A missing shelf looks like a small problem until you are staring at a row of lockers with half of them stripped. Penco locker shelves are one of the easier fixes in a locker room, but only if you order the right size, in the right color, with enough lead time.
This guide walks through the five listed sizes, what a shelf costs across a whole bank of lockers, how an extra shelf helps with ADA conversions, and where the delays hide. Lockers Unlimited stocks the part, so the numbers below come from the product page.
Shelves are sold by width and depth, so your first job is to measure inside the locker. Take the width across the opening and the depth from the door to the back wall. Write both numbers down for one locker, then check a second one in the same bank in case sizes vary.
Five sizes are listed: 12 by 12, 12 by 15, 12 by 18, 15 by 18, and 18 by 18 inches, written width first and depth second. Pick the one that matches your opening instead of rounding up, since a shelf that is too big will not go in. If your locker falls between two sizes, send us the measurements, and we will help you choose. Please do not guess.
The same measuring habit pays off when you reorder other Penco locker parts, such as handles and hooks. Our guide to what each part does will help you name them correctly when you order.
Before you price anything, walk the room with a clipboard. Open every door in the bank and note which lockers are missing a shelf, which have a bent one, and which are fine. A quick count often shrinks the order.
Picture a school with three banks of 18 lockers, 54 in all. The survey finds 11 missing shelves. At the listed range, 11 shelves cost 11 x $13.90 = $152.90 at the low end and 11 x $20.30 = $223.30 at the high end. Ordering for all 54 would have cost 54 x $13.90 = $750.60 or more, which is a lot to spend on shelves that already exist.
Keep the survey simple. List each locker number, what is missing, the opening width and depth, and the color of any shelves that remain. A one-page sheet like that becomes your order and your quote request, and it gives the installer a map on the day.
Listed prices run from $13.90 to $20.30 per shelf, depending on size, and the shelves are 24-gauge. Here is what that looks like for a school replacing one shelf in each of 24 lockers.
| Item | Price each | Cost for 24 lockers |
|---|---|---|
| Shelf at the lowest listed price | $13.90 | $333.60 |
| Shelf at the highest listed price | $20.30 | $487.20 |
| Classic III recessed handle | $10.00 | $240.00 |
Those figures show a range, not a quote. The shelves alone would cost between $333.60 and $487.20, and adding a Classic III recessed handle to each door would add $240.00. Prices and sizes can change, so check the product page for the latest numbers, and request a quote for large orders.
Before you commit, compare what the locker hardware across the bank will cost against replacing the lockers. Our repair versus replacement breakdown walks through that decision.
These shelves are not only for replacements. The listing says they also serve ADA conversions and extra shelves. The reason is reach. The ADA reach range runs from 15 to 48 inches above the floor, so accessible lockers need storage inside that band, and a tall locker with its only shelf up high does not help someone who is seated.
Converting a tall locker usually means adding a shelf at a lower height. The product page warns that when you order an extra shelf and an ADA logo to create an ADA locker, an installer may have to drill and attach the shelf on site at the proper height. The ADA logo label is ordered separately.
Say you are converting four lockers in a bank. Four extra shelves cost 4 x $13.90 = $55.60 at the low end of the range, or 4 x $20.30 = $81.20 at the high end, before the logo labels and any installer time. The shelves are the small part of the bill. The labor to drill and position them at the right height may be where the budget goes, so ask for that estimate early.
Because local rules vary, confirm the details with your architect or code office before anyone drills.
Gauge numbers run backward, so a lower number means thicker steel. In standard sheet steel, 24 gauge is about 0.0239 inches thick, compared with about 0.0598 inches for 16 gauge. That is plenty for folded clothes, books, and a gym bag, and it is the thickness the product page lists for every size.
It is a different story for dense loads. If you plan to stack tools, cases of bottled water, or anything else heavy on one shelf, tell us what you are storing before you order so we can talk through whether a shelf is the right fit.
If the door is already open and the bank is already on your list, check the rest of the hardware. These are the Penco parts listed alongside the shelves, with the starting price shown on each listing.
| Part | Listed price |
|---|---|
| Penco Door Pull | From $4.70 |
| Penco 2 Piece Vanguard Handle | From $17.75 |
| Penco Single Prong Hook | From $12.00 |
| Penco Classic III Recessed Handle | $10.00 |
| Penco Vanguard Door and Frame Assemblies | $178.00 to $402.00 |
Each part has size or quantity options, so the price you pay depends on what you select. A door pull lists at $4.70 for a single pull, which means 24 pulls cost 24 x $4.70 = $112.80 at that rate. Handles and pulls are the parts members touch most, so they tend to wear first. Replacing a pull or handle while you swap shelves saves a second round of disruption.
Gray and champagne shelves are in stock. Any other color carries a four- to six-week lead time, and you contact the shop with your color choice after placing the order. For a facility matching an existing color, that wait is the real schedule.
Count it out. An order for a nonstandard color placed on August 1 with a six-week lead time lands around September 12, which may be after classes start. Order in June instead and the same wait costs you nothing.
The two stock colors are listed as 028 gray and 073 champagne. If you are filling gaps in a bank that is already one of those colors, ordering stock saves weeks. If the surviving shelves are a different color, decide whether a mismatch matters. Inside a closed locker, it may not. Where the inside is visible, matching can be worth the wait.
Schools placing larger orders may also want to read how shelves for lockers in schools cut clutter, which pairs well with a refresh. When you are ready, send your sizes and quantities through and request a free quote.
What sizes do Penco locker shelves come in?
Five sizes are listed: 12 by 12, 12 by 15, 12 by 18, 15 by 18, and 18 by 18 inches, written as width by depth.
How much do Penco locker shelves cost?
Listed prices run from $13.90 to $20.30 per shelf, depending on size. For 24 lockers, that works out to between $333.60 and $487.20 before tax and shipping.
Can an extra shelf make a locker ADA accessible?
It can help bring storage into the ADA reach range of 15 to 48 inches, though an installer may need to drill it on site. Confirm local rules first.
What colors are available?
Gray and champagne are in stock. Other colors carry a four- to six-week lead time, and you contact the shop with your color choice after ordering.
What gauge are Penco locker shelves?
The listed shelves are 24-gauge and sold as genuine Penco OEM parts for replacement, extra shelving, or ADA conversions in your existing lockers. Measure first to match your locker.
At Lockers Unlimited, we combine innovation, quality, and excellent customer service to deliver the best storage solutions for your needs. From design to installation, we’re here to help every step of the way.
Ready to upgrade your space with our new lockers? Contact us today to discuss your project and find the perfect solution for your needs.
