Now that I’ve been on the home-organization beat for a while, I can say with confidence that dealing with out-of-control drawers is one of the tasks that most of us look forward to the least. Opening a drawer can be like going down a rabbit hole. Clutter takes over when you’re not looking — and suddenly you’re staring down a gaggle of kitchen gadgets you hardly ever use, a snarl of mismatched socks, or a weird mix of batteries, buttons, and other bits and bobs. Getting a drawer organizer is an easy fix, whether you’re already an ardent KonMari adherent or reluctant to throw out years-old receipts. As Jamie Hord, founder of Horderly Professional Organizing, explains, “Drawer organizers help create containment and give everything a proper home.” Nicole Abramovici of Genius Organizing adds that they “allow you to refine a category even further in one easily viewed space,” like separating your thongs from bikinis and briefs. That way, there’s some method to the madness. To help you find the best options for your own space, I asked professional declutterers about the drawer organizers and dividers they rely on.
What we’re looking for
Measurements: Before you buy any organizer or divider, measure the dimensions of your drawer to ensure you get one that’s suitable for the space and accommodates the items you’re looking to contain. As Hord says, “Be strategic when it comes to the proper measurements,” so allow yourself a couple of inches to make sure you can move an organizer around if need be. And take into account any oddly shaped items like a fish spatula or granny panties that might not fit or fold neatly into one. Each organizer’s measurements are listed below, so you can compare them to your drawer’s.
Design: Piggybacking off that point, you’re going to want to know where the organizer is going. “The feel and look of a drawer organizer for your kitchen will be very different from one for your dresser,” explains home organizer Caroline Solomon. “A dresser-drawer divider will be much larger and have greater depth than a kitchen drawer divider, for instance.” Founder of Prim Living Meredith Goforth seconds this, saying you should know what you’re putting into a drawer as that will guide you on the sizes to buy. “Pull everything out and do an edit first — you will be able to purchase smarter if you have done this already.”
Our list is organized by the different drawers you’d use each organizer in — starting with kitchen drawers and finishing with desk and dresser drawers. We’ve made sure to mention other notable design fdetails like expandability or multiple compartments. These features are what separate a tray that’s best for cooking utensils from one that’s jewelry-friendly.
Materials: Once you’ve decided on the drawer for your organizer, consider the material the organizer is made from. Bamboo is a favorite for kitchens, as it’s durable for a “well-trod” space, according to Solomon. It has an aesthetic advantage, according to Corinne Morahan, founder of Grid + Glam: Bamboo will look more like a built-in, as it matches the interior of most kitchen drawers. For dresser drawers, go for wood or linen depending on what you’re organizing. Like bamboo, wood blends in. But it can cause snagging, warns Lisa Ruff, the chief brand officer at Neat Method, so it’s not ideal for rows of sweaters. For delicate items, you could lean on linen, which is “soft yet sturdy” for undergarments especially, Solomon says. (Think of your lacy little numbers.) And see-through acrylic makes everything easy to find in a bathroom “or any area that is more on display,” Goforth tells us.
Best overall drawer organizer
The Container Store Stackable Bamboo Drawer Organizers
Multiple sizes, starting from 3” x 6” x 2” | Stackable | Bamboo
Two of our experts recommend these do-it-all drawer organizers from The Container Store. The bamboo makes them “neutral-looking enough” for almost anywhere, Solomon says. The organizers come in different dimensions — you can pick between sizes and shapes — and are stackable to save space in the most cluttered of drawers. Solomon mixes and matches them but generally likes ordering the one that’s 6 inches by 6 inches by 2 inches “as a vessel for rubber bands and chip clips” and a few of the smallest sizes (3 inches by 6 inches by 2 inches) as catchalls. “It’s a bit like playing Tetris figuring out which size goes where,” Goforth explains. “My suggestion is to first map out what you are putting in each space so you can customize the drawer accordingly.” This flexibility is what makes these organizers such a standout, especially if you, like Goforth, use them to keep essentials in “zones”: “If you keep like with like, it will always be easier to find.” Example: Whisks and wooden spoons should have their own baking “zone.” Solomon similarly describes the organizers as a “go-to,”, particularly for bathroom drawers filled with makeup and medicine; they keep bathroom drawers “so satisfyingly organized” that you’ll actually want to keep them that way, she adds. But her favorite place to put them is in a junk drawer to add order “to a chaotic space that gets a bad rap.”
