However, many rolling storage carts can pull double duty around the house, such as those with countertops that serve as kitchen islands. Or if space is your biggest limitation, you’ll find narrow storage carts that fit snugly into the odd, unused spaces and crevices in bathrooms, laundry rooms, and kitchens. To determine the best rolling storage carts, we devoted hours to researching the top-rated options, considering the best material, shape, and size for different use contexts. (For example, what works for the office isn’t always compatible with a humid environment like a bathroom). We also spoke to design and organization consultant Liz Dahmen of Make Space LLC in New York, to better understand which organizational quandaries are best solved by wheels, and which are to be avoided. “Generally, I love anything on wheels,” says Dahmen. “Desks! Chairs! Roller skates! But it’s important to know that once something rolls, it loses some stability. That means if you’re storing things like tall, skinny bottles, they’re going to topple over the minute you hit a bump. Reaching down and righting tipped bottles is not a delightful way to spend time, so store on wheels with care!” While anything on wheels is subject to some instability, we did account for durability, caster-locking stability, and reasonable weight capacity when rounding up our picks. We also favored a few picks with bonus storage features such as hooks, rods, or compatible accessories like peg boards and hooking container cups. Our top pick The Container Store 3-Tier Rolling Cart, prioritizes function, style, and affordability, making it compatible with almost any storage need and budget. Keep scrolling for more of our rolling storage cart recommendations, plus tips for organizing with storage carts. Who it’s not for: People storing potentially leaky bathroom toiletries. The 3-Tier Rolling Cart from The Container Store is compatible with almost any storage need: organizing snacks in the pantry, corralling craft supplies in the studio, or stocking diapers in the nursery. The interior shelf dimensions even fit letter and legal-size paper and interior file folders, making this cart a good fit for the office or classroom, too. This cart also includes a range of compatible attachments from The Container Store, such as pegboards and hooking container cups, the latter of which help users to roundup runaway doodads that tend to migrate to the bottom of drawers, such as makeup or pencils. The pegboard allows users to make the most of this small storage solution—it’s the perfect place to hang clunky items such as hot glue guns or hair straighteners that needlessly take up a lot of room when stored horizontally. Users can choose from eight possible colors, including teal, sage, blush, mint, light blue, and a range of neutrals. One potential downside to this rolling cart involves the mesh shelving: While ventilation is great for storing things like towels or pantry items, it’s less ideal for storing bathroom toiletries that may leak. Price at time of publish: $40
Dimensions: 30.6 x 14.3 x 17 inchesWeight Capacity: 6.6 pounds per shelf Material: Steel
Who it’s not for: People looking for a thrifty storage solution. While the words “rolling storage cart” may evoke images of economical plastic drawers, sometimes you want something with a little more panache—especially if you don’t have an available closet where you can stash your cart away when company calls. Bar carts can be quite versatile pieces when it comes to outfitting a kitchen, living room, or transitional space, especially for those living in small spaces who love to host. While a mixologist might take a literal approach to stocking a bar cart—showing off their vintage decanters, liqueurs, and accessories—bar carts are also the perfect place to store your cookbooks, finishing oils, linens, utensils, and serving trays. This made-to-last bar cart from Joss & Main features a sturdy steel frame (available in black or gold) with an elegant glass top for a storage solution you’ll actually want to keep on display. Price at time of publish: From $260
Dimensions: 34 x 19 x 28 inchesWeight Capacity: 33 pounds per shelf Material: Steel frame with glass top
Who it’s not for: People with lots of larger objects or liquid items to store. This little cart packs a lot in a small package. The metal mesh material allows for ample airflow to help prevent mold, and the sturdy drawers slide open and closed with ease. An artist or home crafter’s dream, the four drawers keep supplies sorted and accessible, and the small profile and rolling wheels make this unit great for anyone with limited space. It also works well tucked inside a closet to help separate smaller items like socks, underwear, and t-shirts. One thing to be aware of, though: You’ll have to purchase the wheels separately, so it requires a bit more labor to put together than other carts. Still, it’s worth it in the long run, and it’s also part of The Container Store’s popular Elfa system, which matches perfectly with a range of other helpful pieces (think shelving, wall racks, and more). Price at time of publish: $180
Exterior Dimensions: 29 x 18 x 21 inchesWeight Capacity: 90 pounds Material: Steel
Who it’s not for: People who want to store large items. This rolling storage cart is tailor-made for that narrow, seemingly unusable space in your bathroom or laundry room that hosts only dust bunnies and the occasional nomadic sock. The Yamazaki Steel Rolling Storage Carti slides effortlessly into those snug spaces, providing generous storage with a small footprint. Thin rails run the length of the shelving and help prevent small items from sliding out, making this the perfect cart for household bits and bobs, such as light bulbs, batteries, and cluttered toiletries. And these narrow carts are also indispensable for home chefs who keep a cascading stash of spices in their cabinets—turn that narrow gap by the dishwasher into your personal spice cellar! Price at time of publish: $145
