Dry Boxes for Boats and Kayaks (2026)

A dry box is the hard-shell cousin of a dry bag: it will not squash a phone in a hatch or crack under a cooler, and most of them latch shut with an O-ring. What changes from box to box is what the maker promises about water, and whether the box floats if it goes over the side.

How we chose: we did not test these boxes; we compared the water ratings, dimensions and buoyancy figures Pelican, Plano and MTM publish, and kept boxes sold by Amazon.com and in stock on September 30, 2026.

Five dry boxes side by side

Prices are Amazon's, as of the time shown, and subject to change. Details

Pelican's figures come from its 1050 and R40 product pages, Plano's from its Guide Series 3600 page, and MTM's from its Survivor Dry Box page. The 1312 figures are from its Amazon listing.

What IP67 and IP68 mean on these boxes

An IP code comes from the IEC 60529 standard; the IEC explains that the second numeral rates an enclosure's protection against liquids. A 7 is a temporary immersion test. An 8 is continuous immersion under conditions the maker sets, which is why an IP68 claim means little until the maker names a depth and time.

Pelican does name them. Its 1040 and 1050 micro case pages say the case can be submerged under 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes "in accordance with IP67 testing parameters." The Ruck R40 page says IP68 and "waterproof to a depth of 2 meters for up to 30 minutes."

Plano gives a depth and time without an IP code: the Guide Series cases are "submersible to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes," and Plano adds that contents stay safe "even if they go overboard." That matches the IP67 figure on paper, but it is Plano's own claim rather than a named test.

O-rings, latches and pressure valves

Every box here closes on an O-ring or a rubber liner that works as one. Pelican's micro cases use the liner itself as the seal; Plano calls its gasket Dri-Loc and closes it with three cam-action latches; MTM uses a tongue-and-groove O-ring with three latches.

The two Pelicans add an automatic pressure equalization valve. Pelican says the valve "balances interior pressure, keeps water out," which matters for a box that bakes on a console and then cools, or rides in a truck over a mountain pass to the coast. None of the Plano or MTM boxes lists a valve.

A seal is only as good as what sits on it. Wipe sand and salt crystals off the O-ring before you close the lid, and check the liner for cuts; Pelican sells a replacement O-ring for its 1170 Protector case, which tells you the seal is a wear part.

Will it float?

Do not assume a sealed box floats; check what the maker says. Pelican lists a buoyancy figure on each case page: 1.74 lb for the 1050 and 2.36 lb for the R40. MTM lists "floats" among the Survivor's features. Plano's Guide Series and 1312 pages say nothing about floating.

A buoyancy figure is the upward force of the empty case, so a box packed with a heavy phone, keys and a multitool has less margin. On a kayak, clip the box to a deck line or pad eye whether or not it floats; Pelican ships its micro cases with a carabiner for that reason.

Which box for which boat

On a sit-on-top kayak, the Pelican 1050 is the one to clip on deck: it has the rating, the valve and a stated buoyancy in the smallest shell. If you often flip or launch through surf, the Ruck R40 has the deeper IP68 figure. A phone you want to use on the water belongs in a pouch instead; see our waterproof phone case guide.

On a skiff or center console, the Plano Guide Series 3600 gives you the most room of the rated boxes and a clear lid. The MTM Survivor suits a small floating kit: a spare phone battery, a knife, a whistle and a headlamp. The Plano 1312 is a spray-proof locker for spares inside a hatch.

Soft gear such as a jacket or a first aid kit packs better in a roll-top; our dry bag guide covers those. If you are choosing between the two big brands, our Pelican vs Plano comparison sets their micro and medium boxes side by side.

Related: USCG required safety equipment lists the signals and extinguisher a box like the Plano 1312 might hold.

Recalls

We found no recall of Pelican, Plano or MTM dry boxes in the CPSC and FDA marine records our recall tracker collects from January 2023. You can search any brand in the CPSC recall database.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I put a desiccant pack in a dry box?

Yes, if the box stays shut between trips. Pelican sells a 1500D silica gel desiccant as an accessory on its micro case pages, which is a sign that moisture trapped when you close the lid on a humid day can condense inside a sealed case.

How hot can a dry box get on a console?

Pelican rates the 1040, 1050 and R40 for a maximum of 199°F and a minimum of -10°F, per its R40 page. Plano and MTM publish no temperature range for these boxes.

Is a clear lid weaker than a solid one?

The makers do not say it is. Pelican builds its clear micro case bodies from polycarbonate and describes them as crushproof, and Plano's Amazon listing calls the Guide Series case impact-resistant, crush-proof polycarbonate. Neither publishes a crush load figure.

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