How to Choose Lockers: UK Buying and Selection Guide

Choosing the right lockers starts with understanding how they will actually be used. The best solution for a school corridor may be very different from one required for a factory changing room, hybrid office, swimming pool or equipment store.

Ready to compare products, specifications and prices? Browse commercial lockers for schools, workplaces, leisure facilities and other UK sites.

This guide explains how to choose lockers by storage requirement, environment, user pattern, material, size, configuration and lock type. It is intended to help you define what you need before comparing individual products.

If you already know what you require and want to compare available products, browse our commercial locker range. If you are still deciding which type of locker is right for your site, continue with the selection process below.

Locker selection guide

• Start with what needs to be stored
• Choose lockers for the environment
• Compare locker types
• Assigned or shared-use lockers
• Choose the locker material
• Choose the locking system
• Choose locker size and configuration
• Plan capacity and layout
• Installation and ongoing management
• Avoid common specification mistakes

Start with what the locker needs to store

Do not start by choosing a locker size or door configuration. First define what users actually need to put inside it. This determines how much usable space is required and helps prevent both over-specification and lockers that are too small for their intended purpose.

Common storage requirements include:

• Coats, bags and everyday personal belongings
• Workwear and uniforms
• PPE, boots and protective equipment
• Books, school bags and sports equipment
• Phones, tablets and laptops
• Power tools, batteries and chargers
• Clean and dirty garments
• Valuables and small personal items

A locker used only for a phone and wallet has very different space requirements from one used for a coat, work boots and PPE. Establishing the contents first makes later decisions about compartment size, door configuration and capacity much easier.

Choose lockers for the environment

The surrounding environment has a major influence on locker material, construction and long-term maintenance. A locker suitable for a dry office should not automatically be assumed suitable for a poolside changing area, washdown environment or exposed outdoor position.

Workplaces and offices

Workplace lockers may be required for personal belongings, coats, bags, uniforms, PPE, laptops or day-use storage. Offices may favour compact or shared-use arrangements, while factories and warehouses often need larger compartments for clothing, boots and equipment.

For staff-specific planning, see our workplace locker guide.

Schools and education

School lockers normally need to withstand frequent use while remaining straightforward for pupils and staff to manage. Storage requirements may include books, bags, coats, sports equipment and devices, so age group, available space and the school’s preferred locking system should all be considered.

See our school locker selection guide for more detailed education guidance.

Gyms, pools and changing areas

Leisure and changing environments often have higher user turnover and may also involve humidity or direct exposure to water. Material choice, cleaning requirements and the way temporary users gain access can therefore be more important than in a conventional staff locker area.

For damp or exposed environments, read our guide to wet-area and outdoor lockers.

Industrial and operational sites

Factories, warehouses, engineering sites, depots and workshops may need lockers for workwear, PPE, tools or separated clean and dirty clothing. Garment lockers, mesh lockers, heated lockers and specialist compartment layouts may be more appropriate than a standard personal locker.

Devices and powered equipment

If laptops, tablets, phones, tools or batteries need to be stored and charged between uses, a standard storage locker may not solve the complete requirement. A purpose-designed charging locker combines controlled storage with appropriate provision for power and device management.

Read our charging locker guide if secure powered storage is required.

Compare the main locker types

Once the environment and storage requirement are understood, compare locker formats. Locker type should follow the job the storage system needs to perform rather than being chosen purely by appearance.

Locker type	Best suited to	Main reason to choose
Steel lockers	Schools, workplaces and general internal storage	Strong, versatile construction with a wide choice of configurations
Laminate door lockers	Offices, leisure facilities and design-led interiors	Durable doors with a higher specification appearance
Plastic lockers	Wet, humid and demanding environments	Corrosion resistance and suitability for moisture-prone areas
Z lockers	Changing rooms and staff areas	Hanging space while using floor area efficiently
Wire mesh lockers	Factories, warehouses and operational sites	Visibility, ventilation and robust storage
Garment lockers	Industrial and changing environments	Storage designed around workwear and clothing
Charging lockers	Schools, workplaces and technical environments	Secure storage combined with device or equipment charging
Heated lockers	Sites managing wet workwear or equipment	Supports drying and storage of damp clothing or equipment
Outdoor lockers	External and exposed positions	Construction selected for more demanding environmental conditions

The categories can overlap. For example, a workplace may use conventional steel staff lockers alongside charging lockers for shared laptops and garment lockers for operational staff.

Assigned or shared-use lockers?

One of the most important decisions is whether each locker belongs to a particular user or is available to different users at different times. This decision affects the number of lockers required, lock choice, administration and how efficiently the available space is used.

	Assigned lockers	Shared-use lockers
Use	One regular user	Different users at different times
Common applications	Schools, permanent staff, industrial workplaces	Hybrid offices, gyms, visitors and flexible workplaces
Main advantage	Consistency and accountability	More flexible use of capacity
Lock consideration	Keys, padlocks or personal combinations can work well	Combination, digital or managed-access systems may simplify turnover

Some sites benefit from a mixed arrangement. Permanent staff may have assigned lockers while visitors, contractors or hybrid workers use a shared bank.

For a deeper comparison, read assigned lockers vs shared lockers.

Choose the right locker material

Locker material affects durability, appearance, corrosion resistance, cleaning and maintenance. The best material is therefore determined largely by the conditions in which the locker will operate.

