diff --git a/src/AppRoot.js b/src/AppRoot.js
index 7167991..dab1267 100644
--- a/src/AppRoot.js
+++ b/src/AppRoot.js
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ import TripsTab from './tabs/TripsTab';
 import ItemsTab from './tabs/ItemsTab';
 import CheckupTab from './tabs/CheckupTab';
 import HistoryTab from './tabs/HistoryTab';
-import { emptyData, STORAGE_KEY } from './constants';
+import { emptyData, ITEM_PLACEMENTS, STORAGE_KEY } from './constants';
 import { findBestTripId, makeId, parseYMD, todayYMD } from './utils/date';
 import { styles } from './styles';
 
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ const emptyItemForm = () => ({
   category: '',
   status: 'unpacked',
   placement: 'suitcase',
+  placementCustom: '',
   lentTo: '',
   imageUri: '',
   imageQuality: 'balanced',
@@ -43,6 +44,7 @@ const emptyItemForm = () => ({
 const emptyCheckupNoForm = () => ({
   status: 'unpacked',
   placement: 'suitcase',
+  placementCustom: '',
   lentTo: '',
   updateMasterList: false,
 });
@@ -430,13 +432,17 @@ export default function AppRoot() {
   }
 
   function openEditItemModal(item) {
+    const existingPlacement = item.placement || 'suitcase';
+    const hasPresetPlacement = ITEM_PLACEMENTS.includes(existingPlacement);
+
     setItemForm({
       id: item.id,
       name: item.name || '',
       description: item.description || '',
       category: item.category || '',
       status: item.status || 'unpacked',
-      placement: item.placement || 'suitcase',
+      placement: hasPresetPlacement ? existingPlacement : 'other',
+      placementCustom: hasPresetPlacement || existingPlacement === 'other' ? '' : existingPlacement,
       lentTo: item.lentTo || '',
       imageUri: item.imageUri || '',
       imageQuality: item.imageQuality || 'balanced',
@@ -456,6 +462,12 @@ export default function AppRoot() {
       return;
     }
 
+    const resolvedPlacement = itemForm.placement === 'other' ? itemForm.placementCustom.trim() : itemForm.placement;
+    if (!resolvedPlacement) {
+      showAlert('Missing location', 'Please enter a custom location for "other".');
+      return;
+    }
+
     const now = Date.now();
 
     setData((prev) => {
@@ -467,7 +479,7 @@ export default function AppRoot() {
         description: itemForm.description.trim(),
         category: itemForm.category.trim(),
         status: itemForm.status,
-        placement: itemForm.placement,
+        placement: resolvedPlacement,
         lentTo: itemForm.status === 'lent-to' ? itemForm.lentTo.trim() : '',
         imageUri: itemForm.imageUri,
         imageQuality: itemForm.imageQuality,
@@ -650,9 +662,14 @@ export default function AppRoot() {
   function openCurrentCheckupNo() {
     const entry = checkupCurrentEntry;
     if (!entry) return;
+
+    const existingPlacement = entry.current.placement || 'suitcase';
+    const hasPresetPlacement = ITEM_PLACEMENTS.includes(existingPlacement);
+
     setCheckupNoForm({
       status: entry.current.status || 'unpacked',
-      placement: entry.current.placement || 'suitcase',
+      placement: hasPresetPlacement ? existingPlacement : 'other',
+      placementCustom: hasPresetPlacement || existingPlacement === 'other' ? '' : existingPlacement,
       lentTo: entry.current.lentTo || '',
       updateMasterList: false,
     });
@@ -663,9 +680,15 @@ export default function AppRoot() {
     const entry = checkupCurrentEntry;
     if (!entry) return;
 
+    const resolvedPlacement = checkupNoForm.placement === 'other' ? checkupNoForm.placementCustom.trim() : checkupNoForm.placement;
+    if (!resolvedPlacement) {
+      showAlert('Missing location', 'Please enter a custom location for "other".');
+      return;
+    }
+
     const patch = {
       status: checkupNoForm.status,
-      placement: checkupNoForm.placement,
+      placement: resolvedPlacement,
       lentTo: checkupNoForm.status === 'lent-to' ? checkupNoForm.lentTo.trim() : '',
     };
 
diff --git a/src/modals/CheckupFlowModal.js b/src/modals/CheckupFlowModal.js
index 2466dc9..0616c25 100644
--- a/src/modals/CheckupFlowModal.js
+++ b/src/modals/CheckupFlowModal.js
@@ -103,6 +103,18 @@ export default function CheckupFlowModal({
                       />
                     </Field>
 
+                    {noForm.placement === 'other' ? (
+                      <Field label="Custom location">
+                        <TextInput
+                          style={styles.input}
+                          value={noForm.placementCustom}
+                          onChangeText={(v) => setNoForm((prev) => ({ ...prev, placementCustom: v }))}
+                          placeholder="bath-kit"
+                          placeholderTextColor="#6b7280"
+                        />
+                      </Field>
+                    ) : null}
+
                     {noForm.status === 'lent-to' ? (
                       <Field label="Lent to">
                         <TextInput
diff --git a/src/modals/ItemModal.js b/src/modals/ItemModal.js
index eed1e83..a86197c 100644
--- a/src/modals/ItemModal.js
+++ b/src/modals/ItemModal.js
@@ -81,6 +81,18 @@ export default function ItemModal({
                 <ChipGroup options={ITEM_PLACEMENTS} value={itemForm.placement} onChange={(v) => updateItemForm('placement', v)} />
               </Field>
 
+              {itemForm.placement === 'other' ? (
+                <Field label="Custom location">
+                  <TextInput
+                    style={styles.input}
+                    value={itemForm.placementCustom}
+                    onChangeText={(v) => updateItemForm('placementCustom', v)}
+                    placeholder="bath-kit"
+                    placeholderTextColor="#6b7280"
+                  />
+                </Field>
+              ) : null}
+
               {itemForm.status === 'lent-to' ? (
                 <Field label="Lent to">
                   <TextInput