While reading back over another article on here and thinking about storing wet camping or outdoors equipment, we decided the humble milk crate deserves its own feature. If you’re looking for an durable and surprisingly versatile way to get your garage under control, milk crates deserve a closer look. These stackable workhorses have been used for decades in workshops, farms, garage band rehearsal rooms and utility rooms because they’re tough enough for hard use and simple enough to adapt to almost any storage challenge. We wanted to take a deep dive into some of the ways you can use these to organize your space, and what they are good for and what they are not good for, especially if you’ve been struggling with clutter or limited floor area.
Milk crates shine when it comes to creating modular systems that can grow with your needs. Whether you’re sorting camp fuel containers, bulky gear, odds and ends, or even sports equipment, a few crates can transform shelves, workbenches, or even the back of your truck into tidy, accessible compartments. At the same time, they aren’t perfect for everything, and knowing their limitations will save you time and frustration as you build your system. In the following sections, we’ll show you where these crates excel, where they fall short, and how to squeeze every bit of utility out of them in your garage.
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The History of Milk Crates
Just kidding! We know nobody wants to read that. Onto the next section.
Milk Crates for Storage – “Dos”
Do use extra-deep milk crates on deep shelves.
Most people overlook the value of the extra-deep versions, but they’re one of the best ways to take advantage of shelves with more depth than you actually use. Standard totes waste that space, leaving several inches behind them that never get touched. Extra-deep milk crates slide all the way back, letting you store more in the same footprint without adding clutter or stacking things dangerously high.
Do store gear that needs airflow.
Milk crates are ideal for items that benefit from ventilation—camping gear, fishing equipment, waders, boots, tarps, wet ropes, or anything that might be damp when you put it away. The open grid design allows air to circulate so gear dries out quickly instead of getting moldy, musty, or smelly. This makes them especially useful for outdoor-minded folks who are constantly loading and unloading gear that doesn’t always come home perfectly dry. They also make a great “dump bin” to temporarily store gear you’re unloading and keep it organized until you can put it away where it actually belongs.
Do take advantage of their standardized size.
One of the biggest strengths of milk crates is that they come in consistent dimensions that doesn’t vary from manufacturer to manufacturer (unlike, say, the ubiquitous 27-gallon totes). You can buy them in bulk and know exactly how they’ll fit into your shelving, truck, or storage system. If you need to add more later, they’ll match what you already have. If one breaks—or more likely, goes missing—you can replace it without reconfiguring your whole setup.
Do use them for rough-duty, portable storage.
Milk crates are tough. You can toss one in the back of your truck, use it as a temporary toolbox, haul firewood in it, or drag it around a job site. Most appear to be built from polypropylene so they take abuse without cracking, and when they do get dirty, you can simply hose them out and let them drip dry.
Do label every crate.
It’s no secret that we love our label makers. Whether you use one of those, or simply some tape and an Industrial Sharpie, make sure you keep accurate and neat labels on every container in your garage.
Milk Crate Storage – “Don’ts”
Don’t rely on milk crates for anything that needs full protection from dust, water, or pests.
Milk crates are sturdy and breathable, but they’re obviously not sealed. If you live in a dusty climate, a humid garage, or an area where critters occasionally wander in, anything stored inside them is exposed. That makes them a poor choice for sensitive electronics, documents, fabrics you want to keep pristine, or anything that can’t handle debris or moisture. If airtight protection matters, go with lidded, gasketed bins instead (we really like Sterilite containers, or Plano Sportsman’s Trunks if you can spend a little more; some Akro-Mils bins also may work).
Don’t assume they’re still the bargain they once were.
Like everything else, milk crates just aren’t as cheap as they used to be. The price creep can surprise you, especially if you’re outfitting a whole wall of shelving at once. They’re still affordable compared to heavy-duty totes, and their durability makes them cost-effective long-term, but they’re not the ultra-budget option they were twenty years ago.
Don’t use them for very small items unless they’re bagged or contained.
The open grid walls and bottoms mean that screws, nails, loose parts, and other tiny hardware will slip right through—or get mixed together into an unhelpful mess. If you’re storing small items in crates, keep them in zip bags or smaller internal organizers.
Don’t overload them with extremely heavy, dense materials.
Milk crates are strong, but they’re not indestructible. Loading them with bricks, large batteries, or heavy metal tools can warp the frame over time or make them difficult to lift safely. If you need to store heavy items, consider splitting the load between multiple crates or using a reinforced tote.
Don’t expect them to look “finished” if aesthetics matter.
Some people don’t mind the industrial, utilitarian look, but if you’re building a polished garage or workshop, open-grid crates can appear busy and cluttered. In highly visible areas where you want clean lines, solid-sided bins might be a better match. Honestly, they aren’t our favorite things to look at, but for storing waders and wading boots, nothing can beat them that we’ve found.
Other Things to Consider
If you like the modular concept of milk crates but want something a bit more refined, Sidio Crates are another premium option worth considering. They offer a similar stackable, grid-based system but can be had in fully sealed versions with solid walls and lids, giving you the airflow-versus-protection flexibility that traditional milk crates simply can’t provide. They’re more expensive, but the improved build quality, cleaner aesthetics, and added protection can justify the cost for garages where appearance or dust control matters.
It’s also worth thinking about how milk crates integrate with the rest of your storage layout. Because they’re open-sided, you’ll get the most benefit from them on shelves, in cubbies, or mounted in a way that prevents items from sliding out. Labeling becomes especially important—either on the front lip or with clip-on tags—since you can’t rely on a solid surface for sticker placement. And while their durability is a major selling point, make sure you’re buying commercial-grade crates rather than cheap decorative ones (the Hudson Exchange ones seem to be good); only the real, reinforced versions can handle heavy gear or repeated use in a garage environment.
Finally, consider how you plan to handle transportation. If your storage routinely moves between home, truck, and trailhead, milk crates excel as grab-and-go modules. But for long-term storage, sealed totes may be better for protecting gear year-round. Balancing the strengths of milk crates with the protection of closed containers—and mixing in premium sealed options like Sidio Crates—gives you a flexible storage system that can adapt to your changing needs.
Final Thoughts on How to Organize Garage Space Using Milk Crates
Milk crates are one of those simple, no-nonsense storage solutions that can make a big difference in how your garage feels and functions. They’re tough, stackable, easy to grab, and perfect for the kind of gear that’s always a little damp or dusty after a weekend outside. They’re not great for everything—anything that needs to stay sealed, clean, or protected from critters should probably go in a different bin—but for everyday garage clutter, they’re hard to beat. Mix in a few sealed options like Planos or Sterilites where it makes sense, use the deep ones on deep shelves, and you’ll end up with a setup that’s flexible, durable, and easy to grow over time. In short, milk crates won’t solve every storage problem, but they’re a solid, budget-friendly way to get your garage under control without overcomplicating things.
Just don’t forget about those extra-deep ones!
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