Rubbermaid 40 gal tote size
- Length, lid on
- 36 7/8"
- Width across the lid rim
- 21 3/16"
- Height with lid
- 18 5/16"
- Capacity
- 40 gal
- Sold at
- The Home Depot, Ace Hardware
- Colors
- Dark indigo
- Sizes from
- Store and maker listings: measure one of yours before you cut
Three listings agree on 36 7/8" × 21 3/16" × 18 5/16" for the snap-lid Roughneck Jumbo. The 2-pack Home Depot sells has hinged lids on the same body: check that the hinges clear the runners.
A 3×3 rack for Rubbermaid 40 gal totes
It holds 9 totes (360 gallons) and stands 71 13/16" wide, 36 7/8" deep and 62 15/16" 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.
- 21 × 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 | 59 15/16" | Vertical posts |
| Rails | 4 | 2x4 SPF | 71 13/16" | Horizontal full-width members (top/bottom x front/back) |
| Runners | 18 | 2x4 SPF | 36 7/8" | Front-to-back tote supports |
| Spacer Blocks | 2 | 2x4 SPF | 16 5/16" | 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: 23 1/16"
- Row 3 (bottom): 42 7/8"
Posts 21 15/16" apart leave 18 15/16" between the two runners of a bay, so the 21 3/16" rim rests on 1 1/8" of each. Cut the two spacer blocks to 16 5/16": 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 40 gal totes: 21 2x4s 8 ft long, 104 2-1/2" screws and 2 angle brackets for the wall studs.
Cut every piece
Cut 8 legs at 59 15/16", 4 rails at 71 13/16", 18 runners at 36 7/8" and 2 spacer blocks at 16 5/16", 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 19 13/16" 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 (16 5/16") 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 21 15/16" between posts, so the runners of each bay are 18 15/16" 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 21 3/16" rim rests on 1 1/8" of each runner. Heaviest totes at the bottom.
Totes that fit the same rack
No other tote in our list shares the Rubbermaid 40 gal's 36 7/8" length and 21 3/16" rim width, so build this rack for these totes only, or measure the others first.
Other 40 gallon totes are a different size and need their own rack: HDX 40 gal, HDX 40 gal wheeled, Commander 40 gal, Commander 40 gal rolling, Member's Mark 40 gal, Hyper Tough 40 gal, Tough Box 40 gal, Tough Box 40 gal mobile.
FAQ
What size is the Rubbermaid 40 gal tote?
36 7/8" long, 21 3/16" wide across the lid rim and 18 5/16" tall with the lid on, from store listings. It holds 40 gallons and is sold at The Home Depot and Ace Hardware. Measure one of yours before you cut.
Will a rack for Rubbermaid 40 gal totes fit other 40 gallon totes?
No, not the HDX 40 gal, HDX 40 gal wheeled, Commander 40 gal, Commander 40 gal rolling, Member's Mark 40 gal, Hyper Tough 40 gal, Tough Box 40 gal or Tough Box 40 gal mobile: 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 Rubbermaid 40 gal totes take?
21 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 71 13/16" wide, 36 7/8" deep and 62 15/16" tall.
How far apart are the runners for Rubbermaid 40 gal totes?
Set the posts 21 15/16" apart, so the two runners of a bay are 18 15/16" apart and the 21 3/16" rim rests on 1 1/8" of each. Each row sits 19 13/16" above the last: the tote's 18 5/16" 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