Outdoor Horizontal Storage Sheds

These outdoor horizontal storage sheds are becoming a well favoured storage solution, providing a home for outdoor storage, generating valuable space indoors. Suncast BMS3200Their attraction is a lower height than a standard shed, usually located on a patio, against a house or hidden below a fence from a neighbours view with their main advantage of fitting where space is tight. An ideal storage solution for any patio or backyard, whilst in a garden they easily blend into the landscape.

Below is a review of the most popular, favoured outdoor horizontal storage sheds such as Keter Store-It-Out, Suncast and Rubbermaid.

Keter Store-It-Out range

Keter’s Store-It-Out range have reached the global best seller stage, receiving excellent customer feedback for their various sized horizontal storage sheds.

Made from weather-resistant resin, their durable and stylish construction is designed to keep your storage protected and dry, resulting in extremely low maintenance storage units, without any rust, rot. peel and decay problems to deal with, only requiring a clean when dirty.

Assembling the Store-It-Out range

These units are delivered flat-packed and require self assembly, following easy step-by-step instructions using household tools.  Their advantage for protection against high winds is their low height, usually situated in a sheltered position and in addition to their storage weight they are rarely anchored down into the ground but is imperative the shed stands on a solid level surface to provide integrity to their overall usage and construction.


 

Store-It-Out MIDIKeter Store-It-Out MIDI

The Store-It-Out MIDI is a simple storage solution, designed for both indoor and outdoor use, making summer outdoor living an absolute dream. Store your cushions, books, BBQ equipment and the things you use daily outdoors easily and organised, everything is kept dry and ventilated. No more fumbling around in cupboards, storing your outdoor stuff around the home in case it rains. This is designed to make life easy.

Features of the Store -It -Out MIDI

Storage is kept dry and ventilated, the unit opens from both the top and sides, includes a built-in floor panel to keep your storage dry from the ground up, contains built-in supports for shelves (shelves not included), the doors and roof are lockable (padlock not included) and will store 2 small 120 L / 32 G wheelie bins / trash cans.

External measurements: Width – 130 cm, Depth – 74 cm, Height – 110 cm

Internal measurements: Width – 121 cm, Depth – 64 cm, Height – 100 cm


Store-It-Out MIDI


Keter Store-It-Out MIDI


Environmental issues regarding the Store-It-Out range

The manufactured resin that makes the Store-It-Out range is UV stabilised to resist fading in the sun.

These horizontal sheds are environmentally friendly as the are made with 100% recyclable Polypropylene resin, a resin that makes these sheds resilient, long lasting and virtually maintenance-free.


Keter Store-It-Out MAX

Store-It-Out MAXThe Store-It-Out MAX is larger than the MIDI providing more storage space. and made with the same weather-resistant resin resulting in an attractive storage solution that’s low maintenance, easy to use, designed to protect storage and to fit in small spaces. Ideal for storing items such as outdoor furniture, barbecue equipment, toys, wheelie bins, etc, etc.

This unit will store two 240 L wheelie bins / trash cans

Feature of the Store-It-Out MAX

Immune to the rain conditions with it’s durable construction, a built-in floor panel to keep items on the ground dry, a well designed threshold allows taking wheelie bins in and out with little effort, a bin opening kit prevents your hands touching the bin whilst making life easier to place rubbish in the bins, the lid has an easy opening mechanism due to the hydraulic pistons, the lid and both doors open for easy access whilst a step-on lock makes closing the doors easy. Shelf supports are built-in (shelves not included) and the doors and lid are lockable (padlock not included).

External measurements: Width – 145.5 cm, Depth – 82 cm, Height – 125 cm

Internal measurements: Width – 132 cm, Depth – 76 cm, Height – 110 cm


Store-It-Out MAX


Keter Store-It-Out MAX


Store-It-Out ULTRA

Store-It-Out ULTRAThe Store-It-Out ULTRA is an extremely popular storage solution with customer reviews to match. The largest in the Store-It-Out range, a spacious, weather-resistant and durable horizontal storage solution capable for wheelie bin storage, pool equipment and bike storage, along with a whole range of different outdoor storing options. All designed to protect storage whilst sitting in a small space.

Features of the Store-It-Out ULTRA

Spacious, it can accommodate two 360 L or three 120 L wheelie bins / trash cans, built to keep your storage dry whilst ventilation is built into the doors to keep storage aired. Includes a built-in floor, a sloped threshold for easy wheeling access in and out, both the lid and the doors open and are lockable (padlock not included), shelf supports make it possible to increase storage options (shelves not included) and includes the well remarked-upon bin-opening kit.

