The top 3 recommendations and buying guides

Our recommendations

the Pillow box Sumatra from Keter impresses with the extremely stylish rattan look made of easy-care plastic. Soiling can be removed effortlessly. The highlights of the garden chest also include the high capacity of 511 liters and the maximum load capacity of the lid of 350 kilograms. This means that the high-quality support box can also be used as a seat for up to two people. The gas pressure spring in the lid and the option to lock the box are also practical. The lock is not included in the scope of delivery. Almost all Amazon reviewers are absolutely convinced of the box - it should also be durable.

With the Patio Bench model, the popular manufacturer Keter offers a garden box in the form of a fully-fledged plastic garden bench with a successful wood look. The seat also functions as a lid that can be easily opened to stow seat pads inside. Up to two people can take a seat on the bench - and thanks to the backrest, sit extra comfortably. For the majority of the reviewers on Amazon, the espresso brown Patio Bench is a "top product".

Here comes our price-performance winner: The Koll Living storage box is not suitable as a seat, but it is a compact garden chest that has a capacity of 270 liters. Like the other two recommendations from our comparison, the box can be locked with a lock. This, in turn, is not included in the scope of delivery, but has to be ordered separately. The Amazon reviewers are also pleased with the beautiful look of the model - the plastic box doesn't seem to disturb the natural ambience in the green oasis.

Purchase criteria

material

wood: Pillow boxes made of real wood are the natural solution, but have considerable disadvantages. The material is extremely complex in terms of maintenance. Wood must be impregnated and glazed regularly to prevent it from going moldy and to remain attractive.

metal: Metal garden boxes are only suitable if they are corrosion-resistant. A special coating is required for this. In principle, pillow boxes made of metal are robust and stable, but often also difficult (to transport).

plastic: Most of the top boxes are made of plastic, more precisely made of polyrattan, and for good reasons: They can neither go moldy (like wood) nor rust (like metal). In general, garden chests made of plastic are weatherproof, durable and easy to care for. Because of these properties, as well as the attractive designs in which they are available, we explicitly advise you to buy a cushion box made of plastic.

design

Wooden boxes are natural and therefore fit perfectly into the green oasis. Most plastic boxes can also do this. Many manufacturers offer their versions in rattan design or in a wood look. Although artificial, both variants look deceptively similar to real natural materials. This means that most plastic garden chests can also be integrated harmoniously into the outdoor living room. Depending on the specific design, metal boxes bring either very modern or antique charm to the garden.

volume

Before you buy your new cushion box, think about how many seat cushions you (can) put in it. The more textiles there should be room in, the higher the volume needs to be. Guide values: A storage box in XXL format holds over 500 liters. Medium-sized garden chests have a volume of approximately 300 to 400 liters. For small copies, the capacity is lower. Tip: The edition box should still give you scope for new garden requirements.

Dimensions

The volume influences the dimensions considerably, but how the liters are exactly distributed over the length, width and height varies from box to box. So to ensure that the garden chest fits easily into your green oasis and also your requirements (keyword seating or table as a secondary function), you should therefore always take a look at the dimensions throw.

Resilience

If you want to use the cushion box not only as storage furniture, but also as a seat or table, the maximum load capacity is an important criterion. In this case, we advise you to choose a model that can withstand at least 180 kilograms. In general, the following applies here: the more the garden box can be loaded, the better it is, especially if it is to serve as a seat. In order to "only" function as a table, it does not need a very high maximum load capacity.

Lid with gas pressure spring

Not a must, but a practical extra is a lid with an integrated gas pressure spring. The latter makes it easier to open the garden chest and stow the seat covers. It reliably holds the lid up so that it cannot suddenly close on its own, which in turn protects your fingers from serious injuries.

Lockability

If your garden is easy to enter from the outside, it makes sense to buy a lockable pillow box. Such a design has a recess for attaching a lock. Unfortunately, the padlock is usually not included in the scope of delivery, so you have to order a suitable model yourself.

price

The price for a pillow box depends on the material, design and manufacturer and of course on the size and volume. The following applies: the more valuable and larger the garden chest and the more renowned the brand, the more the edition box costs. For qualitatively convincing compact models with a capacity of around 190 liters, the prices are in the range of 30 to 40 euros. Larger top designs sometimes cost more than 200 euros.

frequently asked Questions

What is a pillow box and what is it used for?

A cushion box is a garden chest in which the seat covers of garden chairs and others Garden seating can be stowed away. Such storage boxes are available in different sizes and with variable volumes. In addition, some models can also be used as seating or as a table or shelf. Most garden boxes are made of plastic.

What types of pillow boxes are there?

Classic pillow boxes come as normal storage chests. They have a lid that you simply flip open to put your garden pads in when it rains or when they are not needed. Some garden boxes are also suitable as seating - sometimes they even appear as Garden bench with comfortable backrest and integrated chest.

Which brands offer high quality pillow boxes?

Probably the best known and most popular brand for high quality pillow boxes is Keter. However, there are also many other manufacturers who offer good garden boxes. These include, for example, Outsunny, TecTake, Koll Living and Kreher.

Where is the best place to buy a pillow box?

Pillow boxes are usually available in all well-stocked hardware stores and garden centers. Sometimes you will also find solid storage boxes for garden cushions in decoration shops, in supermarkets or even at discount stores (Lidl, Aldi). If you would like a particularly uncomplicated ordering process as well as a simple return option in addition to a large selection, Amazon is the ideal contact point.

equipment

padlock

If you decide on a lockable pillow box and don't have a suitable padlock at home, you have to order one. Choose a sturdy lock that is not so easy to pick. Padlocks with keys or individually adjustable numeric codes are available. The costs are manageable.