Anyone planning a parcel locker system is deciding on more than just additional parcel compartments. The aim is to create a fixed, secure and easily accessible place for everyday parcel deliveries. In apartment buildings, residential developments, administrative buildings and commercial properties, deliveries often arrive when no one is available to receive them in person.
Without a clearly defined parcel solution, deliveries quickly end up in entrance areas, with neighbours, at reception desks or in temporary storage locations. This may seem practical at first, but it soon creates problems in everyday use: parcels block access routes, responsibilities remain unclear, and deliveries may disappear or become damaged.
A well-planned parcel locker system creates order. It simplifies delivery, protects parcels from unauthorised access and reduces the burden on entrance areas, property management and users. As the number of small and medium-sized parcel deliveries continues to increase, parcel reception should be considered at an early stage—especially when a new mailbox system with parcel lockers is being planned or an existing system is being replaced.
The number of compartments is not the only deciding factor. What matters is the interaction between location, use, compartment sizes, operation, security, weather protection, design and integration into new or existing mailbox systems.
This article explains which points should be clarified before planning begins and where mistakes frequently occur in practice.
Before decisions are made about materials, design or the number of compartments, the building’s use must be clarified. This may sound obvious, but in practice it is often considered too late.
An apartment building with eight units has different requirements from a residential development with 80 households. A commercial building functions differently from an administrative or public building. The user structure also matters: Are there many working residents, frequent absences, a high number of online orders, commercial deliveries or changing users?
A parcel locker system should not be designed solely for the minimum requirements of today. Buildings remain in use for many years. A system that is dimensioned too narrowly may become too small after only a short time. An oversized system, on the other hand, uses space and budget without providing real value.
The right solution usually lies between these two extremes: sufficient reserve capacity without unnecessary complexity.
The location has a major influence on whether a parcel locker system works in everyday use. It must be easy for delivery personnel to reach, convenient for users to access and suitable for the building’s layout.
In apartment buildings, the ideal location is often in the entrance area or immediately nearby. Delivery personnel must be able to find and operate the system quickly. Residents should be able to collect their parcels conveniently without having to enter private or difficult-to-access areas.
In commercial, administrative or public buildings, a parcel solution may be suitable near reception, in a controlled entrance zone, in an adjacent area or at a designated handover point.
Outdoor locations require particular care. Weather protection, material durability and accessibility must all be planned carefully. A parcel locker system directly exposed to rain, snow or strong sunlight needs an appropriate construction and durable surfaces.
A common mistake is to decide on the location very late in the project. The system then has to fit into whatever space remains. This often results in narrow access routes, unsuitable operating heights or a solution that does not visually match the building.
A frequent question is: How many parcel compartments does an apartment building need?
The answer is not automatically one parcel compartment per apartment. Parcel lockers are normally used by different recipients at different times. A compartment is occupied when a parcel is delivered and becomes available again once the parcel has been collected. The appropriate number therefore depends not only on the number of apartments, but also on the expected parcel volume and how quickly deliveries are collected.
For smaller apartment buildings, a limited number of parcel compartments in different sizes is often sufficient. Larger residential developments require a more detailed assessment. In these buildings, several small and medium-sized compartments are usually more useful than only a few very large ones.
The user group is also relevant. In buildings with many working residents, parcels may remain in the lockers until the evening. In such cases, additional reserve capacity can be useful.
Good planning therefore considers not only the number of households, but also actual user behaviour.
Planning often starts with large parcels in mind. In practice, however, many deliveries are small or medium-sized. The right combination of sizes is therefore crucial.
Too many large compartments take up space and often remain unused. Too few medium-sized compartments quickly lead delivery personnel to leave parcels outside the system again. A good parcel locker system therefore contains a range of compartment sizes suited to the property.
Typical planning considerations include:
The best system is not the one with the largest compartments, but the one with the right mix. It should reflect everyday use rather than exceptional cases.
A parcel locker system is used by different people: delivery personnel, residents, employees, caretakers, property managers and reception staff. Not everyone is familiar with the system. Operation must therefore be simple, clear and resistant to user errors.
Mechanical solutions may be sufficient for smaller properties. They are robust, easy to understand and require little maintenance. Depending on the application, electronic systems provide greater convenience and more flexible use. They can be particularly useful for larger installations or more complex user groups.
The objective is not to install as much technology as possible. The selected operating method must suit the way the building is used. A system that is too complicated will be bypassed in everyday operation. Delivery personnel have limited time. Residents expect straightforward collection. Property managers do not want systems that constantly require explanation or support.
