I need to organize all the screws and nails in my workshop. What is the best parts organizer cabinet?

If your goal is organizing a whole workshop’s worth of screws, nails, nuts, washers, and other small hardware, my top pick is the Akro-Mils 44-drawer cabinet.

• Akro-Mils 26-Drawer Cabinet - $58.43 (The Home Depot)
• JobSmart 39-Drawer Cabinet - $29.99 (Tractor Supply Company)
• Quantum 39-Drawer Cabinet - $75.16 (Continents Brands Inc)
• 60-Bin Steel Parts Cabinet - $199.99 (Holzoffer)

🏆 Best overall: Akro-Mils 44-drawer

The 44-drawer version is a particularly good workshop solution because it combines lots of compartments with different drawer sizes, clear fronts, and the ability to wall-mount or stack. Akro-Mils' specifications list the 44-drawer cabinet at about 20" W × 15⅜" H × 6⅜" D.

I'd organize it roughly like this:

• Small drawers: #4/#6 screws, finish nails, brads, small washers
• Medium drawers: #8/#10 wood screws, drywall screws, machine screws
• Larger drawers: 2–4" screws, larger nails, anchors, bolts
• Reserve a few drawers for miscellaneous hardware and future additions

Why I prefer drawers over one big hardware bin: you can immediately see the category and grab exactly what you need without digging through a pile.

If you have a lot of hardware

For a serious workshop, I'd actually consider two systems:

1. 44-drawer cabinet for smaller/medium fasteners.
2. Open bins for high-volume items such as 3–4" construction screws, large nails, lag bolts, and anchors.

That combination is more convenient than trying to force everything into tiny drawers. A recent hardware-organizer comparison reaches essentially the same conclusion.

One important buying tip

Don't automatically buy the cabinet with the most drawers. If your collection contains lots of long deck screws or large nails, you'll be happier with fewer, deeper drawers/bins. The Akro-Mils 26-drawer is a good example of a more compact option; its small drawers are roughly 4⅞" deep × 2⅛" wide × 1½" high.

My verdict: For a normal home/workshop fastener collection, Akro-Mils 44-drawer = best choice. It's the sort of organizer I'd buy once and expand with a second unit if the collection grows.

If you tell me roughly how many pounds/bins of screws and nails you have and whether you want it wall-mounted or sitting on a workbench, I can narrow it down to the best 2–3 options for your shop.

Choosing the "best" parts organizer cabinet for your workshop depends heavily on how many fasteners you have and how much wall or bench space you can spare.

The top options on the market cater to different organization styles:

• Best Overall / Classic Choice: Akro-Mils 26-Drawer Go to product viewer dialog for this item. or 44-Drawer Plastic Parts Cabinet
  • Why it's great: The undisputed workshop standard. It features a rugged plastic frame with clear, high-impact polystyrene drawers. The drawers have rear stop tabs so they won't spill out when pulled, and they include small dividers.
  • Best for: General screws, finishing nails, anchors, and small-to-medium collections.
• Best Heavy-Duty / Industrial Option: Akro-Mils Steel Small Parts Storage Cabinets Go to product viewer dialog for this item. (e.g., 10109 Go to product viewer dialog for this item. or 10144 series) or ULINE Steel Parts Cabinets Go to product viewer dialog for this item.
  • Why it's great: These feature a heavy-duty, all-welded steel outer frame with heavy polystyrene or steel drawers. They won't warp or sag over time, even if you pack the drawers completely full of heavy steel nuts, bolts, and masonry lag screws.
  • Best for: Heavy hardware, professional shops, or environments where plastic frames might take a beating.
• Best Budget / Lightweight Pick: Craftsman Small 30-Drawer Bin System Go to product viewer dialog for this item. or VEVOR 18/40 Drawer Plastic Cabinets Go to product viewer dialog for this item.
  • Why it's great: Gives you a high count of compartments for a minimal price. They are lightweight, easily stackable, and can be mounted directly to a workshop wall.
  • Best for: Lighter DIY use, electronics components, brad nails, and small wood screws.
• Best Portable / Modular System: Milwaukee Packout Organizer Go to product viewer dialog for this item. or DeWalt TSTAK Organizer Go to product viewer dialog for this item.
  • Why it's great: If you take your screws and nails to the job site or prefer storing hardware in modular boxes that stack under a workbench rather than hang on a wall, these clear-lidded, heavy-duty organizer boxes with removable bins are unmatched.

To help narrow down the exact cabinet you need, tell me:

• Roughly how many types/sizes of screws and nails do you have?
• Do you prefer to mount it to a wall , keep it on a workbench , or have something portable?