Dimensions: 18.7 x 5.1 x 31.7 inchesWeight Capacity: Top board: 2.2 pounds; top shelf: 4.4 pounds; middle shelf: 6.6 pounds; bottom shelf: 13.2 poundsMaterial: Steel
Who it’s not for: People who need ample shelving storage. What sets this rolling cart apart from the rest is its removable cover board. The natural pine lid transforms this storage cart into an attractive table. Store your crafts inside and use it as a mobile workstation, or pack it full of your favorite novels and nighttime necessities—an eye mask, lip balm, reading glasses—and use it as a nightstand. (Two heavy-duty lockable casters allow you to secure your table when you want a more permanent setup.) Though small, this cart is strong: While many small storage carts have shelf weight capacities between six and 10 pounds, this little cart can carry up to 33 pounds per shelf. Made of high-quality carbon steel, this cart is also rust-, water-, and scratch-resistant. You can choose from four potential colors: black, gray, white, and turquoise. Price at time of publish: $49
Dimensions: 19.3 x 17.7 x 13.8 inches Weight Capacity: 33 pounds per shelf Material: Carbon steel with pine lids
Who it’s not for: People storing toiletries or goods that may spill and require cleanup. This large rolling utility storage rack with shallow mesh basket trays is perfect for the office, kitchen, or pantry. This sturdy carbon steel unit boasts a per shelf weight capacity of 18 pounds (90 pounds for the entire unit) and two lockable casters for stability. The open mesh baskets provide visibility and easy access to stored items and facilitate ventilation to eliminate any trapped moisture and reduce dust buildup, and the epoxy-coated finish prevents corrosion in humid environments. Price at time of publish: From $30
Dimensions: 17.7 x 10.2 x 41.5 inches Weight Capacity: 18 pounds per shelf Material: Carbon steel
Who it’s not for: People looking for a rolling storage cart to stow away in a pantry or closet. This multifunctional piece pulls double duty in the kitchen. It acts as a rolling storage cart and a freestanding kitchen island, providing extra prep space in addition to extra storage space. Its wheels are both lockable and removable, so it works for those who want a more permanent, central piece and those who need more flexibility to move things around. Featuring two open shelves, a cabinet, and a drawer, this is a versatile piece with ample open and contained storage. Users will also appreciate the towel bar, which helps to keep towels and oven mitts at hand. This unit features a solid oak wood top and a base made of premium manufactured wood, so you should see long-lasting durability. This cart comes in five color options, including black, gray, white, navy blue, and red. Price at time of publish: $255
Dimensions: 32.5 x 17.3 x 34.5 inches Weight Capacity: 180 poundsMaterial: Manufactured wood and oak wood
Who it’s not for: People who need to store heavier items like detergent bottles. This cart could work for just about any room, but it’s the perfect storage solution for the bathroom because it’s long enough to store towels if needed, but the baskets are also shallow enough to keep smaller toiletries in sight. Additionally, the shelving baskets are made of ventilated plastic, an ideal material for a humid bathroom environment. And the small, perforated ‘flower’ vents are an improvement over conventional wire mesh for use in the bathroom, because the latter can make it difficult to keep smaller toiletries upright and prove difficult to clean in the case of liquid spills. This unit also includes four hooks for hanging damp items like shower caps and loofahs that need to air dry. Price at time of publish: $30
Dimensions: 15.8 x 8.7 x 24.8 inchesWeight Capacity: Not listedMaterial: Plastic with stainless steel rods
How to Shop for Rolling Storage Carts Like a Pro
Material
Most consumers approach the question of material with style in mind, and while it’s totally worthwhile to think about creating a stylistically cohesive living space, it’s also worth thinking about purpose and use-context. For example, ventilated shelves—wire mesh shelves or plastic shelves with perforated holes—are great for humid environments like bathrooms, pantries, and closets where moisture can get trapped. At the same time, wire mesh shelves—which are more hole than not—aren’t necessarily the best for storing small toiletries, which may fall over and leak. (Liquid or sticky spills and mesh shelves are not a good combination.) Dahmen agrees: “When considering what kind of material you want for your cart, think about cleaning it and work backwards from there. Storing hair gels and beauty products that might leak? You want something that’s easy to wipe down. Storing kid’s art supplies and you’re 100 percent sure the cart will be covered in markers and finger paint in 20 seconds? You want something affordable and easy to clean.” Dahmen leans towards metal rolling carts, “but it really depends on where the cart is going to live in your home most of the time,” she adds. “The appeal of a rolling cart is that you can tuck it away, and if it’s tucked away 90 percent of the time you can really focus on function over fashion. You want something sturdy with good wheels and a strong frame,” says Dahmen. “But while metal carts meet that need, they can look a little utilitarian,” she admits. “There are some cute colors out there, but you might also consider a wood or glass cart which can be especially appealing for a mini bar.”
