Imagine: you just brought your laptop and lunchbox to the office, but your bag really does not fit in that small cubicle from five years ago. In 2026, the office environment has changed drastically. We work hybrid, we have more stuff with us, and we expect technology that makes our life easier. The old-fashioned metal cabinet with a key attached to a number is therefore heavily outdated. Modern office lockers are now mainly a fixed anchor point for flexible workers: a personal hub where you store your things safely and charge your devices.
Choosing the right locker in 2026 is no longer as simple as “just ordering a cabinet”. Prices vary enormously, and that has everything to do with what is inside: smart software, solid materials, and the service that comes with it. Before you blindly request a quote, it is smart to know how this market works.
How the price is determined: material and lock
If you look at the costs of a locker system, you often see three main components: the body (the housing), the doors, and the locking system. Simply put: the nicer and smarter, the higher the price, but the lower the nuisance in the long term.
Materials: Steel is the cheapest choice and very durable. HPL (High Pressure Laminate) is the standard for offices that want to look a bit sharper and want to be resistant to scratches and dents. Solid wood or bamboo is seen a lot at companies that score well on sustainability reports, but that often adds 30 to 50 percent extra.
Locking system: This is really the price determining factor. A mechanical combination lock is cheap, but if employees forget their code (which they do), it costs time and effort to solve. Smart lockers with RFID cards or an app are more expensive to purchase and have monthly costs, but they manage themselves. The cabinet knows who uses it and when. That saves facility management a lot of headaches.
The well-known names in the Netherlands: Who should you choose?
There are a number of players that dominate the market. If you ask around at partner companies, you often encounter these names. Because the choice differs so much per type of company, it is useful to know what their specialty is.
First of all, there is Olssen. This party is often mentioned first when it comes to a total picture. They supply both the strong steel cabinets and the smart software that makes everything run smoothly. They are large and have a lot of experience with large projects.
Then there is Vecos. They are really the tech suppliers. They supply the ‘intelligence’ behind the lockers. Often you see that an interior builder makes the cabinet, and Vecos supplies the chip and the software inside.
Sonesto is also a name you often hear, especially in the world of education and very large offices. They often manage the entire process, from advice to installation.
For SMEs that want to standardize a bit, Noki Lock is an option. They are based in Zevenaar and are strong in modular systems.
Finally, there is Bruynzeel Storage Systems. This party often focuses on space saving and high-quality finishing. Think of cabinets that fit beautifully with archive cabinets or a design interior.
What are you going to pay? The prices of 2026
Since prices vary quite a bit, it is nice to get an idea. The table below gives an estimate of the costs per locker door. This is based on a project of at least 20 pieces, excluding VAT and installation.
| Type Locker | Material | Locking System | Price per unit (2026) | Management costs (p/y) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget Basic | Powder coated steel | Cylinder lock (key) | €115 – €160 | High (key management) |
| SME Standard | Steel / Melamine | Mechanical code lock | €175 – €240 | Average (manual) |
| Business Plus | HPL / Veneer | Electronic PIN code | €260 – €380 | Low (battery replacement) |
| Smart Locker | Steel / HPL | RFID (card) / App | €420 – €650 | SaaS fee (€2 – €5 p/u) |
| Design/Circular | Bamboo / Recycled | Cloud-integrated | €550 – €850 | SaaS fee (€4 – €7 p/u) |
As you can see, it increases quite a bit. A basic key locker might seem cheap, but the management costs (lost keys, breaking locks) can add up significantly. The ‘Smart Locker’ variant is more expensive to purchase, but through automation (like a link with your HR system) you earn that back in the long run.
Costs that you easily overlook
There are always some snags, or better said: costs that are not directly in the table.
Installation: Lockers are heavy. A block of 30 cabinets can weigh up to 600 kilos. You often need mechanics to level and connect everything. Count on about 10 to 15 percent on top of the hardware price.
Software (SaaS): With smart systems you often pay per locker per month for the cloud environment. This is the dashboard for the facility service.
Integration: Do you want an employee to automatically get access to a locker when they start working via AFAS or Workday? This often involves a one-time cost for the link (API).
You can also choose Locker-as-a-Service, or lease. Then you buy nothing, but pay per month for usage. This is useful for companies that want to stay flexible. If you want to know what the options are for events or temporary needs, it is smart to look at Event lockers Netherlands 2026: order or lease [Checklist]. There we explain when lease becomes interesting.
What are the current trends in the office?
The time when you got a locker and kept it until the endless eternity is over. In 2026, it’s all about Dynamic Locker Management. This means lockers are not assigned permanently. Employees claim a locker via the app when they are at the office, and release it when they go home. This saves up to 30 percent on the number of lockers needed. You don’t need to buy 100 lockers for 150 employees, because they are never all at the office at the same time.
Another popular feature is the integration of USB-C charging points in the lockers. In 2026, it is almost standard that you can safely charge your laptop or phone while your bag is locked. Also, receiving packages via the lockers (Parcel service integration) is increasingly being requested.
For specific situations, such as when employees often change places, it is useful to read how best to handle this: Flexible allocation lockers flexible workers providers Netherlands 2026 [Checklist].
What to look out for when purchasing?
If you request a quote, pay attention to a number of points to avoid disappointment.
Usage intensity: In 2026, the rule is: if your employees are at the office 3 days a week, 0.7 locker per FTE is sufficient. With full flexible working, 0.5 is often enough. So you no longer buy one locker per person.
Dimensions: The standard width is often 300mm or 400mm. Go for at least 400mm high if you want to take a backpack. Nothing is more annoying than a bag that just does not fit.
Power and Network: If you want smart lockers that charge, make sure that there are already power outlets and network connections present before installation.
Safety: Pay attention to the location of the lockers. In a public lobby, you may not want lockers where drugs or weapons can easily be hidden. In that case, a system that you can monitor remotely is essential. If you want to store company cars or expensive devices, it is useful to know which systems best secure this. A comparison of options for Device tracking lockers order Netherlands 2026 [Comparison] can help here.
The negotiation strategy: Look at the total price
Never try to negotiate just the euros on the hardware alone. Always ask for the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) over a year or five to ten.
A cheap locker with keys seems advantageous, but after three years you have lost track of the keys, locks break, and you spend a lot of time on manual management. A smart locker system, often offered by parties such as Olssen or their competitors, manages this automatically. If an employee leaves, their card stops working immediately. That is efficient and safe.
Always ask the larger suppliers for their references. If your company is in the retail or store sector, it is smart to see what projects they have done there: Store locker projects providers Netherlands 2026 expertise [Checklist]. There you often see how robust a system needs to be.
In short, in 2026, the locker is not just a piece of metal, but an IT component of your office furnishings. Choose wisely!
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