Best customizable drawer organizer
The Container Store Stackable Bamboo Drawer Organizers
24” long, 2” or 4” high | Stackable, snaps for the right size, self-adhesive mounts | Plastic
As you’ll soon see, The Container Store is popular with our panelists. Our second recommendation from the brand comes courtesy Heidi Lee, founder of home-organization service Prune + Pare. This set of organizer strips works whether you’re hoping to create the drawers of your dreams or just have odd-shaped ones that you can never find dividers for. The “custom” part of the design requires you to measure and cut the strips to the exact specifications of the drawer you’re planning on putting them in, and they come with self-adhesive mounts to keep them in place (replacements are sold separately). As a bonus, the strips are stackable, so you can place them into deep-set drawers, Lee explains. She finds these to be the most versatile storage solution for cabinets — fitting into kitchens and bathrooms as easily as offices, where they organize the smallest items including paper clips and sticky notes.
Best overall kitchen-drawer organizer
Homemaid Bamboo Drawer Dividers
17.5”–22” x 0.59” x 2.15” | Adjustable, built-in springs, stackable | Bamboo
Boxes and trays for kitchen drawers are a popular storage solution among our professional declutterers. But as Solomon points out, their very specific dimensions can sometimes be a problem. She recommends drawer dividers instead, which can usually adjust to fit both small and large drawers. (Of course, double-check your measurements to make sure.)
These Homemaid dividers have an almost magical ability to “transform even the messiest of kitchen drawers,” Solomon says. There are four of them in this set — use them front to back or side to side in a drawer or stack them if your drawer is especially deep (each divider measures a little more than two inches high). Their adjustability, like the aforementioned Container Store pick, is what makes them useful for all the rarely used gadgets and tried-and-true essentials you have tucked away. These dividers are water-resistant; to clean them, just wipe them with a cloth.
Best kitchen-drawer organizer for large utensils
If you’re set on the tray route, whether you prefer the look or just don’t want to deal with different dividers, consider this Morahan-approved organizer. Unlike many of the kitchen-drawer trays out there, it’s expandable — reaching a maximum of 22 inches wide. The organizer works well for all your basic utensils, but it’s big enough for larger utensils — think rolling pins — that might not fit into a traditional tray. Morahan likes that these are versatile and blend seamlessly into kitchen drawers, resulting in a made-for-you look without the made-for-you price tag. As Ruff points out, bamboo is ideal for kitchens, “because it’s a natural material that looks nice and wears well.”
Best kitchen-drawer organizer for flatware
The Container Store Expandable Bamboo Silverware Tray
13”–23” x 18” x 2.5” | Expandable, seven compartments | Bamboo
Solomon actually has two favorite flatware organizers, a more minimal tray and this expandable option. Of the two, the latter wins as it “allows you to spread out your utensils,” she explains. “I love that utensils like salad and dinner forks can live happily alongside one another instead of being so cramped.” As long as your drawer allows, it expands to 23 inches wide, letting spoons have a little more breathing room. So if you have a big family or a big silverware collection, it’s your best bet. (But anything truly prized or precious may be better off in something more airtight like this, she adds.) Although the rule of thumb is to organize cutlery (from left to right) by knives, forks, and spoons, Solomon recommends going in the order you lay out your table.
Best compact kitchen-drawer organizer for flatware
Joseph Joseph DrawerStore Compact Cutlery Organizer
15.6” x 4.33” x 2.25” | Five angled compartments | Plastic
If you’re really short on space and can’t even consider something that expands, Hannah Starke, a former member of the Strategist social team, recommends this compact cutlery-drawer tray, which she uses in her 22-square-foot kitchen. Thanks to its stacked design, it’s super space-saving. Starke leaves it on one side of the sink, where the counter meets a wall and it has just enough space to hold all her flatware.
