8 Genius Underbed Storage Solutions That Organize and Save Space

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."

The area under your bed can be an environment where dust mites thrive in small retirement communities, or it can be a place thoroughly utilized to store all the stuff you don't need on a daily or even monthly basis. To us, the choice is simple, especially since there are so many stellar underbed storage products out there that organize and save space.

Here's a fun questionnaire for those still pondering whether buying an underbed storage bin is worth it. Where's the easiest, most convenient place to put your heavy comforter during the warm months? Under the bed. Where can you hide your piles of swimsuits and sarongs when you're not actively in a tropical locale? Under the bed. Where can your toddler store the mountains of LEGOs they've accumulated over birthdays and holidays? Under the bed!

But what is the most efficient, cost-effective, and quality product that will solve all these storage puzzles? The answer is below.

Best Underbed Storage Products

• Best Overall: Latitude Run Underbed Storage with Wheels

• Best Budget: Zober Underbed Storage Containers

• The Expert's Choice: The Container Store Long Underbed Boxes

• Best for Kids: caktraie Underbed Bins on Wheels

• Best Clear Top Containers: Amazon Basics Underbed Fabric Storage Containers

What to Consider

Before you start buying boxes and bins, there are a few things you'll want to think over: what you're storing, the height of your bed, and what's on the floor. You don't want to make the mistake some of us have made and buy roller bins for shag carpeting! It won't end well.

What You're Storing

What you're storing will affect your choice of product the most. Are you looking to store toys that your kids will want daily access to? Are you putting away large blankets or comforters that you won't need to see for another six months? Are the items soft or bulky? Do you need a label, a lid, or a clear area to remember what you've put in them? Also, do you want a watertight box to protect documents or something that breathes to keep fabrics nice?

Height of Your Bed

Most bed frames provide about 9 inches of clearance under the mattress, which is perfect for underbed storage options around 6 inches tall, of which there are many. However, you can purchase bed frames that have longer legs or lifts that will make beds taller. Lifts are a popular option for dorm rooms, where space is historically tight.

What's on the Floor

Is your bedroom carpeted? Not all wheels work well on rugs, let alone plush or shag carpets as we mentioned above. Then again, fabric bins can be tough to pull over carpets when loaded with heavy materials, so you'll want to make sure you get something with a reinforced handle and a bottom that's smooth enough to glide over the rugs. You don't want something too woven when you're pulling it over a rug.

How We Chose

We pored over options from Amazon, Wayfair, The Container Store, and various small businesses. We considered price points, aesthetics, and ease of use. But perhaps most importantly, we consulted an expert! We tapped Kate Pawlowski, cofounder of NYC-based professional organizing firm Done & Done Home and author of Love Your Home Again: Organize Your Space and Uncover the Home of Your Dreams, to share some tips and recommendations. Her biggest pieces of advice? Lids and labels!

"We typically see out-of-season clothes, linens, and sentimental items," she says. "In each of these cases, we would recommend something with a lid. For sentimental, I would recommend plastic. For clothing or linens, you're better off with canvas or cotton because the fabric needs to breathe. I would also label any bins really well since people tend to forget what they stick under the bed unless they're accessing it frequently."

Now, as Joe Fox would say in You've Got Mail and The Godfather's Mario Puzo before him, "to the mattresses" — and beyond.

Underbed Storage with Wheels

With its clear zippered lid, rotating wheels, and adjustable partitions, it's no wonder Latitude Run's storage bins are our best overall underbed storage pick (and are also a favorite among Wayfair shoppers). Each bin measures just over 6 inches tall and has the capacity for 42 cubic liters of storage — giving you maximum storage for all the things.

It may seem like a small detail, but the fact that the wheels rotate a full 360 degrees is a lifesaver; you'll be able to pull the bins out from the sides of the bed or the bottom. This is huge if your bed is up against a wall or near enough that it's difficult to pull a whole bin out. There are also pull handles on three sides, making it easy to shift the bin around in any direction.

Best of all, there's a clear label section, allowing you to know exactly what's in the bin without having to pull it out.

Undebed Storage Containers (Set of 2)

Thousands of Amazon reviewers have awarded these affordable containers five stars thanks to their large capacity (one reviewer says she fits 20 sweaters in one bin) and lightweight construction. If you're not sold on the gray color, this is one of the few products that come in multiple hues. You can also go with black or dark brown. Zober boasts that these are "anti-mites" and "tear-proof" — and reviews confirm just that.

"I bought these storage bags to corral my florals (silk flowers, stems, picks, etc.)," says one reviewer. "These are PERFECT! Clear top so I can see which florals are inside (seasonal, etc). I had one left over, so I used it for seasonal blankets/pillows. Super! Easy to move around with the handle, light enough to stack on top of each other. VERY satisfied with this product!"

Priced at just under $15, these underbed containers give you a ton of storage space on a dime.

Long Underbed Boxes (Set of 6)

Sturdy and well-crafted, expert Kate Pawlowski often recommends these to her clients. "We love these basic options from The Container Store," says Pawlowski. "They fit under most beds, clear plastic makes it easy to see what's inside, and the lid keeps things dust-free."

