6 Best Stackable Totes For Small Farm Organization That End Barn Clutter
Reclaim your barn floor with the right storage. We review the 6 best stackable totes for durability and space-saving organization on your small farm.
Tripping over a tangled hose to grab a bag of feed, only to find mice have chewed a hole in the corner, is a familiar frustration. A cluttered barn isn’t just an eyesore; it’s a drain on your time, money, and patience. The foundation of an efficient small farm is a system, and that system starts with getting your supplies under control.
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From Barn Chaos to Tidy: The Right Totes
A disorganized barn costs you more than just sanity. It costs you time when you can’t find the right fencing staple and money when moisture ruins a bag of expensive seed. The right stackable totes are your first line of defense, creating order out of the controlled chaos that is farm life.
Think of totes not just as boxes, but as modular units for your entire operation. They protect tools from rust, keep feed safe from rodents, and turn a jumbled pile of supplies into a neat, vertical library of everything you need. Stacking frees up precious floor space, which is always at a premium.
But not all plastic boxes are created equal. A cheap, flimsy tote will crack in the first winter cold snap, and a lid that doesn’t seal is just an invitation for pests. Choosing the right tote for the right job is the key to a system that actually works.
HDX Tough Tote: The All-Purpose Workhorse
Every farm needs a fleet of basic, reliable containers, and the HDX Tough Tote is exactly that. It’s the sturdy, no-nonsense workhorse you can find at most hardware stores. Made from thick, opaque plastic, these totes can handle being knocked around without shattering.
Their deeply recessed lids are their best feature, allowing for very secure stacking. You can confidently stack them three or four high without worrying about a catastrophic tumble. They aren’t fully waterproof, but the lid design does a great job of shedding dust and the occasional drip.
Use these for your general-purpose storage: extra irrigation parts, bags of soil amendments, bird netting, or seasonal supplies like frost cloths. They are your go-to for anything that isn’t a primary target for pests or highly sensitive to moisture. For the price, their durability is hard to beat.
Sterilite ClearView Latch Box for Visibility
Knowing what’s inside a tote without having to open it is a massive time-saver. That’s where the Sterilite ClearView line shines. The ability to see the contents at a glance makes them perfect for organizing items you need to identify and grab quickly.
These are ideal for creating kits. You can have a "fencing repair" box with insulators and testers, a "livestock first-aid" box with vet wrap and antiseptics, or a "seed starting" box with trays and labels. The latching handles provide a more secure closure than a simple snap-on lid, keeping dust out effectively.
The tradeoff for visibility is durability. Clear plastic is inherently more brittle than the polyethylene used in heavy-duty totes, especially in the cold. These totes belong inside a tack room or shed, not in an unheated barn corner exposed to sub-zero temperatures. Sunlight can also degrade the plastic and the contents over time, so keep them out of direct sun.
Plano Sportsman’s Trunk: Pest-Proof Storage
If you have livestock, you have feed. And if you have feed, you have mice, rats, and raccoons trying to get to it. The Plano Sportsman’s Trunk is a fantastic solution for protecting your most valuable and tempting supplies from pests.
Originally designed for camping and hunting gear, these trunks are built tough. They feature heavy-duty latches, a reinforced and sometimes gasket-sealed lid, and thick walls that rodents can’t easily chew through. Many models also have tie-down points and padlock tabs for extra security.
This is the tote you use for your high-value items. Store your 25-pound bags of chick starter, goat minerals, expensive cover crop seed, or even your personal emergency supplies. It’s an investment in peace of mind, ensuring the feed you paid for goes to your animals, not the local wildlife.
Commander XXL Tote for Bulk Feed & Supplies
Sometimes you just need more space. For those bulky, awkward items, a giant tote like the Commander XXL is the answer. These massive containers are designed to hold serious volume and weight, tidying up the biggest messes.
Their value lies in consolidating things that would otherwise take up a huge amount of floor space. A single one can hold multiple horse blankets, a 50-pound bag of feed (dumped in loose), or a chaotic collection of extension cords and air hoses. Look for models with wheels; moving 80 pounds of anything is much easier when you can roll it.
The key is to use their size strategically. Don’t fill one with something dense like bolts, as you’ll never be able to lift it. Instead, use them to impose order on large, relatively lightweight items. Stacking a few of these is like instantly adding a closet to your barn.
Akro-Mils KeepBox for Small Parts and Tools
Barn clutter isn’t just about big bags and tools; it’s also about the thousands of tiny things that get lost. Screws, nuts, bolts, hose washers, and fencing clips have a way of disappearing into a chaotic junk drawer. The Akro-Mils KeepBox and similar small-part organizers are the solution.
These aren’t single totes but a system of smaller, interlocking containers. You can create a dedicated box for plumbing fittings, another for electrical supplies, and a third for equipment-specific spare parts. The clear lids let you see what’s inside, and the secure latches prevent disastrous spills.
The real magic happens during a repair. Instead of digging through a greasy can of mixed hardware for the right shear pin, you just grab the "Shear Pin" box. This system transforms frustrating repair jobs into efficient, predictable tasks. It’s a small investment that pays huge dividends in saved time and reduced stress.
DeWalt ToughSystem 2.0: Weather-Resistant
For items that absolutely cannot get wet or dusty, you need to step up to a professional-grade system. The DeWalt ToughSystem and similar modular toolboxes offer a level of protection that standard totes can’t match. They are more of an investment, but for the right application, they are indispensable.
These systems feature an IP65 rating, meaning they are sealed against dust ingress and water jets. The heavy-duty metal latches and internal gaskets create a truly weather-resistant seal. They are designed to be stacked, locked together, and transported in the back of a truck through rain and mud.
This is where you store your power tools, battery chargers, and sensitive equipment like soil testers or digital scales. If you need to take tools out to a wet pasture for a fence repair, you can do so without worrying about destroying your expensive cordless drill. It’s overkill for storing twine, but it’s the perfect insurance policy for your most critical gear.
What to Consider When Choosing Your Farm Totes
There is no single "best" tote, only the best tote for a specific purpose. Before you buy a dozen of the same container, think through what you really need. A well-organized barn uses a mix-and-match system tailored to its unique demands.
Consider these factors to build a system that will last:
- The Job: Are you storing bulk feed or tiny screws? Protecting power tools from rain or just keeping extra pots clean? Match the tote’s features—size, durability, seal—to the task.
- Pest Pressure: If rodents are a problem, prioritize thick walls and secure, lockable latches. A simple snap-on lid is not a deterrent.
- Location & Exposure: Will the tote live in a climate-controlled room or an open-sided barn? For outdoor or cold-weather use, you need UV-resistant, crack-proof plastic. Clear totes generally don’t hold up well to sun and extreme cold.
- Weight & Mobility: Don’t create a hernia-in-a-box. Use smaller totes for heavy items like hardware and large totes for bulky but light items like blankets. If it’s heavy, make sure it has wheels or you can move it with a hand truck.
- Stacking Security: The most important feature for organization is how well the totes stack. Look for deep, interlocking channels in the lids. A flimsy stack is an avalanche waiting to happen.
An organized barn is an efficient barn, and it all begins with a smart, intentional storage strategy. Don’t just buy boxes; build a system. Start by tackling your most frustrating problem area—whether it’s feed storage or loose hardware—and choose the right container for that specific job.
