Parcel Locker Sizes and Dimensions: How Many Cells You Need

Parcel locker cells come in a few heights on a common width and depth. How many you need depends on parcels and collection times, not on the number of apartments. Our first production run uses cells about 450 mm wide and 620 mm deep inside, in three heights: standard (about 180 mm), large (about 380 mm) and oversize (about 780 mm). Every Australia Post prepaid satchel fits a standard cell lying flat. The largest parcel Australia Post’s own lockers accept, 35 × 44 × 61 cm, fits a large cell. To size a bank, multiply parcels per day by the days a parcel waits, then add about 30% for peaks.

Cell sizes

Indicative internal dimensions for the first production run. Your layout drawing confirms the final sizes for your site.

Cell	Internal size (W × H × D)	Typical contents
Standard	about 450 × 180 × 620 mm	Satchels, shoeboxes, books, most fashion orders
Large	about 450 × 380 × 620 mm	Cartons, small appliances, bulky satchels
Oversize	about 450 × 780 × 620 mm	Large cartons, multi-item orders, a carton of drinks
Chilled (to order)	standard or large size, refrigerated	Grocery and meal-kit deliveries

The courier touchscreen and controller take up one column in the bank. For rough prices, see what a locker costs below.

How common Australian parcels compare

Item	Size	Fits
Australia Post prepaid satchel, small	225 × 355 mm	Standard
Prepaid satchel, medium	270 × 390 mm	Standard
Prepaid satchel, large	315 × 405 mm	Standard
Prepaid satchel, extra large	440 × 510 mm	Standard, lying flat (large if packed thick)
Largest parcel for an Australia Post Parcel Locker	35 × 44 × 61 cm, up to 16 kg	Large

Satchel sizes are from Australia Post’s Domestic Parcels Guide. The Parcel Locker limit is from Australia Post’s Parcel Lockers page. Other carriers use their own satchels, but most online orders fall in the same range.

How many cells: the rule

Cells needed ≈ parcels per day × average days waiting × 1.3

• Parcels per day. Count them for a week, including Monday’s catch-up and Friday’s peak. If you have no count, ask the concierge or the building manager for an estimate. A guess from the number of apartments is a weak substitute, because buildings differ a lot.
• Average days waiting. Most parcels are collected the same evening or the next day, so 1 is a fair start. Buildings with many residents who travel, or student buildings in holiday periods, run longer.
• × 1.3 gives headroom for peak weeks such as Black Friday and the weeks before Christmas, when volumes jump.

Worked example. A 200-apartment building counts 40 parcels on a typical day, and parcels wait about a day: 40 × 1 × 1.3 = 52 cells. Split about 70 / 25 / 5, that is 36 standard, 13 large and 3 oversize. That is one bank with a courier touchscreen, or two banks if the lobby layout needs them on separate walls. Put your parcel count in a price enquiry and we will size and quote the bank for you.

Tune the mix to your building

• Lots of fashion and small online orders: move toward 80% standard.
• Families, bulk buys and appliances: move toward 30–35% large and add oversize cells.
• Grocery deliveries: add a few chilled cells. Without them, a resident’s groceries sit at room temperature until collected, so either add chilled cells or tell residents not to use the locker for chilled food.
• Offices: fewer parcels per person, but delivery peaks after a long weekend. Size for the Tuesday after Easter, not an average Thursday.

Signs the bank is the wrong size

• Couriers often mark parcels “left with the building” because no cell of the right size is free. You need more cells, or a different mix.
• Many cells hold parcels older than three days. Shorten the reminder interval, or set a by-law time limit, before buying more cells.
• Couriers queue at the touchscreen at the morning peak. Add a second bank with its own screen.

The cabinets are modular, so you can add columns later. Leave space beside the bank when you choose the spot.

What a locker this size costs

A small bank of about 10 cells with a courier touchscreen typically comes in at a few thousand dollars, roughly A$3,000–7,000 ex GST. A building system of 50–100 cells is roughly A$12,000–30,000 ex GST. On top of that there is a flat monthly software fee of around A$150 per building, with no per-parcel or resident fees. Delivery and installation are quoted per site, and your quote fixes the price.

Bigger cells, chilled cells and outdoor cabinets cost more than standard cells, so the size mix moves the price. Send us your parcel count and we will size the bank and quote it.

Related

• Parcel lockers overview and prices
• How do parcel lockers work?
• Strata parcel lockers: approval and funding
• ROI calculator

Frequently asked questions

What size are parcel locker cells?

There is no single standard. Most building lockers mix three or more heights on a common width and depth. Our first production run uses cells about 450 mm wide and 620 mm deep inside, at about 180 mm (standard), 380 mm (large) and 780 mm (oversize) high. These are indicative and are confirmed on the drawing for your site.

Will an Australia Post satchel fit in a parcel locker?

Australia Post’s prepaid satchels measure 225 × 355 mm (small), 270 × 390 mm (medium), 315 × 405 mm (large) and 440 × 510 mm (extra large). All four fit our standard cell lying flat, provided the satchel is not packed thicker than about 18 cm. A bulky extra-large satchel goes in a large cell.

What is the biggest parcel a parcel locker takes?

It depends on the locker. Australia Post says its own public Parcel Lockers take parcels up to 16 kg and no larger than 35 × 44 × 61 cm. A parcel that size fits our large cell. Oversize cells take bulkier items, and anything bigger still goes to the building desk or is collected from the courier depot.

How many parcel locker cells does an apartment building need?

Multiply the parcels arriving on a typical day by the average number of days a parcel waits before collection, then add about 30% for peak weeks. Split the result by size: as a starting point, about 70% standard, 25% large and 5% oversize. Then check it against a week of your own deliveries.

What happens when the locker is full?

The courier can mark the parcel as left with the building instead, so the resident is still told where it is. Building staff see uncollected parcels in the portal and residents get automatic reminders, which keeps cells turning over. A locker that is often full needs more cells or a shorter collection time limit.