Best overall: Akro-Mils 44-Drawer Cabinet

• Akro-Mils 44 Drawer Plastic Storage Organizer Cabinet - $43.09 (Target)

For a workshop that mainly needs screws, nails, nuts, washers, and other small hardware, I’d buy the Akro-Mils 44-drawer cabinet (10144).

Why it stands out:

• 44 drawers give you enough categories without becoming enormous.
• Clear drawers let you see the hardware without opening every compartment.
• It can sit on a bench or be wall-mounted, which is particularly useful above a workbench.
• The drawers have stops to help prevent accidental spills.
• The cabinet is about 20" W × 6⅜" D × 15⅜" H, so it provides a lot of storage without consuming much bench space.
• Current comparisons consistently put the 44-drawer Akro-Mils among the best choices for workshop fasteners.

How I'd organize it

Use the drawers by type → diameter/size → length, rather than just putting miscellaneous screws together.

For example:

• Wood screws — #6, #8, #10
• Wood screws — short/medium/long
• Drywall screws
• Deck screws
• Machine screws
• Nuts
• Washers
• Finish nails
• Brad nails
• Anchors
• Specialty/odd hardware

One caveat: if you have a huge quantity of large deck screws, lag bolts, or other bulky fasteners, the Akro-Mils drawers will be too small. In that case, I'd pair it with larger open bins rather than trying to cram everything into drawers.

Other good choices

• CRAFTSMAN 39-Compartment Bin System - $38.98 (Lowe's)

• DEWALT TOUGHSYSTEM 2.0 10-Compartment Organizer - $54.98 (The Home Depot)

• 60-Bin Steel Drawer Storage Cabinet - $199.99 (Holzoffer)

• CRAFTSMAN 39-bin — good inexpensive alternative if you want something portable/stackable.

• DEWALT ToughSystem 2.0 — better if you frequently carry screws and hardware around the workshop or to job sites.

• 60-bin steel cabinet — better if you have a serious hardware collection and want a larger, more industrial solution.

My pick for most home workshops: Akro-Mils 44 drawers. It's the sweet spot between capacity, visibility, footprint, and price.

If you tell me roughly how many different types of screws/nails you have and whether you want wall-mounted or freestanding, I can narrow it down to the best 2–3 options for your workshop.

Choosing the "best" parts organizer cabinet for your workshop depends heavily on whether you have a massive collection of bulk hardware or just a standard assortment of household DIY screws and nails.

The top options on the market cater to different organization styles:

• 1. Best Overall for Most Workshops: Akro-Mils 44-Drawer Plastic Storage Cabinet (Model 10144)Go to product viewer dialog for this item.
  • Why it's great: This is the gold standard for home woodworkers and DIYers. It features a rugged, high-impact polystyrene frame with 44 clear drawers (mix of small and large sizes) that let you see what's inside at a glance.
  • Best for: Standard wood screws, drywall screws, finishing nails, and small brackets.
  • Bonus: They are stackable and have keyhole slots on the back so you can mount them directly to a workshop wall.
• 1. Best Heavy-Duty / Industrial Option: All-Welded Steel Bolt Bins (40 to 50-Drawer)
  • Why it's great: If you deal with heavy hardware, weight will eventually sag or crack plastic cabinets. Steel-framed, all-welded industrial drawer bins (like a 40-bin or 50-drawer steel cabinet) feature heavy metal frames and tough polypropylene or steel drawers with built-in safety stoppers so drawers don't dump on your toes when pulled all the way out.
  • Best for: Large quantities of nuts, bolts, washers, and long lag screws.
• 1. Best Portable / Modular System: Sortimo T-Boxx Go to product viewer dialog for this item. or Milwaukee Packout Organizer Go to product viewer dialog for this item.
  • Why it's great: If you prefer taking your screws and anchors to the project rather than walking back and forth to a wall cabinet, modular latching boxes with removable inner bins (popularized by pros and makers like Adam Savage) are unbeatable. You can pull out just the little cup of #8 screws you need and set it right on your workbench.
  • Best for: Mobile hobbyists, contractors, or workshops with limited wall space.

To help narrow down the ideal choice, tell me:

• Roughly how many types of screws and nails do you have? (e.g., just a dozen types, or hundreds?)
• Do you prefer wall-mounting a stationary cabinet, or would you rather have portable cases you can grab and go?

