The space under a Model Y's front seats is genuinely unused, which makes an under-seat box the only accessory in this category that adds capacity rather than reorganizing capacity you already had. It is also the only one with a real cost to somebody else in the car, and that is the part the listings do not mention.
Two things to check before buying
- Rear foot room. A rear passenger naturally slides their feet under the front seat, and a box stops them. On a short trip nobody notices; on a two-hour journey an adult will. If you regularly carry adults in the back, this is a bad purchase.
- The under-seat vents. The Model Y has rear-facing air vents beneath the front seats feeding the rear footwells. A box that sits over them restricts airflow to the back of the car, which is a genuine comfort loss in both summer and winter. Check the published dimensions against your seat position.
Quick picks
| # | Product | Best for | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Yeslak under-seat storage box Real extra capacity, with a real cost in rear foot room. Decide which you need. | The product itself | 8.2 | |
| 2 |  Under-seat air vent covers A small, cheap fix for a real irritation. Choose an open grille, never a solid cover. | Buy this instead if the vents are the issue | 8.4 | |
| 3 |  BASENOR armrest hidden storage insert The piece of the BASENOR set you would buy on its own. | Better capacity per dollar | 8.6 |
Scores are our editorial assessment of fitment scope, published materials and coverage. They are not lab measurements and we have not tested these products.
1. The product itself
Yeslak under-seat storage box
A rigid lidded shell that slides into the void beneath the front seats, listed per Model Y generation. It reduces rear-passenger foot room and on some layouts can foul the under-seat air vents — check before buying.
Best for: Using the space under the front seats
Fits: Model Y (2020-2024) · Model Y Juniper (2025-2026)
What works
- The only accessory that uses a genuinely empty volume rather than subdividing an existing one
- Keeps items out of sight without filling the console
What does not
- Reduces rear-passenger foot room under the seat
- Can foul the under-seat air vents on some layouts, which is the thing to check before buying
Manufacturer specifications
- Slides into the void beneath the front seats
- Listed per Model Y generation
- Rigid shell with a lid
Specifications as published by the manufacturer. We have not independently tested this product.
Specification sources: Model Y interior organizer round-up
2. Buy this instead if the vents are the issue
Under-seat air vent covers
If what bothers you is debris collecting in the under-seat vents rather than a lack of storage, open-grille covers cost a fraction as much and solve it without costing foot room. Never fit a solid panel.
Best for: Stopping debris falling into the rear footwell vents
Fits: Model Y (2020-2024) · Model Y Juniper (2025-2026) · Model 3 (2017-2023) · Model 3 Highland (2024-2026)
What works
- Those vents collect coins, crumbs and small toys, and clearing them is genuinely awkward
- No adhesive, so nothing is permanent
- One of the cheapest protective parts on the car
What does not
- Any cover restricts airflow to some degree — fit the open-grille type, not a solid panel
- Easy to dislodge when vacuuming
Manufacturer specifications
- Grille covers for the rear-facing vents beneath the front seats
- Clip or friction fit with no adhesive
- Listed across Model 3 and Model Y fitments
Specifications as published by the manufacturer. We have not independently tested this product.
Specification sources: TOPABYTE 3-piece center console accessory set, Model Y interior organizer round-up
What actually belongs in there
| Suitable | Not suitable |
|---|---|
| A laptop bag or document folder | Anything you need while driving |
| A small holdall or gym bag | Anything heavy or hard — it is not restrained in a crash |
| Spare clothing, an umbrella | Food or anything temperature-sensitive — that area gets warm |
| Items you want out of sight | Anything you need quickly at the roadside |
How much it actually adds
Enough for a laptop bag or a small holdall per side. That is useful rather than transformative, and it is worth setting expectations there: this is not a solution to a Model Y being short of space, because a Model Y is not short of space. It is a solution to wanting somewhere out of sight that is not the frunk.
The vent problem, specifically
Those vents are also where coins, crumbs and small toys end up, and clearing them is genuinely awkward — the grille is fine enough to stop you reaching in and a vacuum will not always pull a coin out. If that experience is what brought you here, you do not want a storage box; you want vent covers, which cost a fraction as much and address the actual problem. Our under-seat vent guide covers the rattle and debris cases.
Our view
For most owners the armrest divider is the better purchase. It adds usable organization in a place you can reach, it takes nothing from anyone, and it costs less. The under-seat box makes sense in one case: you rarely use the back seats, you regularly need to stow something out of sight, and the frunk is already full. That is a real situation — it is just not most people's.
Questions people actually ask
Does under-seat storage block the rear vents?
It can, depending on the design and seat position, and that restricts airflow to the rear footwells. Check the published dimensions before buying.
How much storage does it add?
Roughly a laptop bag or a small holdall per side. Useful, not transformative.
Will it bother rear passengers?
Yes, on a longer journey. It stops them sliding their feet under the front seat.
Is it safe to store heavy items there?
No. These boxes are not restrained, so keep anything heavy or hard out of them.
Sources
- Model Y interior organizer round-up including under-seat storage
- TOPABYTE accessory set including vent-area parts
Specifications and fitment claims on this page come from the manufacturer and retailer pages listed above. We have not tested these products and do not claim to have.
Read next
Console Organizers
Under-Seat Storage for the Model Y
Under-seat storage boxes — genuine extra capacity, at a cost in rear foot room and with a vent issue to check.
Guides
Tesla Under-Seat Vent: Rattles and Debris
Diagnosing a noise from the under-seat vent area, retrieving objects safely, and preventing a repeat.
Interior Protection
Under-Seat Vent Covers for the Model Y and Model 3
Grille covers for the rear-facing under-seat vents, with the airflow caveat that matters.
Console Organizers
Best Console Organizer for the Model Y (2020-2024)
Console trays and inserts for the pre-refresh 2020-2024 Model Y console, where the range is narrowing.
Frunk & Trunk Storage
Under-Floor Storage Bins for the Model Y and Model 3
Bins for the sub-floor well — the largest unstructured volume in these cars, and the cheapest upgrade.