If you like to pack light or are planning a long trip, you may be wondering whether hostels have laundry facilities. The answer depends on the hostel.
After staying in dozens of hostels around the world, I’ve found that some hostels offer on-site laundry facilities, while others do not. Larger hostels in major cities are much more likely to have washers and dryers available, while smaller or more rural hostels may not offer laundry at all.
Even when hostels do not have laundry on-site, the staff can usually recommend nearby laundromats or laundry services in the area.
In this guide, I’ll explain how laundry works in hostels, how much it usually costs, and what to do if your hostel doesn’t have laundry facilities.
Last Updated: May 12, 2026
Published: February 3, 2024
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Do Hostels Have Laundry?
Some hostels have laundry facilities available for guests, while others do not. In my experience, larger hostels in major cities are much more likely to offer laundry rooms with washers and dryers, while smaller hostels and rural hostels are less likely to have on-site laundry.
When hostels do offer laundry, it is usually available for an extra fee. Some have self-service machines for guests, while others offer paid laundry services through the reception desk.
One thing I always recommend for longer trips is planning your laundry ahead of time before booking your accommodations. You can also pack travel detergent in case your hostel doesn’t offer or sell any.
If you are traveling for several weeks or backpacking long-term, it helps to intentionally book a hostel with laundry facilities somewhere in the middle of your trip or at the end of each week. This makes packing lighter and saves you from scrambling to find a laundromat once you run out of clean clothes.
The easiest way to do this is by using Hostelworld filters to search specifically for hostels with laundry facilities before booking. I usually check:
- Laundry availability
- Guest reviews
- Nearby laundromats
- Whether dryers are available
Planning ahead makes hostel laundry much easier, especially if you are traveling carry-on only or moving between multiple destinations quickly.
Hostelworld has over 36,000 hostels in 170+ countries, and it’s my go-to for finding a fun and clean place to stay no matter where I travel.
How Laundry Works In Hostels
When hostels do offer laundry facilities, they are usually available for an additional fee rather than included in your stay.
In many hostels, laundry is handled through:
- Coin-operated washing machines
- Coin-operated dryers
- Paid laundry services through reception
Some hostels have small self-service laundry rooms, while others will collect your clothes and wash them for you for a fixed price, usually by kilogram.
Laundry costs vary depending on the destination and hostel, but you should usually expect to pay a few dollars per wash and dry cycle.
One thing many travelers don’t think about ahead of time is that hostel laundry machines often only accept local coins or cash. Some hostels can exchange money at reception, but not always, so it’s helpful to keep some local currency available if you know you’ll need to do laundry.
If you are unsure how the machines work, hostel staff are usually happy to help explain:
- Washing settings
- Dryer settings
- Payment process
- Where to buy detergent
I’ve also had to use Google Translate more than once to figure out laundry instructions in different countries.
If you are staying in a busy hostel, it’s also good hostel etiquette to remove your clothes from the machines as soon as they finish so other travelers can use them.
What To Do If A Hostel Doesn’t Have Laundry
It’s pretty common to stay at hostels without laundry facilities, especially in smaller towns or budget hostels. Fortunately, there are still several easy options for getting your clothes cleaned while traveling.
One of the most common solutions is using a local laundromat. In many cities and backpacking destinations, laundromats are easy to find and are often cheaper than hostel laundry services.
If you only need to wash a few items, hand washing clothes in the hostel sink or shower can also work well for short periods. I usually recommend packing a small amount of travel detergent for situations like this.
Hostel staff can also be extremely helpful when it comes to finding laundry options nearby. They can often recommend:
- Nearby laundromats
- Wash-and-fold laundry services
- The cheapest local options
- Places with quick turnaround times
In some destinations, laundry services are surprisingly affordable, and you can have an entire bag of clothes washed, dried, and folded for much less than you might expect.
Planning ahead also helps a lot. If you know your current hostel doesn’t have laundry, it can be worth booking your next hostel somewhere with laundry facilities so you don’t fall too far behind on clean clothes during your trip.
Tips For Doing Laundry While Traveling
Doing laundry while traveling becomes much easier once you get into a routine, especially on longer trips or when traveling carry-on only.
One of the best things you can do is pack with laundry in mind from the beginning. I always recommend bringing:
- Quick-dry clothing
- A microfiber towel
- Travel detergent
- Enough clothes for about a week
Packing lighter and planning to do laundry during your trip is usually much easier than trying to bring enough clothes for an entire multi-week trip.
It also helps to avoid waiting until you run out of clean clothes completely. Laundry facilities may not always be available exactly when you need them, especially in smaller destinations or busy hostels.
If you are staying in hostels regularly, checking laundry availability before booking can make a big difference. Hostelworld filters make it easy to find hostels with laundry facilities ahead of time.
I also put together a full hostel packing list with the travel items I always recommend bringing for hostel stays, including laundry essentials and quick-dry travel gear.
Good Luck With Your Hostel Laundry!
Not all hostels have laundry facilities, but many larger hostels and city hostels do offer washers, dryers, or laundry services for guests.
After staying in dozens of hostels, I’ve found that planning ahead makes a huge difference, especially on longer trips. Checking for laundry facilities before booking can help you pack lighter, stay more comfortable, and avoid scrambling to find clean clothes during your trip.
Even if your hostel does not have laundry on-site, there are usually other options nearby, including laundromats, wash-and-fold services, or simple hand washing for smaller items.
If you want to guarantee that you stay at a hostel with laundry, check out Hostelworld, which has a filter (Laundry Facilities) that will only show you hostels with laundry in any city.
Looking for more hostel tips?
- Amenities in Hostels
- Benefits of Staying in Hostels
- Hostel Safety for Solo Female Travelers
- Hostel Age Limits
- Lockers in Hostels
- Laundry in Hostels
- Packing List for Hostels
- Private Rooms in Hostels
- Toiletries in hostels
- What are hostels like?
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