For two wheelie bins, buy a store that is explicitly designed for your bin size and leaves enough room to use the lids and wheel each bin out. Adding the bin capacities together will not tell you which store fits. The wheels, handles, lid hinges and space between the bins all sit outside that simple calculation.
The Keter Store It Out Max is worth checking for two 240-litre bins: Keter lists that arrangement for its UK 1200L model. I have used this store for bulky garden equipment and found the front access much easier than lifting everything out of a chest. For bins, I would pay particular attention to the route out and the lid arrangement before ordering.
Measure the bins you actually have
Look for the capacity moulded into the bin or confirm it with your council, then use a tape measure. Two bins with the same stated capacity can still differ in shape. Include the widest part of the lid, the axle or wheels if they project, and the handle at the back.
- Width: measure each bin at its widest point, then stand both together with a little working space between them.
- Depth: measure from the front edge to the furthest rear projection, including the handle.
- Height: measure with the lid shut, then check the movement needed to open it.
- Removal: tip the empty bin back as you would on collection day and see how much room you need behind the handle.
I would do the first layout with empty bins so they are manageable, then consider how much harder a loaded bin will be to turn. A store that only works when you shuffle one bin sideways before removing the other will soon become irritating.
A useful size check for a two-bin store
The current UK Store It Out Max listing gives these dimensions. Check the exact version being sold before buying; the clear doorway is smaller than the internal width.
| Measurement | UK model listed by Keter |
|---|---|
| External width × depth × height | 145.5 × 82 × 125cm |
| Internal width × depth × height | 132 × 76 × 110cm |
| Entry width | 120cm |
| Stated bin arrangement | Two 240L wheelie bins |
As a measuring example, two bins each 58cm wide occupy 116cm before you allow any side or central clearance. Against a 132cm interior, that leaves 16cm in total. Those are hypothetical bin measurements, not a guarantee that your council’s bins fit. Depth, lid movement and the doorway still need checking.
The manufacturer’s bin designation is a useful starting point, but I would still compare all the measurements. Do not transfer this fit claim to a smaller store simply because its photograph looks similar. My Midi versus Pro comparison covers those separate models.
Leave room for collection day
Mark the store’s full footprint on the ground, including projecting handles or roof edges. Then mark where the doors will swing. Stand in front holding the bin handle and work through the turn towards the gate. Include parked cars, planters and any gate that opens into the same space.
A straight paved route is usually more convenient than dragging a loaded bin across a lawn or gravel. Check the narrowest point on the route, not just the opening beside the store. Keep the bins accessible without blocking the normal route to the house.
For a side passage, front-opening access can matter more than buying the largest capacity available. The box may fit between a wall and fence yet leave nowhere for you to stand with its doors open.
Check how the bin lids will open
Some bin stores have a lifting roof and a system that raises the bin lids with it. Others require you to lift each lid separately. Confirm what the exact package includes and how the attachment works with your bins. Make sure you can reach it comfortably without holding an awkward roof above your head.
Allow the roof to open beneath windows, branches or an overhanging fence cap. Follow the maker’s instructions for any supplied lid supports or pistons. Do not improvise a prop that can slip while your hands are inside.
Put the store on a sound base
My own assembly experience with the Store It Out Max reinforced the value of a level base and getting the larger panels aligned properly. A twisted floor can make doors awkward before you have even loaded the store. Read my storage-box base guide before choosing its position.
Keep leaves and rubbish clear of the threshold so the wheels have an unobstructed path. Leave the access and ventilation gaps required by the manufacturer, and avoid trapping wet vegetation against the unit.
If you want the same unit to hold garden equipment, plan that space separately. Two bins can use most of the convenient floor area, and reaching past rubbish to find tools is poor organisation. My garden equipment storage guide covers stores chosen primarily for tools.
Before paying, check four things together: your actual bins fit, each can come out independently, the lids open properly, and the route to the collection point remains usable.
Dimensions and bin designation checked against Keter’s UK specification. Confirm the seller’s exact model and current dimensions.
