The 10 Best Toy Chests
This wiki has been updated 32 times since it was first published in August of 2015. Tired of stuffing your kids' things into whatever cardboard boxes you find lying around, and then tripping over them the next day? It doesn’t have to be this way. You – or better still, your children – can stash their games, puzzles, balls and other things into one of these functional and decorative toy chests, saving you space and organizing your home in the process. When users buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Sauder Pogo
2. Great Useful Stuff Ivory
3. Gimars Organizer
Editor's Notes
July 24, 2019:
We discovered availability issues with the KidKraft Limited Edition that forced us to remove it from the list. We replaced it with the Nautical Cove Keepsake, which is a hit with adventurous kids whose imaginary games involve pirates and searching for buried treasure. It’s hand-crafted with handsome wood, so it should look sharp wherever you decide to keep it. We did find some complaints that its capacity is a bit limited, even with the largest size — so if housing a ton of gear is your top priority, you may want to look elsewhere.
Also added the Whitney Brothers Kid Bin to the Special Honors section. Since we eliminated the only item that had wheels from the list, this model was a perfect fit, as it’s built with casters for easy portability.
We also decided to significantly increase the ranking of the Sauder Pogo, as reports indicate that not only are its users satisfied with its functionality as a toy chest, they like the way it looks as a decorative piece of furniture, too. It has bins for toys, shelves for kids’ books, label slots, and a top surface for ancillary items. If you choose to go with this option, it is imperative that you anchor it securely to the wall for safety, since, no matter how many times we tell them not to, children just seem to have a desire to climb on bookshelves and other tall furniture.
We also want to point out that, while we ensured the models with a hard top on this list have either a slow-close or lid-stay function, you should always teach children to keep their fingers safely away from any areas that could potentially pinch. The only model we excluded from this requirement is the Nautical Cove Keepsake, because we feel that, with its small size, the potential for injury from the lid falling shut is essentially nonexistent.
Special Honors
Whitney Brothers Kid Bin If your little ones live by the “leave no toy behind” rule, this rolling box will make a nice addition to the entertainment room. It’s supported by four strong casters, which make it easy to slide from place to place, even if it’s filled with dolls, balls and games. It’s made in the United States and comes with a lifetime warranty, too. whitneybros.com
4. Katabird Box
5. Step2 2-in-1
6. Little Tikes Primary
7. Delta Children Disney
8. Nautical Cove Keepsake
9. Sauder Shoal Creek
10. 3 Sprouts Trunk
In addition to his corporate career as a marketing and communications professional in Chicago, Sam runs a popular blog that focuses on the city’s flourishing craft beer and brewery scene. He received his degree in journalism from DePaul University (which spurred his interest in freelance writing) and has since spent years developing expertise in copywriting, digital marketing and public relations. A lifetime of fishing, hiking and camping trips has left him well-versed in just about any outdoors-related topic, and over several years spent working in the trades during his youth, he accumulated a wealth of knowledge about tools and machinery. He’s a travel junkie, a health and fitness enthusiast, and an avid biker.