Size and Storage Capacity
When selecting a storage cart, users tend to consider the size of the items they need to store and the size of the space where the cart will go. Where shoppers sometimes falter is noting the distance between shelves or the weight capacity of the shelving. If you’ve got only a few tall items to store—say a bottle of laundry detergent—a top shelf will suffice. However, if you have many tall or oversized items, you’ll need to ensure that there’s enough space between shelves for easy clearance and that the weight capacity of the shelving matches your intended use. To say there is a huge range in weight capacity among rolling storage carts would be an understatement, so be sure to double check all the specifications.
Features and Add-Ons
Some storage carts come equipped with handy add-ons such as pegboards, hooks, hooking cups, and magnets. These can be an organizational boon, especially if you’re storing a bunch of smaller items (like crafting supplies) or potentially wet items (like shower caps or towels).
Questions You Might Ask
What should you put in a rolling storage cart?
“Cleaning supplies instantly come to mind,” says Dahmen. “You need multiple cleaners for different surfaces, and it’s easier to roll the items along with you as you pirouette through your housekeeping routine.” Another instant win? Craft supplies. “Most of us who are artistically (or craftily) inclined don’t have the luxury of an entire room for our pursuits,” Dahmen explains. “Rolling out our paints or origami paper and setting up temporarily on the dining table is a space-saving way to have your art and store it, too.” Oh, and home mixologists, listen up. “If you’re especially tight on living space, a rolling cart for booze and cocktail-making supplies can be especially handy,” says Dahmen. “Bars as furniture go in and out of style, but a rolling cart allows you to wheel out supplies for parties and tuck it away between revels without making any particular design statement.”
What other uses are there for a rolling storage cart?
“One great use of a rolling storage cart, especially the smaller ones, is for cold and flu supplies,” says Dahmen. “When someone’s sick, it’s great to have all the supplies in one place so that they can be rolled over to the side of the bed or the couch.” We have to agree that sounds a lot more practical than rummaging through under-sink clutter while sick. Dahmen also recommends rolling storage carts for hair and makeup supplies. “I’ve never met a vanity that could hold all my hair and makeup products,” says Dahmen. “The rolling cart is perfect for all of those ‘extras,’ like the curling iron you use once a year.” But Dahmen stresses this isn’t where you put your everyday essentials: “It’s the special holding zone for the things you only use occasionally.”
How can you make storage carts look tidier?
Dahmen discourages people from buying unnecessary plastic when possible. Instead, she promotes the use of plastic that you may already have lying around the house (e.g., cleaned to-go containers or Tupperware) She’s also a fan of decorative (and recyclable) cardboard boxes like desk organizers or even gift boxes for keeping small items together.
Take Our Word for It
This article was written by Leslie Joblin, a writer covering the home and décor space for two years. Her writing has appeared in Real Simple, The Spruce, MyDomaine, Brides and other publications. For this roundup, she spoke with design and organization consultant Liz Dahmen of Make Space LLC in New York to better understand how to make the most of organizing on wheels. She also spent hours researching the top rolling storage carts on the market today, evaluating selections for durability and style in addition to optimal material and functionality for different contexts.