External measurements: Width – 177 cm, Depth – 113 cm, Height – 134 cm

Internal measurements: Width – 164 cm, Depth – 97 cm, Height – 127 cm


Store-It-Out ULTRA


Keter Store-It-Out UTLRA


The best regarded features of the Store-It-Out range

Hydraulic pistons Easy opening lid

The ULTRA and MAX both include an easy opening mechanism as their lid is operated with hydraulic pistons making opening the lid easy.

This easy opening lid receives great feedback as the weight of the lid would make lifting difficult without the pistons.

The opening mechanism with hydraulic pistons is an optional extra for the Store-It-Out MIDI as it’s not essential for the lid weight to require this.


Bin Opening kitBin opening kit

The bin opening kit is a great design, one of the many reasons these sheds are so popular.

This kit is included on the Store-It-Out MAX and ULTRA.

The bin opening kit enables you to open the lid without touching the bins and is operated with having the doors closed. Along with the easy opening mechanism, clearing away rubbish requires little effort.

The ULTRA will hold two 360 L wheelie bins / trash cans or three 120 L wheelie bins / trash cans.

The MAX will hold store two 240 L wheelie bins / trash can


Sloped thresholdThe built-in floor panel and sloped threshold

The Store-It-Out range includes a built-in floor panel to keep storage dry even when stored on the ground. This panel is built into the walls of the shed resulting in a seamless structure preventing rain, pests and rodents from entering through gaps.

The sloped threshold on the MAX and ULTRA is specifically designed to make wheeling bins and bikes in and out of the shed with ease, no problem here for wheeling in bulky items.


LockableLockable doors and lid

The doors and lid on the Store-It-Out range are lockable for security and peace of mind.

The Store-It-Out MIDI requires a standard padlock as it contains a different lock to the ULTRA and MAX.

You will need to purchase a longer shackle waterproof lock to enable it to fit the MAX and ULTRA


All good so far but there must be some negatives

Bike ShedAlthough these horizontal sheds are fairly sturdy they are not as solid as a wood shed but not many will expect this. The main advantage is that it does the job it’s built for, keeping storage dry whilst the maintenance job is a quick wash down when dirty rather than re-felting and re-staining a rotting wooden shed.

For those wishing to purchase the ULTRA for a bike shed please read the internal measurements. It’s a great kids bike shed and will fit most adult bikes if you turn the front wheel to fit the bike in. A few have stated their adult bike will only fit in if you take the front wheel off – this could be a hassle!

Comments regarding a possible design flaw in relation to the water channels that run across the roof/lid on the MAX are quite common. Rain water gathers in these channels as it has nowhere to run. A few have remarked that the channels would be better running down the lid for the rain water to run straight off.

Some have received a damaged shed on delivery, plastic is brittle and breaks when the box is thrown around. Keter seem to be very good at replacing broken parts but this does take time and creates hassle. An increasing problem with all deliveries these days.

Read the reviews if you live in a hot climate. These sheds seem to suffer from warping if stood out in the blazing hot sun, better situated in the shade.


 

Suncast Horizontal Storage Sheds

Suncast have a highly desired range of horizontal storage sheds, well established and renowned for their quality and durable build in the USA, receiving rewarding feedback from customers and now available in the UK but are more expensive due to shipping.

A similar style to the Keter horizontal storage sheds, they are easy to assemble, made with a weather-resistant polypropylene resin construction with UV sun protection, a wash-down for maintenance, nice and sturdy build quality with a desirable appearance to complement any garden, patio or backyard.

Suncast Horizontal Storage Shed: BMS3200

The Suncast BMS3200 also know as the Suncast Kensington Four Model has a 32 cubic ft capacity

Suncast BMS3200Manufactured out of blow molded resin into a 1.5″ thick double walled structure to provide resistance against the weather conditions. The resin finish has the appearance of a wood-grained affect, a stylish look that runs across the outer surface of the shed. A vanilla / sandy coloured body with a chocolate coloured top and base trim.

Contains wide, hard wearing doors that open the entire width of the shed. Metal hinges for the door opening provide stability. The lid has to be lifted slightly to open the doors but this does have the advantage of ensuring closing the whole shed. The built-in floor is fairly heavy duty allowing the storage of weighty items and linked to the walls to accomplish a sealed unit. Two shelf supports are built-in as slots in the centre of the shed, the detailed instructions provide the dimensions if you wish to add shelves (shelves not included).

