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How to measure a shelf opening for storage totes
Measure the narrowest clear path into the shelf, not the shelf board. Posts, lips, braces and doors all reduce the opening a tote must pass through.
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Lids, handles and lips: the tote dimensions people miss
A tote's listed size is usually its body. Latches, lid overhang, carry handles and moulded lips all add to the space it really needs.
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Standard shelf depths: 12, 18 and 24 inches
Most freestanding and wire shelving is sold in 12, 18 or 24 inch depths. Depth decides tote footprint and whether totes can sit side by side or front to back.
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Adjustable wire shelving: setting the level height
Wire shelving posts use fixed locator increments, so shelf height is a choice you make rather than a number you are stuck with.
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Why a tote does not fit: the four failure modes
A rectangular tote fails to fit for one of a small number of geometric reasons. Knowing which one tells you whether a different tote or a different shelf is the fix.
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How many totes fit per shelf, and per unit
Capacity is a whole-number question. Work out how many totes fit across one level, then multiply only by the levels you have actually verified.