Sporting a length of nearly 36 inches, these are about the length of a roll of wrapping paper, making them the ideal option for seasonal storage. If you want all your storage space to be matchy-matchy, you can pick up some of the many, many other options from The Container Store's Clear Storage line of products. They even have a similar long box with wheels; it's just a little pricier.

"If you want a non-plastic option, we love these canvas ones. They're great for out-of-season clothes or linens you may store under the bed. Also, if you are going to see them sticking out from under the bed, they look a little nicer."

This is a great wedding, housewarming, or baby shower gift because it might not be what someone thinks about, but it's definitely something they could use.

Underbed Bins on Wheels (Set of 2)

Toys constantly on the floor? Banish those bulky building blocks to the recesses under the bed with these bestselling bins. Made of sturdy polypropylene material, the bins feature 360-degree rotating wheels so kids can haul them out from any angle. Beds need to be 6.5 inches off the ground to fit these handily underneath, and a queen bed can hide up to 10 bins. Just think of all the Barbies and Hot Wheels you can fit in these bad boys!

Amazon reviewers claim that these are ridiculously easy to assemble and the wheels work great on hard floors, carpets, and even shag rugs.

"These fit under the bed in my kiddo's room," reads one review. "They are WAY more convenient than the long, 'rolling' underbed storage totes we were using. They are a snap to 'assemble' (just push the wheels into place), lightweight with some flex, but sturdy enough to fill with all sorts of things."

One of our senior editors, Cat Bowen has these and uses them to hold all of her kids' sports socks and shin guards saying, "They all get thrown together and no one minds as they go together anyway. Plus, they're darn durable."

Underbed Fabric Storage Container Bags (Set of 2)

Amazon Basics has a lock on so many products these days, and the company's version of fabric underbed storage containers is just right. For just around $25, you get two collapsible storage bins, each equipped with a clear vinyl top and handles on three sides.

There are three sizes, two of which are about 6-inches tall, while the biggest is just under 11-inches tall. You can also opt for the version without loop handles, which brings the price down to around $15. Reviewers found these ideal for keeping queen-size comforters tucked away and safe from dust and rogue pet fur. There were, however, some complaints that these are hard to pull out on a carpeted floor.

While they don't come with too many bells and whistles, these are a great option if you just need to store some clothes and you're not looking to make a long-term investment.

Underbed Storage (Set of 4)

No bed skirt, no problem! These clever wired boxes are equipped with wooden panels on one side to hide your overflow items while providing an aesthetically pleasing touch to the area between your bed and the floor.

Each of the four bins in the set come with wheels, so they're easy to slide out from the sides (though not the best option if your bed is against a wall). While the boxes alone are only 10 inches tall, the wooden panels are 13.4 inches, so you may need to invest in bed lifts if your frame is closer to the floor.

Wayfair reviews rave about how spacious these are, saying they're easy to assemble and the quality of the items is top-notch. "Good price for four BIG drawers," reads one review. "Easy to assemble. Sturdy. Fit perfectly under my son’s LED bed frame we also bought from Wayfair. Love them!"

Modern Weave Rattan Underbed Baskets

If you're the kind of person who likes sophisticated things, even when 99 percent of your guests won't see them, West Elm's handwoven rattan baskets are for you. Yes, each basket is $145, but who cares when the space under your bed looks like it belongs in a Nancy Meyers movie?

Technically, you can buy West Elm's more affordable ($79) rattan baskets without lids, but the dimensions are slightly smaller and they don't look quite as classy. These big ones hold just as much as the large picks from Amazon, and they'll let your cotton breathe. Remember what our expert said about cotton? Think of the cotton!

This is definitely a giftable storage box, or you could use it as a gift box to hold something like a blanket or sweater!

These are also part of a larger rattan collection that includes utility baskets, hampers, and toy chests. All rattan, all the time! Meryl Streep wishes she could be you.

Vacuum Compression Storage Bags

Imagine all the stuff you have in your closet, then imagine all of those clothes, shrunk down to only require a fifth of the space in your closet. That's what these bags do!

They're not the sexiest option, but vacuum-sealed bags are brilliant for storing clothes, blankets, pillows, or anything soft. Here's how they work: put a bunch of bulky stuff in a bag, zip the bag closed, then use the included hand pump to suck all the extra air out of the bag, reducing the size of its contents by up to 80 percent.

Admittedly, vacuum bags are not a good option for items you want to pull out frequently or if you're looking to have a "pretty" underbed space. These are solutions for storing stuff you won't need for several seasons or even years.

Full disclosure: The space under my kids' beds is loaded with these, filled with clothes they've outgrown but I want to keep them for sentimental reasons.

You Might Also Like

• The Paris Hilton Housewares Collection Brings ‘That’s Hot’ Energy to Your Kitchen

• 16 Best Noise-Canceling Headphones Perfect for Rocking Out in Quiet Bliss

• Beyoncé Uses This $26 Amazon Product for Her Glossy Blonde Hair