For security, a padlock is required, the shed is locked via a catch where the lid and doors close together.

The beauty about this shed is the assembly, it requires no tools to build, very detailed instructions, with all parts labelled, making this shed quite fun to build; the reason this shed receives rave reviews.

External measurements: Width – 4 ft 8″ / Depth – 2 ft 7.5″ / Height – 4 ft 2.25″

Internal measurements: Width – 4 ft 2″ / Depth – 2 ft / Height – 3 ft 10″

Suncast BMS3200


Suncast GS1000BSuncast GS1000B

The Suncast GS1000B is another cleverly designed no-tool assembled shed that’s smaller in size, a 20 cubic ft capacity and a doddle to erect as it all snaps into place.

Constructed out of durable resin, a resin grain finish that stays dry and 1.5″ thick walls provides a well-built weather-proof shed capable of storing a whole range of outdoor storage items. The wall colour is taupe, the roof and bottom skirt, mocha, a combination that will equip any patio with style.

Suncast GS1000B The lid has to be opened a fraction to enable the doors to be opened but this ensures a well-closed unit when shut, a foot-lock ensures this. The easy to lift lid works with a prop rod whilst the broad double doors open with little effort.

Once the unit is closed a catch allows the shed to be locked with the aid of a padlock (padlock not included) but don’t expect a bank vault.

The shed includes a built-in floor that clips into the walls to ensure no gaps for rain and pests to enter. Shelf supports are built-in but shelves are not included.

Great little shed with happy customers – read the reviews.

External measurements: Width – 4 ft 7.75″ / Depth – 2 ft 6.25″ / Height – 2 ft 10.25″

Internal measurements: Width – 4 ft 2″ / Depth – 2 ft / Height – 2 ft 6.5″

Suncast GS1000B


Suncast BMS range

Suncast BMS3400The Suncast BMS range are some of the best selling horizontal storage sheds on the market. Dependant on size they are useful for storing a wide range of storage items from wheelie bin / trash bin storage, pool equipment, gardening accessories, barbecue equipment, outdoor seating and toys etc, etc.

This range is made from weather-resistant resin, built into a twin-walled panelled construction – a weather proof design to protect storage, keeping it dry.

They are a good looking range of sheds, a clean striking appearance designed to enhance any garden and patio, well-liked and extremely popular.

Inside the sheds includes a reinforced built-in floor capable of storing weighty items, adjoining the walls to provide a seamless structure. Two doors open the width of the sheds proving easy access, upon closing the doors a step-on lock is a useful addition.

Suncast BMS2500On lifting the lid a prop rod is in place to keep the lid up, the lid needs to be lifted a tad to enable opening the doors. A padlock is required to lock the lid and doors by inserting through the catch.

Many have built these sheds quickly without any problems and are delighted with their purchase. These sheds are described as having an easy assembly requiring minimal tools but others have found assembling frustrating, very vague instructions, taking ages to build even to the point where pilot holes had to be drilled before inserting the screws. Why some have had these problems while others haven’t is a mystery.

Another common problem is on wild windy days, blowing the roof open causing the hinges to break. To alleviate this problem lock the doors and roof with a padlock.

The shed is better kept in the shade if you live in a hot climate, blazing hot sun can cause warping over time.


Suncast 34 cubic ft horizontal shed


Read the measurements to verify it meets your storage needs:

Suncast BSM2500

34 cubic foot capacity

External measurements: Width – 4 ft 5″ / Depth – 2 ft 8.25″ / Height – 3 ft 9.5″

Internal measurements: Width – 4 ft 1″ / Depth – 2 ft 4.25″ / Height – 3 ft 7″

Suncast BMS2500


Suncast BMS3400

34 cubic foot capacity

External measurements: Width – 4 ft 5″ / Depth – 2 ft 8.5″ / Height – 3 ft 9.5″

Internal measurements: Width – 4 ft 1″ / Depth – 2 ft 4.25″ / Height – 3 ft 7.5″

Suncast BMS3400


Suncast BMS4700

The Suncast BMS4700 is a larger model with a 70 cubic foot capacity.Suncast BMS4700

Vanilla coloured walls with a stoney coloured roof and base trim – a well presented clean modern look.

