Search for parcel locker companies and the results mix mailbox makers, software subscriptions, carrier networks and factories. They are not selling the same thing. This page sorts them into six types so you can compare like with like, then gives a set of questions that works on any shortlist.
Quick answer
- Mailbox makers: mechanical parcel compartments that work alongside approved mailboxes. Cheap, no power, key-operated.
- Specialist package-locker vendors: electronic lockers plus subscription software, sold direct or through dealers.
- Carriers and marketplaces: their own lockers, often free to place, on their own terms.
- Property-tech platforms: lockers bundled with access control, intercoms and resident apps.
- Custom manufacturers: lockers built to specification. This is where KioskForce sits.
- Keypad and battery lockers: no power needed, but no notifications or real-time log.
The six types compared
| Type | How it is sold | Running cost | Courier access | Strengths | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Mailbox and postal-receptacle makers | Through mailbox dealers and contractors | None | The postal carrier, with keys left in mailboxes; other couriers by arrangement | Low cost, no power, part of the mail installation | No notifications or log, few compartments, not built for daily parcel volume from many couriers |
| 2. Specialist electronic package-locker vendors | Direct or through dealers, usually hardware plus a software subscription | Software fee per location or per package | Usually a courier screen or app; varies by vendor | Mature software for property managers | Per-package or resident fees, multi-year terms, lead times |
| 3. Carriers and marketplaces | Placed by the carrier or marketplace | Often none to the property | Set by the company that placed it | No hardware cost | Which couriers can use it, data ownership, removal terms |
| 4. Property-technology platforms | Bundled with access control, intercom or resident app | Platform subscription | Through the platform’s access system | One system for doors, visitors and parcels | Locker is one module; switching costs are high |
| 5. Custom manufacturers | Direct and through resellers, built to specification | Depends on the software chosen | Depends on the software; KioskForce supports walk-up and API | Cell sizes, chilled cells, branding and outdoor builds to order | Lead time for custom builds; check who installs and supports locally |
| 6. Keypad and battery lockers | Online or through dealers | None | Shared codes or keypads | Works with no power | No notifications, no real-time log, limited courier workflow |
Questions that work on any shortlist
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Which couriers can deliver without an integration, and how? | A locker only saves desk time for the couriers who can use it |
| Software fee per location or per package? Anything charged to residents? | Per-package costs grow with online shopping; resident fees affect satisfaction |
| Who owns the hardware and the resident data at the end of the term? | Decides what you are left with, and whether you can switch |
| Are chilled cells available, and at what cost? | Grocery and meal-kit deliveries cannot wait at room temperature |
| Who installs, who services, how is support provided? | Local service capacity varies by vendor and region |
| Lead time from order to installation? | Custom builds take weeks to months |
| Can it run outdoors, and what does it need on site? | Power, network, shelter and lighting are building works |
Where KioskForce fits
KioskForce is a custom manufacturer (type 5) that also writes its own locker software. We design the hardware and the software in-house, build each bank to the building’s parcel profile, and sell the lockers outright with a flat software fee:
- Courier access: walk-up at the touchscreen for any courier, with no integration, plus a documented API for delivery platforms. The API is published at delivery.kioskforce.com.
- Price: as a rough guide, a small bank of about 10 cells with a courier touchscreen typically comes in at a few thousand US dollars, roughly US$2,000–5,000, and a 50–100-cell building system roughly US$8,000–20,000. Software is a flat monthly fee of around US$100 per location, with no per-parcel or resident fees. See the price guide below.
- Options: large and oversize cells, chilled cells built to order, outdoor-rated builds and branded fronts.
- Service: we sell direct and, in some regions, through local distributors. Installation is optional and, in some regions, provided through a local distributor. Support is by email.
- Status: we are taking reservations for the first production run of the courier walk-up parcel locker.
If you are a dealer or integrator looking for a locker to sell under your own service, the same platform is available to resellers.
Rough price guide and quote
A small bank of about 10 cells with a courier touchscreen typically comes in at a few thousand US dollars, roughly US$2,000–5,000. A 50–100-cell building system is roughly US$8,000–20,000. Software is a flat monthly fee of around US$100 per location, with no per-parcel or resident fees. Freight, duties and installation are extra, and your quote fixes the price.
Price enquiry · 1 minute
Get a quote for your building
Tell us roughly what you need and we reply with a cell layout, a drawing and a firm price. For the full form with cell sizes and options, use the price enquiry page.
The difference between mechanical and smart parcel lockers
In US apartment buildings, the Domestic Mail Manual makes the building responsible for USPS-approved mail receptacles, and some approved mailbox installations include parcel compartments that the carrier opens and closes with a key. They serve the postal carrier. A smart parcel locker serves every courier: it assigns cells, notifies the recipient and logs each event. Most buildings with heavy parcel volume end up with both, the approved mailboxes for mail and a smart locker for parcels. See the apartment parcel locker guide for the USPS detail.
Frequently asked questions
What are the main types of parcel locker companies?
Six: mailbox and postal-receptacle makers that sell mechanical parcel lockers; specialist electronic package-locker vendors with subscription software; carriers and marketplaces that place their own locker networks; property-technology platforms that bundle lockers with access control and resident apps; custom manufacturers that build lockers to specification; and low-cost keypad or battery locker makers.
Why does this page not list brand names?
Many companies in this market are, or sell through, dealers and integrators that KioskForce works with, so we compare vendor types rather than brands. Every brand belongs to one of the six types below, and the questions in the comparison table work on any shortlist.
How do I choose a parcel locker company?
Start from your building, not the brochure. Work out how many parcels arrive and who delivers them, then ask each vendor how those couriers get into the locker, what the software costs per location or per parcel, who owns the hardware and the resident data, whether chilled cells are available, how installation and support are provided and how long delivery takes.
What is the difference between a mechanical and a smart parcel locker?
A mechanical parcel locker is opened with a key. With USPS-approved mailboxes, the carrier leaves the parcel in a parcel compartment and puts its key in the resident’s mailbox. A smart parcel locker has electronic locks, a screen or app and software: it assigns cells, sends the recipient a code, and logs every drop-off and collection. Mechanical lockers cost less and need no power. Smart lockers take parcels from any courier who can use the screen and remove the staff work.
References
- United States Postal Service — “Domestic Mail Manual 508: Recipient Services”, section 2.1.7 Apartment Mail Receptacles (accessed 3 October 2026). https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/508.htm
Related
- Parcel lockers: rough price guide and how a delivery runs
- Multifamily package lockers: buy, lease or free, and who pays
- Smart locker software
- Parcel locker price enquiry
Talk to us
Tell us the building type, roughly how many parcels arrive a day and who delivers them. Use the price enquiry form above, the full price enquiry with cell sizes and options, or email sales@kioskforce.com.
