Best Padlock for Hostel Lockers: 4 Locks Worth Packing
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Some links on this page earn us a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure.
The best padlock for hostel lockers is one that fits the hole in the locker door, that you can open half asleep and that you cannot lose. Hostels do not publish a hole size, so we picked four locks and list the shackle size each maker prints. Two go on the locker. Two protect the bag you keep outside it.
Quick answer
Our pick: the Master Lock 647D, a small combination padlock you set yourself, with a 5 mm shackle. If you prefer a key: the Master Lock 141D, 6 mm. Add a cable lock for the bag that does not fit in the locker, and a small TSA lock for the zipper. We found no official hole size at any hostel, so check the hole first.
Checked on 5 October 2026: what Generator, Bodega Hostels and Hostelworld say about lockers and padlocks. None of them publishes a hole size.
All four, with a buy button each
From the road: Just rent a locker and put a good lock on it. Do not leave your phone on the table. I had a pouch around my belly and a small hip bag too, and I had money in my socks, if I wore socks at all. So I spread the money out. If you lose something, it is not everything at once.
What hostels say about lockers and locks
Generator says on its help page: "We have free lockers in all of our dorm rooms" and "You can bring your own padlock or buy one at reception." It gives the average under-bed locker as about 93.8 cm x 67 cm x 28.8 cm. That is the locker size, not the size of the hole for the lock.
Bodega Hostels is blunter on its security page: guests should "bring your own padlock", because "Hostels won't provide you a lock, in case anything goes wrong with it." It recommends a combination lock, because "it is very easy to lose a key", and says it sells combination locks at reception for 100 baht.
Hostelworld says the same in its hostel safety guide: bring your own sturdy padlock. It describes three common locker types: under-bed lockers for backpacks and shoes, tall wardrobe lockers for electronics and clothing, and small lockers for valuables such as passports and laptops. It gives no padlock size either (read 5 October 2026).
Two hostels are not the whole world, and lockers differ from hostel to hostel. We found no hostel page that gives a number for the hole. So the order is: look at the hole, then buy.
How to pick a hostel locker lock: fit, type, size
A padlock is only useful if the shackle goes through the latch on your locker door. The makers print the shackle thickness, so you can compare. The locks below have a 3 mm, a 5 mm and a 6 mm shackle. If your latch has a small hole, the thinner one passes where the thicker one will not.
Combination or key? Bodega prefers combination because keys get lost. Our view is the same. Set the code on your first night and try it with the door open, before your things are inside.
One thing to avoid: a preset combination. Master Lock lists its 1530DCM locker lock as a "non-resettable preset combination", so you cannot choose your own code. For a lock you share a locker room with, buy one you can set yourself.
| Lock | Type | Shackle (maker) | Use it for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master Lock 647D | Set-your-own 3-digit combination | 5 mm thick, 22 mm long | The locker |
| Master Lock 141D | Keyed, two keys | 6 mm thick, 22 mm long | The locker |
| Pacsafe Retractasafe 250 | 4-dial combination, cable | Cable up to 35.4 inches | Bag to bed frame |
| Master Lock 4688D | Set-your-own, TSA | 3 mm thick, 38 mm long | Zip of a daypack |
Sizes read on masterlock.com and in the Pacsafe listing on Amazon on 4 October 2026. None of the four is a safe, and the maker pages we read give no cut rating. Treat them as a deterrent and keep passports and spare cards on you.
1. Master Lock 647D: our pick for the locker
Master Lock 647D
Master Lock lists the 647D as a "small set your own combination lock" with a body 30 mm wide, a 5 mm thick shackle, 22 mm of shackle clearance and a set-your-own three-digit code. It describes it as a "compact padlock for lockers, bags and storage cases", for indoor use.
Amazon sells it under the name 647EC with the same 5 mm shackle in the listing. A three-digit code has 1,000 combinations: fine to keep honest people out, not more. Prices change, so we show none: check the current one on Amazon.
From the road: I had a lock on my locker. I do not remember the brand. If I bought one today, this is the one I would pick.
2. Master Lock 141D: the keyed choice
Master Lock 141D
Master Lock lists the 141D as a vinyl-covered solid body padlock, 40 mm wide, with a 6 mm thick shackle, 22 mm of clearance, keyed different. The Amazon listing calls it a gym locker lock with a four-pin cylinder and a hardened steel shackle, and includes two keys.
