DIY Tote Storage Rack (Free Configurator + Plans)
Quick build: A DIY tote storage rack for 16 HDX 27 gallon totes (4 wide, 4 tall) takes 22 2x4s, 176 construction screws and two Simpson Strong-Tie A21Z angles: about $128 at Home Depot in October 2026, or $8 a tote. Each tote hangs by its rim on a pair of 2×4 runners, so there are no shelves to build. The free tote rack designer below sizes it to your totes and emails you the plans as a PDF. Documented by Jamison Rantz, October 2026.
Totes are great until you need the one on the bottom of the stack. Then it’s five totes on the garage floor and a bigger mess than when you started.
This rack fixes that. Every tote hangs by its rim on its own pair of 2×4 runners, so any one of them slides out without touching the others. No shelves, no plywood. Just 2x4s and screws.
I built the designer below so you don’t have to do the math. Tell it your totes and how many you want, and it works out the size, the cut list, what to buy and every build step. When it looks right, it’ll email you the full plans as a PDF. Free.
Design Your Tote Storage Rack
Pick your totes, then the columns and rows. Everything updates as you go: the 3D view, the cut list, the cost and the step by step build. Prices are Home Depot’s, but tap any one to use your store’s.
Design a 2x4 rack where every tote slides out like a drawer. You get the frame sized to the sixteenth, a 3D model you can spin, the cut list, a board-by-board cut map, the cost and the build steps. Built around the HDX 27 and 14 gallon Tough Totes, or measure your own.
Your rack
Sizes change by whole column or whole row, never half a row: that keeps every runner level and every cut the same length.
Fit my wall
Leaves 12 in over the rack to lift the top tote out.
Your tote
Measure one tote with the lid on. B and D are optional: leave them blank and we estimate them, but measured is a sure fit.
Inches, decimals OK (19.625 = 19-5/8). A and B across the short end; lengths along the long side.
Rather have it on wheels? See the mobile tote workbench ↓
Loading the 3D view…
Drag to turn it around.
Totes stick out 1-1/4″ past the frame (so a post and a runner come out of one 8 ft 2x4: 22 2x4s instead of 25 with full-length runners).
- Rim rests on each runner 1-1/8″ each side (need 1/2″)
- Rim clears the posts 3/8″ each side (need 1/8″)
- Room between tote and runners 1/8″ each side
- Fits under the ceiling, with room to lift the top tote out overall height 71-1/2″
Build it in 5 steps
4 wide × 4 tall · 16 totes · 46 cuts from 22 2x4s · 176 screws
Buy and cut the lumber
46 cuts from 22 2x4s. Cut everything first and label each piece with tape (post, runner, connector), so assembly is just screwing labelled parts together.
- Sight down each 2x4 at the store and leave the twisted ones.
- Cut the longest pieces first; the cut map below says which cuts come from which board.
Shopping list
| 22× | 2x4 × 8 ft | $93.50 | |
| 3× | Box of 87 · 2-1/2 in construction screws (1 lb box) 176 screws: 168 for the frame (2 per joint) + 8 for the angles | $32.91 | |
| 2× | Simpson Strong-Tie A21Z angle Anchors the top to the wall studs | $1.96 | |
| 16× | HDX 27 gal Tough Tote | $159.68 | |
| Estimated total | $288.05 |
Home Depot online, Oct 2026. Prices vary by store: tap any price to use yours.
Cut list
| Part | Stock | Length | Qty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connector | 2x4 | 89″ | 4 |
| Post | 2x4 | 68-1/2″ | 10 |
| Runner | 2x4 | 27-1/4″ | 32 |
- Between posts
- 20-3/8″
- Between runners
- 17-3/8″
- Runner to runner, same tote
- 17″
- Cuts
- 46
- Waste
- 9%
Cut map: what to cut from each board
The cheapest mix of board lengths at the prices above. Change a price and the map may change; the cut lengths never do.
Build 5 ladders
A ladder is a front post and a back post with runners screwed across them as rungs. Each tote's rim rides on the top edge of a pair of runners.
- 2 × end ladder (runners on the inside face only): mark each 68-1/2″ post from its bottom end at 14-1/2″, 31-1/2″, 48-1/2″, 65-1/2″. Set the top edge of each runner on its mark, flush with the outside faces of both posts. Build the two end ladders as mirror images.
- 3 × middle ladder (runners on both faces): mark each 68-1/2″ post from its bottom end at 14-1/2″, 31-1/2″, 48-1/2″, 65-1/2″. Set the top edge of each runner on its mark, flush with the outside faces of both posts.
- Two screws through each runner end into the post. Square each ladder on a flat floor before the last screws.
Runner ends on one side of the post only, the side facing into the rack. The other end ladder is its mirror image.
Runner ends on both sides of the post: a tote hangs on each side of a middle ladder.
Stand them up and tie them together
Stand the ladders 20-3/8″ apart, post to post, so each tote's rim lands on its runners.
- Screw the four 89″ connectors across, flat: one under the front posts and one under the back posts, then the same on top. Two screws per post at each connector.
- Measure both diagonals; when they match, the rack is square.
