How Many Locker Compartments Does an Office Lunch Service Need?
Simultaneous capacity, collection dwell time and reuse across batches — a simple way to size lockers for workplace lunch.
Start with one rule: one order uses one compartment. A locker's simultaneous capacity is therefore its number of compartments. Everything beyond that depends on how fast orders are collected and whether you reuse compartments across batches.
Simultaneous capacity
A 16-compartment locker holds up to 16 orders at the same moment. Large or multi-bag orders may need more than one compartment.
Dwell time
Dwell time is how long an order sits before it is collected. Short dwell times free compartments quickly; long ones tie them up.
Reuse across batches
If the first batch of 16 is loaded at 12:00 and most are collected by 12:30, a second batch can be loaded into the freed compartments. Two batches can serve more than 16 people from one locker — but only if collections happen on time.
Illustrative example. Real collection behaviour varies.
A simple sizing method
- Estimate peak orders per lunch
- Decide how many batches are practical (often one or two)
- Divide peak orders by batches to get compartments needed
- Add headroom for multi-compartment orders and late collections
Peak capacity is not unlimited — plan it with the site. See scheduled office lunch.