Count items, dimensions, users, permissions and service needs before deciding how many storage units to order.
Storage projects go wrong when a buyer orders cabinets before counting what needs a home. A locker for a laptop bag, a shelf for paper archives and a secure drawer for shared equipment solve different problems. Start with an inventory by item, owner, size, access frequency and security requirement; then design the cabinet mix.
Separate personal storage from shared operations
Walk the office with people who use the storage every day. Record coats, bags, helmets, lunch containers, personal valuables, peripherals, cleaning supplies, paper records, marketing materials, replacement parts and temporary packages. Ask what must be stored at the desk, what can go to a team zone, and what belongs in a restricted or off-site area.
For hybrid offices, ask whether lockers are assigned, first-come, or reserved by booking. A shared locker that holds a bag all week is effectively assigned; usage policy changes the number you need. Agree who clears items, who maintains keys or credentials, how abandoned contents are handled and who can inspect a locker under company policy.
Measure contents in their real orientation
Do not use a product's exterior width as its usable interior width. Get drawings showing clear opening, inside height, depth, shelf positions, door swing, handles, base and lock protrusions. Include room to reach around bulky items. A 16-inch-deep cabinet may not fit a 16-inch object once the door and interior obstructions are considered.
The Herman Miller OE1 Storage Trolley specifications illustrate model-specific dimensional differences between individual and dual models. An office storage schedule should capture each actual SKU's dimensions rather than generalize about what a 'mobile storage unit' holds. Steelcase's locker planning example likewise differentiates locker sizes, employee needs and RFID access; it is a design illustration, not a default security specification.
Build a storage demand schedule
| Contents group | Quantity basis | Must-have dimension/feature | Access and owner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal bags and coats | Peak simultaneous users | Measured largest regular bag, hook, door clearance | Assigned/shared policy and employee |
| Laptops and chargers | Devices actually stored | Shelves, ventilation/power only if approved | IT or employee |
| Shared supplies | Weekly consumption and reserve | Adjustable shelves, access for replenishment | Department owner |
| Records | Retention inventory and box sizes | Weight capacity, lock, document controls | Records manager |
| Tools/spares | Exact model part list | Bins, labeling, reachable locations | Facilities or IT |
As a hypothetical exercise, say 30 employees are on the roster, the highest simultaneous office count is 18, and 12 people want to leave personal belongings overnight. Twelve overnight-assigned compartments plus a flexible pool for others may be more useful than buying 30 identical lockers. That is not a universal sizing ratio: validate the observed attendance, conflict risk and workplace policy before selecting a count.
Test retrieval, not just storage density
Place representative objects in a sample compartment. Can an employee put a bag in without crushing it? Can a shorter person use the top tier? Do doors hit circulation space or adjacent chairs? Is there clearance for a wheelchair user to approach the assigned storage? Are the locks usable with the company's chosen access method? Accessibility needs a project-specific review under applicable rules; do not label an entire locker layout accessible based on a catalogue icon.
Separate security claims from basic organization. A keyed cam lock, digital pin, badge reader and centrally managed RFID system introduce different lost-key, user-turnover, privacy and power dependencies. Ask the vendor for supported failure modes, administrator access, audit-log controls if any, and replacement hardware procedures. No common office locker should be treated as certified secure storage without evidence.
Verify installed conditions
A storage wall can interfere with sprinklers, HVAC, light switches, doors or walking routes. Get load information for fully stocked units, mounting/anchoring requirements, installation instructions and floor constraints. The building's qualified reviewer decides any relevant anchoring, fire, egress or accessibility requirement. Tall unsecured units may create an avoidable tip hazard; do not omit required restraints to save labor.
Ask for finish and edge durability, cleaning instructions, spare locks, master-key controls, end-panel treatment, internal dividers and future module compatibility. Count delivery, placement, anchoring, programming, labels and packaging removal in the installed price. Check whether units ship assembled and can physically enter the intended room.
Approve a maintainable storage policy
Before release, write down a named owner, assignment and reassignment procedure, storage-duration rules, lost-key response, prohibited items and routine cleaning. Keep an item-level schedule, a dimensioned floor plan and a list of access hardware and spare parts. The most efficient cabinet is not the one with the most compartments per linear foot; it is the one employees can use without creating more clutter and administrative work elsewhere.
Sources & editorial review
This is a research-based buying guide. It does not represent hands-on product testing. Prices, product specifications, supplier terms, and availability can change.