockers. Plan to choose an available locker when you arrive and keep a backup option for unusually large bags.
What if my suitcase does not fit in a locker?
Use a larger locker, split your belongings between more than one locker, or choose staffed luggage storage if it is available. SBB Travel Centres at selected stations accept bulky bags up to 23 kg per item, although capacity and counter hours can limit availability.
Are SBB luggage lockers secure?
SBB lockers are intended for unattended luggage storage, but no public locker removes every risk. SBB states that it is not liable for loss or damage to stored items. Keep passports, essential medication, money, and irreplaceable valuables with you, and protect your access code or key.
For another article on this site, see this guide to Asian melon.
Sources
- SBB: Lockers: locker types, locations, rental periods, and payment methods.
- SBB: Help with lockers: rental steps, maximum periods, payment, collection, and liability.
- SBB: Zürich HB: locker dimensions, prices, quantities, opening hours, and payment methods.
- SBB: Geneva Cornavin lockers: locker location and access hours.
- SBB: Bern station: locker sizes, prices, opening hours, and maximum rental period.
- SBB: Lucerne station: locker sizes, prices, opening hours, and maximum rental period.
- SBB: Lausanne station: locker dimensions, prices, payment methods, and access hours.
- Zürich Airport: Baggage services: SBB locker location, staffed storage hours, prices, and storage rules.
- Geneva Airport: Luggage storage and drop-off: airport-station locker location and access hours.
- SBB: Staffed luggage storage: bulky-luggage limits, pricing, availability, and longer storage periods.
