Rubbermaid 50 gal tote size
- Length, lid on
- 43"
- Width across the lid rim
- 21 3/4"
- Height with lid
- 17 7/8"
- Capacity
- 50 gal
- Sold at
- Walmart, Ace Hardware
- Colors
- Dark indigo
- Sizes from
- Store and maker listings: measure one of yours before you cut
The largest Roughneck. Farm and Fleet lists it 21 1/4" wide and Canadian Tire 21 3/4", so these plans use the wider figure: measure across the rim of yours before you cut, because that half inch moves the runners.
A 3×3 rack for Rubbermaid 50 gal totes
It holds 9 totes (450 gallons) and stands 73 1/2" wide, 43" deep and 61 5/8" 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.
- 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 | 58 5/8" | Vertical posts |
| Rails | 4 | 2x4 SPF | 73 1/2" | Horizontal full-width members (top/bottom x front/back) |
| Runners | 18 | 2x4 SPF | 43" | Front-to-back tote supports |
| Spacer Blocks | 2 | 2x4 SPF | 15 7/8" | 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: 22 5/8"
- Row 3 (bottom): 42"
Posts 22 1/2" apart leave 19 1/2" between the two runners of a bay, so the 21 3/4" rim rests on 1 1/8" of each. Cut the two spacer blocks to 15 7/8": 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 50 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 58 5/8", 4 rails at 73 1/2", 18 runners at 43" and 2 spacer blocks at 15 7/8", 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 19 3/8" 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 (15 7/8") 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 22 1/2" between posts, so the runners of each bay are 19 1/2" 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 3/4" 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 50 gal's 43" length and 21 3/4" rim width, so build this rack for these totes only, or measure the others first.
Other 50 gallon totes are a different size and need their own rack: Commander 50 gal, Hyper Tough 50 gal wheeled, Brightroom 50 gal, Sterilite 50 gal.
FAQ
What size is the Rubbermaid 50 gal tote?
43" long, 21 3/4" wide across the lid rim and 17 7/8" tall with the lid on, from store listings. It holds 50 gallons and is sold at Walmart and Ace Hardware. Measure one of yours before you cut.
Will a rack for Rubbermaid 50 gal totes fit other 50 gallon totes?
No, not the Commander 50 gal, Hyper Tough 50 gal wheeled, Brightroom 50 gal or Sterilite 50 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 Rubbermaid 50 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 (450 gallons) and stands 73 1/2" wide, 43" deep and 61 5/8" tall.
How far apart are the runners for Rubbermaid 50 gal totes?
Set the posts 22 1/2" apart, so the two runners of a bay are 19 1/2" apart and the 21 3/4" rim rests on 1 1/8" of each. Each row sits 19 3/8" above the last: the tote's 17 7/8" 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