- The totes stick out 1-1/4″ past the front: that's what lets a post and a runner come out of one 8 ft 2x4.
Anchor it to the wall studs
Do this before any totes go in. Push the rack against the wall and find the studs behind its top (usually 16 in apart).
- Fasten at least 2 Simpson Strong-Tie A21Z angles at the top, one near each end: the 1-1/2″ leg flat on the back connector, the 2″ leg up the wall on a stud.
- Two of the 2-1/2 in construction screws in each leg: 2 down into the rack, 2 into the stud.
Load it
Heavy totes on the bottom rows, light and seasonal ones up top. Slide each tote in by its rim; it should run on the runners with a little play each side.
Email me these plans
The whole build as a printable PDF, sized to your rack: the shopping list, cut list, cut map and every step with its drawings. Print it for the shop, or pull it up on your phone at the store.
Rather have it on wheels? The mobile tote workbench
The same slide-out totes, built into a rolling workbench: 27 gallon totes below, 14 gallon on top, a 3/4 in plywood work top, on 2 in casters. Shown with 3 bays: 67-1/8″ wide, 28-1/2″ deep, the top at 37-15/16″, 6 totes.
The plans are on the way, in several sizes. Leave your email and you'll hear the day they're out.
Why Build Your Own Tote Rack
Metal tote racks work. You just pay for them. Home Depot lists the Husky 10-tote metal rack at $159. A 2×4 rack that holds 12 of the same totes costs about $92 in lumber and screws.
Lumber and screws only, at Home Depot online prices in October 2026. Totes are extra either way (the HDX 27 gallon is $9.98).
The bigger win is fit. You pick the columns to fill your wall and the rows to fit under your ceiling, and the designer checks there’s still a foot of room above the top tote to lift it out.
27 Gallon Tote Dimensions and Rack Sizing
Everything on this rack is sized off the tote’s rim, so here are the totes I measured:
| Tote | Rim (L × W) | Height with lid | Body below the rim |
|---|---|---|---|
| HDX 27 gal Tough Tote | 28-1/2″ × 19-5/8″ | 15-3/8″ | 26″ × 17-1/8″ |
| HDX 14 gal Tough Tote | 28-1/2″ × 19-5/8″ | 10-3/8″ | 26″ × 17-1/8″ |
From those numbers:
- Depth: slid in straight (long side front to back), a rack for 27 gallon totes is 27-1/4″ deep and the totes stick out 1-1/4″ past the front posts. Turned sideways, it’s 18-3/8″ deep.
- Row height: each row of 27 gallon totes takes 17″: the tote’s 15-3/8″ plus 1-5/8″ to lift it over the runner. A row of 14 gallon totes takes 12″.
- Bay width: 20-3/8″ between posts. The tote body drops between the runners with 1/8″ of play each side, the rim sits on 1-1/8″ of runner, and it clears the posts by 3/8″.
Other brands’ 27 gallon totes aren’t the same size just because the gallons match. If yours aren’t HDX, measure the rim length and width, the height with the lid on and how far the body hangs below the rim, then pick “Your own tote (measure it)” in the designer. It redoes the whole rack around them.
Runners vs Shelves, Straight vs Sideways
Shelves hold totes too, but every shelf is a level of plywood you have to buy, and you lose the space between each lid and the shelf above it. Hanging the totes by their rims means the whole rack is a row of 2×4 ladders, and the rows pack 17″ apart.
Then pick a direction:
- Straight in fits the most totes per foot of wall, about 22″ a column. A 4 × 4 rack is 89″ wide and 27-1/4″ deep.
- Sideways is the one for a tight garage where depth matters more than width. The same 16 totes need 124-1/2″ of wall but only 18-3/8″ of depth, and you see the long side of every tote (handy if you label them).
Mixing Tote Sizes by Row or Column
The HDX 14 and 27 gallon totes share the same rim, so they hang on the same runners. Only the row height changes. That makes mixing easy:
- A row of a different tote. Put a row of 14 gallon totes across the top of a 4 × 4 rack of 27s and you get 20 totes on the same 89″ of wall, 83-1/2″ tall, for about $154 in lumber and screws.
- A different tote per column. Give each column its own tote and its own number of rows. Short totes for small parts on one side, the big ones for holiday stuff on the other.
Both are under “Mix in another size” in the designer, and your own measured tote works in a mix too.
Materials and Cut List
Here’s the shopping list for the 4 wide × 4 tall rack of HDX 27 gallon totes. The designer makes the exact list for yours.
The cuts for that rack: 10 posts at 68-1/2″, 32 runners at 27-1/4″ and 4 connectors at 89″. A post and a runner come out of one 8 ft 2×4 with almost nothing left over, which is why the totes stick out 1-1/4″ past the front. The designer’s cut map shows which cuts come from which board.
How to Build a Tote Storage Rack
These are the steps for the 4 × 4 rack. Every step in the designer above is drawn for your rack, with the marks for your totes.
Buy and Cut the Lumber
Sight down each 2×4 at the store and leave the twisted ones. A bowed post pulls the runners out of line and the totes start to bind.