Best modular kitchen-drawer organizer
iDesign Linus Shallow Drawer Organizers
Multiple sizes, starting from 3” x 6” x 2” | Made for shallow drawers, modular | Plastic
Though multi-compartment trays are popular among the experts we talked to, especially for cutlery, you might be searching for something a little less structured. If so, consider professional organizer Britnee Tanner’s pick from iDesign. The modular functionality — mix and match between different-size containers — is what Tanner likes the most. You can choose which dimensions work best for what you have first, rather than the proportions of your drawer. Although these organizers are meant for toiletries, Tanner recommends using them to bring order back to your pile of utensils and grab-and-go snacks that might otherwise be lost in the shuffle. “They’re an all-around trusty product, and they won’t break the bank,” she says.
Best kitchen-drawer organizer for spices
Lynk Professional Spice Rack Tray
Multiple sizes, starting from 10” x 16.5” x 1.5” | 4-tier tray | Steel
One scroll through Organizing TikTok (if you haven’t been, please visit) and you’ll see all sorts of solutions for what to do about your spices. Sure, you can have them out in the open in one of those neat spinners or splurge on a hidden pull-out cabinet. But this tray, another Solomon-approved pick, combines practicality with discretion. The in-drawer storage solution can hold up to 24 standard-size spice jars, so paprika and parsley will each have their own place. The heavy-duty steel is durable enough for heavier glass jars and gives the tray a more “official” feel than a plastic organizer. It almost disappears into a drawer, making finding the spice you need much easier. Pro tip: Solomon likes to store savory spices on their own and sweeter spices (especially baking staples) in a separate spot.
Best overall dresser-drawer organizer
Dream Drawer Expandable Spring Loaded Drawer Dividers
12”–18” long x 4” high | Adjustable, pack of two, optional mounting strips | Plastic
These dresser-drawer dividers were the most raved-about organizers, name-checked by four of our experts — Hord, Morahan, Abramovici, and Natalie Schrier, founder of Cut the Clutter — who mentioned them to us. The spring-loaded dividers “provide an exact fit for the entire depth of the drawer, leaving no space wasted, and they stay put,” Schrier explains. Hord loves how they instantly create categories among clothes, like folded-up favorite tees here and less frequently worn tees there. Morahan similarly says that if you’re short on space, these are a simple way to give yourself more room. For example, a drawer that was once just for undies now has sections for bras and shapewear. Abramovici installed these more than a decade ago and her underwear drawer “has been immaculate ever since.” You can use the included mounting strips (which are optional) to hold the dividers in place extra securely if needed.
Best-looking dresser-drawer organizer
11” to 17” x 0.8” x 3.5” | Adjustable, non-slip silicone stoppers, curved corners | Wood
The Dream Drawers are our best overall pick for their affordability, but to match a wooden dresser drawer perfectly, turn to these adjustable dividers from Open Spaces, which come recommended by both Solomon and Sharon Lowenheim, a.k.a. the Organizing Goddess. Lowenheim is particularly impressed that these dividers have a whitewashed finish that’s neither too dark (serious-looking) nor too light (which can come off as childish). (Although, if you have a drawer much darker or lighter, these might not be the best fit.) Solomon points out that the slightly curved corners add to their charm, as most dresser-drawer organizers have sharp edges. In addition to being adjustable, the dividers feature silicone stoppers at each end for a snug, secure fit.
Best dresser-drawer organizer boxes
The Container Store Linen Drawer Organizers
Multiple sizes, starting from 7” x 14” x 4” | Different-size boxes with different compartments | Linen
A downside of drawer dividers is that it can be difficult to contain small items, like rolled-up ties and briefs. That’s why these boxes are special: They come in multiple sizes, so you can both keep rows of thin sweaters in place and store pairs of socks individually. Prop stylist Cait Gury likes how these boxes “eliminate the digging that often accompanied my sock and bra hunt, a search that was adding unnecessary stress to my morning routine.” Plus they help her feel “a little fancy” with their sophisticated simplicity. The linen means “you don’t have to worry about materials snagging” as you would with wood or plastic, Ruff adds.