Material	Typical environment	Main advantage	Consider
Steel	Dry internal workplaces and schools	Strength, security and broad configuration choice	Environmental moisture and risk of corrosion
Laminate	Offices, leisure and higher-specification interiors	Appearance and durable door finishes	Specification of both door and carcass materials
Plastic	Wet, humid and washdown environments	Excellent resistance to moisture and corrosion	Required size, construction and security level
Wire mesh	Industrial and operational storage	Airflow and clear visibility of contents	Reduced privacy compared with enclosed lockers

For a more detailed comparison, see steel vs laminate vs plastic lockers.

Choose the locking system

Lock choice should follow the way the lockers are used. A simple keyed system can work very well for permanently assigned staff lockers, while a site with constantly changing users may benefit from a system that does not require physical keys to be issued and recovered every day.

Lock type	Useful for	Main consideration
Key lock	Assigned lockers and straightforward everyday use	Key issue, replacement and master-key management
Hasp lock	Sites where users supply their own padlocks	Padlock management and suitability
Mechanical combination	Assigned or managed shared use	Code reset and forgotten-code procedures
Coin lock	Leisure and temporary-use environments	Coin retain or coin return operating model
Digital keypad	Shared-use and managed environments	Administration, power and override procedures
RFID/contactless	Managed sites using cards, tags or wristbands	Compatibility and access-management requirements

The lock should be selected at the same time as the user model. Choosing an electronic or combination lock first and deciding how the lockers will be operated afterwards can create unnecessary administration.

For more detailed lock selection advice, read our locker lock options guide. For replacement and cut-to-code keys, visit replacement locker keys.

Choose locker size and configuration

Locker size should be based on the dimensions of the items being stored and the number of users that need storage. There is no advantage in fitting a large number of compartments if users cannot fit the intended contents inside them.

• Single-door full-height lockers provide more vertical space for coats, garments and larger items.
• Two-tier lockers provide a balance between usable compartment space and user capacity.
• Multi-tier lockers increase the number of individual storage compartments where users only need smaller personal storage.
• Z lockers can provide hanging space for more users while making efficient use of the available footprint.
• Specialist compartments may be required for laptops, tools, PPE, boots or other equipment.

Ask whether item size or user capacity is the greater priority. That single question often eliminates unsuitable configurations very quickly.

For dimensions and configuration planning, read our locker size guide.

Plan locker capacity and layout

Locker quantity is only one part of capacity planning. The installation also has to work as a usable space once doors are opening, people are changing, benches are occupied and users are moving through the area.

Before finalising quantities, consider:

• How many users need storage at peak times?
• Will lockers be assigned, shared or a mixture of both?
• Where are the entrances, exits and fixed building features?
• Will opening doors conflict with circulation routes?
• Are benches or other changing-room fittings required?
• Can the floor and surrounding area be cleaned easily?
• Is additional capacity likely to be needed in the future?
• Can users reach their lockers without creating congestion?

A good layout should work when the room is busy, not only when it is empty. For detailed room planning, see our locker layout planning guide and locker room design guide.

Installation and ongoing locker management

A locker project does not finish when the correct product has been chosen. Installation, identification, key control, access procedures and the availability of replacement parts all affect how well the system performs over its working life.

Consider the following before installation:

• How locker units will be positioned and secured
• Whether adjacent units need to be linked together
• Access around doors, walls and fixed building features
• Numbering and user identification
• Master keys, spare keys and override procedures
• Procedures for forgotten combinations or lost credentials
• Cleaning and routine inspection
• Availability of replacement locks, keys and other parts

For installation considerations, read our locker installation guide. For ongoing care, see the locker maintenance guide.

Common locker specification mistakes

Many locker problems can be traced back to decisions made before the products were ordered. Avoid these common mistakes:

• Choosing the locker size before defining what users need to store.
• Selecting a lock before deciding whether use will be assigned or shared.
• Using a material that does not suit the surrounding environment.
• Maximising locker quantity without allowing enough space for people to use them.
• Ignoring door opening, benches, circulation and cleaning access.
• Assuming every user requires the same storage configuration.
• Planning only for current numbers without considering future changes.
• Ignoring replacement keys, locks and ongoing maintenance.

A simple locker selection process

If you are at the start of a project, work through the decisions in this order:

1. Define what needs to be stored.
2. Identify the environment. Dry internal, wet, humid, washdown or outdoor.
3. Decide who will use the lockers. Assigned, shared or mixed use.
4. Choose the appropriate material and locker format.
5. Choose the locking method.
6. Determine compartment size and user capacity.
7. Plan the room layout and access.
8. Consider installation, identification and ongoing management.
9. Only then compare individual locker products.

Which locker guide should you read next?

Use the specialist guide that matches the decision you are trying to make:

• Workplace lockers: staff and office storage
• How to choose school lockers
• Charging lockers for laptops, tablets and tools
• Assigned lockers vs shared-use lockers
• Steel vs laminate vs plastic lockers
• How to choose locker size
• Locker layout planning
• Locker room design
• Wet-area and outdoor locker selection
• Outdoor and waterproof lockers
• Smart and electronic locker systems
• Locker maintenance and ongoing support

Frequently asked questions about choosing lockers

Ready to compare lockers?

The correct locker system is determined by the job it needs to perform. Define the contents, environment, users and access method first, then choose the material, size and layout around those requirements.

If you have completed that selection process and are ready to compare products, view the locker range for schools, workplaces and commercial sites.