Top 7+ Best Plastic Storage Boxes for Every Need

Reviewed and updated by ICD - Week 46/2026

The seven most common plastic storage boxes are: multipurpose lidded boxes, boxes with wheels, solid-wall crates, Danpla (corrugated plastic) boxes, large boxes of 120 - 220 litres, tool boxes, and budget or clearance boxes. Which one you choose depends on three questions: how heavy is what you need to store, do you need a sealed lid, and does the box have to move often?

I am Le Van Thang and I have worked at ICD Vietnam since 2011. Our workshop makes industrial plastic crates and household lidded boxes, so the questions customers send most often are how many litres to take, which lid type and whether wheels are needed. This guide goes through each type of box, says clearly which ones ICD has in stock as codes and which are better bought elsewhere, and then suggests a capacity for each kind of item you need to store.

The groups used most are lidded plastic boxes for the home, solid-wall plastic crates (solid plastic bins) for warehouses and dry food, and light, antistatic Danpla plastic boxes for electronic components. The table below summarises the seven types before the detail:

1. Multipurpose lidded storage boxes (30L - 50L)

A 30 - 50 litre lidded box is the best-balanced choice for homes and offices: big enough for a light duvet or several stacks of files, yet still carriable by hand when full. For long-term storage of clothes and bedding, see the advice on preventing damp and mould in the article on plastic boxes for storing clothes.

ICD Vietnam’s lidded box line has 12 codes from 10 to 220 litres in two styles: rectangular (H115 10 litres, H116 15 litres, H117 30 litres) and square (No.749 15 litres, No.750 30 litres, No.0997 45 litres, No.0998 and No.748 55 litres, No.747 90 litres, No.213 120 litres, No.214 140 litres, No.853 220 litres). The loose lid with a latch handle keeps out dust and insects; the body is made from virgin plastic, and some versions are transparent so you can see inside without opening the lid.

For a bedroom, wardrobe or work corner, a 30 - 55 litre box is the easiest size to use: it fits a wardrobe shelf, can still be carried when full, and two or three stacked boxes are not too tall.

2. Plastic boxes with wheels: toys, bulky items, deliveries

A box with wheels is worth buying when what you store is heavy or has to be moved often: pulling instead of carrying greatly reduces the lifting strain on your back.

ICD Vietnam makes two five-wheel models in the same 780 x 500 x 430 mm size: open-wall (mesh walls, airy, often used for express deliveries) and solid-wall (closed walls that keep small items from falling out). For children’s toys, choose a box with closed walls, rounded corners and a light lid without a spring clip that could trap fingers; the small colourful models made specially for children’s rooms are usually household retail goods that ICD does not make.

3. Industrial solid plastic crates (solid-wall crates)

The solid plastic crate, also called a solid-wall crate, is the line with the highest mechanical strength on the list. It is moulded from virgin PP and HDPE with closed walls and base, good impact resistance and resistance to many mild chemicals.

Closed-wall crates are often used for dry food, produce, seafood or machine parts because water and small crumbs cannot escape.

Note that a single-layer solid plastic crate mainly prevents water leakage; the thermal insulation of a thin plastic wall is very limited. When you need to keep seafood or frozen goods cold for many hours, use an insulated box with a foam layer in between or add ice.

The surface usually has reinforcing ribs, which let dozens of crates be stacked on top of each other without deforming. For anyone who needs heavy-duty storage that withstands harsh environments such as warehouses or production workshops, this is the first choice.

ICD’s standard solid-wall line has a 610 x 420 mm base in six heights of 100, 150, 190, 250, 310 and 390 mm; for household items, the 190 mm and 250 mm heights are the easiest to carry and to place on shelves. Crates with the same base stack on each other and fit shelves and trolleys on a single module.

4. Lightweight Danpla plastic boxes

Danpla plastic boxes are made from Danpla sheet (PP plastic with a hollow structure like cardboard). The biggest difference of this line is its extremely light weight combined with toughness and flexibility, and it does not absorb water or go mouldy like a traditional paper box.

A special feature of Danpla boxes is antistatic (ESD) protection, which makes them indispensable for packing and transporting sensitive electronic components.

This feature exists only in boxes made from antistatic Danpla sheet (with a conductive additive, usually black); ordinary PP Danpla sheet is an electrical insulator. When buying for electronic components, ask for the surface resistance specification of the sheet.

Danpla plastic boxes can also be made to flexible custom sizes and can be folded flat when not in use, saving a significant amount of storage space.

5. Large plastic boxes of 120 - 220 litres for bulky items

Boxes of 120 - 220 litres suit bulky but light items such as duvets, pillows, out-of-season clothes and camping gear. ICD Vietnam’s 140-litre lidded box (code No.214) measures 785 x 560 x 470 mm; the 220-litre code (No.853) is 1020 x 605 x 460 mm.

This size can replace sacks and cardboard cartons for long-term storage: plastic is waterproof, the lid keeps out dust, and it stacks neatly in a loft or under the stairs. In return, a full box is very hard to carry, so put only light items in a large box.

For goods in a warehouse or workshop that must be lifted by forklift, a large HDPE box on pallet feet is a different category from household boxes: it is sized by load rating and rack dimensions, so discuss the specification with the manufacturer before ordering.

6. Specialised plastic tool boxes

A plastic tool box is a great helper for technicians and home-repair enthusiasts. More than just a container, this line focuses on organised sorting, with multi-tier designs and small compartments for screws and machine parts.

