Measure the cushions before comparing the gallons
A compact deck box can keep a patio less cluttered, but only if your actual cushions fit inside it. Start with their measured shape rather than deciding that a larger gallon number automatically solves your storage problem.
This comparison covers two exact documented variants: the Java Suncast SSW500J 22-gallon box and the Brown Keter City 243550 30-gallon box. Other colors, packages, or similarly named listings may use different identifiers, so keep those model details attached to your decision.
We compared manufacturer specifications and the current Amazon listing identities; we did not own, assemble, weather-test, or measure these boxes ourselves. Dimensions below are published specifications, not independent measurements or a promise about fit.
Both are small resin storage products for outdoor settings. Neither should be treated as a solution for putting away wet fabric, and the right choice may be neither if your cushions need a longer interior than these boxes provide.
The most useful first step is to measure each cushion's length, width, and uncompressed thickness. Add any piping or awkward shape that affects how the stack will enter and sit inside the box.
Read the Suncast dimensions from the inside
Suncast lists the SSW500J with exterior dimensions of 22 inches wide, 17 inches deep, and 19.5 inches high. Its stated interior is 20.5 inches wide, 15.5 inches deep, and 17 inches high.
Those interior measurements are the more relevant starting point for cushion storage. The outside footprint tells you where the box may stand, while the inside tells you whether the planned contents have a plausible arrangement.
Draw that interior rectangle on paper or mark it on a clear floor with removable tape. Compare the cushions without squeezing them into an imagined space that the published specifications do not provide.
This exact variant is Java and carries the model SSW500J. If a seller presents a different color or a multipack, check its own model and package information before assuming the comparison still applies.
Suncast publishes additional product features, but storage fit remains the central issue here. Avoid letting a decorative finish or an optional secondary use distract you from a cushion stack that is simply too long.
Suncast SSW500J Java · Product image from the linked Amazon listing.
Check the selected box on AmazonCheck what the Keter adds
Keter lists the Brown City 243550 with exterior dimensions of 22.7 inches wide, 17.3 inches deep, and 21.7 inches high. Its stated interior is 21.2 inches wide, 16.3 inches deep, and 20.3 inches high.
Compared with the published Suncast interior, that is a modest increase in width and depth and a larger increase in height. It does not turn the Keter into a long bench-style box for oversized cushions.
Keter identifies the Brown model separately from other City color variants. The purchase listing checked for this article identifies 243550, so do not substitute a Taupe or Dark Grey listing solely because its product photograph looks similar.
The maker describes ventilation and a lockable design, with a lock not included. Those features should be read within the product instructions; ventilation does not authorize storing damp cushions and a lockable lid is not a security guarantee.
The current specification also states that this model has no hydraulic piston. Check how you will open and handle the lid in the location you choose rather than assuming every deck box has the same closing mechanism.
Keter City Brown 243550 · Product image from the linked Amazon listing.
Check the selected box on AmazonCompare one realistic stack
Imagine you have a small rectangular cushion that you measure at 20 inches long, 15 inches wide, and 3 inches thick. That is an illustrative household measurement, not a claim about a standard cushion size or an item included with either box.
On the published numbers alone, its length and width fall within both listed interiors. You would still need to consider the opening, actual shape, manufacturing tolerances, and how easily you can place and retrieve it.
If the same cushion measured 22 inches long, both listed interior widths would be shorter than that measurement. A larger gallon figure would not erase the mismatch, and forcing the cushion into the box would be a poor basis for choosing.
For a stack, add the actual thicknesses and compare them with usable interior height. Keep room for a natural lid closure and ordinary removal rather than planning a tight compressed package that works only under pressure.
A paper layout is useful before buying, but a real fit check remains important. Confirm the current seller's return terms and product details without treating any published dimension as an independent guarantee from this article.
Choose by the space beside your chair
Mark each exterior footprint in the location where you would use it. Open nearby doors, move the dining chair as you normally do, and check the walking route rather than viewing the box as an isolated rectangle.
Consider access to the lid and the clearance needed to load cushions. A box can fit on the paving while remaining awkward because a railing, plant, or chair blocks the opening movement.
The Suncast's published exterior is slightly lower and narrower than the Keter's. If that smaller footprint fits your setting and its interior fits the contents, those differences may matter more than additional stated capacity.
The Keter's taller published interior may suit a particular short stack better. Choose it for a measured arrangement you can explain, not simply because the bigger number sounds more versatile.
If neither layout works comfortably, compare a different size category rather than forcing one of these two into the plan. A compact product comparison should help you recognize a mismatch as well as select a winner.
Keep moisture management separate from capacity
Put cushions away only after cleaning and drying them according to their own care instructions. A storage box cannot complete the drying job for a thick insert hidden beneath a dry-feeling cover.
Read the chosen box's placement and care directions before use. Weather-resistance language should not be expanded into an unlimited waterproof promise or a claim that fabric will remain dry in every exposure.
Inspect the inside after conditions that may have changed it, including wind-driven rain or water from nearby cleaning. If you find moisture, remove the fabric and investigate before closing everything again.
Do not block designed openings or alter the container in an attempt to improve sealing without manufacturer guidance. Such changes can create a different condition from the product described in the instructions.
Keep wet watering tools and damp covers out of the cushion compartment unless the arrangement is designed for that separation. The contents you add can introduce moisture even when the box itself has no visible leak.
Use the verified purchase identity
The Suncast purchase link in this article leads to Amazon ASIN B07R7DWSJ5, checked as a single Java SSW500J box. The Keter link leads to ASIN B086X47D2T, checked as the Brown City 243550 variant.
The product photos come from the linked Amazon listings. Each image and its button lead to the same listing using Backyard Alpha's existing Amazon affiliate tag.
Listing options and availability can change after publication. Before ordering, confirm the model, color, quantity, dimensions, seller details, and current terms shown for the option you select.
Choose the Suncast if its documented smaller size suits your space and measured contents. Choose the Keter if its documented extra interior room helps your actual stack, while keeping the same care and fit checks.
If your cushions do not fit either published interior, keep looking. The useful outcome is a storage plan that works when you arrive home with the box, not a nominal winner that requires you to ignore your own measurements.
| Specification | Suncast SSW500J Java | Keter City Brown 243550 |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 22 gallons | 30 gallons |
| Exterior W × D × H | 22 × 17 × 19.5 inches | 22.7 × 17.3 × 21.7 inches |
| Interior W × D × H | 20.5 × 15.5 × 17 inches | 21.2 × 16.3 × 20.3 inches |
| Verified listing | B07R7DWSJ5 · single Java box | B086X47D2T · Brown 243550 |
Sources & further reading
Exact documentation checked October 15, 2026. Original examples and illustrations; no hands-on product testing or professional certification claimed.
- 22 Gallon Small Deck Box Java — SuncastSSW500J exterior/interior dimensions, Java finish and storage purpose
- City Box Brown 30 Gallon Deck Box — KeterExact Brown243550 exterior/interior dimensions, vent and lock details
- Suncast SSW500J listing — AmazonASIN/title/manufacturer part number match, not price or performance
- Keter Brown243550 listing — AmazonASIN/title/manufacturer part number match, not price or performance
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