Over 115 million retail parcels in the UK were delivered or returned through lockers over the past 12 months, according to new research from InPost and Retail Economics.

The study, based on a nationally representative survey of 2,000 households and parcel volume data, estimates that there were 87 million outbound deliveries made via parcel lockers, representing seven per cent of all online orders.

A further 28 million returns, or 12 per cent of all online returns, were made via lockers, according to estimates in the report.

The figures reveal that two in five UK adults, or 21 million people, have used a parcel locker in the past year – whether to collect, return or send a parcel.

20 per cent of Brits say that while they haven't yet used lockers would be open to doing so in the future.

According to InPost, locker usage is expected to rise across every age group in the year ahead, with adoption particularly strong among younger and middle-income consumers.

The report found that 66 per cent of Gen Z and 54 per cent of Millennials used a locker in the past year.

More than half of under-45s now use them at least monthly.

“The locker market has experienced immense growth over the last year, thanks to the unsatiable appetite of consumers for convenient delivery solutions that fit in seamlessly with their busy lives," said Neil Kuschel, chief executive at InPost UK. "Once considered a niche segment of the out-of-home delivery market that was mainly used by younger, digital savvy shoppers, lockers have gone fully mainstream.

"And as our research shows, this staggering demand shows no signs of slowing down with every age group planning to use lockers more in the next year.”

The research is published as InPost reveals that in the first quarter of the year it processed 24 million parcels in the UK, representing a 39 per cent increase year-on-year.

Richard Lim, chief executive of Retail Economics, says: “Shoppers increasingly expect delivery to fit around their lives – not the other way around. Lockers offer a fast, flexible and reliable option that meets those expectations. What we’re seeing is a clear shift from trial to habit. Once shoppers experience the benefits, lockers quickly become part of their routine – and that creates real opportunities for retailers to enhance the customer experience and streamline last-mile operations.”

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