The shell of a plastic tool box is usually highly load-resistant, and the lid has a sturdy latch so tools do not get shuffled on long journeys. Some premium models are also water-resistant to a standard level, protecting the machinery inside from rust caused by ambient humidity.

This is a product group of hand-tool brands, and ICD Vietnam does not make it. When choosing, check the three points below:

7. Budget plastic storage boxes and clearance goods

Budget boxes and clearance goods are worth buying when you need a large quantity for a short-term need, provided you check carefully that the plastic is not brittle, the lid still fits and the base is not cracked.

Budget boxes are usually thinner, leave out the wheels and latch handles and may contain recycled plastic; their lifespan depends heavily on where they sit and what load they carry, so do not put much weight on the lifespan figure the seller gives.

However, when buying clearance goods, users must check carefully how brittle the plastic has become under sunlight and make sure the lid still fits the body exactly to keep belongings protected.

What does the plastic symbol under the box mean?

The number inside the triangle on the base is the Resin Identification Code, which says what plastic the box is made from: 2 is HDPE and 5 is PP. Under the ASTM D7611 standard, this code is only for identifying the plastic type; it is not a recycling code and not a safety certificate.

For storage boxes you will often meet five symbols. No. 2 (HDPE) is tough, resists impact and low temperatures well and resists many chemicals, and is often used for large boxes and water containers. No. 5 (PP) is stiffer, handles heat better than PE and can be made transparent; it is the most common in household lidded boxes. No. 4 (LDPE) is soft, rarely used for box bodies, and is common in soft lids and bags. No. 6 (PS) is rigid but brittle, cracks easily on impact and should not be chosen for heavy items. No. 7 is other or mixed plastics; you cannot tell the plastic type from the symbol, so ask the manufacturer.

So seeing a 5 on the base is not enough to conclude that a box is food-safe. A box in direct contact with food in Vietnam must meet QCVN 12-1:2011/BYT on hygiene and safety for synthetic plastic packaging and utensils; when buying for this purpose, ask the supplier about virgin plastic and the compliance declaration documents.

How should I choose box capacity by type of item?

Choose the capacity by the weight of the contents when the box is full, not only by volume: heavy items go in small boxes, and only light, bulky items go in large boxes.

Frequently asked questions when choosing and using plastic storage boxes

Below are common questions when choosing, using and looking after plastic storage boxes.

How can I tell whether a plastic box is safe for storing food?

A 5 (PP) or 2 (HDPE) symbol on the base only identifies the plastic type; it is not a safety certificate. A box for food should be made from virgin plastic and have compliance documents under QCVN 12-1:2011/BYT; ask the supplier before buying.

Should I choose a solid plastic crate or a Danpla box to pack components?

If the electronic components demand high precision and need antistatic protection, an antistatic Danpla box is the required choice. If the components are heavy, sharp metal blocks, choose a solid plastic crate so the box is not punctured in transit.

Why does the price of plastic storage boxes vary so much for the same capacity?

The difference lies in the wall thickness, the quality of the plastic resin (virgin or recycled) and the accessories included. A multipurpose storage box with wheels and sturdy stainless-steel latch handles always costs more than a plain box of the same size.

Where can I buy plastic storage boxes?

For a few boxes you can buy at supermarkets and household plastic shops. For large quantities, exact codes or logo printing, order directly from the manufacturer: ICD Vietnam takes orders by the hotline, email and Zalo listed at the end of this article. When buying online, ask about wall thickness and box weight to avoid thin plastic.

What should I watch for when stacking large plastic storage boxes?

Put the heaviest box at the bottom, stack boxes of the same code so the lid rim of the lower box fits the base groove of the upper box, and do not stack higher than you can reach so that you do not have to stretch for a heavy box. The maximum number of tiers depends on wall thickness and the load in the box; ask the manufacturer about the stacking load of each code.

What are the dimensions of a 140-litre plastic storage box?

ICD Vietnam’s 140-litre lidded plastic box, code No.214, measures 785 x 560 x 470 mm (78.5 x 56 x 47 cm) and is made from virgin plastic. The larger size in the same line is the 220-litre box (code No.853), measuring 1020 x 605 x 460 mm.

Should I choose PP or HDPE for a plastic storage box?

Household lidded boxes and boxes that need to be transparent or heat resistant should be PP (symbol 5). Large boxes, water containers, boxes used outdoors in the cold or subject to heavy impact should be HDPE (symbol 2). Both should be virgin plastic if they hold food.

Can plastic storage boxes be kept outdoors?

Yes, but under a roof. Ultraviolet light ages PP and HDPE, making them fade and gradually turn brittle; a box kept outdoors long term should have a UV-resistant additive, and you should check its brittleness regularly before loading heavy items.

Contact us about plastic storage boxes

References

• ASTM D7611/D7611M - Standard Practice for Coding Plastic Manufactured Articles for Resin Identification. ASTM International.
• QCVN 12-1:2011/BYT - National technical regulation on hygiene and safety for synthetic plastic packaging and utensils in direct contact with food. Ministry of Health.
• NIOSH (CDC), Revised NIOSH Lifting Equation and Applications Manual for the Revised NIOSH Lifting Equation.
• Code and size data for the lidded boxes, solid-wall crates and 5-wheel crates on ICD Vietnam product pages, updated October 2026.