Due to the larger size, this shed has been designed with a few extras to increase it’s rigidity.

A steel reinforced construction making this larger shed size sturdy, includes a ramp to enable wheeling bins or a mower in and out with ease and is designed with gas shocks to aid lifting the lid with little effort.

Make sure this shed is laid on a solid level surface, very important for the integrity of the construction and it’s full potential usage.

External measurements: Width – 5 ft 10.5″ / Depth – 3 ft 8.25″ / Height – 4 ft 4″

Internal measurements: Width – 5 ft 5.5″ / Depth – 3 ft 2.5″ / Height – 4 ft 1.5″


Suncast StowAway Horizontal Shed


Suncast BMS4900D 

If you are looking for a high quality large shed without the height of a standard shed, take a look at Suncast’s BMS4900D. Striking in appearance, it’s sandy coloured body and chocolate roof and bottom trim provide neutral tones with an appealing wood-like textured grain effect, a subtle look to harmonise any garden or backyard with a 98 cubic foot capacity.

Suncast BMS4900 This is another straight forward snap into place assembly shed developed by Suncast that requires minimal tools to build, the reason it’s so popular. Make sure the shed will stand on a solid level base (wood, concrete or paving slabs) to provide integrity for it’s overall construction and usage.

Worried about crawling in to this deep shed to get your storage out – No problem, it’s been cleverly designed with a gliding roof. The roof is in two sections, just slide the front half of the roof across the back half and walk in.

Double doors spanning the entire width of this shed offer great access for items such as bikes and lawnmowers, outdoor seating, toys, garden and barbecue equipment, the list goes on.

The shed body is engineered using blow-molded technology, making the polypropylene resin into a chunky walled structure, unique to Suncast, resulting in a solid shed that resists wet weather conditions keeping storage dry and protected whilst benefiting from little maintenance work, a quick clean down – the job’s done.

Suncast BMS4900The resin built-in floor interlocks into place during assembly and is strengthened to accommodate a ride-on mower (check the measurements) and other substantial items. The floor can be anchored down into the ground if you wish to increase the shed’s stability but due to the low height it’s not essential, depends on how exposed or sheltered the area is and how much storage weight it accommodates. Metal supports and beam strengthen the roof structure. For security, the doors and roof lock together via a padlock through the catch (padlock not supplied).

This is a well favoured shed rewarded with first-rate feedback, try and find a negative review!

External measurements: Width – 4 ft 9.5″ / Depth – 6 ft 7.75″ / Height – 4 ft 4″

Internal measurements: Width – 4 ft 2.25″ / Depth – 5 ft 11.75″ / Height – 4 ft 1″

Read the full review of the Suncast Glidetop here:

Suncast BMS4900


 

Rubbermaid outdoor horizontal plastic storage sheds

Rubbermaid 18c ftRubbermaid, well renowned and established in the USA for their innovative products have designed these well respected plastic horizontal sheds. Perfectly designed for a patio they come in an 18 and 32 cubic ft size.

Ideal for storing patio accessories, small garden tools and supplies, their calm tones and modish looks will add a striking addition to any patio.

Maintenance duties dealing with rust, rot and decay are no problem here as these sheds boast an extremely low maintenance plastic construction that only requires a wipe down when dirty. Manufactured from resin and assembled into a strong twin-walled structure, designed to be impervious to the wet weather elements, fading in the sun and to denting. They contain a heavy duty floor built-in to the walls providing a seamless structure preventing leaks and an elegant styled weatherproof lid finishes off the units.

Rubbermaid 32c ftThe lid has to be slightly opened to enable the doors to open but this does ensure a sealed unit when closed. For security, a padlock is required to lock both doors and lid using the built-in hasp. The double doors and lid provide easy access as they’re designed to open up the entire shed.

For most, these serve as the perfect shed but they haven’t escaped the odd grumble:

Shelves are an additional extra on these sheds, left with the option of making a shelf or buying one, this has upset a few as they are quite expensive extras.

Another concern is: if the shed is living in a hot climate and subject to blazing hot sun they can be prone to warping, it’s happened to a few and maybe better sheltering in the shade.


