Match Your Garage Storage to the Supplies You Use Most
By Kevin Cody | Founder & CEO, FLI Products / Mary Joan Isorena, Communications
Published: October 15, 2026
Heavy-duty storage crates or traditional plastic bins: which makes your garage supplies easier to store, find and use? If every project begins with moving containers and searching for missing lids, the issue may be the storage format rather than a lack of space.
Lidded bins suit belongings that benefit from enclosure. Open crates offer accessible organization for frequently used supplies. Neither is universally better, and a practical garage can use both.
For more organization guidance, visit the CrateMate Hub.
Key Takeaways
- Open crates provide direct access when nothing is stacked above them.
- Lidded bins can reduce exposure to falling dust and debris, but are not automatically waterproof or airtight.
- Durability depends on the actual product, not simply the words crate, bin or HDPE.
- Stackability does not establish a safe stack height, load rating or vehicle restraint.
- Measure shelves and contents before choosing CrateMate 16QT or 24QT.
- Use closed small-parts organizers for items that could fall through grid openings.
Why Garage Containers Become Frustrating
Identical opaque bins can conceal the item you need, while a container at the bottom of a stack requires extra handling. Labels help identification but do not remove the need to unstack and open containers.
Cracking and Bowing Are Product-Specific
Overloading, concentrated weight, inadequate support, impacts, wear and environmental conditions can contribute to damage. Containers vary in construction and intended use. Check their instructions rather than assuming all bins are fragile or every crate is stronger.
Choose Access Around Your Routine
For everyday gloves, measuring tools and project accessories, convenient access may matter more than enclosure. For seasonal belongings, protection from falling dust may be the priority.
When Lidded Plastic Bins Make Sense
Choose suitable lidded bins for holiday decorations, backup supplies and belongings left in storage for months. Clear sides and labels can make identification easier.
An ordinary lid does not establish waterproof, airtight or pest-proof protection. Sensitive items need storage appropriate to their environmental requirements.
When Open Crates Make Sense
Direct Access to Everyday Supplies
An unstacked open crate lets you retrieve supplies without removing a lid. Group related items such as gardening accessories, work gloves or packaged workshop consumables. A crate underneath another crate still requires unstacking.
Visibility and Airflow
Open-grid sides can help you recognize contents, depending on how the crate is loaded. They also admit dust and water. Tiny fasteners may fall through openings, so keep them in suitable closed organizers inside the crate.
Portable Project Categories
A crate can keep a project's supplies together for carrying between storage and a work area. Keep the load within verified product guidance and a weight you can comfortably handle. Secure contents appropriately during vehicle transport; stacking alone is not restraint.
Open Crates vs. Lidded Bins: Side-by-Side
| Feature | Open crates | Lidded bins |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday access | No lid to remove; stacks still need unstacking. | Requires opening the lid and possibly unstacking. |
| Visibility | Open top and grid sides may reveal contents. | Clear bins help; opaque bins benefit from labels. |
| Dust protection | Limited because of open construction. | Usually better against falling dust and debris. |
| Airflow | Open grid allows airflow. | Varies with enclosure design. |
| Durability | Depends on material, construction and use. | Depends on material, construction and use. |
| Stacking | Use only compatible arrangements within verified guidance. | Use only compatible arrangements within verified guidance. |
| Small loose parts | Use suitable closed internal organizers. | Solid walls contain items, but dividers may still help. |
| Moisture protection | Open construction does not keep water out. | A lid alone does not establish waterproofing. |
| Typical use | Frequently accessed groups of supplies. | Belongings that benefit from enclosure. |
What HDPE Does and Does Not Tell You
HDPE means high-density polyethylene. CrateMate uses HDPE construction, but the material name alone does not establish a load rating, extreme-temperature performance or superiority over every bin.
Finished-container performance also depends on wall thickness, reinforcement, geometry, support and loading. Compare actual specifications and instructions, not broad material claims.
Organize Garage Shelves in Six Steps
Step 1: Divide Supplies Into Activity Zones
Separate workshop, gardening, car-care and seasonal supplies. Group related items near where you use them when practical.
Step 2: Prioritize Frequency of Use
Keep everyday supplies at accessible heights. Store backups separately, and keep heavy items lower rather than overhead.
Step 3: Match the Container to the Contents
Use open crates for suitable active supplies, lidded bins for enclosed storage and closed organizers for small hardware. Store paints, fuels, chemicals and batteries according to their labels and appropriate safety guidance, not simply in a general-purpose crate.
Step 4: Measure Shelves and Retrieval Clearance
Measure shelf width, depth and vertical clearance. Allow room for your hands and for lifting the container out. Check shelving capacity for the combined weight of containers and contents.
Step 5: Plan Stable Stacking
Follow manufacturer guidance, keep heavier loads lower and avoid unstable arrangements. A container's contents capacity does not automatically establish how much weight may be stacked above it. Verify suitable support on wire shelving and avoid overhang.
Step 6: Label Each Category
Labels such as Garden Tools, DIY Supplies and Extension Cords help everyone return items to the same place. Even open crates benefit from clear categories.
Where CrateMate Fits Into the System
CrateMate storage crates offer open, stackable HDPE construction, hex-grid sides, molded carrying handles and Made in USA manufacturing. Both 16QT and 24QT models are offered as a single crate or a 3-pack.
