Wheelie Bin Storage Sizes for 140L, 240L and 360L Bins
Written by Matt W on 31st Jul 2026.
Wheelie bin store size is set by two numbers. Depth follows the bin capacity: 640mm for a 140 litre bin, 804mm for 240 litres and 970mm for 360 litres. Width follows the bin count, at roughly 720mm each, so a triple 240 litre store measures 2142mm across. Most stores stand 1200mm tall. Prices start at £300 for a single.
Key takeaways
- Check your bin capacity first. It is moulded into the lid or the body.
- Depth is the number people get wrong. A 360 litre bin needs 970mm, not 804mm.
- Width runs about 720mm per 240 litre bin, so three need 2142mm of wall.
- Recycling box bays are narrower at 540mm, so combination stores mix widths.
- Stores are 1200mm tall, rising to 1270mm for the deepest 360 litre models.
- Leave room in front. The bin has to roll out, not be lifted out.
Browse garden storage and bin stores →
Installer's note: The returns we see on bin stores are almost never about quality. They are about depth. Someone measures the wall and orders a triple. Then they find their council changed to 360 litre bins two years ago. The bin goes in but the lid fouls the roof. Measure the bin, not just the gap it has to live in.
- Matt W, Garden Shed Stores
What size wheelie bin store do I need?
Match the store depth to your bin capacity and the store width to the number of bins. Those two figures decide everything else.
Depth is the one that catches people. Wheelie bins get deeper as they get bigger, while their footprint width barely changes. Across our Garden Village range the pattern is exact. A 140 litre store is 640mm deep, a 240 litre store is 804mm, and a 360 litre store is 970mm. That is 330mm between smallest and largest. Most people leave nothing like that as margin.
Width is more forgiving. A single 240 litre store is 745mm wide, a double is 1450mm and a triple is 2142mm. That works out at roughly 720mm per bin once the frame is accounted for. You can predict the size you need before opening a single product page.
How wide is a store for one, two or three bins?
The table gives the exact external footprint for each combination, so you can chalk it on the ground before ordering.
| Bin store | Width | Depth | Height | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single, 140 litre | 630mm | 640mm | 1200mm | £300 |
| Single, 240 litre | 745mm | 804mm | 1200mm | £300 |
| Single, 360 litre | 745mm | 970mm | 1250mm | £315 |
| Double, 240 litre | 1450mm | 804mm | 1200mm | £399 |
| Double, 360 litre | 1450mm | 970mm | 1270mm | £425 |
| Triple, 240 litre | 2142mm | 804mm | 1200mm | £500 |
| Triple, 360 litre | 2142mm | 970mm | 1250mm | £530 |
Two details are worth reading twice. The single 360 litre store is the same width as the 240 litre version but 166mm deeper. The triple stays at 2142mm wide for both 240 and 360 litre bins. Upgrading capacity costs you depth rather than frontage.
If your council collects into recycling boxes as well as bins, the combination stores mix bay widths. A bin bay is 650mm internally and a box bay is 540mm. That is why a double bin plus double box store comes out at 2030mm wide.
Matt's Pick: Garden Village Triple Wheelie Bin Store, 240 Litre
Best for: the standard UK three-bin kerbside collection
Why we rate it: 2142mm by 804mm covers general waste, recycling and garden waste in one run. At 1200mm tall it reads as a fence feature rather than a shed, which matters in a front garden.
Price: £500
How do I check my wheelie bin size?
Look at the bin itself before you measure anything else. Capacity is normally moulded into the lid or stamped on the body near the hinge, marked in litres.
If there is no marking, measure the bin front to back at its widest point. Compare that figure with the store depths above. Councils across the UK use different sizes, and many have changed capacity in recent years as recycling rules shifted. The bin you had when you moved in may not be the bin in your garden now.
Measure the height with the lid closed as well. Our combination models give 1090mm of internal height. A bin that stands taller than the opening will hold the roof ajar.
See the Lichfield triple store →
Where can you put a bin store in a front garden?
Anywhere the bins can still roll out to the kerb in one straight movement. That is the practical test, and it beats any measurement.
Give yourself clear space in front of the doors equal to the store depth. A 240 litre bin has to come fully out of an 804mm bay before you can turn it. A store hard against a wall, with a narrow path in front, becomes a two-person job every week. Check the roof can lift as well. An overhanging porch or a low window sill will stop it opening.
Think about the ground too. Bin stores sit on the same footing as any garden building. A soft or sloping surface makes the doors bind. A level slab or grid base keeps the frame square, as our shed base guide explains.
Watch out: buying to the gap, not to the bin. A 2142mm wall gap fits a triple store on paper. If your council has moved to 360 litre bins, that same store needs 970mm of depth instead of 804mm. Measure both directions against the bins you actually own, then add a little clearance for the doors to swing.
Wooden or plastic bin store?
Both keep bins out of sight and stop lids blowing open. They differ on weight, looks and how they age.
Timber stores are heavier, which matters more than it sounds in an exposed front garden. Weight and a fixed frame keep the unit put in high wind. Pressure-treated timber also takes a screw, so you can fit a hasp or fix the store to a wall. Plastic stores are lighter to move and need no treatment. They do need fixing down, and can flex if a bin is dragged against the side.
Our timber range is pressure treated and carries a 10 year no-rot guarantee. We favour timber for bike storage too, where a store takes real handling daily.
We list bin stores by bin capacity, not by a vague size name. Capacity is the measurement that decides whether the lid shuts. A store sold as "triple" tells you nothing useful on its own. Depth against litres is the number to buy on, and it is on every product page in the range.
- Matt W, Garden Shed Stores
Frequently asked questions
What size is a standard wheelie bin store?
A single 240 litre store is 745mm wide and 804mm deep. Height is 1200mm on almost every model in the range.
Will a 360 litre bin fit a standard store?
No, a 360 litre bin needs 970mm of depth. A standard 240 litre store gives 804mm and the lid will foul.
How wide is a triple wheelie bin store?
2142mm wide for both 240 and 360 litre versions. Only the depth changes between the two.
Can I store recycling boxes as well as bins?
Yes, combination stores add narrower 540mm box bays. A bin bay is 650mm internally on the same units.
Do bin stores need a base?
Yes, they need level ground the same as any garden building. Soft or sloping ground makes the doors bind.
How much clearance do I need in front?
Allow the full depth of the store, so around 800mm. The bin must roll clear before you can turn it.
Are wooden bin stores treated against rot?
Yes, our timber stores are pressure treated at manufacture. They carry a 10 year no-rot guarantee.