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12 September 2026 6 min read
Front-Loading vs Rear-Loading Pickup Lockers: Which Suits Your Kitchen?
How front-loading and rear-loading restaurant pickup lockers differ, what each needs from your layout, and how to choose.
A front-loading pickup locker is loaded and collected from the same side, so staff walk out to it. A rear-loading locker has doors on both sides: staff load from the kitchen and customers or riders collect from the front. Which one suits you depends mostly on where the locker can sit in your layout.
Front-loading: simple and flexible
- Stands against any wall or beside the counter
- No building work needed in most cases
- Staff step into the customer area to load each order
- Easiest option for a first site or a pilot
Rear-loading: loaded from the kitchen side
- Sits in a wall or counter between kitchen and customer area
- Staff load without leaving the back of house
- Glass doors on both sides, so staff can see what is waiting
- Needs an opening in a wall or counter run, so plan it with your fit-out
Rear-loading configurations are available where the layout allows — see our locker hardware.
Quick comparison
| Front-loading | Rear-loading | |
|---|---|---|
| Who loads | Staff, from the customer side | Staff, from the kitchen side |
| Installation | Freestanding, minimal work | Built into a wall or counter |
| Best for | Existing sites, pilots | New fit-outs and refits |
| Staff time in front of house | Some | Very little |
How to choose
- Is there a wall or counter between kitchen and collection area?
- Are you planning a refit in the next year?
- How many orders go out at your busiest hour?
- Do riders and customers need separate collection points?
For the fit-out side, read built-in vs freestanding pickup lockers.