Check the shelf, the entrance and the lid separately. A bin that fits inside can still fail at a hinge or need to come out before you can open it.
In this answer
Measure the opening you actually use
Measure with the door open as far as you normally use it. A door that reaches 90 degrees beside a wall may leave its edge in the opening. Measure between that edge and the opposite frame, then check the hinge projection lower down. Repeat at the height where the bin will travel.
Write down the narrowest opening and the shallowest usable shelf depth. The closed door also needs room for its hinges and catches. A shelf measurement taken behind the face frame can be several inches more generous than the route into it.
Scroll across to read every column.
| Measure | Include |
|---|---|
| Shelf: width × depth × height | Brackets, rear pipes and the door in its closed position |
| Entrance: width × height | Door edge and hinges at the normal opening angle |
| Bin: maximum outside dimensions | Lid, rim, handles and latches |
| Opening space | Finger grip, vertical lid lift and any sideways lid swing |
A bin fits the shelf but fails the doorway
In this worked example, the bin measures 10.5 W × 15 D × 10 H in, including its rim. Allow 0.5 in on each side for handling. The straight-in route needs 11.5 in of width and 11 in of height. An 11 in doorway fails even with a 35.5 in shelf behind it.
The same bin needs 4 in of vertical movement to remove its lid. With the chosen half-inch gaps above and below, that is 10 + 4 + 2 × 0.5 = 15 in. On a 14.5 in shelf, the body fits but the lid cannot lift as planned. Choose a lower bin or pull this one out before opening it. These allowances describe this example: measure the movement of your own lid and hand.
What to change when the loaded bin catches
Try one bin with the things you intend to store. Pull it fully out, set it down, open it and return it. A handle that clears empty may be awkward to grip when the contents are heavy. Keep neighboring bins in place during the test.
A caught handle usually calls for a narrower outside profile or a different orientation. A lid that hits the shelf calls for a lower container or an open-top design. Turning a bin changes both width and depth, so remeasure the closed-door clearance after rotating it.
Scroll across to read every column.
| What happens | Try next |
|---|---|
| Rim strikes the hinge | Move that bin away from the hinge or use a narrower bin in the end position. |
| The hand fits but the knuckles scrape above | Use a front grip or a lower bin. Test the loaded pull before buying more. |
| Bin comes out, but the lid catches | Open it on a counter or choose a removable lid with less lift. |
| The closed door pushes the bin backward | Reduce bin depth. Space behind the bin does not cancel a front obstruction. |
Before buying a whole set
Make a cardboard footprint at the maximum outside width and depth. It is a quick way to reject a clearly oversized option, but it cannot test a handle, taper or flexible lid. Buy or borrow one full-size sample for the final access check.
Product dimensions can describe the box without its optional lid. IKEA’s SAMLA 701.029.72, for example, lists an 11 × 7½ × 5½ in box with a lid sold separately. Measure the assembled version if you plan to use that lid.
Check your own shelf.
Compare storage binsSources
- IKEA US — SAMLA box product information ↗
SAMLA box dimensions and separately sold lid.