The 6 mm shackle is thicker than the 647D, so check that your latch hole is big enough. The two keys are the catch: keep one on a cord or in a zip pocket you do not empty, and leave the second with a person you trust or in your main bag.
3. Pacsafe Retractasafe 250: for the bag that does not fit
Pacsafe Retractasafe 250
Pacsafe lists it as a retractable coated steel cable that stretches to a maximum of 35.4 inches, with a resettable 4-dial combination, 0.18 lb, a plastic and stainless steel wire build and a 2-year warranty. Pacsafe suggests it for securing bags to a table, chair or railing.
Bodega Hostels recommends a cable lock if you want "some extra peace of mind", a cable that "can be wrapped around whatever you can find". That is the use: your big pack does not fit in an under-bed locker, so lock it to something fixed. Because the body is listed as plastic, treat it as a deterrent. We also cover it in our guide to night buses and trains and the pickpocket guide.
4. Master Lock 4688D: a small lock for the zip
Master Lock 4688D
Master Lock lists the 4688D as a flexible shackle, set-your-own combination TSA lock, 30 mm wide, with a 3 mm shackle and 38 mm of length. It says a TSA lock allows inspection and relocking without damage, that it is recognized as a TSA-approved luggage lock in 29 countries, and lists backpacks, duffel bags, briefcases and cabinets as uses. Amazon sells it as 4688EC with the same sizes.
Locker locks are not on that list, so we do not pitch it as one. Where it earns its place: closing the zips of your daypack in a dorm and on the flight there. We cover the same lock in our Southeast Asia packing guide.
A lock covers your things; for the noise in a dorm, our Ozlo vs Soundcore A30 comparison weighs two pairs of sleep earbuds.
Locker habits that matter more than the lock
The lock is one layer. Chenzo's own habit, in the box at the top, is to spread things out: a pouch on the body, money in more than one place, the phone not left on the table. That way a loss is a bad day, not a bad trip.
From the road: My backpack was stolen once in South America. I did nothing. Just take your losses. And it was only nice, because I started traveling lighter. You do not need that stuff.
If you want the full picture, read what to do if your backpack is stolen abroad for what to do after a theft, and solo travel first night for how to plan your first hostel night. Packing for a longer trip? Start with how to pack for a year of nomadic travel. Traveling by van? See how to stop van break-ins. And for the photos and work files in your bag, read how to back up photos while traveling.
- Hostels expect you to bring your own lock, or sell you one at reception. We found no hostel that publishes a hole size.
- Look at the latch before you buy. The makers print the shackle: 3 mm, 5 mm and 6 mm on our four.
- Our pick is the Master Lock 647D: a set-your-own code, nothing to lose.
- A cable lock handles the bag that does not fit. The TSA lock is for zips, not lockers.
- None of the maker pages we read rates these locks against cutting. Keep passport and spare cards on you.
Chenzo, founder of NomadsToolsLab
I have been traveling for 27 years, and I backpacked through South America for 11 of them.
FAQ
What size padlock do I need for a hostel locker?
Hostels do not publish one. Generator gives locker dimensions only, not the hole for the lock. Look at the latch first. The Master Lock 647D lists a 5 mm shackle and the 141D a 6 mm shackle, and a 3 mm TSA lock passes through narrower holes.
Do hostels provide padlocks?
Usually not. Bodega Hostels says guests bring their own, and Generator says you can bring your own or buy one at reception.
Is a combination lock or a key lock better for a hostel locker?
Bodega Hostels recommends a combination lock because a key is easy to lose. Choose a set-your-own combination, not a preset one.
Can I use a TSA luggage lock on a hostel locker?
Only if the shackle fits the hole. Master Lock lists its 4688D TSA lock for backpacks, bags and cabinets, so we use it on zips, not as the locker lock.
What kinds of lockers do hostels have?
Hostelworld describes three common types: under-bed lockers for backpacks and shoes, tall wardrobe lockers for electronics and clothing, and small lockers for valuables such as passports and laptops. Locker size and latch differ from hostel to hostel, so check the hole before you buy a lock. Source: Hostelworld hostel safety guide, read 5 October 2026.
Does Hostelworld say to bring my own padlock?
Yes. Its hostel safety guide says to bring your own sturdy padlock. It does not give a shackle size, which is why this guide lists the size each maker prints. Source: Hostelworld, read 5 October 2026.
Affiliate disclosure. This post contains affiliate links. If you click and buy something, this site earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. Picks are based on published specs, independent tests and manufacturer information. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Read the full affiliate disclosure. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.
Your next step
