Storage Volume & Capacity Calculator
Find the volume of any box or shelf, or how many bins fit a space — in cubic feet, litres, and gallons.
From dimensions to a real capacity
Volume is the honest measure of storage: it doesn’t care whether a container is tall and narrow or short and wide, only how much it holds. Working in cubic feet makes it easy to compare a drawer, a tote, and a whole closet on the same scale, and the litre figure is handy when a product only lists its capacity that way.
The trap is assuming volume tells you how many bins fit — it doesn’t, because rigid boxes leave gaps. That’s why the bin-fit mode packs them on a grid. Once you know the count, the Shelf & Closet Rod Planner helps you space the shelves those bins sit on.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I work out the volume of a storage box?
Multiply length × width × height in the same unit. In inches, divide by 1,728 to get cubic feet (there are 12 × 12 × 12 = 1,728 cubic inches in a cubic foot). A 24 × 18 × 16 inch tote is 6,912 cubic inches, which is exactly 4 cubic feet or about 113 litres. This calculator does the arithmetic and the unit conversions for you.
Why do fewer bins fit than the raw volume suggests?
Because real boxes can't be cut or poured to fill every gap. If a shelf is 40 inches wide and a bin is 12 inches wide, only three bins fit across (36 inches used, 4 inches wasted), even though the leftover space adds up. The calculator shows both figures: the 'grid packed' count is what genuinely fits, and the 'by raw volume' figure is the theoretical ceiling.
Should I measure the inside or the outside of a bin?
For how much a bin holds, measure the interior. For how many bins fit a space, measure the exterior — that's the footprint each one actually claims, lid and lip included. Mixing the two is the most common reason a plan that looked fine on paper comes up short on the shelf.
How much clearance should I leave around bins?
A little breathing room makes bins easier to pull out and put back. Leaving half an inch to an inch on each side, and an inch or two of height above lids, rarely costs you a whole extra bin but saves a lot of wrestling. Trim your space measurement by that margin before you calculate if you want a comfortable, not maximal, fit.
Educational tool. Volumes are geometric estimates rounded to two decimals; bin-fit counts assume boxes are packed upright without rotation.