Laundry guide
Best Collapsible Laundry Baskets for Small Apartments (With Real Dimensions)
Last updated: October 7, 2026
Every collapsible laundry basket says it "saves space" — that's the whole category. What listings rarely make clear is how much room the basket takes up when it's open, and how flat it really gets when it's folded. We pulled the manufacturer specs for four collapsible baskets that keep showing up in small-apartment searches, so you can compare actual numbers instead of marketing copy.
Quick comparison
| Product | Open size | Folded | Capacity | Material | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bemkoo Collapsible Mesh Pop-Up Basket | 14.2 x 14.2 x 22.8 in | Pops down flat | — | Polyester mesh | Check price on Amazon |
| Laundry 360 Collapsible Laundry Basket | Low, wide tub shape | Flat | 40L | Plastic with flexible folding walls | Check price on Amazon |
| CleverMade Collapsible Laundry Tote | 22 x 15 x 11.25 in | About 1.25–1.5 in | 50L | Fabric over a steel wire frame | Check price on Amazon |
| SAMMART 42L Collapsible Plastic Basket | 22.8 x 17.5 x 10.6 in | 2.7 in | 42L | TPE & PP plastic | Check price on Amazon |
Bemkoo Collapsible Mesh Pop-Up Basket
Open size: 14.2 x 14.2 x 22.8 in. A square footprint that fits a closet corner or the space beside a washer.
Build: polyester mesh, reinforced handle joints, and a side pocket for detergent or socks. Pops down flat when empty.
Pros
- Smallest floor footprint in this guide (14.2 inches square)
- Mesh lets damp clothes breathe instead of trapping odor
- Side pocket keeps small items with the basket
Cons
- Mesh means the contents are always visible
- Tall and soft-sided, so a heavy load can bulge or lean
- Not great for carrying long distances — it's more hamper than tote
Laundry 360 Collapsible Laundry Basket
Capacity: 40L, listed as holding about 2 loads.
Build: plastic with flexible folding walls and two built-in handles; collapses flat.
Pros
- Low, wide shape that slides under a bed or onto a closet shelf when folded
- Built-in handles, no straps to snag
- Rigid rim keeps its shape when you carry it
Cons
- Wide footprint when open — check your floor space on laundry day
- Lower walls than a hamper, so it's a carrier, not a place to collect clothes all week
- Rubber folding walls need a gentle push to collapse evenly
CleverMade Collapsible Laundry Tote
Open size: 22 x 15 x 11.25 in. Folded: about 1.25–1.5 inches high. Capacity: 50L, and the listing rates it for up to 55 lbs.
Build: fabric over a pop-up steel wire frame with long carry handles. The most structured fabric option here — it stands up on its own even when loaded.
Pros
- Steel frame holds its shape under a full load
- 50L takes close to two loads in one trip
- Folds to about 1.5 inches, thinner than the plastic option
Cons
- 22 inches long — one of the larger open footprints here
- Fabric needs washing now and then
- Heavier when empty than the mesh option
SAMMART 42L Collapsible Plastic Basket
Open size: 22.8 x 17.5 x 10.6 in. Folded: 2.7 inches high.
Build: TPE & PP plastic with solid walls, so it doubles as a wash tub. The only fully rigid basket in this guide.
A reviewer at Apartment Therapy who used it in a small apartment found it collapses most reliably if you push down one side first, then the other, rather than both at once. Apartment Therapy review
Pros
- Wipe-clean plastic — good for damp towels and gym kit
- Holds its shape completely, full or empty
- Solid walls mean it can also hold water as a wash tub
Cons
- Folds to 2.7 inches, about double the CleverMade's folded height
- Largest open footprint in this guide
- Plastic can crack over time in a way fabric doesn't
Open size vs. folded size: why both numbers matter
Listings tend to highlight whichever number looks best. A basket that folds very thin may still take up a lot of floor when it's open, and a compact basket may not fold especially flat. Check both against your space: the open size on laundry day, the folded size for the other six days of the week.
How to choose a collapsible laundry basket
Where it lives when folded
Decide the storage spot first, then check the folded height. Under 2 inches (like the CleverMade at about 1.25–1.5 in) slides behind most doors or under a bed. Around 3 inches (like the SAMMART at 2.7 in) usually needs a closet shelf or the gap beside a washer.
Carry distance
If laundry travels down a hallway or to a shared laundry room, a rigid frame and long handles matter more than capacity. The CleverMade's steel frame is rated for up to 55 lbs.
Footprint on laundry day
The open size is what you live with while sorting and carrying. The Bemkoo needs only about 14 x 14 inches of floor; the SAMMART needs about 23 x 18 inches.
Fabric, mesh or plastic
Mesh breathes, fabric is lighter to carry, plastic wipes clean and never sags.
Don't oversize
Match the basket to your usual wash, not your biggest one.
Where can you store a collapsible laundry basket?
- Beside a washer or dryer, in the gap most apartments already have
- Inside a closet, flat against a side wall or on a shelf
- Behind a bedroom door
- Under a bed, if the folded height is low enough
- Next to your hamper, so collecting and carrying live together
If detergent and supplies are also on the floor, adding laundry room shelving for small laundry rooms clears the area around the machines first.
Collapsible laundry basket or slim laundry hamper?
They do different jobs. A collapsible laundry basket is better when you want something you can fold away and use to carry laundry to the machine. A slim hamper is better when you want a fixed spot that collects dirty laundry between washes without spreading it over the floor.
Most small apartments end up using both: a hamper to collect, a basket to carry. If you don't have the collecting side sorted yet, start with our slim laundry hampers for small apartments guide.
Frequently asked questions
- How flat do collapsible laundry baskets actually fold?
- It depends on how they're built. Fabric baskets on a wire frame fold the thinnest — the CleverMade gets down to about 1.25–1.5 inches. Rigid plastic baskets stop at a fixed height; the SAMMART folds to 2.7 inches.
- Can a collapsible basket hold a full load of laundry?
- Most in the 40–50L range take a standard load. The CleverMade is 50L and rated for up to 55 lbs, which suits people who do fewer, bigger washes.
- Fabric or plastic — which lasts longer?
- Fabric and mesh baskets tend to wear out at the frame joints and handle seams. Plastic baskets don't tear but can crack. Neither is clearly more durable; how gently you fold it matters more.
- What's the difference between a collapsible basket and a hamper?
- A basket is for carrying laundry to the machine; a hamper is for collecting it between washes. Many small apartments use a slim hamper to collect and a folding basket to carry.
- Where should I store a collapsible basket?
- Measure the folded height first. Under 2 inches fits behind most doors or under a bed; around 3 inches usually needs a closet shelf or the gap beside a washer.
Final recommendation
For the smallest footprint, pick the Bemkoo mesh basket. If your main problem is carrying heavy loads down a hallway, the CleverMade's steel frame is the better buy. Want something wipe-clean that never sags? Go with the SAMMART, and accept that it won't fold as thin.