Best (less expensive) dresser-drawer organizer boxes
5.5” x 5.5” x 5.13,” 11” x 5.5” 5.13,” and 11” x 11”x 5.13” (2 of each) | Different-size boxes that can be folded flat | Polyester
Compared to The Container Store’s linen boxes that start at $18 a pop, the Ikea Skubb boxes are a bargain at $7 for a six-pack. Although these are specially designed to fit into the brand’s own furniture, Tanner assures us that the boxes work just as well in non-Ikea drawers. The set can hold the most delicate of delicates. But Tanner’s tip is to use them in kids’ drawers since the organizers can accommodate their smaller clothes. You can even put the small boxes inside the bigger ones, matryoshka-doll-style, to create sections. These can fold completely flat if you unzip their bottoms — in the event you ever need to store some of them after changing your organizational setup.
Best drawer organizer for underwear
The linen organizers above would make for a smart drawer solution for delicates, but for something even more underwear-specific, Goforth recommends this Elfa organizer. The smooth plastic is designed to be snag-free, according to the brand, while each diamond-shaped divider can hold a pantie, pair of stockings, or another undergarment. Goforth describes it as “life-changing for the drawer we all use every day” and suggests organizing contents by color and type (thongs together). This organizer has another distinct advantage: You can tailor it to any drawer by just cutting off any of the ends that don’t fit.
Best drawer organizer for jewelry
Stackers Medium Expandable Jewelry Storage Tray
12”–18.75”x 10.25” x 1.5” | Expandable, 12 compartments, separate ring display space | Velvet
A jewelry tray inside a drawer frees up your dresser top from bulky boxes and cluttered miniature curio cabinets. Not to mention that it keeps chains from tangling and stones in their place. This tray earned a coveted spot in our guide to the best jewelry organizers, and Stackers was the most-mentioned brand in that story. Ope Omojola, the founder of Octave Jewelry, uses it in her desk drawer so that, instead of having her jewels sitting out, most of them are accessible enough “so that when I’m getting dressed, they’re right there.” She stacks the trays on top of one another, unstacking whenever she needs a particular piece. Because the organizer is expandable, it can grow alongside your collection. And a note from me, a jewelry collector (I own more than 200 pieces): Velvet is the perfect cushion for your treasures, as it won’t scuff off any polish or plating.
Best bathroom-drawer organizer
STORi Clear Plastic Vanity and Desk Drawer Organizers
Two of each: 3” x 3”, 6” x 3”, and 9” x 3” | Stackable, six-piece set | Plastic
Overwhelmingly, our organization experts recommended acrylic drawer organizers for the bathroom. That’s in part because, as Gury explains, acrylic options “wipe clean, dry fast, and allow you to tell easily when they’re in need of a wash.” Most of our experts’ recommendations were super similar, but the Stori organizers stood out because they’re part of a set. There are different trays for makeup brushes, cotton swabs, bandages, and whatever else you need to store away, so instead of buying separate trays and putting them together, this set has done the work for you. They’ve earned Ruff’s stamp of approval, as the trays are stackable and “the transparent material visually falls away to help tone down the business of the drawers.”
If your under-sink drawer is getting out of control, this Umbra caddy is a true sleeper hit for sorting out a hoard of beauty supplies, according to beauty contributor Rio Viera-Newton. It’s especially useful as a hair-care product hero, as the caddy was “designed specifically with oddly shaped blow-dryers in mind.”
Best desk-drawer organizer
For a no-muss, no-fuss organizer, Madesmart takes the top spot. With partitions for everything from paper clips to scissors, and a compartment perfectly sized for a roll of tape, this two-tier organizer is Schrier’s pick for “storing everyday office supplies.” The top tray can be removed and used separately in a different desk drawer, and since it doesn’t fully cover the bottom level, you don’t have to go search for your favorite pens. (That said, if you’re looking for something more design-forward, consider these colorful organizers that Daniel Loya, owner of Spaces Transformed, raved to us about: “There are endless ways you can arrange the compartments based on the contents being stored.” They’ll brighten up any dull desk space.)
Best junk-drawer organizer
The Container Store Stackable Organizers Junk Drawer Starter Kit
6 ⅜” x 9.5” x 2 ¾” and 4 ¾” x 6.5” x 2 ¾” | Stackable, three-piece set | Plastic
If there’s a junk drawer you’re too afraid to open, let this starter kit save you. The semitransparent organizers create “accountability — nothing to hide here — and are stackable for additional storage space,” Gury says. The kit comes with three mini-trays — one medium and two small — that you can configure to fit your needs. And you can edit the kit to include more or less of each size for your drawers.
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