Rubbermaid 18 gal tote size
- Length, lid on
- 23 7/8"
- Width across the lid rim
- 15 7/8"
- Height with lid
- 16 3/8"
- Capacity
- 18 gal
- Sold at
- Walmart, Lowe's, The Home Depot, Ace Hardware, Amazon
- Colors
- Dark indigo; Heritage blue
- Sizes from
- Store and maker listings: measure one of yours before you cut
The Roughneck is the premium national brand, taller for its footprint than most store totes. We found no builder measurements of its rim, so measure one before you cut.
A 3×3 rack for Rubbermaid 18 gal totes
It holds 9 totes (162 gallons) and stands 55 7/8" wide, 23 7/8" deep and 57 1/8" 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.
- 14 × 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 1/8" | Vertical posts |
| Rails | 4 | 2x4 SPF | 55 7/8" | Horizontal full-width members (top/bottom x front/back) |
| Runners | 18 | 2x4 SPF | 23 7/8" | Front-to-back tote supports |
| Spacer Blocks | 2 | 2x4 SPF | 14 3/8" | 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 1/8"
- Row 3 (bottom): 39"
Posts 16 5/8" apart leave 13 5/8" between the two runners of a bay, so the 15 7/8" rim rests on 1 1/8" of each. Cut the two spacer blocks to 14 3/8": stood on one runner, a block sets the next one.
Step by step
Buy the lumber and screws
For a 3×3 rack of Rubbermaid 18 gal totes: 14 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 1/8", 4 rails at 55 7/8", 18 runners at 23 7/8" and 2 spacer blocks at 14 3/8", 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 17 7/8" 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 3/8") 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 16 5/8" between posts, so the runners of each bay are 13 5/8" 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 15 7/8" rim rests on 1 1/8" of each runner. Heaviest totes at the bottom.
Totes that fit the same rack
These totes share the Rubbermaid 18 gal's length and rim width and are no taller, so they hang on the same runners:
- Rubbermaid 10 gal - 23 7/8 × 15 7/8 × 8 7/8 in
- Rubbermaid 14 gal - 23 7/8 × 15 7/8 × 12 1/4 in
Other 18 gallon totes are a different size and need their own rack: Brightroom 18 gal, Sterilite 18 gal.
FAQ
What size is the Rubbermaid 18 gal tote?
23 7/8" long, 15 7/8" wide across the lid rim and 16 3/8" tall with the lid on, from store listings. It holds 18 gallons and is sold at Walmart, Lowe's, The Home Depot, Ace Hardware and Amazon. Measure one of yours before you cut.
Will a rack for Rubbermaid 18 gal totes fit other 18 gallon totes?
No, not the Brightroom 18 gal or Sterilite 18 gal: they are a different size, so pick them in the configurator for a rack that fits.
Will other totes fit a rack for Rubbermaid 18 gal totes?
Yes for the Rubbermaid 10 gal and Rubbermaid 14 gal: they have the same length and rim width and are no taller, so they hang on the same runners.
How much lumber does a 3×3 rack for Rubbermaid 18 gal totes take?
14 2x4s 8 ft long, plus 104 2-1/2" screws and 2 angle brackets for the wall studs. It holds 9 totes (162 gallons) and stands 55 7/8" wide, 23 7/8" deep and 57 1/8" tall.
How far apart are the runners for Rubbermaid 18 gal totes?
Set the posts 16 5/8" apart, so the two runners of a bay are 13 5/8" apart and the 15 7/8" rim rests on 1 1/8" of each. Each row sits 17 7/8" above the last: the tote's 16 3/8" 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