When it comes to sorting and storing the nuts and bolts of your life, a hardware organizer will get the job done.
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Efficient Workshop Essentials: Best Hardware and Screw Organizers Reviewed
Updated on Oct. 31, 2024
Have you ever noticed that tiny tools, screws, nails, washers and the like have a curious way of getting lost in the fray? It may be time to get serious about purchasing a hardware organizer to declutter your basement or garage shelves. When purchasing an organizer, it’s important that you choose one that suits the hardware that you have.
If you’re looking for a solution to get your tools and trinkets in order, or are thinking about converting that little kitchen junk drawer into a thing of beauty that even Marie Kondo would envy, these practical hardware organizers will do the trick. Whether it’s needed in your garage, finished basement or kids’ craft room, each little item will have a home.
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Best Overall Hardware Organizer
Stalworth Parts & Crafts Rack Style Tool Box
Pros:
- Customizable compartments
- Trays slide in and out
- Separate section fits bigger tools and parts
- Comes in four colors
Cons:
- Not for heavy-duty use
Efficient, stackable and multi-tasking, this super versatile hardware organizer from Stalworth isn’t just for keeping track of building parts. The “toolbox” comes with four clear plastic storage containers to show off fishing tackle, first aid supplies, beads, crafts, and picture hangers. If pieces are small, this box organizes and holds ’em.
Best Budget Hardware Organizer
KeFanta Desk Drawer Organizer
Pros:
- Value packs of 22- or 32-count
- Rounded corners and anti-slip surface
- Washable
- Maximizes every inch of drawer space
Cons:
- Best for shallow drawers
Made of flexible, break-resistant plastic, these hardware organizer bins are as durable as they are affordable. Featuring an interlocking hook design that allows the little trays to snap together without an inch of drawer space going to waste, they come in gray, dark gray, white or clear.
Amazon five-star reviewer Chuckles writes, “These were [a] great bang for the buck. I use them in my rolling toolbox to sort tools and hardware. I would but them again.”
Best Portable Hardware Organizer
Stanley Removable Compartment Professional Organizer
Pros:
- Comfort-grip carry handle
- Lid locks to hold hardware storage bins in place
- Available with 10- and 25-compartment versions
Cons:
- Lid may pop open if not properly latched
This hardware organizer from Stanley-Black & Decker allows you to haul small parts and accessories to a job site and back—or from room to room as you tackle odd jobs around the house. Its clear top lets you view the contents inside, and it’s made of high-impact plastic that won’t break. This professional hardware organizer features dividers and removable compartments in three different sizes to sort, store and mix and match cups just the way you like.
Best Wall-Mounted Hardware Organizer
WallPeg Pegboard Bin Kit
Pros:
- Bins made of durable polypropylene plastic
- Four sturdy prongs hold bins securely in place
- Comes in two sizes
Cons:
- No covers or dividers
- Pegboard not included
Eliminate messy piles of nails and screws while gaining lots of vertical surface area with this pegboard hardware organizer kit by WallPeg. Compatible with any standard one-fourth-inch pegboard, the open design and 36-count organizing bins keep things tidy and where you can see them.
Best Compact Hardware Organizer
Ace Storage Rack
Pros:
- Space-saving design
- Transparent storage
- Made of high-quality plastic
Cons:
- Not stackable
Is your basement workbench or shed shelving overflowing with unhoused nuts and bolts? This storage rack is one of the best ways to organize hardware all in one central place. The see-through lids provide optimal viewing, and are super secured with plastic latches to avoid the dreaded spilling of teeny-tiny screws or washers everywhere. Durable and long-lasting, it comes complete with a rack, two large organizers and four small organizers.
What to Consider When Buying a Hardware Organizer
The purpose of any hardware organizer is to arrange and store like-size or kinds of parts and gadgets in a neat and tidy way. Before deciding on the right one, consider the following:
- Durability: Will this organizer be used in a high-impact environment, like a construction site, or left in the trunk of a car? Will it be something you use every day, or will it be kept in storage and used every so often for household repairs?
- Material: Most hardware organizers are made from metal, wood or plastic. Metal is strong, wood is sustainable and plastic is lightweight.
- Portability: Look for organizers with handles, straps or wheels.
- Size: Do you have lots of shelving in the garage or basement area to store hardware organizers? If not, seek out small, stackable or wall-mounted options. You can also recycle containers and old jars or repurpose cutlery trays in drawers.
- Storage capacity: Is your collection of hardware extensive, or do you have just enough for basic tasks?
- Budget: Pros and serious DIYers should expect to spend a little bit more. Crafters can get away with less expensive bins.
How We Found the Best Hardware Organizer
As shopping experts, our only job is to help you find a winning product. We start with the research and reporting basics—what products are made of, what they look like and how much they cost—to ensure that we’re only recommending the buys that are worth your time and money. Then, we research the features that speak to the product’s quality, taking advice from industry insiders and subject matter experts on what makes a product a smart value (or worthy of a splurge). Finally, we do the work of combing through user reviews to see how real people interact with the product, and if it stands up to the test.
FAQ
How do you organize hardware?
The best approach to organizing small bits of hardware is to group them by size and/or by type (i.e., wood, electrical and plumbing, hooks and hangers, washers and dowels). If the bins aren’t transparent, label them so you can quickly find what you’re looking for.
Why do you need a hardware organizer?
You need a hardware organizer to keep workbenches, sheds or studios free and clear of clutter. Not only will it save you time, but you will save money by voiding purchasing hardware you already own but can’t find.
How much is a hardware organizer?
It depends. If you’re an occasional DIYer, you don’t need to spend a lot. However, if you’re a professional contractor or act as the neighborhood handyperson on the weekends, you’ll want a hardware organizer that stands up to regular wear and tear. Expect to spend an average of $20 for a simple organizer or upwards of $50 for a heavy-duty commercial-grade system.