Good planning therefore identifies at an early stage how much technology is genuinely necessary and where a simpler solution may be the better decision.
Security in parcel locker systems involves more than a strong lock. It includes controlled delivery, clearly regulated collection, protection against unauthorised access and robust construction.
Different security requirements may be important depending on the building:
In apartment buildings, it is particularly important that parcels are not left freely accessible in the entrance area. A parcel locker system significantly reduces this risk because deliveries are stored in locked compartments.
In commercial or administrative buildings, it may also be necessary to define who can access particular deliveries and how internal processes are organised. In these cases, the parcel solution can form part of a broader security and building-management concept.
Protection against unauthorised access with lockable parcel compartments.
An outdoor parcel locker system must withstand considerably more than an indoor installation. Rain, moisture, temperature fluctuations, snow, UV radiation and dirt affect the materials and mechanisms over time.
Material selection, construction and location should therefore be considered together. A covered position can extend the service life and make the system more comfortable to use. At the same time, the construction should prevent water from accumulating and ensure that doors, joints and locks continue to function reliably.
Surface finishes are also important. They should match the property, be easy to maintain and withstand the expected level of use. In heavily frequented buildings, the decisive factor is not only how the system looks on the first day, but how it performs after years of use.
A high-quality parcel locker system appears calm and natural within the building. It does not rely on unnecessary visual features, but on clean workmanship, clear lines and reliable long-term function.
Parcel locker systems are often installed in highly visible locations and influence the first impression of an entrance area. Design is therefore not a secondary issue.
For architects and planners, it is particularly important to coordinate dimensions, materials, colours, labelling and visual lines at an early stage. A system added later in an arbitrary location can quickly look out of place.
Good design does not have to be conspicuous. In residential developments, administrative buildings and commercial properties, a restrained and clear appearance is often the best solution. The system should look high-quality without dominating the space. It must fit into the façade, entrance area or interior.
Important points include:
For new buildings in particular, it is worth planning the parcel locker and mailbox systems together. This creates one coherent solution.
In many buildings, combining the mailbox and parcel locker systems is the most practical option. An integrated mail and parcel locker system brings letter and parcel reception together in one clearly defined location and creates a calm, consistent overall appearance.
This is particularly practical in apartment buildings and residential developments. Residents do not have to visit two different locations. Delivery personnel find a clearly designated area. Property management benefits from an organised and structured solution.
Integration is also often visually convincing. Mailboxes, parcel compartments, numbering and materials can be coordinated. Instead of a collection of separate elements, the result is a carefully designed system.
Retrofitting may be possible in existing buildings. The available location, wall space, accessibility and existing mailbox system must be assessed to determine whether an extension is practical. In some cases, replacing the complete system is a better long-term solution than adding a temporary extension.
Many problems are not caused by poor products, but by planning that begins too late or does not go into enough detail. Typical mistakes include:
Professional advice is especially valuable when several requirements must be addressed at the same time: many users, limited space, an outdoor location, specific security requirements or the need for a visually integrated solution.
In new construction and renovation projects, the parcel locker system should be included early in the planning process. This makes it possible to coordinate its location, dimensions, installation, power supply for electronic systems, weather protection and design in good time.
For existing buildings, a professional assessment can determine whether retrofitting is practical or whether a new combined mailbox and parcel locker system would be the better long-term solution.
For property managers, this means fewer complaints later, fewer temporary arrangements and better organisation in everyday operation. For architects, it means clean integration into the building. For property owners, it means a durable investment that increases the practical value of the property.
A good parcel locker system does not attract attention because of problems. It is simply there, works reliably and fits neatly into the building.
That should be the objective of the planning process: a solution that simplifies delivery and collection, protects parcels, relieves pressure on the entrance area and complements the design of the property.
Anyone planning a parcel locker system should therefore ask the right questions at an early stage: Where will it be installed? How many parcel compartments are really needed? Which sizes make sense? How simple is it to operate? What level of security is required? And how can it be combined with the mailbox system and the architecture?
The best solution is not based on standard assumptions, but on planning that takes the building and its actual use seriously.
Are you planning a parcel locker system for an apartment building, administrative property or commercial building?
We support you in finding the right solution—from location and compartment sizes to integration into the mailbox system. Contact us now.
You can find more information on this topic in our articles Mailbox Systems for Apartment Buildings and How to Prevent Parcel Theft.
