# Best nesting storage boxes
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Buying guide · [Boxes & shelves](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/boxes-and-shelving/) ·
Compare empty nesting, detached-lid storage and usable interiors in three lidded box packs. Check each complete footprint and the space to separate the tubs.
Space Made Useful · Updated November 2026 · 3 options compared ·
Quick answer
## Plan for the empty tubs and their detached lids
Choose the single-box footprint and interior around your contents, then check the real nested group and lid storage. Nesting empty tubs and stacking loaded boxes need different layouts.
## Three nesting packs for different-sized groups
The dimensions below describe each complete box. The nested multipack and detached lids need their own measurement.
Small groups in a compact stack
### SmartStore Classic 8L clear boxes with white clips
Four clear lidded boxes for small household groups. They nest empty with the lids removed.
**Outside · L × W × H cm**: 34 × 25 × 16
**Inside · cm**: 26.8 × 20.1 × 13.3
**Capacity**: 8 litres
**Access**: Clip lid
**In the pack**: Four boxes
**What to check** Orthex documents stacking with compatible Classic 13 boxes. Check lid, clip and lift space, especially inside a cube shelf.
View on Amazon — SmartStore Classic 8L clear boxes with white clips
Medium groups in a compatible system
### SmartStore Classic 31L clear boxes with black clips
Three clear boxes with black clips and removable lids. They nest with the lids off.
**Outside · L × W × H cm**: 50 × 39 × 26
**Inside · cm**: 40 × 30.7 × 22.1
**Capacity**: 31 litres
**Access**: Clip lid
**In the pack**: Three boxes
**What to check** Orthex lists Classic 20 and 52 as compatible sizes. Check the exact combinations and leave room to reach both clips.
View on Amazon — SmartStore Classic 31L clear boxes with black clips
Wide footprint with lower sides
### Wham Crystal 45L clear boxes, five-pack
Five wide clear boxes that stack with their lids on and nest empty.
**Outside · L × W × H cm**: 60 × 40 × 25
**Inside · cm**: 50.5 × 31 × 24
**Capacity**: 45 litres
**Access**: Removable clip-on lid
**In the pack**: Five boxes
**What to check** Check the tapered base and the 60 cm outside length. Use a suitable supported shelf and the maker's stacking arrangement.
View on Amazon — Wham Crystal 45L clear boxes, five-pack
## Side-by-side dimensions
Scroll sideways to see all columns.
Published outside size per box and selected pack
| Box | L × W × H | Pack | Empty storage |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| SmartStore Classic 8L | 34 × 25 × 16 cm | Four with lids | Nests without lids |
| SmartStore Classic 31L | 50 × 39 × 26 cm | Three with lids | Nests without lids |
| Wham Crystal 45L | 60 × 40 × 25 cm | Five with lids | Empty tubs nest |
## Decide where the empty boxes and detached lids will go
Nesting describes empty tubs sitting inside one another with their lids removed. Stacking describes complete boxes placed on top of matching lids in a permitted arrangement. A box can offer both, but the two layouts take different amounts of space. Plan for the empty return as well as the full box, especially if you use several containers only during a seasonal change.
Choose a location for the detached lids before buying a multipack. Keep lids from one confirmed range together so the right part is easy to find. Stand them in a supported group or store them flat where the maker’s guidance and your space allow. Include their full width, clips and the movement needed to take one out. An empty nested group can be compact while its loose lids still occupy a useful shelf.
The makers confirm nesting for the three selected boxes, but do not publish the assembled height of these exact empty multipacks with their detached lids. There is therefore no numerical space-saving claim here. Measure the real nested set before allocating a tight cupboard bay. The height of one box alone cannot tell you how far the next rim will sit above it.
## Check each box’s outside footprint and tapered interior
Measure the supported shelf or cupboard base and its entrance. Compare the complete box with the space where it will sit, then compare the usable inside dimensions with the intended contents. Taper helps a tub nest but leaves a smaller base inside. Long craft materials or folded textiles can therefore fail to fit even where the outside rectangle looks generous.