Best overall: Akro-Mils 44-drawer cabinet

• Akro-Mils 44-Drawer Plastic Storage Organizer Cabinet - $43.61 (Target)

For a stationary workshop dedicated to screws, nails, nuts, washers, and other small hardware, I'd pick the Akro-Mils 44-drawer cabinet. It gives you a lot of storage density without taking much bench or wall space, and the drawers can be divided for different sizes. Akro-Mils' own catalog lists the 44-drawer cabinet at about 20" wide × 15⅜" high × 6⅜" deep, with wall-mounting or stacking capability.

Why I like it

• 44 drawers lets you sort by type and size — e.g., #6 × 1", #6 × 1½", #8 × 1", etc.
• Clear drawers make it easy to see what you have.
• Compact footprint for the amount of hardware it holds.
• Wall-mountable, which keeps your workbench clear.
• Dividers let you split drawers when you have smaller quantities of different hardware.
• It's inexpensive enough that buying two can make sense if you have a large fastener collection.

If you have really heavy hardware

• Akro-Mils Steel 20-Drawer Parts Cabinet - $323.99 (HearthSmith)

The Akro-Mils steel-frame 20-drawer cabinet is the upgrade I'd consider if you're storing lots of heavy bolts, lag screws, fittings, etc. Steel-frame Akro-Mils cabinets are substantially more robust than the inexpensive plastic cabinets.

If you need portability

• DEWALT TSTAK V 9-Compartment Organizer - $35.15 (The Home Depot)

For hardware that you frequently take to projects, I'd choose the DEWALT TSTAK instead. Its compartments are removable and the clear lid lets you identify contents quickly; it's much better suited to carrying hardware around than a drawer cabinet.

My recommendation for a typical home workshop: buy one or two Akro-Mils 44-drawer cabinets, mount them at eye level, and label every drawer with the fastener type, diameter/number, and length. That's a much nicer system than keeping dozens of partially used boxes around.

The "best" parts organizer cabinet depends heavily on whether you have a massive inventory of loose fasteners or just a modest collection of weekend DIY screws and nails.

Here are the top-rated small parts organizer cabinets and systems for a workshop, broken down by category:

1. Best Overall Wall/Bench Cabinet: Akro-Mils 10144 44-Drawer Cabinet Go to product viewer dialog for this item.

• Why it shines: It is the quintessential workshop staple. It features a rugged, high-impact polystyrene frame with a hybrid layout of large and small clear drawers.
• Best for: Sorting everything from tiny brad nails and finishing washers up to 2-inch or 3-inch wood screws. The clear drawers let you see inventory instantly, and it mounts cleanly to a workshop wall to save valuable bench space.
• Alternative: If you want slightly more capacity without a massive footprint, the Akro-Mils 64-Drawer Cabinet Go to product viewer dialog for this item. handles ultra-fine sorting.

1. Best Heavy-Duty Industrial Option: Steel Bolt Bins (e.g., Lyon Go to product viewer dialog for this item. orGlobal Industrial 50/100-Drawer Steel Bins)

• Why it shines: If plastic cabinets feel too flimsy or you are storing heavy steel fasteners by the pound, an all-welded heavy-gauge steel bolt bin is indestructible.
• Best for: Professional mechanics, serious woodworkers, or high-volume hardware storage. They feature removable drawer dividers, heavy steel shells, and integrated label holders. They are deeper and much sturdier than plastic, though significantly more expensive.

1. Best Portable / Modular System: Milwaukee Packout Small Parts Organizers Go to product viewer dialog for this item. or [DeWalt TSTAK / ToughSystem Organizers Go to product viewer dialog for this item. ](https://www.homedepot.com/b/Garage-Tool-Storage-Small-Parts-Organizers/Best-Rated/N-5yc1vZc28pZbwo5q)

• Why it shines: Loved by makers and popularized in pro shops (like Adam Savage's mobile kits), heavy-duty modular boxes with removable inner bins allow you to take the exact assortment of screws you need directly to the project.
• Best for: Workshops where you value portability or want to stack your hardware bins neatly on a rolling cart or wall cleat system. The no-migrate lids seal tightly so tiny screws don't jump compartments when carried vertically.
• Budget alternative: The Harbor Freight Storehouse Portable Storage Cases Go to product viewer dialog for this item. offer a similar bin-in-case style at a fraction of the cost.

1. Best Budget / Value Wall-Mount: INTERTOOL 39-Drawer Small Parts Organizer Go to product viewer dialog for this item. (similar to Vevor models)

• Why it shines: Usually featuring 30 small drawers and 9 larger lower drawers, this style gives you a massive number of sorting slots for around thirty bucks.
• Best for: Light-to-moderate duty organization on a tight budget. It comes with rear wall-mounting slots and modular drawer dividers.

