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Cam Locks Oxford Locker Mailbox and Cabinet Locks
Replacement cam locks for staff lockers, filing cabinets, display cases and mailbox banks across Oxford offices, schools, gyms and labs, supplied keyed alike or master keyed.
Get a cam lock quote
Tell us what you need and we will call you straight back. Calling is quickest: 07520 644 595. Photos by WhatsApp: 07466 695655
Measured to fit
Body length, cam length, offset and rotation matched so the cabinet works as before.
Master keyed sets
Each user has their own key while a manager key opens every locker.
Whole rooms in one visit
Locker banks and office furniture changed together to keep disruption short.
Itemised invoices
Each lock and key listed separately for your facilities records.
We replace cam locks in Oxford for businesses, schools, gyms and landlords, covering staff lockers, filing cabinets, display cases, vending cabinets and mailbox banks, from £59 to £95 per job plus the locks, usually on site within 10 to 30 minutes in OX1 to OX4. We measure the old lock so the new one fits first time, and can supply sets that are keyed alike, keyed to differ or master keyed.
Cam locks look simple, but a few millimetres in the wrong place means a door that will not lock. This page explains how to measure one, which key systems suit a workplace, and what we charge. For domestic furniture, see our separate home cupboard locks page.
What is a cam lock?
A cam lock is a cylinder that passes through a door or panel with a flat metal arm, the cam, fixed to the back. Turning the key rotates the cam so it catches behind the frame and holds the door shut. There is no separate bolt or keep in most cases, which is why cam locks are used on thin sheet metal and board where a conventional lock would not fit.
Because they are cheap and small, they turn up almost everywhere in commercial buildings: lockers, pedestals under desks, server cabinets, key cabinets, notice boards, display counters, cash drawers and post boxes. They are a convenience lock rather than a high security one, so cash and controlled items need a safe instead.
How to measure a cam lock for replacement
If you are ordering locks for a whole room, or want us to bring the right size first time, these are the measurements that matter.
- Body length. Measure from the underside of the front face to the end of the threaded barrel. Common sizes run from about 16mm to 40mm and it needs to suit the panel thickness.
- Cam length. Measure the arm from the centre of the fixing hole to its tip. Too short and it misses the frame, too long and it fouls it.
- Cam offset. Check whether the cam is flat or cranked (bent forward or back). Cranked cams are used where the frame sits at a different depth from the door.
- Rotation. Note whether the key turns 90 or 180 degrees, and clockwise or anticlockwise to lock.
- Fixing and cutout. Look at the hole shape (round, single D or double D) and whether the lock is held by a nut or a spring clip.
A clear photo of the back of the lock with a ruler beside it, sent on WhatsApp, tells us nearly all of this. If the lock is still locked and the key is lost, we open it first and measure on site.
Keyed alike, keyed to differ or master keyed?
Choosing the right key system matters more than the lock itself when you are fitting dozens of cam locks.
Keyed to differ
Every lock has its own key. Right for staff or student lockers where privacy matters.
Best for: individual lockers with a spare key held centrally.
Keyed alike
All locks in a group open with one key. Handy for a team’s filing cabinets or a set of display cases.
Best for: shared furniture used by the same people.
Master keyed
Each lock has its own key, and one master key opens them all. Facilities staff can clear a locker without cutting anything.
Best for: gyms, schools, hospitals and offices with high turnover.
Cam lock master suites can also tie into a building wide commercial master key system, so a site manager carries fewer keys. We design that from £195 to £395 plus £45 per lock.
Cam lock replacement for lockers, cabinets and displays
Staff and changing room lockers
Steel locker banks in offices, sports clubs and gyms. Keys go missing constantly, so we often convert a whole bank to a master keyed suite in one visit.
Filing cabinets and pedestals
Many filing cabinets use a plunger lock that controls every drawer at once rather than a simple cam. We identify which type you have and open it so records can be reached.
Display cases and counters
Glass showcases in shops and museums often use sliding door ratchet locks or push locks. We supply matched replacements so the glass is not stressed.
Vending and service cabinets
Cash boxes, vending machines and utility cupboards use cam locks or T handle locks. Ownership and authority are checked before we open anything holding money.
Mailbox banks
Communal post boxes in blocks of flats use small cam locks. We cover these on our mailbox lock replacement page.
Cam locks across Oxford workplaces
Oxford has a high concentration of places that rely on lockers and secure cabinets: hospitals in Headington, university departments and colleges in the city centre, science and business parks on the edges of the city, schools, and gyms. Many of these have a mix of locker brands bought over the years, which is where careful measuring pays off.
Where access to the building is controlled, we follow your site rules, sign in, and work around shifts or lessons. We can do a survey visit first for larger jobs, give you a written count of lock sizes, then come back with the full set. Agreeing the authority to work is the same process as any other commercial door repair job we do.
Locked out of a cabinet or locker?
If an employee has left with the only key, or a locker has been locked with no record of whose it is, we open it without damage where possible, then fit a new lock so the old key is useless. Contents are left for your staff to deal with; we do not handle anything inside.
We ask for confirmation from someone with authority over the furniture, such as the office manager or facilities lead. If the problem is bigger than a cabinet, for example the office door itself, our business locksmith team handles lockouts from £89 to £129. For a single shop that has lost its keys entirely, our guide on what to do if you lose your shop key sets out the first steps.
Planning a locker or cabinet lock changeover
For a smooth changeover, count how many locks you have, take a sample photo of each type, and decide which key system you want before we arrive. Give us a list of which user gets which key number, and we label the keys to match.
Keep a key register and a sealed spare of each key in a key cabinet. That one habit saves most future call outs. Extra keys cost £8 to £25 each. Every visit ends with an itemised invoice listing each lock and key, which helps with audits and asset records. Our wider list of locksmith services covers doors, closers and fire exits if you want them looked at on the same day.
Cam lock prices for businesses
Prices include VAT and labour, with the locks listed separately, and the total is agreed before work begins.
| Service | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Cabinet and drawer locks | £59 to £95 + lock | Lockers, pedestals, filing cabinets, display cases |
| Mailbox lock (open or change) | £59 to £89 + lock | Communal and individual post boxes |
| Master key system | £195 to £395 design + £45 per lock | Manager key across locker banks or a whole site |
| Office or shop lockout | £89 to £129 | If the room itself is locked as well |
| Extra keys | £8 to £25 per key | Spares for key registers |
Prices include VAT and labour. Parts are listed separately. See the full Oxford locksmith price list.
