Standard UK locker footprints
British locker manufacturing has settled around three carcass widths: 250mm (compact), 300mm (standard) and 380mm (wide). Depths range from 380mm (typical office) to 460mm (school bags) and 500mm+ (hanging garments and PPE). Heights are universally 1800mm overall on a 150mm plinth, giving a 1950mm finished face — which fits comfortably under most UK ceiling soffits.
Sizing for school bags
Year 7 rucksacks routinely exceed 380mm wide × 380mm deep when stuffed with PE kit, water bottle and packed lunch. Spec 380mm wide × 460mm deep two-tier or three-tier as your default for secondary schools. Primary schools can step down to 300mm wide cubbies for coats and book bags. Sixth form gets away with compact valuables-only lockers — typically 250 × 380 × 300mm tall.
- Primary: 300w × 380d × 450h (book bags & coats)
- Secondary: 380w × 460d × 900h (full kit)
- Sixth form: 250w × 380d × 300h (valuables)
Sizing for gyms and changing rooms
A full gym kit — trainers, jacket, change of clothes, towel — needs a minimum 300w × 460d × 900h compartment. Z-tier lockers are the most space-efficient gym layout, giving every member full hanging height in 50% of the floor footprint of a true full-height locker. For pool changing rooms add 25% to depth to account for damp swim kit and shoes.
Sizing for offices and hot-desks
For laptop, notebook, lunch and a coat, 300w × 460d × 450h is the sweet spot — large enough for a 16" laptop bag laid flat, small enough to give 4 lockers per linear metre at three tiers high. Coworking and university buildings often run mixed walls — small for valuables, medium for daily kit, full-height for cyclist gear and helmets.
Tier counts and capacity
Compartments per linear metre at 1800mm tall, standard 300mm width: 1-tier = 3 users; 2-tier = 6; 3-tier = 9; 4-tier = 12; 5-tier = 15; 6-tier = 18. Multiply by your bank length to get total capacity. Always size for peak occupancy + 10% spare to handle staff turnover and kit growth.