To help narrow down the ideal choice for your shop, let me know:

• Roughly how many types/sizes of screws and nails do you have?
• Do you prefer a wall-mounted stationary cabinet , or would you rather have portable boxes you can carry to your work?

When it comes to sorting and storing a sea of mixed screws, nails, washers, and small fasteners, the "best" cabinet depends entirely on whether you prefer a stationary wall unit (see everything at a glance) or a modular/portable case system (bring the box to the work).

The top-rated parts organizer cabinets and systems for a workshop are broken down by category below:

1. Best Classic Drawer Cabinets (Stationary / Wall-Mount)

• Why it's great: The undisputed gold standard for stationary workshop storage. They feature a rugged, heavy-duty frame (molded plastic or steel-reinforced) with high-impact polystyrene drawers. Crucially, the drawers have rear stop tabs that prevent them from pulling all the way out and spilling your screws on the floor.

• Best for: Small-to-medium quantities of distinct screw lengths, drywall anchors, and finishing nails.

• Why it's great: A budget-friendly, highly accessible alternative. Built with corner ribbing for solid stacking stability and clear drawers for maximum visibility. They mount easily to workshop walls.

2. Best Heavy-Duty / Industrial Drawer Cabinets

• Steel-Frame Multi-Bin Cabinets (like the 40-Bin Go to product viewer dialog for this item. or 60-Bin Go to product viewer dialog for this item. Heavy-Duty Steel Cabinets):
  • Why it's great: If you have heavy hardware (large bolts, thick structural screws, or lots of iron nails), cheap all-plastic cabinets can sag or crack. Laser-welded steel frames with thick polypropylene drawers and built-in safety stoppers offer lifetime durability. Many include customizable drawer dividers.
  • Best for: Heavy usage, bulk fasteners, and a clean industrial aesthetic.

3. Best Portable / Modular Hardware Organizers (Lidded Cases)

• Why it's great: Favored by woodworkers and contractors (and popularized in shops like Adam Savage's), these heavy-duty clear-lidded cases feature removable, customizable inner bins. The rubber seals prevent screws from migrating between compartments even if the box gets tossed around or stored vertically.
• Best for: People who like to grab the exact box of screws they need and carry it directly to the project site.

Pro-Tips for Workshop Organization:

1. Standardize your inventory: Try to buy the same few brands/lengths of screws so they fit predictably into uniform drawer sizes.
2. Label the lip, not just the front: Put clear labels on the upper edge or handle frame of the drawers so you can read what is inside when looking down from a standing position.
3. Include the driver bit: If a specific screw requires a unique Torx or square bit, drop the bit right into the same drawer or bin as the screws.

To help narrow down the ideal capacity and style for your space, tell me:

• Roughly how many types/sizes of screws and nails do you have?
• Do you prefer to mount it to a wall , keep it on a workbench , or have something portable?

For a workshop that primarily needs screws, nails, nuts, washers, and other small hardware, my top pick is the Akro-Mils 44/64-drawer cabinet family rather than a portable toolbox-style organizer.

Akro-Mils 10164 64-Drawer Cabinet

$75.49

Akro-Mils 10164 Plastic Storage Cabinet

$64.74

Stanley SortMaster 15-Compartment Organizer

$19.99

DEWALT ToughSystem 2.0 Organizer

$47.98

🏆 Best overall: Akro-Mils 10164, 64 drawers

The Akro-Mils 10164 gives you 64 clear drawers in a roughly 20" wide × 6⅜" deep cabinet. Akro-Mils designs these cabinets to be wall-mounted or stacked, with clear drawers and optional dividers.

Why I'd choose it:

• 64 compartments — enough to separate screw sizes without creating a giant pile of "miscellaneous."
• Clear drawers make it easy to see what's inside.
• Excellent for a permanent workshop setup.
• Compact depth keeps it from consuming much bench space.
• You can label each drawer with size/type.
• The 44-drawer version is also excellent if 64 compartments would be overkill.

One caveat: the plastic cabinet isn't as rugged as a steel parts cabinet. If you're going to load each drawer with heavy bolts, bearings, or metal components, I'd step up to a steel Akro-Mils cabinet. Their 19-Series includes 15-, 16-, 20-, and 28-drawer steel cabinets.

If your workshop is more heavy-duty

The Akro-Mils 28-drawer steel cabinet is the upgrade I'd consider. It has a welded steel frame and deeper drawers, making it better suited to heavier hardware.

