Shelf, cabinet, or under-bed storage
Storage Bin
Fit Calculator
Enter each bin’s exterior dimensions and the space you have. The calculator tests several arrangements, shows what fits, and flags the measurements you still need for removal.
Start with an example. Each space keeps your edits.
02 Your storage bins
Add the bins you want to use. Measure each one’s exterior, including its lid and handles.
Duplicate copies the measurements into a new, independently editable bin.
Spacing & layout0.5 in gaps · one row · no stacking
Edge allowance applies at the left, right, front and back. The example’s 0.5 in gap is a choice; use the clearance you need.
Opening & accessOptional measurements · needed to check retrieval
Measure the narrowest opening with doors open, including hinges. Add each bin’s pull-out and lid measurements in its card.
Working around an obstacle?Use one clear rectangular zone at a time
For a pipe, bed leg or sloped back, measure a rectangle that avoids it. Plan separate zones individually without counting a bin twice.
Calculated arrangement
All 3 bins fit in this arrangement.
Front view · width & height
- Width left
- 2 in
- Depth left
- 2 in
- Headroom
- 2 in
For the placed bins. Remaining space includes reserved allowances.
Access still needs checking
3 placed bins have an unobstructed straight pull-out position; some access measurements are missing or show conflicts. Confirm grips, turns and the actual removal path.
Access details
- Measure both the opening width and height to check individual upright bins.
- Measure the available pull-out space in front.
- 3 bins still need a required pull-out measurement.
- 3 bins still need a lid-clearance measurement; enter 0 only when the lid needs no extra height.
How the calculator checks this arrangement
The calculator places only your configured bins and keeps them upright with the width, depth, and height you entered. The preview numbers match the cards on the left.
The calculator places only your configured bins and never swaps their entered width and depth.
The calculator shows the best arrangement it tested, but it does not guarantee optimal packing. Front access assumes a clear straight removal path.
Save a one-page PDF. The calculator keeps your measurements in this browser.
Measure before you compare
Measure the space you can actually use.
Measure one compartment in three directions, then check the way in. Take your measurements at the tightest points. The Container Store’s space measurement sheet (PDF) records openings, trim, and obstructions alongside the interior.
Shelf
Measure between the sides, front to back, and up to the shelf above. Use the smallest clear measurement if the space varies. Include brackets and any front lip.
Cabinet
Measure the usable interior, then the opening with the door open. Hinges and a center stile can block a bin that otherwise fits inside, so keep door hardware out of the clear zone.
Under the bed
Measure between legs and supports, using the lowest point along the slide-in path. Check the bed rail, floor or rug, and space to pull out. Divide around obstacles into non-overlapping rectangles.
Use the bin’s outside dimensions. Include its widest rim, lid, handles, feet, and wheels. Look for a label like the “Exterior Dimensions” on The Container Store’s Multi-Purpose Bins listing. Interior size answers whether your belongings fit inside; liters or quarts cannot establish shelf fit.
Worked shelf example
Three bins fit.
What about a fourth?
Start with three 11 × 16 × 10 in bins in a 36 × 18 × 12 in compartment, with 0.5 in gaps and zero edge allowances.
Their row occupies 34 in: (3 × 11) + (2 × 0.5). There is 2 in to spare across the shelf and above the bins. Add an identical fourth bin and this arrangement still places three, leaving one unplaced. Remove or resize a bin to revise your plan.
Front views · shelf 36 in wide × 12 in high · access still needs checking
What the calculator checks
How the calculator arranges your bins.
Add only the bins you plan to use; each has its own width, depth, and height. Duplicate matching bins or remove one as your plan changes. Enter width across the opening and depth toward the back, in the way you intend to place each bin.
The calculator tries a small set of placement orders while keeping each bin’s entered width and depth. It places only the bins in your list. A bin not placed in this arrangement may fit in another; the search does not guarantee the best possible packing.
Check a row by hand
row width = (n × w) + ((n − 1) × gap) For n identical bins, multiply their width w by the number in the row, then add the gaps between them. Add your left and right allowances to check the total against the space. Check depth and height separately.
Read the limiting dimension
A wide shelf cannot compensate for a bin that is too tall. Check each axis; zero spare space means an exact dimensional fit, with no room for tolerances or handling.
Notice what sits behind
The front view shows width and height; switch to bird’s-eye view to check depth. With one access side, you may need to move front bins before reaching the rear ones. The under-bed example uses both sides, so each outer row pulls out toward its nearest bed edge.
Treat access as its own measurement
An interior fit does not confirm entry, removal, or lid opening, so measure the clear opening and pull-out space separately. The calculator leaves access checks unresolved when those measurements are missing.
