Where to Find Luggage Storage Near the Empire State Building (There’s No Bag Check, So Read This First)

I have been up the Empire State Building more times than any native should admit, almost always with visiting relatives. On one of those trips, a cousin from abroad showed up straight from JFK with a suitcase the size of a studio apartment, convinced the building would hold it for him. It did not. We spent the next forty minutes finding him somewhere to put it, and the sunset happened without us.

Learn from my cousin. This guide covers the Empire State Building’s bag situation, where to store luggage nearby, what it costs, and how to fit it into a day that starts or ends at Penn Station, which is only a few blocks away.

Empire State Building Luggage: Quick Facts

• Address: 20 West 34th Street, at 5th Avenue.
• Bag check on site: none. Large bags, suitcases and big backpacks are not allowed up to the observatories.
• What you can bring: a small bag. Check the current size rules on the official Empire State Building site before you go, because they can change.
• Nearest subway: 34 St-Herald Sq (B, D, F, M, N, Q, R, W), 33 St (6) and 34 St-Penn Station (1, 2, 3 and A, C, E).
• Storage price: Stasher lists Manhattan storage from about $2.49 per bag per day.

The Empire State Building Bag Policy, in Plain English

Every visitor goes through airport-style security before the elevators. The building does not run a bag check or a coat room for luggage, and there are no lockers inside. Suitcases, carry-ons and large backpacks will be turned away at screening. Small personal bags are the safest bet.

The exact size limit has changed over the years and different sources quote different numbers, so I am not going to print one here and have you argue with a security guard using my article. Check the official site on the day you go. My simple rule: if it has wheels or you would need to check it on a plane, store it before you arrive.

Why You Will Not Find Lockers Nearby Either

New York’s big stations, including Penn Station two avenues west, have had no public luggage lockers for years. So the old trick of dumping your bag at the station does not work here. Instead, local shops, hotels and smart-locker sites rent out space through booking apps, and that is what you want.

How to Store Your Bags With Stasher

1. Search near the Empire State Building or Herald Square, and compare the spots on the map by price, reviews and hours.
2. Book and pay online per bag, per day.
3. Drop off by showing your booking at the counter.
4. Pick up during opening hours with the same booking.

Bookings are covered by the Stasher Guarantee. Look up the current coverage limit when you book, and keep passports, laptops and medicine on you.

Where to Look: Three Smart Zones

Herald Square and 34th Street

The blocks around Macy’s at 34th Street and Broadway are a two-minute walk from the building’s entrance. This is the most convenient zone if you are already in Midtown and just want your hands free for the afternoon.

Penn Station and Madison Square Garden

If you are arriving on Amtrak, NJ Transit or the Long Island Rail Road, or leaving that way, store your bags near Penn Station on 7th or 8th Avenue. You walk east to the Empire State Building empty-handed and collect your bags right next to your train later. Our guide to luggage storage at Penn Station goes deeper on this area.

Koreatown and NoMad

The blocks just south and east of the building, along 32nd Street in Koreatown and up toward Madison Avenue, are good if you plan to eat after your visit. Store your bags near dinner, not near the building. Then you pick them up on a full stomach.

Coming Straight From the Airport

Plenty of people land at JFK or Newark in the morning, cannot check into their hotel until afternoon, and want to see something right away. Here is the efficient way to do it:

• From JFK: take the AirTrain to Jamaica and the Long Island Rail Road to Penn Station. Store your bags near Penn, then walk east on 34th Street.
• From Newark: take the AirTrain to the Newark Airport rail station and NJ Transit to Penn Station. Same plan.

We cover the airports themselves in our guides to luggage storage at JFK and luggage storage at Newark Airport.

Making the Most of Your Visit

• Book a timed ticket online to skip the longest ticket lines.
• Go early or late. First thing in the morning is calm. Sunset is gorgeous and packed, so book that slot ahead.
• The 86th floor is open-air. Bring a jacket in winter. The wind up there does not care about your plans.
• The 102nd floor is higher and enclosed, and costs extra. In my opinion the 86th floor is the classic view and the better value.

What I’d Skip

• Showing up with luggage and hoping. Security will not make an exception, and the staff have heard every story.
• Leaving bags with an unofficial street vendor. Use a bookable service with a guarantee, or your hotel.
• The chain restaurants on 34th Street. Koreatown is one block away and much better.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Empire State Building have luggage storage?

No. There is no bag check or locker room for luggage at the Empire State Building. Store your bags nearby before your visit.

Can I bring a backpack to the Empire State Building?

Small bags are the safest choice. Large backpacks and luggage are likely to be refused at security. Check the official bag rules on the day of your visit.

Where is the closest luggage storage to the Empire State Building?

Search the Herald Square and 34th Street area in Stasher. Several neighborhoods within a five-minute walk usually have bookable spots, with prices and hours shown before you book.

How much does it cost to store a bag near the Empire State Building?

Stasher lists Manhattan storage from about $2.49 per bag per day. The exact price depends on the spot you choose.

That’s my Empire State plan: bags down near Herald Square, ride up, wave at Brooklyn from the 86th floor, then dinner in Koreatown. Rules and prices change, so check them before you go.