Last updated: October 2026
HDPE plastic lockers are the better choice for wet, humid, coastal and undercover outdoor areas because they cannot rust, while steel lockers are the cheaper and perfectly sound choice for dry indoor spaces such as offices and staff rooms. At EasyMart Australia, steel lockers start from about $225 per unit and HDPE lockers from about $268, so the real decision is about where the locker will live, not just the price tag.
Who this guide is for: school business managers, facility and gym managers, councils and office managers in Australia comparing steel, HDPE and ABS lockers for a new or replacement locker bank.
HDPE stands for high density polyethylene, a dense, impact resistant plastic. An HDPE locker panel is the same colour all the way through, so a scratch does not expose a different layer underneath, and there is no metal to corrode. Steel lockers are made from folded and welded or riveted sheet steel finished with a powder coat. They are rigid and secure, but once the coating is chipped or dented, bare metal is exposed to moisture.
The two materials also fail differently under impact. Steel dents and the dent stays. HDPE flexes slightly and returns to shape. In a busy school corridor or gym, that difference shows up after a few years of kicked doors and thrown bags.
| Factor | HDPE plastic | ABS plastic | Powder coated steel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rust and corrosion | Cannot rust | Cannot rust | Rusts if the coating is damaged |
| Best environment | Wet, humid, coastal, undercover outdoor | Indoor, gyms, light wet areas | Dry indoor areas |
| Impact damage | Flexes, resists dents | Resists dents | Dents stay visible |
| Graffiti and scratches | Colour runs through, easier to clean | Smooth surface, easy to wipe | Solvents can strip the finish |
| Warranty on EasyMart range | 20 years (8 years outdoor undercover), Steelco HDPE | 5 years, OLP ABS range | 10 years (Steelco, Rapidline GO) or lifetime (Statewide) |
| Typical EasyMart price per unit | From about $268 | From about $222 (third height door) | From about $225 |
Prices are listed prices on easymart.com.au at the time of writing and vary by size, door count and colour.
For any locker that will sit in a covered walkway, near a pool, in a change room or within reach of salt air, HDPE is the safer long term choice. It will not rust, swell or delaminate, and the Steelco HDPE lockers sold by EasyMart are specified for outdoor undercover use with an 8 year warranty in that setting. "Undercover" matters: none of the lockers in this guide are designed to stand in direct rain.
Steel can work in a dry undercover area, but any chip in the powder coat becomes a rust point, and rust stains on walls and floors follow. If you need a water resistant option with a lower price, the Steelco HDPE Plastic Locker (variable heights) is rated to a 50kg shelf load (uniformly distributed) and is a common starting point. For deeper detail on wet areas, read our guide to waterproof lockers for pools, gyms and wet areas.
Steel is not obsolete. It remains a practical choice when:
EasyMart's steel range covers several suppliers. Steelco Steel Lockers come in 305mm and 380mm wide units with a 10 year warranty. Rapidline GO lockers measure 1830mm high by 455mm deep, in 305mm or 380mm widths, with a hat shelf and coat rail in the single door model and a 10 year warranty. The Statewide steel range, including the Statewide Four Door Locker, is Australian made from Bluescope steel and backed by a lifetime warranty. Browse all options in steel lockers.
ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) is another moulded plastic. It shares the rust free advantage of HDPE and suits gyms and indoor wet areas, usually at a lower price per door for full height banks. The OLP ABS range on EasyMart comes in single units and banks of two or three, from 1 door half height up to 6 door full height, with a 5 year warranty. Our ABS vs HDPE plastic lockers guide compares the two plastics in detail. See the full range in plastic lockers or the dedicated HDPE lockers collection.
Based on listed prices at EasyMart Australia in October 2026:
When comparing quotes, add accessories. Sloping tops (Rapidline GO sloping tops list from $105) stop items being stored on top and help with cleaning, and locker stands lift the bank off wet floors.
| Facility | Recommended material | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Secondary schools and TAFEs | HDPE, or steel indoors | Graffiti and impact resistance; see school lockers |
| Aquatic centres and pools | HDPE | Constant moisture and chlorine |
| Gyms and fitness centres | HDPE or ABS | Sweat, humidity and frequent cleaning |
| Coastal sites | HDPE | Salt air attacks damaged powder coat |
| Offices and staff rooms | Steel | Dry, lower cost, wide size range |
| Warehouses and workshops | Steel | Rigid, secure, budget friendly |
For workplaces, our workplace lockers buying guide covers how many doors you need per staff member, and the school locker fit-out planning guide walks through sizing and timing for schools.
Click and Collect is available on Rapidline, OLP and Statewide products, which covers the Rapidline GO, Steelco (OLP), ABS (OLP) and Statewide locker ranges. Other brands are delivered only. EasyMart Australia delivers Australia wide, Afterpay is available at checkout, and orders for a full locker room or school can be quoted through the bulk order page.
For everyday use, yes. HDPE lockers flex under impact instead of denting and cannot rust, so they usually look better for longer in busy settings. Heavy gauge steel is more rigid, which suits secure storage in dry areas.
HDPE, installed undercover. EasyMart's Steelco HDPE lockers carry an 8 year warranty for outdoor undercover use. No locker in this range is designed for direct rain exposure.
At EasyMart Australia, full height steel lockers are listed from about $225 for a flat packed 4 door unit and about $240 to $390 for commercial Rapidline, Steelco and Statewide units, depending on doors and width.
The Steelco HDPE range sold by EasyMart has a 20 year product warranty, reduced to 8 years for outdoor undercover installations. ABS plastic lockers carry 5 years.
Most full height steel lockers in our range are about 1800 to 1830mm high, 305mm or 380mm wide and 450 to 455mm deep, divided into 1 to 6 doors.