From result to purchase
Choose a storage bin size you can actually use.
A bin is a good fit only when its outside fits the space, its inside holds your belongings, and you can retrieve it without dismantling the arrangement. Treat the calculator result as a measured shortlist, then check the exact product and the way you will use it.
Quarts and gallons do not tell you the shape.
Capacity labels describe volume, not the footprint that has to pass through an opening or rest on a shelf. Two bins with the same label can have entirely different shapes. For example, Sterilite sells both products below as 56-quart boxes:
| 56-quart product | Exterior L × W × H | Shape |
|---|---|---|
| Standard storage box | 22⅞ × 16⅝ × 12⅜ in | Shorter footprint, taller body |
| Wheeled under-bed box | 33⅞ × 18¾ × 7 in | Much longer and lower |
We reviewed these manufacturer specifications in September 2026. Recheck the exact model before buying because products and dimensions can change.
Choose the better layout, not simply the highest count.
An exact geometric fit can still be awkward in daily life. Use the result’s direct-access count, spare room, and access messages alongside what the bins will hold and how often you need them.
| What you are storing | What to prioritize | Result to check |
|---|---|---|
| Daily or weekly items | Grip space, lid clearance, and fewer bins to move | Directly accessible bins and access details |
| Seasonal clothing or bedding | Capacity and protection; extra retrieval steps may be acceptable | Multiple rows, pull-out space, and headroom |
| Books, tools, or other dense items | Smaller containers, usable grips, and lower placement | Geometry here; bin and shelf load ratings separately |
| Bulky, lightweight items | Usable interior dimensions and the lid shape | Exterior fit here; item fit against the product specification |
| Under-bed items | The lowest route height, wheels or handles, and usable-side access | Opening, pull-out distance, and access side |
Nothing fits yet? Use the failure reason to change one constraint at a time. A height conflict calls for a lower-profile bin; a width conflict may favor two narrower containers; and a depth conflict may require a shallower model or a separately tested orientation. You can also divide the belongings among smaller bins or calculate separate clear zones around an obstacle. Do not remove intentional clearance merely to increase the count. That unused space may give you the room needed to grip, open, and return a bin.
Before the full set
Test one bin if you can.
- 1.Record the exact product and model, not only its capacity.
- 2.Verify its maximum exterior dimensions with the lid and hardware attached.
- 3.Compare the interior base with your largest rigid item; tapered walls reduce usable room.
- 4.Confirm loaded stack and shelf limits with their manufacturers. A geometric fit is not a load rating.
- 5.Try the opening, pull-out path, grip, lid, and return motion before buying matching multiples.
Fit and access, explained
Questions about bin fit and access.
What size storage bin do I need?
Measure what you plan to keep, then the storage space and its opening. Each bin needs enough usable interior room for your items, while its exterior fits the space. Add the bins you intend to use here, enter each size, and check their arrangement and the path for removing them.
Should I use interior or exterior storage bin dimensions?
Use the maximum exterior width, depth, and height, including the lid, handles, wheels, and feet, when you check furniture fit. Check the interior dimensions to see whether your items fit inside. Liters or quarts describe volume and cannot tell you the bin’s shape, shelf fit, or usable opening.
How do I measure for under-bed storage?
Measure the clear floor area between legs and supports, and the lowest height along the bin’s entire route under the bed. Include wheels and the lid in bin height. The under-bed example places three bins at each of two opposite sides. Check the opening and pull-out space on both sides; switch off two-sided access if a wall or other furniture blocks one side. Calculate separate, non-overlapping zones around obstacles.
Does a bin that fits inside a cabinet always fit through the door?
No. A frame, hinge, door, or center stile can make the opening smaller than the interior. Measure the clear opening with the door in its usable open position. This calculator checks a straight, upright entry; it does not simulate tilting a bin or turning it through a tight opening.
How much gap should I leave between storage bins?
Set the gap wide enough for your grip, the bin’s shape, and the way you will move it. Enter edge allowances separately from the gaps between bins. A zero-clearance result shows a geometric exact fit, but leaves no slack for measurement error or handling.
Can I use different bin sizes or stack duplicates?
Yes. Enter the dimensions for each bin, even when the bins look alike. The calculator stacks only compatible duplicates with matching dimensions and a known added height per loaded bin; confirm that the product supports stacking before you turn on that option. It keeps different bin types in separate stacks, and it does not treat empty nesting height as loaded-stack height or a safe shelf load.
What does “not placed in this arrangement” mean?
The calculator did not find a place for that bin in the arrangements it tested. Another arrangement may still work. Check any dimension conflict, then try removing or resizing a bin, or allowing more rows. The calculator keeps your entered width and depth without swapping them.