The right garden storage box fits what you actually need to store, not just the gap on the patio. Match it to your cushions, tools or small furniture, then choose the size, the material and a lid that sheds the weather. For many gardens a box is enough. If you need walk-in space, or room for very bulky tools, a shed is the better fit.
Once you know what you need, browse our garden storage boxes.
Start with the contents, not the plot. Pile up the cushions, tools or small pieces you want to store, then look for a box that will take them without a struggle. Leave a little spare room so the lid can close cleanly and you can get things out again.
A compact box suits a small patio and a modest stack of cushions. A larger box is the better fit when you also store throws, watering cans or a folded side table. Measure the footprint on the ground as well, including the space the lid needs to open. If the box will sit against a wall or under a window, make sure the lid can still lift or fold back.
Think about daily use, not only how much it holds. If you will open the box every time you sit out, keep it close to the furniture it serves. If it will hold tools, put it on a firm, level patch you can reach from the back door.
If you need to move the box to sweep or mow, look for handles or wheels, and think about how heavy it will be once it is full. A box that is awkward to shift will stay where you first put it, even if that spot is not ideal.
Our garden storage boxes run from compact patio models to larger outdoor boxes. They also sit in our wider garden storage range, if you are still deciding what kind of outdoor storage you need.
Choose the material for the look you want, and for the amount of care you are happy to give.
A wooden box sits naturally beside timber furniture. Outdoor wood generally needs a finish that can cope with the weather, and some care over time, so the timber stays in good condition. If you already oil or stain a wooden table, looking after a wooden box will feel familiar.
Plastic and rattan-style boxes generally need little more than an occasional wash. They are a practical choice when you want low upkeep, or when the box will sit in view next to rattan or all-weather furniture. They do not need a timber treatment routine.
Our range includes wooden boxes as well as plastic and rattan-style models, so you can match the box to the furniture already on the patio. Compare the look and the care, then choose the one you will actually keep on top of.
If the box will be on show, pick the finish that sits quietly with your set. If it will be tucked out of the way, lower upkeep may matter more than a timber match.
The lid does most of the work. Rain should run off, not pool on top. The lid should sit closely on the body, with an overlap or lip that sheds water away from the opening. A box that stands slightly off wet ground will also keep the base drier than one that sits in a puddle.
Waterproof and water-resistant are not the same. A water-resistant box can cope with showers. It is not a sealed store for standing water.
Cushions and textiles need to go in dry. Even a well-fitted lid can trap moisture if you pack things away wet. Let them dry first, and leave a little air around the contents if you can. A box is not a substitute for drying things out after rain.
Some boxes in our range have a padlock loop, so you can add a lock if you want to keep tools out of sight. A lock helps with security. It does not make the box more weatherproof, so still look closely at the lid and the base.
A storage box is enough when you need a closed place for cushions, hand tools or a few smaller pieces, and you want something you can keep on the patio. It is a good fit for daily access: lift the lid, take out what you need, and close it again.
It is not enough when you need walk-in space, storage for very bulky tools, or a place you will step into often. In that case, look at our garden sheds. If you are still choosing a material, our garden sheds guide compares the options.
For most cushions and everyday tools, a box is the simpler answer. Choose a shed only when the job is genuinely bigger than a lidded chest.
A box and a cover do different jobs. A box stores what you take off the furniture: cushions, throws and smaller accessories. A cover stays on the furniture that remains outside, and shields the frames from the weather.
Use both when you need to. Put the cushions in the box, and put furniture covers over the sofas or chairs. A box will not protect a patio set that is left out. A cover will not give you a place to put the cushions away.
If you are weighing up covers rather than boxes, see our guide to why you should cover your patio furniture.
Choose the box that matches what you are putting away. Get the size right, pick a material you will look after, and make sure the lid sheds rain. A wooden box will suit a timber patio if you are happy to care for it. A plastic or rattan-style box needs less upkeep. Be honest about whether a box is enough, or whether you need walk-in storage.
👉 Browse our garden storage boxes and find the right fit for your patio.
