Storage lockers key terms can be self-explanatory. For instance, quick ship means it'll arrive soon, rust resistant metal lockers will hold up well, ventilated storage lockers will allow the smell of sweat socks to escape and wall mounted lockers will adhere directly to the wall. However, by the same token, manufacturers of storage lockers will often use terms that aren't heard in everyday conversation.

People in the industry refer to storage lockers as frames and the openings are called tiers. A locker with one opening is called a single-tier locker. If the locker has two openings, it's called a double tier, and so forth. Most storage locker configurations involve one to six tier lockers. Box lockers is a term used to explain a three to six tier section of lockers. When buying storage lockers, you can understand the industry’s key terms if you:

1. Use the key terms to know that you're buying the right industrial lockers.

2. Create a layout of metal storage lockers with confidence.

3. Choose the right handles on school lockers to avoid pranks and injuries.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Understand the terms used to explain columns and banks of metal lockers

When looking into lockers for sale, saying you need a row of lockers may fly if you're dealing with a consultant in person. However, if you're ordering online, you need to know that a frame is a single column of lockers and a bank is several frames built together. In addition, the term knock-down or knocked-down will come up. It simply means unassembled. These lockers are a more economical choice than fully assembled units.

I recommend: Lockers USA has a terminology page that explains what a frame, tier, bank, base, filler and slop-top are. Big Dog Warehouse explains all the locker lingo including whether to buy assembled lockers in an easy-to-read document on its website.

Know that all-welded industrial lockers offer added strength and integrity

When you hear the term all-welded industrial or school lockers, that means the body parts are welded into single units, which resist damage. They hold up well and offer superior resistance to use and abuse. Closed side or front base storage lockers offer a streamlined look and allows you to avoid cleaning around legs and under lockers.

I recommend: The specifications page on ASI Storage Solutions explains the terms concerning different types of latches, handles, materials, door frames and construction to provide you with a comprehensive comparison. In addition to having lockers for sale, CSN Supply explains what several terms mean, including closed side base, closed front base and exposed end panels.

Distinguish between handle types offered from providers of storage lockers

Metal lockers come with three different types of handles. There is the lift handle, padlock hasps with door pulls and recessed handles. Lift handles have a small trigger-like device that you pull up on to open the locker, typical of most lockers in the past. Recessed handles are mounted inside the locker door, so it doesn't stick out. Door pulls with padlock hasps is a door pull handle with a hole to attach a padlock to. Box lockers usually come with a door pull with a padlock hasp handle. Recessed handles are more secure because you can't cut them off and they're safer because they don't protrude.

I recommend: Locker Supply explains all the different handle choices and helps you choose which is best for your lockers. Locker Solutions offers a Frequently Asked Questions page which answers questions ranging from terminology questions to locker options.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Talk to locker manufacturers about what locker supplies and accessories you may need. This includes benches, sloped-top kits and legs.

Storage lockers range from little open school lockers for children's coats, to industrial metal lockers for factory changing rooms to swank wood grained lockers for a health club locker room.  Whether you're looking for storage lockers for kids, workers or the buffed set, you face these challenges:

1.  Picking the right configuration of storage lockers, style of doors, and quality of materials for what are essentially metal boxes in standard sizes.
2.  Planning ahead for the best deals on price and shipping by avoiding the busy season when locker companies fill orders for school lockers.
3.  Adequately planning for delivery and installation of storage lockers before the truck pulls up to your locker room.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Scouting for storage lockers

Storage lockers are sold directly by manufacturers and by distributors who carry multiple brands. Scout what's available on the locker market by visiting their web sites.

I recommend: See the selection of metal lockers and other types made by Penco, Hallowell and Lyon.  Distributors of storage lockers include Big Dog Warehouse and Locker Supply which has a handy guide to buying lockers on its site. And don't miss the advice on being a wary customer from Big Dog.

Picking the right locker style and materials

Select your storage lockers based on the number of people and space available (will lockers stand in a locker room or hang on a wall over a coat rack?)... how much stuff will go in the storage lockers (room to hang a coat or just for shoes?)...how much ventilation for the clothing inside (for gym lockers)...how much wear the lockers will have to take (kids slamming school lockers, for instance)...how wet the environment (outdoors or by a pool?)...how high the security...and how upscale the look (factory or country club locker room?).

I recommend: Storage lockers are basically metal boxes in standard sizes and you're deciding how many individual lockers you want to divide them into - Locker Supply shows you the configurations available.  For heavy duty metal lockers, Penco makes athletic lockers with 14-gauge steel doors.  To deal with damp and the threat of rust, try corrosion resistant coatings for metal lockers from Hallowell or plastic lockers from Locker Solutions.  Security in storage lockers runs from built-in combination locks up to electronic locks controlled by a central computer, from Penco.  And for the upscale health club locker room, see wood-grained lockers from Salsbury Industries.

Ordering and shipping storage lockers

For the best price and delivery, plan ahead. Locker vendors keep some popular sizes and colors of metal lockers in stock for good deals and quick delivery; everything else is made to order and you'll wait two to 10 weeks. Avoid their busy period, summer time, when the orders for school lockers pile in. Order your metal lockers knocked down instead of assembled and save big on shipping.

I recommend: Take a look at the quick ship options from Hallowell, ASI Lockers and CLD Handling Systems.  Big Dog claims it will beat any price quote on identical storage lockers from a competitor.

Assembling and installing storage lockers

Storage lockers share common walls so assembly is basically mounting the end pieces, then the middle pieces. But a shipment of metal lockers is a heavy, bulky load, and you'll need the people, equipment and clearance room to get it in place. Ask your vendor if installation is included and, if not, you might want to hire an experienced local crew to unload and assemble your lockers.

