Commander 40 gal tote size
- Length, lid on
- 38 3/16"
- Width across the lid rim
- 22"
- Height with lid
- 16 1/2"
- Capacity
- 40 gal
- Sold at
- Lowe's
- Colors
- Black, yellow lid
- Sizes from
- Store and maker listings: measure one of yours before you cut
Lowe's, Sam's Club, Walmart and Tractor Supply all list their 40 gal totes at about 38.2" × 22", likely one mold, but heights run from 16.4" to 16.94". It has the same dual-snap lid as the Commander 27; nobody has measured its rim.
A 3×3 rack for Commander 40 gal totes
It holds 9 totes (360 gallons) and stands 74 1/4" wide, 38 3/16" deep and 57 1/2" tall against a wall, with an open top. Change the layout in the configurator above; the numbers on this page are for the 3×3.
- 17 × 2x4 × 8 ft
- 104 × 2-1/2" screws
- 2 angle brackets to fix it to the wall studs
Cut list
| Part | Qty | Stock | Cut to (length × width) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legs | 8 | 2x4 SPF | 54 1/2" | Vertical posts |
| Rails | 4 | 2x4 SPF | 74 1/4" | Horizontal full-width members (top/bottom x front/back) |
| Runners | 18 | 2x4 SPF | 38 3/16" | Front-to-back tote supports |
| Spacer Blocks | 2 | 2x4 SPF | 14 1/2" | Assembly jig for row spacing (reuse during build) |
Ladder layout
Every leg gets the same marks. Measure down from the top end of the leg to the top edge of each runner:
- Row 1 (top): 3 1/4"
- Row 2: 21 1/4"
- Row 3 (bottom): 39 1/4"
Posts 22 3/4" apart leave 19 3/4" between the two runners of a bay, so the 22" rim rests on 1 1/8" of each. Cut the two spacer blocks to 14 1/2": stood on one runner, a block sets the next one.
Step by step
Buy the lumber and screws
For a 3×3 rack of Commander 40 gal totes: 17 2x4s 8 ft long, 104 2-1/2" screws and 2 angle brackets for the wall studs.
Cut every piece
Cut 8 legs at 54 1/2", 4 rails at 74 1/4", 18 runners at 38 3/16" and 2 spacer blocks at 14 1/2", as in the cut list. A stop block on your saw keeps identical parts identical.
Mark the ladder layout
On one leg, mark the top edge of the top runner 3 1/4" down from the top end, then a mark every 18" below it. Square the marks across and copy them onto all 8 legs.
Build the leg pairs
Screw a runner across a front and a back leg on every mark, with two 2-1/2" screws at each end; a spacer block (14 1/2") standing on one runner sets the next. The middle pairs get runners on both faces, the two end pairs on their inside face only.
Join the pairs with the rails
Stand the pairs on the two bottom rails with 22 3/4" between posts, so the runners of each bay are 19 3/4" apart, and screw the two top rails across the top ends of the legs.
Fix it to the wall and load it
Screw two angle brackets from the top back rail into two wall studs, then slide the totes in with their lids on: the 22" rim rests on 1 1/8" of each runner. Heaviest totes at the bottom.
Totes that fit the same rack
These totes share the Commander 40 gal's length and rim width and are no taller, so they hang on the same runners:
- Member's Mark 40 gal - 38 3/16 × 22 × 16 1/2 in
- Hyper Tough 40 gal - 38 3/16 × 22 × 16 1/2 in
Same length and rim width, but too tall for this rack's rows: Tough Box 40 gal (16 15/16" tall). To store them together, build the rack for the tallest one: the Commander 40 gal then hangs in its bays with room to spare above.
Other 40 gallon totes are a different size and need their own rack: HDX 40 gal, HDX 40 gal wheeled, Commander 40 gal rolling, Tough Box 40 gal mobile, Rubbermaid 40 gal.
FAQ
What size is the Commander 40 gal tote?
38 3/16" long, 22" wide across the lid rim and 16 1/2" tall with the lid on, from store listings. It holds 40 gallons and is sold at Lowe's. Measure one of yours before you cut.
Will a rack for Commander 40 gal totes fit other 40 gallon totes?
Yes for the Member's Mark 40 gal and Hyper Tough 40 gal: they have the same length and rim width and are no taller, so they hang on the same runners. The Tough Box 40 gal has the same length and rim width but stands 16 15/16" tall against this tote's 16 1/2", so it runs into the row above. To store both, build the rack for the tallest tote: the shorter ones hang in its bays with room to spare. Not the HDX 40 gal, HDX 40 gal wheeled, Commander 40 gal rolling, Tough Box 40 gal mobile or Rubbermaid 40 gal: they are a different size, so pick them in the configurator for a rack that fits.
How much lumber does a 3×3 rack for Commander 40 gal totes take?
17 2x4s 8 ft long, plus 104 2-1/2" screws and 2 angle brackets for the wall studs. It holds 9 totes (360 gallons) and stands 74 1/4" wide, 38 3/16" deep and 57 1/2" tall.
How far apart are the runners for Commander 40 gal totes?
Set the posts 22 3/4" apart, so the two runners of a bay are 19 3/4" apart and the 22" rim rests on 1 1/8" of each. Each row sits 18" above the last: the tote's 16 1/2" height plus a 1 1/2" gap to slide it out.
Build it, guided every step
The Fixie iOS app turns this plan into a customized build for your exact space - pick your dimensions, get an auto-generated cut list, order materials in one tap, and follow the steps with 3D previews. Have something else in mind? Describe it or snap a photo and Fixie will design your own build from scratch - your first design is free.
Download Fixie on the App StoreTote rack plans for other totes
All tote rack plans and the 3D configurator