The Ultimate Guide to Toy Bin Sizes: Which Container Store Bin Fits Which Toys
- shulamis weil
- 11 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Your complete guide to choosing the right bin for toys, games and art supplies:
If you’ve ever stood in a toy room holding a random piece of plastic wondering, “Which bin is this supposed to go in?”—you’re not alone. This might be one of my most requested topics ever.
Today we’re breaking down exactly which Container Store bin size works best for which toys and games. After organizing hundreds of homes, I can confidently say: matching the right item to the right bin is the secret to a toy system that actually stays neat.
Why I Love The Container Store Bins
If you follow me, you already know these bins are my ride-or-die.
Here’s why:
Affordable
Uniform look that elevates a room instantly
Multiple sizes that allow for totally customized, space-saving systems
Durable and kid-friendly (most of them!)
If you’re planning a toy room makeover, these are 100% the bins I’d recommend.
And if you live outside the US… I’m sorry, because you’re seriously missing out.
Bin-by-Bin Breakdown (From Largest to Smallest)
Below you’ll find each bin size, what it’s good for, what it’s NOT good for, and who should use it.
1. Jumbo Box
When to use it: Rarely
Why I avoid it:
The cover can be dangerous (yes—kids do put each other inside)
Overly large categories become unmanageable and messy
Bottom line: Skip unless you absolutely need a giant bin for oversized items. Discard the covers for safety reasons.
2. Boot Box
When to use it: Only if it fits the space perfectly
Pros:
Long and flat → fits narrow shelves
Cons:
Hard for little hands to pull out
Not ideal for daily access
Best for:
Occasional-use items or oddly shaped spaces.
Nicknamed: The “Clics Box”
A superstar bin. Great for:
Clics
Duplo
Train sets
Any large “building set” you have lots of
Pro tip:
If the set is huge, use two deep sweaters instead of one giant bin. Kids rarely need everything at once = WAY less mess.
4. Sweater Box
Perfect mid-size bin
Best for:
Dolls
Magna-Tiles (this is the biggest I recommend—they get heavy) Use 2 (or more) if needed
Medium toy sets
Why it works:
Two sweater boxes = one deep sweater. Super easy to stack and very kid-friendly.
Also one of our favorites!
A great midsize box
Great for:
Art station supplies
Paper (fits a full ream!), activity books
Medium games or puzzles
Smaller collections of mentchies, matchbox cars, small building sets
A perfect “in-between” size.
Best for: Taller items that don’t fit in regular shoe boxes
Love these for:
Vertical toys
Larger craft categories
Anything long + narrow
They also look amazing stacked with a regular shoe box on top.
7. Shoe Box
The hero of the organizing world
My most-used size—by FAR.
Use for:
Mentchies
Small toys
Games
Art supplies
Basically anything that needs containment
You can organize an entire home with shoe boxes alone.
Smallest useful size
Use for:
Tiny items
Small crafts
Beads or accessories
Not my top pick since it’s shallow and doesn’t save as much space, but still helpful for specific categories.
Choosing the right bin is truly half the battle when creating a toy system that stays neat. The right size makes toys easier to access, easier to clean up, and easier for YOU to maintain.
If you’re overwhelmed, start with:
Shoe boxes (most versatile)
Large shoe boxes
Sweater boxes (best mid-size)
Deep sweater boxes (for larger sets)
Build from there. Your toy room will feel calmer, cleaner, and so much easier to live with—promise.
Happy Organizing!!
Shulamis
Disclosure:
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