Every dock box gets a score from 0 to 100% built from five factors, which maps onto the 5-point rating shown on the site (a 0% score would be 1.5 stars; a perfect score, 5). Each factor is scored against fixed reference points, not against the other products in the list, so adding a new model never moves another model’s rating. Boxes are grouped by exterior volume, under 18 cu ft and 18 cu ft and up, and use the same scale in both groups.
| Factor | Measures | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Value | price per cu ft of exterior volume | 30% |
| Size | exterior volume | 15% |
| Build | fiberglass or polyethylene, stainless hardware and a UV-resistant finish | 20% |
| Features | gas lid supports, lock, seat-rated lid, vents, tie-downs and rod holder | 20% |
| Warranty | warranty length | 15% |
Where the numbers come from
Dimensions, material, hardware, features and warranty come from the maker’s product page or manual, or the maker’s own copy on a retail listing. Where two of a maker’s own sources disagree, the figure is left out rather than guessed. Prices are checked at Amazon and the maker’s own store, and the lowest price at a store the page links to is used.
How size is measured
Few makers publish a storage capacity, but all of them publish the outside dimensions. Size is therefore the exterior volume: width x depth x height, in cubic feet. A triangular corner box counts as half of that, since its footprint is a right triangle. A capacity in gallons or a load rating, where a maker publishes one, is shown on the product page and never scored, so a box isn’t helped or hurt by whether its maker states one.
The factors
Value is the current price divided by the exterior volume, in dollars per cu ft, on a log scale, so halving the price always counts the same. $100 per cu ft scores zero and $15 per cu ft full marks.
Size is the exterior volume: 8 cu ft scores zero and 32 cu ft full marks.
Build is 60% for the material (fiberglass full marks, polyethylene 40% of them), 20% for stainless steel hinges and latch, and 20% for a stated UV-resistant gelcoat or UV-protected plastic.
Features is 30% for the lid supports (gas supports full marks, a spring hinge half, stay cables none), 25% for a lockable latch or hasp, 20% for a lid the maker sells as a seat, 10% for vents, 10% for tie-down points and 5% for a rod holder.
Warranty is the maker’s warranty: 1 year scores zero and 5 years full marks.
What isn’t scored
Shape, style, interior dimensions, stated capacity, load rating, country of manufacture and release date are listed but not scored.
Missing data
If a figure isn’t published, that factor gets the neutral middle score (50) and the product page marks it as estimated. Features and warranty are the exceptions. A box whose maker publishes none of the listed features scores zero for features, and a maker that doesn’t publish a warranty gets no warranty counted, which scores zero, the same as a one-year warranty. Both are marked estimated. This keeps a thinly described box from ranking above one whose maker documents what it has. When some features are published, one the maker doesn’t mention counts as absent.
Ties and discontinued models
Products are ranked by score within each group. Discontinued models stay listed but rank below every current model and can be hidden with the “Hide discontinued” filter.