Locker Shopping Guide

While some schools have turned away from traditional lockers in their remodel designs, lockers remain a common fixture in the educational world. From hallways and sports facilities to teacher lounges and classrooms, lockers still provide students and teachers with a peace of mind that their belongings remain secure.

There are many factors to consider when shopping for lockers, including size, material, locks, facility and more. Schools In is happy to help you through the locker buying process.

Locker Type

First, consider where you would like to place your locker and what purpose it will serve.

• Traditional School Lockers – When we think of lockers in general, traditional school lockers are usually what comes to mind. Most often made of steel, the tall, narrow lockers provide enough space for books and a few personal belongings. These types of lockers are often offered in neutral colors like gray and tan. They might also come with features like a top shelf, coat rod and coat hooks.
• Box Lockers – Box lockers are often found in employee lounges or other places where multiple people share a common space. Box lockers are smaller than school lockers but provide secure storage for large groups without sacrificing much floor space. Box lockers are usually not used in school hallways because multiple students cannot access lockers all at once before school and between classes.
• Athletic Lockers – Since athletic lockers are tasked with storing sports equipment and uniforms, they usually have more ventilation than traditional lockers. Some sports like football have bulky equipment such as helmets and shoulder pads that require more storage space. We offer some lockers in extended widths to accommodate such items. Several styles of athletic lockers come with special finishes that resist rust and moisture build-up, perfect for pool areas. Wood and plastic lockers can also be used in athletic locker rooms, a more rust-resistant alternative to steel.
• Preschool Lockers – Sized just right for young students, preschool lockers usually provide open storage so little ones can easily access belongings. Preschool lockers have rounded edges and corners for safety.
• Storage Lockers – When you need to protect your expensive equipment and bulky items, storage lockers are a great choice. These lockers are built for durability and are often found in warehouses, storage areas and resource rooms.

Locker Legs, Bases and Tops

School lockers are often available with or without legs. Lockers that are being placed on existing concrete ledges don't need legs, but most customers prefer legs on lockers that don't have such ledges. Legs typically lift lockers 6" off the ground but can allow dust and trash to accumulate underneath. Closed bases are a great alternative as they block items from sliding under lockers (your custodians will thank you).

Trash and dust can also gather pretty quickly on the top of lockers but can be prevented with sloped tops.

Locker Handles and Locks

Another feature to consider is the handle/lock style. Non-recessed hasp-style handles are typically more affordable and consist of two protruding pieces of metal on the locker door, each with a hole where a padlock or combination lock passes through. This style allows easy access to the lock.

A recessed handle is a small cove in the locker door where the handle and lock are located. The cove is often made of stainless steel that prevents the lock from scraping against the paint finish of the locker. Recessed handles are also safer as they will not poke or scratch students as they pass by in crowded hallways. Sometimes locks on a recessed handle are more difficult to access.

Locker Ventilation

Almost all locker styles have some sort of ventilation built into the locker door. Simple louvers are slots in the door that prevent individuals from looking in but still provide air flow to contents. Athletic lockers often have a diamond ventilation pattern for excellent ventilation but less privacy.

Assembled or Unassembled Lockers

Unassembled lockers are less expensive in base cost and in shipping, making them an attractive choice for many. Assembled lockers, while pricier, are often more durable as the joints and edges can be welded when they are preassembled.

We are Here to Help

Our sales team knows a lot about lockers and is happy to help you as you shop. Give us a call today at (877) 839-3330.