**Illustrative shelf check.** A shelf has 38 cm of supported depth. A box with a 40 cm outside side does not gain full support simply because its tapered base is narrower. Check the maker’s required support and try the other orientation only if the complete alternative footprint and opening fit.
For a nested group, include the widest rim and any handles projecting from it. Check that you can separate the tubs at the chosen height without striking the shelf above. Try one lightly loaded box through the removal route as well. The [shelf and box measuring guide](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/measure-shelves-for-storage-boxes/) records the opening, supported depth and lifting space as separate checks.
## Compare a compact tub, medium system and broad box
The [SmartStore Classic 8L four-pack](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/best-nesting-storage-boxes/#smartstore-classic-8-white-4) has a compact 34 × 25 × 16 cm outside size per box, with white clips and matching lids. Its published inside space is 26.8 × 20.1 × 13.3 cm. It suits small separate groups where the shorter interior is enough for the contents. Orthex specifies nesting without lids and stacking with lids. Leave room to operate the clips and grip the complete nested group.
The [SmartStore Classic 31L three-pack](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/best-nesting-storage-boxes/#smartstore-classic-31-black-3) offers a larger 50 × 39 × 26 cm outside box with black clips. Its inside dimensions are 40 × 30.7 × 22.1 cm. Compare that interior with a real packed group rather than treating 31 litres as a shape. The maker names Classic 20 and 52 for stacking compatibility. A stacking relationship does not establish that their lids are interchangeable; keep the exact lid identification with each tub.
The [Wham Crystal 45L five-pack](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/best-nesting-storage-boxes/#wham-crystal-45-clear-5) uses a broader 60 × 40 × 25 cm outside footprint. The selected offer gives a 50.5 × 31 × 24 cm interior. Its lower, wide shape can suit longer groups where the shelf and withdrawal route support it. What More confirms empty nesting and loaded stacking. Check the five-box pack against how many you need and the room required to handle the empty group.
## Test separating, filling and returning the group
Separate the empty tubs gently as their maker advises. Keep fingers clear of pinch points and avoid forcing a jammed rim. Return only suitable empty boxes to the nested arrangement; loose clips or an overlooked object inside can change how the next tub sits. Dry boxes after cleaning before putting them away together.
Fill one box with a normal group, fit its matching lid and check the carrying grip and removal route. Follow the exact stacking guidance if you will store full boxes together. A nested storage benefit does not change the weight you can handle comfortably or the shelf’s permitted load. The [load-rating guide](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/read-shelving-load-ratings/) explains the shelf and whole-unit checks.
Compare the [stackable box guide](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/best-stackable-storage-boxes/) when loaded access is the main priority. If a lid goes missing, the [replacement-lid guide](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/replace-a-lost-storage-box-lid/) shows how to identify the exact range before ordering a similar-looking part.
## Questions before you choose
### Do nesting boxes keep their lids on?
These selected tubs nest empty with their lids removed. Store matching lids together and use the maker’s permitted lidded arrangement for loaded stacking.
### How much space will an empty multipack save?
The makers do not give a measured nested-pack height for these exact offers. Measure the complete empty group and detached lids before assigning a tight bay.
### Can different capacities share one lid?
Only where the maker expressly confirms that lid compatibility. A stacking relationship between sizes does not establish lid interchangeability.
### Why is the inside smaller than the outside footprint?
Taper, walls and the rim take space. Compare the usable inside base with the contents and the outside size with the supported shelf.
### What should I check before separating nested tubs?
Follow the maker’s guidance, check for trapped objects or clips and make sure there is enough space to lift one tub clear without forcing the rim.
## How this shortlist was assembled
We checked three exact Amazon UK multipacks against their makers’ nesting, stacking and dimension information. No measured nested-pack height is published for these offers, so we omit numerical space-saving claims and keep detached-lid storage as a separate check.
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**Space Made Useful**
We compare documented dimensions, opening mechanisms and other details that help you choose storage for the space you have. [How we research our guides](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/editorial-policy/).
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