I recommend:  Take a look at some basic instructions on installing metal lockers from ASI Lockers and some installation service terms from Gilmore-Kramer.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  For school lockers, take a look at quiet storage lockers, with door stiffeners and rubber bumpers that reduce the sound of locker doors banging in hallways.
• •  For security minded companies or schools, clear plexiglass fronts to metal lockers make the contents visible.
• •  Don't forget benches for your locker room; vendors of storage lockers typically sell those as well.

Pricing and costs of storage lockers depends on many things--whether you're buying plastic, wood or metal lockers, the size of the lockers, whether you need a special ordered configuration of units and whether the lockers are knock-down or fully assembled.

Storage lockers vary from the kind you find in upscale country club locker rooms to school lockers to industrial lockers in a factory to plastic lockers at a preschool. You can keep the pricing and costs of storage lockers under control by ordering common lockers that locker manufacturers keep in stock, ordering during the so-called "off season" and assembling the lockers yourself.

1. Measure the space to ensure you order the correct configuration of storage lockers.

2. Look into standard metal lockers, if cost is an issue to your company or organization.

3. Learn how to assemble industrial lockers yourself as an additional way to save money.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Know that vendors of storage lockers vary prices depending on a number of factors

Most providers of storage lockers price their products based on the material, dimensions and whether assembly is required. There are standard lockers, vented lockers, plastic lockers, open access lockers, oak executive lockers, designer lockers, storage lockers and basket lockers. Standard lockers can run well under $100 and up to the more expensive double-tier oak locker, which can run you more than $1,000.

I recommend: Buy solid steel storage lockers in a variety of sizes and styles from Uline Shipping Supplies ranging from $200 to $490 for unassembled or $265 to $620 for assembled lockers depending on your size, configuration and quantity needs. Cisco-Eagle offers single, double, triple, five and six tier metal storage lockers for use in gyms, schools and commercial and industrial environments all ranging between about $140 to $635, depending on size requirements. It ships its lockers knocked down with all assembly hardware included.

Plan ahead for the best deals on storage lockers

If you're buying school lockers, avoid the busy time of year to save money. Locker vendors deal with a long list of orders when the school year is about to start. Order them off season to get a better deal. You can go one step further and find used storage locker vendors to save even more money if you're on a tight budget.

I recommend: Lightning Lockers not only sells discounted new metal lockers, it also has a large inventory of used metal and steel lockers with pricing ranging from $30 to $60 per person/unit within the locker grouping. Its lockers come fully assembled with a variety of styles to choose from. You can also check out A&A Surplus for deals on used lockers ranging from $39 to &75 per unit within the various locker groupings.

Save on shipping by purchasing knock-down storage lockers

Instead of buying assembled equipment lockers, which can take anywhere from two to 10 weeks, order unassembled ones to save money and get them faster. Many companies have a section of lockers for sale that ship quickly, because they're the most popular. There aren't any additional shipping charges. A single tier of lockers, two units wide can run just over $200 and six tiers about $350.

I recommend: ATD-American has a wide variety of styles and pricing to choose from that start as low as about $11 per unit and goes all the way up to a little over $930 with quick shipping available on many unassembled models. A Plus Warehouse also has a large selection of unassembled lockers for sale with its single tier lockers starting at just a little over $100 and its double and triple tier lockers just slightly higher.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Although buying fully assembled lockers will cost more, it may save time and money in the long run. Some lockers are as simple as slipping the pieces into place, but others you may need to hire a crew to handle it because of the bulk and weight of lockers, which may cost more than the difference you saved buying them unassembled. Be sure to ask the vendor assembly questions prior to ordering to ensure you're getting the best deal.

Your first contact with storage lockers was probably your school locker. Storage lockers types and styles for businesses vary in style but they still perform the same function as that school locker: they keep your valuables safe. Manufacturers of storage lockers offer models in a wide range of sizes, configurations and colors.

You can find an industrial locker to store just about anything safely and securely. As you look at industrial lockers, you should consider the cost. If you can’t afford good quality new lockers, shop around for quality used lockers. In addition to cost and quality, you should consider:

1. What you plan to use the storage lockers for.

2. How many storage lockers you need.

3. Where you are going to set the storage lockers.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Provide storage lockers for your employees

Similar to lockers found in most schools, employee lockers are a safe place for employees to put their valuables while they work. You can find locker models that have combination locks built in or you may want to add to your locker supplies by purchasing padlocks for your employees. Some lockers come with coat storage as well, so you may need to allow for that if you live in a colder climate.

I recommend: Uline Shipping Supplies offers lockers for sale in a variety of configurations. You can find full-length lockers and smaller metal storage lockers. School, industrial and office lockers are available from Shelving, Inc. You can find a variety of sizes and configurations from leading locker manufacturers.

Pick ventilated metal lockers

If you need to store anything that needs air, or if you live in a damp climate, you should consider ventilated lockers. While a typical locker has louvers to allow some air to circulate through, it may not be enough. Ventilated lockers have an open design secured by wire mesh to allow for more circulation.

I recommend: The storage locker vendors at Locker Supply, a division of CSN Stores, have a large selection of ventilated metal lockers. If you are looking for ventilated plastic lockers, the company also has a selection of them. Raytech also offers ventilated school lockers and other storage lockers types and styles.

Choose equipment storage lockers for tools and large items

Equipment lockers can be large enough to use as walk-in storage. You can store large items securely in them. Equipment lockers come with a variety of door options, as well as a variety of configuration and size options.

I recommend: Choose from the selection of industrial lockers for equipment storage from Nationwide Industrial Supply. It offers both swinging door and sliding door equipment lockers. Material Handling Solutions, a vendor of storage lockers, offers customizable equipment lockers. In addition to industrial lockers mounted on the floor or wall, it offers storage lockers on wheels for portability.