Cut all 46 pieces first, longest first, and label each one with a strip of tape (post, runner, connector). Then assembly is just screwing labelled parts together.
Build the Ladders
A ladder is a front post and a back post with runners screwed across them as rungs. Each tote’s rim rides on the top edges of a pair of runners. A 4 wide rack takes 5 ladders: 2 end ladders with runners on the inside face only, and 3 middle ladders with runners on both faces (the middle ones carry a tote on each side).
Mark each 68-1/2″ post from its bottom end at 14-1/2″, 31-1/2″, 48-1/2″ and 65-1/2″. Set the top edge of each runner on its mark, flush with the outside faces of both posts, and drive two screws through each runner end into the post. Build the two end ladders as mirror images.
Stand Them Up and Tie Them Together
Stand the ladders 20-3/8″ apart, post to post, so each tote’s rim lands on its runners. Screw the four 89″ connectors across, flat: one under the front posts and one under the back posts, then the same on top. Two screws per post at each connector.
Measure both diagonals. When they match, the rack is square.
Anchor It to the Wall Studs
Do this before any totes go in. Push the rack against the wall and find the studs behind its top (usually 16″ apart).
Fasten at least 2 Simpson Strong-Tie A21Z angles at the top, one near each end: the 1-1/2″ leg flat on the back connector, the 2″ leg up the wall on a stud. Two of the same 2-1/2″ construction screws in each leg, two down into the rack and two into the stud.
Load It
Heavy totes on the bottom rows, light and seasonal ones up top. Slide each tote in by its rim. It should run on the runners with a little play on each side.
How Much Weight a Tote Rack Holds
More than your totes will. Each tote hangs on two runners, and each runner has two 2-1/2″ construction screws at each end, so every tote is carried by eight screws. The posts take all of it straight down to the floor.
The real limit is the tote. It hangs by a plastic rim, so don’t pack one so heavy you can’t lift it down safely from over your head. Tools, paint and books go on the bottom rows. Holiday decorations go up top.
And anchor it before you load it. A tall rack full of totes is top heavy, and a tote yanked out hard (or a kid climbing it) can pull it over.
Free Tote Storage Rack Plans PDF
When your rack looks right, hit “Email me the PDF” under the build steps in the designer. You’ll get a PDF of the full plan for your exact rack: the cut list, the shopping list, the cut map, a drawing of every ladder with its runner marks, and each build step.
It’s the same format as the paid plans in my shop, it costs nothing, and it’s built to print and take out to the garage. You’ll also get my newsletter (new builds and free plans). Unsubscribe anytime.
More Garage Storage
- Totes plus a workbench: the Storage Shelving with Workstation plans put 27 gallon totes on shelves with a work surface built in. Here’s how I built that one.
- Bulk storage: the Heavy Duty Storage Unit plans for big, heavy stuff, and the Mobile Storage Shelves plans if it needs to roll.
- A rolling tote workbench: I’m finishing plans for a mobile workbench that stores totes underneath. Join the waitlist under the designer and I’ll send you one email the day they’re out.
Or browse all my garage and home organization plans.
Tote Storage Rack FAQ
How deep should a tote storage rack be?
For HDX 27 gallon totes slid in straight, 27-1/4″ deep, with the totes sticking out 1-1/4″ past the front posts. Turned sideways, 18-3/8″ deep. For other totes, the depth follows the rim length: put yours in the free designer above and it sizes the rack.
How much does it cost to build a tote storage rack?
About $128 in lumber and screws for 16 HDX 27 gallon totes (4 wide, 4 tall): 22 2x4s, three boxes of 2-1/2″ construction screws and two Simpson A21Z angles, at Home Depot prices in October 2026. That’s about $8 a tote. A 12 tote rack is about $92. The totes are extra, $9.98 each for the HDX 27 gallon.
How much weight can a tote rack hold?
More than the totes. Every tote hangs on two 2×4 runners held by eight construction screws, and the posts carry the load to the floor. The limit is the tote’s plastic rim, so keep the heavy totes on the bottom rows and anchor the rack to the wall studs before you load it.
What are the dimensions of a 27 gallon tote?
The HDX 27 gallon Tough Tote from Home Depot measures 28-1/2″ × 19-5/8″ at the rim and 15-3/8″ tall with the lid on (I measured them). Other brands’ 27 gallon totes are a different size, so measure the rim of yours before you build.
Can you mix tote sizes on one rack?
Yes. HDX 14 and 27 gallon totes share the same rim, so they hang on the same runners and only the row height changes (12″ for a 14 gallon row, 17″ for a 27). The designer can put a row of a different tote anywhere in the rack, or give each column its own tote and number of rows.
Do I need to anchor a tote rack to the wall?
Yes. A tall rack full of totes is top heavy. Two Simpson Strong-Tie A21Z angles at the top, screwed into the wall studs with the same 2-1/2″ screws as the rest of the rack, keep it from tipping when you pull a tote out.
Your Move
Design yours, grab the PDF and knock it out in a Saturday. Then post a picture of it in the comments. I want to see how many totes you got on that wall.
And if the designer gets something wrong for your totes or your garage, hit the feedback button under it and tell me. That’s how it gets better.
