How Many Office Lockers Should You Provide? A Guide for Assigned and Non-Assigned Desk Offices

How Many Office Lockers Should You Get Per Employee? A Guide for Assigned and Non-Assigned Desk Offices

As companies embrace flexible working environments, office design has evolved to support modern workflows. One key component is office lockers, which offer employees secure storage for personal items and work materials. But how many lockers do you actually need, and how does that change between assigned and non-assigned desk setups?

In this article, we’ll break down the considerations for both types of office setups and help you determine the right locker solution for your team.

Lockers for Assigned Desk Offices

In a traditional office setup where employees have dedicated desks, storage is usually built into or around each workstation. However, lockers can still provide benefits, especially for storing personal belongings or shared equipment.

Here’s a general guideline for locker allocation in an assigned desk office:

  • 1:1 Locker-to-Employee Ratio: Since each employee has their own workspace, they will likely want a dedicated locker for their personal belongings. In this case, providing one locker per employee is the most straightforward solution.

    • Example: If you have 100 employees, you should plan for 100 lockers.

  • Customization Options: Some companies may offer smaller or half-sized lockers, especially if employees don't have many personal items to store. You might also consider giving employees the option to share lockers if storage needs are minimal.

Overall, the 1:1 ratio works well for assigned desk offices where employees need a fixed, personal space to store their belongings.

Lockers for Non-Assigned Desk Offices

In non-assigned desk (or “hot-desking”) setups, lockers are even more critical. Without a permanent desk, employees need a secure place to store personal items. However, because not all employees are in the office at the same time, you can optimize locker use by adjusting the number of lockers based on expected occupancy.

Here are some common approaches for calculating locker needs in non-assigned desk offices:

1. 1:1 Ratio for Office Days

Even though desks aren’t assigned, some companies still prefer to provide a locker for each employee on the days they’re in the office. Since you likely won’t have 100% of your workforce in the office every day, you can base the number of lockers on your maximum expected office capacity.

  • Example: If you have 100 employees but expect only 50% to be in the office on any given day, you’d plan for 50 lockers. This ensures everyone who comes into the office has access to secure storage.

2. Lower Ratio (70-80% of Office Capacity)

Not all employees will need lockers every day, especially if they travel light or work remotely most of the time. To avoid an excess of unused lockers, many companies opt for a slightly lower ratio—around 70-80% of the in-office population. This method allows you to provide sufficient lockers without taking up too much space.

  • Example: If 50 people are in the office at a time, you might provide 35-40 lockers.

This approach works well when employees have flexible work patterns or minimal storage needs.

3. Day Lockers for Shared Use

Day lockers are a popular solution in non-assigned desk offices. These lockers are used on a first-come, first-served basis and are emptied at the end of each day, allowing for high turnover and better space efficiency.

When planning for day lockers:

  • Expect about 30-50% of in-office employees to need locker space daily. Many employees will come in with just their laptops or may not need to store personal belongings.

  • Example: For 50 in-office employees, providing 20-25 day lockers may be sufficient.

This solution is ideal if your team doesn’t need permanent storage but still requires secure, temporary space for daily use.

Additional Factors to Consider

When planning how many lockers to install, it’s important to also think about:

  • Employee Work Styles: Do employees often bring extra materials, like workout gear, or prefer to travel light? Knowing these preferences can help you adjust your locker ratio.

  • Storage Size: Not all lockers have to be full-sized. If most employees only need space for a laptop and a few personal items, half-sized lockers can reduce the space required while still providing secure storage.

  • Shared Spaces: Consider the presence of shared storage areas, such as coat racks or bag drop zones. These spaces can reduce the demand for lockers.

Conclusion

The number of lockers you’ll need for your office depends on the type of desk arrangement and your employees’ storage needs. In assigned desk offices, a 1:1 locker ratio is generally ideal. In non-assigned desk offices, you can often reduce the total number of lockers by basing it on office capacity and expected daily use, especially when using flexible day lockers.

By aligning locker space with your office design and work culture, you can create an efficient, employee-friendly solution that balances convenience with space savings.

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