Rubbermaid 18 cubic ft horizontal storage shed

Rubbermaid 18c ft

External measurements: Width – 55″, Depth – 28″, Height – 36″

Rubbermaid 18c ft


Rubbermaid 32 cubic ft horizontal storage shed

Rubbermaid 32c ft

External measurements: Width – 60″, Depth – 32″, Height – 47″

Rubbermaid 32c ft


Rubbermaid outdoor plastic horizontal storage shed

Rubbermaid horizontal shedA 96 cubic ft capacity with a low height, designed to stand below a standard high fence. Stylish looks, manufactured in twin-walled weather-resistant resin provide durability and peace of mind knowing your storage will be protected from the weather elements keeping it safe and dry. Rubbermaid describe this shed to resist leaks and dents.

Ideal for storing items such as lawn mowers, ride on mowers, bicycles, long handled gardening tools, large power equipment, wheelie/trash bins, toys, gardening equipment, etc, etc – so many storage options.

Rubbermaid horizontal shedAccess into this shed is similar to the Suncast BMS4900D, where double doors spanning the entire width of the shed open into this unit providing easy entrance / exit of storage items. As it’s deep and to prevent crawling into the shed, the roof is made into two sections, the front section easily slides over the rear section on rollers opening the entire shed for easy access to items stored at the rear.

The floor is built in, made of heavy duty resin designed to cope with the stresses of demanding storage use but this will only suffice if the shed sits on a solid level base.

Rubbermaid horizontal shedThe doors secure to the roof with Rubbermaid’s unique ‘cane bolt locking mechanism’ and can be locked with a padlock (padlock not included) via the hasp.

This shed includes 8 wall anchors allowing shelves, racking and peg boards to be fit, these additional accessories can be purchased through Rubbermaid or you can make your own shelves to fit the included wall anchors.

An excellent, virtually maintenance-free horizontal shed without the upkeep duties a wooden shed has. A shed that blends nicely into the landscape, doesn’t stand high therefore won’t obstruct the view.

Rubbermaid horizontal shed

Exterior dimensions: Width – 57″ , Depth – 76.25″ , Height – 53″

This Rubbermaid horizontal shed can be easily assembled using household tools but needs to sit on a solid level base to cope with heavy duty storage.

Rubbermaid horizontal shed

Rubbermaid horizontal shed


 

Good luck with your decision and thanks for looking,

Simon.

 

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6 Comments

  1. Camping Fever

    Do you guys offer catalogs that can be mailed to me. I am very interested in becoming a distributor for your products

    • Hi Camping Fever,
      This Quality Plastic Shed website is just a pure passion of mine since converting from our last wooden hut into the new style of resin storage shed. I was so impressed with how they eliminated maintenance duties, after a lot of research I thought I’d share my knowledge by writing articles on the various styles of outdoor resin facilities.

      This isn’t a sales site, I don’t sell sheds nor accessories therefore there’s no allegiance to any particular manufacturer, I just pass on the knowledge I’ve learnt to help visitors make an informed decision prior to their purchase.

      My passion wanted to produce a user-friendly website without banners, ads & popups where visitors can roam around in their leisure and hopefully find the answers they’re searching for.

      Sorry I can’t be more helpful, thanks for getting in touch,
      Simon.

  2. Great article. I have a storage building business, and a lot of my customers do not need so much space, like many of the sheds sizes we offer. This is great to house smaller things, which many of customers need. I am going to reference this next time that happens. Thanks for writing, and I am glad I found what I was looking for!

    • Hi Alek,
      Thanks for calling in and leaving a message.

      My passion is low maintenance outdoor storage solutions and these horizontal storage facilities are becoming a very popular alternative to the wooden variety as there’s none of the future upkeep duties involved in maintaining them.

      There’s a whole plethora of styles and sizes. Some, like the Suncast models are becoming increasingly popular due to their easy fast assembly as they all clip together. Another popular reason of course is not everyone wants a tall shed, they prefer the stance not to exceed the height of their garden fence or wall and these are the perfect solution.

      Thanks for referencing future customers looking for horizontal sheds, I am glad you found what you were looking for.
      Thanks again Alek,
      Simon.

  3. This horizontal storage shed would be a great house for my dog and cats (they all sleep together).

    Simon, this is a great topic to think about for my mom’s garden 🙂

    • Hi Sunny,
      Thanks for reading and commenting.

      Yes you let your Mom have a look. The beauty is they have such low maintenance and are long lasting plus they are easy to assemble.

      I love the Suncast BMS4900D, it all snaps into place during assembly. Great small horizontal shed with a roof that slides back for easy entry and it sits under a fence which is ideal if space is an issue. Try and find a bad review on this one!

      Thanks again,
      Simon.

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