Their open design suits supplies that benefit from visibility and access, not protection from dust, spills or weather. Confirm safe loading and stacking guidance before use; do not infer a numerical load limit from the heavy-duty label.
CrateMate 16QT vs. 24QT: Check Current Dimensions
The dimensions below follow the current product listings. Measurements are in inches, in length × width × height order.
| Specification | CrateMate 16QT | CrateMate 24QT |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 16 quarts | 24 quarts |
| Exterior dimensions | 13 × 13 × 11 | 18½ × 12½ × 11 |
| Interior dimensions | 12 × 12 × 10⅜ | 17¾ × 12 × 10¼ |
| Material | HDPE | HDPE |
| Design | Open hex-grid, molded handles, stackable | Open hex-grid, molded handles, stackable |
| Pack options | 1-pack or 3-pack | 1-pack or 3-pack |
| Manufacture | Made in USA | Made in USA |
Choose 16QT for a Compact Footprint
The 16QT CrateMate has a square 13 × 13-inch exterior footprint. Consider it for smaller groups of suitable tools or accessories and shelves with limited width.
Choose 24QT for Greater Interior Length
The 24QT CrateMate offers more capacity and interior length for bulkier supplies that fit. More volume does not establish a higher load rating.
Combining Sizes Requires a Stable Arrangement
Both listings describe stacking with other CrateMate crates and a standard milk-crate footprint. Follow product guidance for the actual arrangement rather than assuming unlimited height or that every orientation is suitable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are plastic crates better than storage bins for a garage?
Plastic crates are often more convenient for frequently used supplies because they provide open access and easy carrying. Lidded bins are generally better when enclosure and reduced dust exposure matter. Neither is universally better.
Why do plastic storage bins crack in the garage?
Cracking can result from excessive loads, impacts, aging, unsuitable support, material properties or environmental conditions. Follow the manufacturer's intended use and load guidance.
Are open storage crates good for dusty garages?
Open crates can organize supplies, but they do not prevent dust from reaching the contents. Choose an appropriately enclosed container for items needing dust protection.
What is the best way to store frequently used garage tools?
Keep tools in designated, accessible locations near the work area. Open crates, drawers, wall organizers and tool racks can all work, depending on the tool and available space.
Are stackable storage crates safe on metal wire shelving?
They may be suitable when the shelf is rated for the combined load and provides adequate, stable support. Check shelving requirements and avoid excessive overhang or instability.
Do garage storage containers need lids?
Not always. Lids help when contents benefit from enclosure; open containers may be more practical for frequently used supplies. Consider dust, item size, storage duration and access.
Is HDPE a good material for garage storage crates?
Suitability depends on the finished container's design, construction, load guidance and intended environment. HDPE alone does not establish complete product performance.
Can plastic crates handle hot summers and cold winters in a garage?
Temperature performance varies by formulation and design. Consult manufacturer guidance rather than assuming every crate or bin has the same resistance.
How much weight can CrateMate hold?
The current product descriptions reviewed for this guide do not state a numerical load limit. Confirm the appropriate limit with FLI Products before loading; do not infer stacking or shelving limits from crate size.
Which CrateMate is better for garage shelves: 16QT or 24QT?
The 16QT offers a compact square footprint, while the 24QT provides greater volume and interior length. Measure the shelf, retrieval clearance and intended contents before choosing.
Can I use CrateMate for screws and small hardware?
Keep tiny fasteners in suitable closed organizers that fit securely inside the crate. Open-grid sides are not suitable for containing small loose hardware directly.
Are CrateMate storage crates Made in the USA?
Yes. Both the 16QT and 24QT product listings identify the crates as Made in USA.
Choose Storage That Works With Your Routine
Use suitable lidded bins for belongings that need enclosure and open crates for active supplies that benefit from access. Group items by purpose, measure before buying and plan safe handling and support.
Shop CrateMate 16QT and 24QT Storage Crates.
About Kevin Cody
Kevin Cody | Founder & CEO, FLI Products
Kevin Cody is the Founder and CEO of FLI Products and a product development, merchandising and retail industry veteran with more than 20 years of experience. His background includes merchandising leadership at The Home Depot as well as developing, sourcing, manufacturing, marketing and bringing consumer products to market through major retailers and online marketplaces.
Kevin works directly with manufacturers, inventors, retailers and consumers to develop practical products that solve everyday problems. His experience spans product design and development, retail merchandising, manufacturing, e-commerce, marketplace strategy and consumer product education.
Through the FLI Products Learning Center, Kevin shares practical, experience-based information designed to help consumers better understand products, solve problems and make informed purchasing decisions.
About FLI Products
We call it Practical Products. Made to Last.
FLI Products develops and markets practical consumer products designed to solve everyday problems at home, outdoors and on the job. Working directly with manufacturers, inventors and retailers, FLI Products focuses on thoughtful product design, practical functionality and useful solutions for consumers. Its products are available through FLIProducts.com and select major retailers and online marketplaces.
Sources & Resources
CrateMate 16QT product specifications
CrateMate 24QT product specifications
For more storage and organization resources, visit the CrateMate Hub.
