Sterilite 18 gal tote size
- Length, lid on
- 23 1/2"
- Width across the lid rim
- 18 3/8"
- Height with lid
- 16 1/8"
- Capacity
- 18 gal
- Sold at
- Walmart, Ace Hardware
- Colors
- Cement gray; Blue
- Sizes from
- Store and maker listings: measure one of yours before you cut
This is Sterilite's plain 18 gal Tote (model 1731, cement gray or blue), listed at 23 1/2" × 18 3/8" × 16 1/8" with a snap-on lid and no latches. The 18 gal Tuff1 Latching Tote is a different box: with latches, it won't hang on runners.
A 3×3 rack for Sterilite 18 gal totes
It holds 9 totes (162 gallons) and stands 63 3/8" wide, 23 1/2" deep and 56 3/8" 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 | 53 3/8" | Vertical posts |
| Rails | 4 | 2x4 SPF | 63 3/8" | Horizontal full-width members (top/bottom x front/back) |
| Runners | 18 | 2x4 SPF | 23 1/2" | Front-to-back tote supports |
| Spacer Blocks | 2 | 2x4 SPF | 14 1/8" | 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: 20 7/8"
- Row 3 (bottom): 38 1/2"
Posts 19 1/8" apart leave 16 1/8" between the two runners of a bay, so the 18 3/8" rim rests on 1 1/8" of each. Cut the two spacer blocks to 14 1/8": stood on one runner, a block sets the next one.
Step by step
Buy the lumber and screws
For a 3×3 rack of Sterilite 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 53 3/8", 4 rails at 63 3/8", 18 runners at 23 1/2" and 2 spacer blocks at 14 1/8", 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 5/8" 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 1/8") 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 19 1/8" between posts, so the runners of each bay are 16 1/8" 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 18 3/8" 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 Sterilite 18 gal's 23 1/2" length and 18 3/8" rim width, so build this rack for these totes only, or measure the others first.
Other 18 gallon totes are a different size and need their own rack: Brightroom 18 gal, Rubbermaid 18 gal.
FAQ
What size is the Sterilite 18 gal tote?
23 1/2" long, 18 3/8" wide across the lid rim and 16 1/8" tall with the lid on, from store listings. It holds 18 gallons and is sold at Walmart and Ace Hardware. Measure one of yours before you cut.
Will a rack for Sterilite 18 gal totes fit other 18 gallon totes?
No, not the Brightroom 18 gal or Rubbermaid 18 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 Sterilite 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 63 3/8" wide, 23 1/2" deep and 56 3/8" tall.
How far apart are the runners for Sterilite 18 gal totes?
Set the posts 19 1/8" apart, so the two runners of a bay are 16 1/8" apart and the 18 3/8" rim rests on 1 1/8" of each. Each row sits 17 5/8" above the last: the tote's 16 1/8" 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