6 Comparing Plastic Vs. Metal Storage Totes For Farm Use On a Homestead Budget
Plastic totes are cheap and light, but metal offers superior pest-proofing. We weigh the pros and cons of cost, durability, and weather-resistance.
You’re standing in the feed store, staring at two options for getting your barn organized: a stack of affordable plastic totes and a row of sturdy-looking galvanized steel cans. It’s a simple choice that has surprisingly big consequences for your time, money, and sanity. Protecting your supplies—from feed and seed to tools and first-aid kits—is fundamental to running a smooth homestead. This isn’t just about tidiness; it’s about safeguarding your investments against weather, pests, and time itself.
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Choosing Totes: Durability vs. Portability
The first decision you face is a classic trade-off. Metal is king for durability, but it comes at the cost of portability. A 30-gallon steel can full of chicken feed is a two-person job to move, making it a semi-permanent fixture in your barn. You set it and forget it.
Plastic, on the other hand, is built for movement. You can easily slide a plastic tote out of a truck bed, stack it on a shelf, or haul it out to the garden. This mobility is invaluable for seasonal items like irrigation supplies or seed starting trays.
The real question is what you’re storing and how often you need to access or move it. Stationary, high-value items lean toward metal; mobile, lower-risk items are perfect for plastic. Don’t think of it as one being better than the other. Think of them as two different tools for two very different jobs.
HDX Totes: Best for Lightweight, Mobile Storage
Let’s talk about those common black-and-yellow totes you see everywhere. Brands like HDX offer an incredible value for pure volume. They are the workhorses for organizing things that aren’t heavy, edible, or exposed to the elements. Think extra tarps, spare plumbing fittings, or seasonal decorations.
Their weakness is their construction. The plastic is often thin and can become brittle in cold weather, leading to cracks if dropped or handled roughly. The lids snap on, but they offer zero protection against a determined mouse. They are best used inside a shed or garage where they are shielded from direct sun and moisture.
Use these totes for a single purpose: bringing order to chaos for non-critical supplies. They are perfect for grouping similar items on a shelf, turning a cluttered corner into a usable space. Just don’t ask them to protect anything valuable from mother nature or hungry critters.
Rubbermaid Roughneck: A Weather-Resistant Choice
When you need a step up in plastic, the Rubbermaid Roughneck line is a solid contender. The plastic is noticeably thicker and more pliable, meaning it can handle being dragged around or left in a cold barn without shattering. They resist impact far better than their cheaper counterparts.
The key advantage of a Roughneck is its weather resistance. While not fully waterproof if submerged, the tight-fitting lids do an excellent job of keeping rain and dust out. This makes them a great choice for storing things in a three-sided run-in shed or on a covered porch. I use them for storing extension cords, tow straps, and animal first-aid kits that need to stay clean and dry but accessible.
However, don’t mistake weather resistance for pest-proofing. A squirrel or rat can still chew through a Roughneck tote if they smell something interesting inside. They delay pests, they don’t defeat them. They are for protecting things from the elements, not from wildlife.
Behrens Steel Cans for Ultimate Rodent Protection
When you absolutely cannot afford to lose the contents to rodents, you need galvanized steel. There is no other reliable answer. Behrens locking-lid cans are the gold standard on a small farm for a reason: a mouse can’t chew through steel.
These cans are your fortress for anything edible. This includes your main animal feed, bags of expensive seed for the garden, and stored food like bulk flour or rice if you keep it in the barn. The locking lid is crucial, as raccoons are clever enough to pry off simple fitted lids. The offset bottom also keeps the can off the damp ground, helping prevent rust.
The downside is obvious: they are heavy, cumbersome, and more expensive upfront. But the cost of a single lost 50-pound bag of organic chicken feed or a season’s worth of heirloom seeds makes the investment in a steel can look very small. This is about risk management.
Cost Analysis: Commander Totes vs. Behrens Cans
On the surface, the math seems simple. A 27-gallon Commander tote from the local big-box store might cost you $15. A 31-gallon Behrens galvanized steel can will easily run $50 or more. It’s tempting to buy three plastic totes for the price of one metal can.
But this isn’t the right way to look at it. You have to consider the cost of failure. If you store a $40 bag of goat feed in that $15 plastic tote and a rat chews a hole in the bottom, you haven’t saved money. You’ve lost $55 ($15 for the now-useless tote plus $40 for the contaminated feed).
The true cost analysis should be based on what you are protecting.
- Low-Value Storage: For items like old blankets for animals or spare buckets, a cheap plastic tote is the clear winner. The cost of failure is near zero.
- High-Value Storage: For a $60 bag of specialty seed, the $50 steel can is a cheap insurance policy. The more valuable the contents, the more sense metal makes.
Think of the cost over a decade. You will likely replace cracked plastic totes multiple times, while a galvanized can, if kept reasonably dry, can last a lifetime. The long-term cost of metal is often lower for critical storage tasks.
Longevity: Plastic UV Degradation vs. Metal Rust
Every storage solution has an enemy. For plastic, that enemy is the sun. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation breaks down the chemical bonds in plastic, making it brittle and weak. A tote left in a sunny spot for a year will often crack under its own weight.
For steel, the enemy is moisture. While galvanization provides a protective zinc coating, a scratch or dent can expose the steel underneath. If that spot stays wet, rust will form and can eventually eat a hole right through the can. A can sitting in a perpetually damp corner of a barn is living on borrowed time.
This dictates where each type of container should live. Plastic totes belong indoors or, at the very least, in deep shade. Metal cans can handle more direct weather, but they should be placed on a pallet or concrete blocks to keep their bottoms dry and allow for air circulation. Proper placement is the key to longevity for both.
Feed Storage: Why Galvanized Steel Wins Out
This is one area where there is no debate. For storing any kind of animal feed, grain, or seed, galvanized steel is the only responsible choice. A determined mouse can chew through the toughest plastic tote in a single night, contaminating an entire bag of feed with urine and feces, which can make your animals sick.
Plastic totes also absorb odors. Even after you clean it out, the smell of old feed can linger, continuing to attract pests to the area. Steel, on the other hand, is non-porous and easy to sanitize completely, ensuring your new feed stays fresh and safe.
This is a non-negotiable part of farm biosecurity. Investing in proper metal storage for feed isn’t just about preventing financial loss; it’s about protecting the health of your livestock. Don’t cut corners here.
Final Verdict: Matching the Tote to the Farm Task
There is no single "best" storage tote for a homestead. The smartest approach is to build a diverse inventory of storage solutions and deploy them strategically. Wasting a heavy, expensive steel can on storing old hoses is just as inefficient as putting valuable seed in a flimsy plastic bin.
Use this simple framework to make your decision:
- For lightweight, indoor organization: Cheap plastic totes (HDX).
- For weather protection of non-edibles: Heavy-duty plastic totes (Rubbermaid Roughneck).
- For anything rodents might eat: Galvanized steel cans with locking lids (Behrens).
By matching the container to the specific task, you protect your investments, reduce waste, and create a more organized, efficient, and resilient homestead. Stop looking for one perfect solution and start building a system of the right solutions.
In the end, the plastic versus metal debate is less about which material is superior and more about understanding the specific threats you need to mitigate. A smart homesteader knows that a cheap tote in the right place is a brilliant bargain, while an expensive can in the wrong one is a wasted resource. Assess the risk, consider the contents, and invest accordingly—that’s how you build a farm that lasts.
