Storage organization: crate types, sorting, and Hazard Crates for radioactive items

Field Complaint

My base is overflowing with random junk and I cannot find anything. How should I organize storage?

Validated Response

If your base looks like a hoarder's garage, you are using the wrong crates and not sorting by category. Small Storage Crates give 18 slots each, and two small crates (36 slots total) are cheaper to build than one Medium Crate (30 slots), so spam small crates early. Large Crates hold more but cost more. The real MVP is the Hazard Crate — 30 slots with 100% radiation shielding. Put your Power Cells, alien meat, Unstable Isotopes, and anything radioactive in these immediately, because radiation spreads to adjacent items in regular storage and you will end up with a whole crate of contaminated gear. The Refrigerator slows food spoilage when powered, and the Hazard Fridge gives you 24 slots of radiation shielding plus spoilage slowing for irradiated food objects — yes, that alien meat you keep shoving in a regular fridge is slowly poisoning everything next to it. The Tacklebox is for fishing storage. Sort by category: Weapons, Guns, Gear, Food, Medical, Resources, and Radioactive (hazard crates only). Stack rows of crates within Crafting Bench range so the Storage Access Module can pull ingredients automatically for crafting. Hazard crates are extremely valuable for packrats because radiation-proof storage means you can hoard alien meat and Unstable Isotopes without contaminating your entire inventory. Stop throwing everything in one pile and start labeling.

Summary

Two Small Crates beat one Medium Crate for slot efficiency. Sort by category and keep radioactive items in Hazard Crates only.

Prerequisites

• Craft several Small Storage Crates for the best slot-to-material ratio
• Build at least one Hazard Crate for radioactive items
• Place crates within range of the Crafting Bench for Storage Access Module

Recommended Loadout

• Multiple Small Storage Crates (18 slots each, cheap to craft)
• Hazard Crate for radioactive items (30 slots, 100% radiation shielding)
• Refrigerator for food preservation (powered)

Step-by-Step Route

1. Craft Small Storage Crates in bulk — 2 small crates give 36 slots for less material than 1 medium crate
2. Place a Hazard Crate for all radioactive items — Power Cells, alien meat, Unstable Isotopes — radiation does not leak through Hazard Crates
3. Place a Refrigerator for food to slow spoilage; a Hazard Fridge adds radiation shielding for irradiated food objects
4. Sort crates by category: Weapons, Medical, Resources, Food, Radioactive, Misc
5. Stack many rows within Crafting Bench range for auto-access from the Storage Module
6. Label areas mentally by function so you can grab items quickly during raid prep

Common Mistakes

• Storing alien meat or Power Cells in regular crates and watching adjacent items get irradiated
• Using Medium Crates when Small Crates are more slot-efficient per material cost
• Scattering crates far from the Crafting Bench and losing the auto-access benefit