The Best Outdoor Storage Cabinets for Grilling and Backyard Entertaining
Gear up for backyard barbecues and alfresco dinner parties all summer with the help of these top-rated outdoor storage cabinets, sideboards, deck boxes and bar carts.
Spring has sprung. The sun is lingering past your kids’ bedtime, temps are on the rise and it's finally the season to spend every spare moment you have grilling out with friends and sipping on minty mojitos on your porch. Keep your backyard oasis clutter-free and streamline your space with an outdoor cabinet, bar cart or deck box that provides ample storage for all your alfresco entertaining essentials, grilling gadgets and all-weather cushions while holding its own against the elements.
Whether you’re an avid entertainer searching for a bar cart that can keep up with your summer social calendar or the resident grill master looking for a place to hide your grill brush between meals, we have you covered. We spent hours scouring the internet to find the best outdoor cabinets, and we narrowed down our picks based on design, weather-resistant materials, mobility and integrated features like ice buckets, hooks and racks. Scroll on to see the standouts and shop our favorite, crème de la crème outdoor cabinets for all budgets, styles and storage needs in the links, below.
If you’re searching for an outdoor storage cabinet that works overtime as an alfresco prep kitchen and buffet, you’ve found it. The Keter Utility XL Portable Table and Storage Cabinet features a weather-resistant resin cabinet base and durable stainless steel tabletop for breezy post-meal clean-ups. The cabinet offers 78 gallons of interior and exterior storage for plates, cutlery, grilling essentials and more. Bonus: The top-rated design offers two integrated side bars for paper towels or hooks, a bottle opener, a spice rack and two wheels that allow you to move around your outdoor space.
Word on the street is happy hour drinks are doubly merry when mixed on the Portside Outdoor Bar Island. The contemporary-meets-coastal outdoor bar is built with moisture-resistant solid eucalyptus and mahogany wood and finished with wire brushing for a storied appeal. The bar boasts generous open-air storage for stacked plates, glassware, bowls and serveware on the top and bottom shelves and features a bottle opener and two hooks for tea towels or grilling tools on its side. And, the piece de resistance? Each Portside Outdoor Bar Island features a hidden integrated stainless steel ice bucket prime for backyard parties or pool days. Choose the weathered gray finish for an airy seaside look or the driftwood for a warm, classic appeal.
Stow away your grilling gear, all-weather cushions and entertaining essentials in this secure and stylish storage cabinet from Target. The ModernLuxe Patio Wood Storage Shed measures 5.5 feet tall and 4.1 feet wide and features five interior shelves, offering ample space to keep your staples safe from the elements between alfresco affairs. The contrasting gray-and-white wood cabinet is finished with matte black hardware for a contemporary look and topped with a protective asphalt roof. And, if the cool shades feel a bit modern for your outdoor space – you’re in luck. Snag the same stately design in a natural wood and white colorway instead.
This eucalyptus sideboard is the ultimate outdoor cabinet for cooking and entertaining with its trifecta of eye-catching design, hidden and open-air storage and an affordable price point. The solid eucalyptus wood is Forest Stewardship Council certified and naturally weather, rust and UV-resistant. Each cabinet features two open-air shelves; the bottom shelf is ideal for housing napkins, cutlery and melamine plates, and the top is prime for serving platters of your fresh-off-the-grill eats. The base features two wood-slatted doors that lead to a generous interior cubby to store spare serveware, all-weather table decor or bulky grilling gadgets. Snag this sideboard in the washed gray here for a breezy beachside look, or opt for the deep espresso finish to complement your traditional patio furnishings.
Whether you’re planning the outdoor kitchen of your dreams or searching for tailored-to-you storage options for your patio – the Build Your Own Modular Outdoor Kitchen from West Elm has you covered. The customizable collection includes a corner cabinet (ideal for a wine fridge), a one-door cabinet, an open shelf cabinet or a two-door cabinet. These elements are designed to complement each other and can be arranged in endless layouts to best serve your outdoor storage needs. All of the options included in the expansive Portside Modular Outdoor Kitchen collection are contract-grade, featuring rust-proof aluminum frames and glass fiber-reinforced concrete counters. Choose from the options listed above to create a custom set-up or invest in the full set for an outdoor kitchen prepared to rise to any and all occasions.
The Malibu Metal Outdoor Kitchen Island is the ultimate outdoor storage cabinet for grill meisters and avid outdoor entertainers alike. The contract-grade island features a rust-proof aluminum base with a powder-coated finish and a stainless steel countertop for safe food prep and seamless cleaning. Four caster feet make for an easy cross-patio commute and two casters lock in place once parked. Each island includes a pair of roomy drawers to keep your melamine collection within reach, plus two hidden ice buckets for chilled-to-perfection rose. Fill the expansive bottom shelf with easy-reach drinks, stacked trays or a few woven storage baskets brimming with outdoor essentials like sunscreen, bug spray and a first aid kit.
The Claremont Outdoor Bar Cart from Plow & Hearth is prime for spring fetes and patio parties, big and small, come fall. Its enduring silhouette, quality solid eucalyptus wood frame and integrated entertaining-ready features make this a standout storage cabinet for any outdoor space. Each Claremont included a removable serving tray (poised to serve your famous spiked lemonade!), a lidded ice bucket, built-in bottle holders and a stemware storage rack. The dual-tier cart rolls along on four wheels and sports a rich, chocolatey finish that pairs well with vibrant and neutral outdoor spaces.
Invest in an outdoor storage cabinet that will never go out of style with the Summerton Teak Solid Wood Deck Box. The classic slatted-wood box is available in 48 or 120-gallon interior storage capacity for serveware or all-weather pillows hidden by a seamless, soft-close hinge top. Each Summerton deck box is made from naturally weather-resistant teak wood and develops a soft patina with age.
Another dreamy deck box we love for outdoor storage? The Edlin Wicker Deck Box from Birch Lane. The traditional design features UV-resistant, all-weather resin wicker and provides an impressive 180-gallon storage capacity for gardening tools, grilling goodies and everything in between. Better still, each Edlin deck box boasts a soft-close hinged top for user safety and the lid that locks in place when upright.
Tall, dark and decidedly handsome – it’s easy to see why we’re so smitten with the Outsunny Outdoor Storage Cabinet. The vertical lean-to cabinet is a fir wood structure with a galvanized roof to keep water out. Beyond the two lockable, latching doors, three spacious shelves provide parking for pool towels, power tools and outdoor cooking necessities. Pro tip: Use the interior base of the cabinet as a fourth shelf to maximize storage. Choose between a misty gray finish for a contemporary appeal or keep it classic with the natural wood finish instead.
Looking for an outdoor storage cabinet that looks like something you’d install in your formal dining room? The Ravello Outdoor Cabinet from Arhaus checks all the boxes, and then some. The statuesque cabinet boasts a Grade-A teak wood frame adorned with handwoven Performance Weave polyester rope. The intricate rope detailing creates a contemporary motif on the back and sides of the cabinet and lends texture to the design for an elevated yet laid-back result. Four shelves provide open-air storage to display outdoor serveware, house cascading potted plants and keep outdoor blankets folded and within reach.
