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The Best Outdoor Storage Boxes for Your Backyard or Deck

Need some extra space around the house? Then have a look at the best outdoor storage boxes for tools, toys, cushions and more.

collage of three outdoor storage boxes
Frontgate, Amazon

Whether you live in a studio apartment or a five-bedroom colonial, chances are you wish you had more storage space. It’s just a fact of life. No matter how much room we have, there’s always a desire for just a little more for our ever-increasing collection of stuff. And if you do live in that five-bedroom colonial — or, at the very least, some sort of property with outdoor space — then you may have considered the option of purchasing an outdoor storage box.

A cheaper, portable and more convenient alternative to a traditional storage shed, outdoor storage boxes offer loads of flexibility when it comes to keeping your precious stuff safe and protected. Whether you need a deck box for storing pool toys, a stylish storage bench to keep your patio furniture cushions safe from inclement weather or a makeshift shed for your gardening tools, the market is awash with outdoor storage options that will make your life easier.

Types of Outdoor Storage Boxes

Deck Boxes

This is probably what you picture when you think of an outdoor storage box. Typically made of rugged, weatherproof plastic material, these boxes come in a wide range of sizes and are meant to live on your deck or patio, where they’ll keep toys, gear or outdoor furniture cushions safe and organized.

Storage Sheds

If you don’t have the room or budget for a permanent storage shed in your backyard, then you may want to opt for the portable option. Generally made from the same material as a common deck box (though pricier, heavier wood options do exist), these offer more vertical storage with the general look of a traditional storage shed and are a popular choice for storing garden and lawn care tools.

Cushion Boxes

Cushion boxes, as you may have guessed, are designed to store cushions from your patio furniture when they're not being used. While there are no strict rules dictating what does or doesn't get classified as a cushion box, generally speaking, these boxes tend to be better looking than deck boxes so as to better fit in with your outdoor furniture setup. They usually eschew plastic resin construction in favor of real wood or rattan, with the downside being that they are often less weather-resistant.

Furniture with Storage

Some outdoor storage box options double as furniture in their own right. Whether you’re looking to use it to store the cushions of your regular patio furniture or something else, a stylish bench with interior storage makes for a versatile addition to any outdoor space.

What to Look for in an Outdoor Storage Box

There are a number of factors to consider when purchasing a box that you’re going to be using for outdoor storage. For one, you’ll need to consider the size, both in terms of how much stuff you need to store and how much space you actually have for the box. Outdoor storage boxes come in a ton of different sizes, with capacities ranging from 20 gallons to 200, or even more if you opt for a portable shed option, so you’ll need to pay attention to the capacity as well as the box’s footprint.

Just as important as the size and capacity of your outdoor storage box is its robustness. Since the box will be living outside, you’ll need to ensure that it's weatherproof. It should be made from weatherproof materials that won’t degrade in the rain, snow or sun, and it should be waterproof with a leakproof lid so that whatever you’re storing doesn’t get wet.

Finally, you’ll want to consider whether you want your storage box to have a lock or not. If you’re worried about kids getting into the box, or if you live in an area where property theft is an issue, then you may want to consider a box with a lock. If you’re more interested in being able to quickly and easily access your storage and thieves aren’t a concern, then you’ll probably want to forgo the lock.

The Best Outdoor Storage Boxes:

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Best Overall Outdoor Storage Box
Keter Denali 200 Gallon Deck Box
Keter
Now 20% off
Plenty of room
the inside of a keter storage box
Eric Limer

Keter's 200-gallon Deck Box is large enough to fit a six-foot-tall man inside (not that that's what you should be storing).

Best Upgrade Outdoor Storage Box
Frontgate Outdoor Patio Storage Chest
Best Budget Outdoor Storage Box
Suncast 73 Gallon Medium Resin Wicker Deck Box
Suncast
Best Waterproof Outdoor Storage Box
East Oak 150 Gallon Large Deck Box
Now 21% off
Best Wooden Outdoor Storage Box
West Elm Portside Outdoor Storage Trunk
West Elm
Best Outdoor Storage Shed
Rubbermaid Resin Weather Resistant Outdoor Storage Shed
Rubbermaid
Best Outdoor Storage Bench
Keter Solana
Keter
Best Outdoor Cushion Box
Safavieh Abri Cushion Deck Box
Best Portable Outdoor Storage Box
Yeti Loadout GoBox 60 Gear Case
Johnny Brayson is Gear Patrol's associate home editor.
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