Tough Box 27 gal tote size
- Length, lid on
- 30 7/8"
- Width across the lid rim
- 20 1/2"
- Height with lid
- 14 5/8"
- Capacity
- 27 gal
- Sold at
- Tractor Supply, Walmart, WebstaurantStore
- Colors
- Black, yellow lid; Clear, gray lid
- Sizes from
- Store and maker listings: measure one of yours before you cut
Listings disagree by up to 1/2": Walmart and WebstaurantStore give about 30.9" × 20.3", Tractor Supply rounds to 31" × 21". These plans use 30 7/8" × 20 1/2", close to the Commander 27 gal but not the same, so measure one before you cut.
A 3×3 rack for Tough Box 27 gal totes
It holds 9 totes (243 gallons) and stands 69 3/4" wide, 30 7/8" deep and 51 13/16" 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.
- 16 × 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 | 48 13/16" | Vertical posts |
| Rails | 4 | 2x4 SPF | 69 3/4" | Horizontal full-width members (top/bottom x front/back) |
| Runners | 18 | 2x4 SPF | 30 7/8" | Front-to-back tote supports |
| Spacer Blocks | 2 | 2x4 SPF | 12 5/8" | 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: 19 3/8"
- Row 3 (bottom): 35 7/16"
Posts 21 1/4" apart leave 18 1/4" between the two runners of a bay, so the 20 1/2" rim rests on 1 1/8" of each. Cut the two spacer blocks to 12 5/8": stood on one runner, a block sets the next one.
Step by step
Buy the lumber and screws
For a 3×3 rack of Tough Box 27 gal totes: 16 2x4s 8 ft long, 104 2-1/2" screws and 2 angle brackets for the wall studs.
Cut every piece
Cut 8 legs at 48 13/16", 4 rails at 69 3/4", 18 runners at 30 7/8" and 2 spacer blocks at 12 5/8", 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 16 1/8" 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 (12 5/8") 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 21 1/4" between posts, so the runners of each bay are 18 1/4" 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 20 1/2" 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 Tough Box 27 gal's 30 7/8" length and 20 1/2" rim width, so build this rack for these totes only, or measure the others first.
Other 27 gallon totes are a different size and need their own rack: HDX 27 gal, Commander 27 gal, Greenmade 27 gal, Member's Mark 27 gal, Hyper Tough 27 gal, Brightroom 27 gal, Sterilite 27 gal.
FAQ
What size is the Tough Box 27 gal tote?
30 7/8" long, 20 1/2" wide across the lid rim and 14 5/8" tall with the lid on, from store listings. It holds 27 gallons and is sold at Tractor Supply, Walmart and WebstaurantStore. Measure one of yours before you cut.
Will a rack for Tough Box 27 gal totes fit other 27 gallon totes?
No, not the HDX 27 gal, Commander 27 gal, Greenmade 27 gal, Member's Mark 27 gal, Hyper Tough 27 gal, Brightroom 27 gal or Sterilite 27 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 Tough Box 27 gal totes take?
16 2x4s 8 ft long, plus 104 2-1/2" screws and 2 angle brackets for the wall studs. It holds 9 totes (243 gallons) and stands 69 3/4" wide, 30 7/8" deep and 51 13/16" tall.
How far apart are the runners for Tough Box 27 gal totes?
Set the posts 21 1/4" apart, so the two runners of a bay are 18 1/4" apart and the 20 1/2" rim rests on 1 1/8" of each. Each row sits 16 1/8" above the last: the tote's 14 5/8" 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
HDX The Home Depot
Commander Lowe's
Greenmade Costco
Member's Mark Sam's Club
Hyper Tough Walmart
Tough Box Tractor Supply, Walmart
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