How I'd organize yours

Rather than one drawer per individual screw, I'd use:

Wood screws

• #6 × 1"
• #6 × 1½"
• #8 × 1"
• #8 × 1½"
• #8 × 2"
• #10 × 1½"
• #10 × 2"
• Deck/exterior screws

Nails

• Finish/brad nails
• Common nails
• Roofing/specialty nails

Other

• Machine screws
• Nuts
• Washers
• Drywall anchors
• Wall anchors
• Picture-hanging hardware
• Miscellaneous specialty fasteners

For frequently used screws, label by diameter × length, e.g. WOOD — #8 × 1½" rather than simply "wood screws."

Bottom line: I'd buy the Akro-Mils 10164 64-drawer cabinet for a dedicated workshop. If you have a lot of larger/heavier hardware, pair the small-drawer cabinet with a separate deeper-bin system rather than trying to make one cabinet do everything.

The "best" parts organizer cabinet for your workshop depends on whether you have a massive collection of bulk hardware or just a general assortment of household fixings.

Top-performing small parts storage cabinets and systems are broken down by category below:

1. Best Overall Drawer Cabinets (Stationary / Wall-Mount)

• Akro-Mils Plastic Storage Cabinets (e.g., 26 or 64 Drawer) : The industry standard for DIYers and pros alike. The frames are rugged molded plastic with heavily ribbed corners for stacking, and the pull-out drawers feature rear stop-tabs so they won't spill your screws all over the floor. They are easily mountable on a workshop wall.
• Steel-Framed Multi-Bin Cabinets (e.g., 40 to 100-Bin Heavy Duty Steel Frame) : If you want something that will withstand heavy, industrial use without warping or cracking, a heavy-duty laser-welded steel frame with thick polypropylene (PP) drawers is ideal. These usually come with built-in drawer safety stoppers and customizable slot dividers.

2. Best Modular & Portable Systems (For Grab-and-Go Projects)

• Milwaukee Packout Go to product viewer dialog for this item., DeWalt TSTAK Go to product viewer dialog for this item. , or Craftsman Versastack Drawer Systems Go to product viewer dialog for this item. : Many woodworkers and contractors have moved away from wall cabinets in favor of stackable, modular tool boxes with clear-view shallow drawers. The major perk here is portability—you can unclip the exact drawer box containing your drywall or deck screws and carry it right to your work site.
• Interlocking Small Parts Organizer Cases (like Sortimo T-Boxx Go to product viewer dialog for this item. or Harbor Freight/Tay Tools bins Go to product viewer dialog for this item.) : Featuring clear lids and customizable, removable interior cups, these let you pull out single bins of screws or nails without tipping an entire cabinet.

Key Features to Look For:

• Clear Drawers or Lids : Visual identification is everything. If you can't see the size or type of screw at a glance, you'll end up spilling containers looking for what you need.
• Drawer Stops : Ensure the cabinet has positive stops so the drawers cannot easily be pulled all the way out by accident.
• Dividers : Hardware naturally accumulates; having removable or adjustable dividers lets you resize compartments as your nail and screw inventory shifts.

To help narrow down the ideal choice, tell me:

• Are you storing massive bulk quantities or small assortment packs?
• Do you prefer a wall-mounted stationary cabinet or a portable system you can take to the job?

For a workshop where you want to sort screws, nails, nuts, washers, anchors, and other small hardware, I’d go with a 44-drawer cabinet rather than open bins. The clear drawers let you see what you have, and the many compartments make it much easier to keep sizes separated.

🏆 Best overall: IRIS USA 44-Drawer Parts Cabinet

IRIS USA 44-Drawer Parts Cabinet

$39.99

This is my pick for most home workshops. It has 44 drawers, can be wall-mounted or stacked, and the drawers come in two sizes: larger 6" × 4" × 2" drawers and smaller 6" × 1.75" × 1.5" drawers. IRIS currently lists it at $39.99, which is excellent for the capacity.

Why I like it:

• 44 compartments without taking much wall/bench space
• Clear fronts make inventory easy
• Larger drawers handle bulkier nails and screws
• Small drawers are great for individual screw sizes
• Wall-mountable
• Stackable if your collection grows

🥈 Heavy-duty alternative: Akro-Mils 10144

Akro-Mils 44-Drawer Storage Cabinet

$90.52

The Akro-Mils 10144 is the classic workshop choice. It's about 20" wide × 6⅜" deep × 15¾" high, with 44 drawers, and the manufacturer specifically designs its cabinets to stack or wall-mount.

I'd choose the Akro-Mils if you're going to be using the cabinet heavily every day and don't mind paying more. Current shopping results put it substantially above the IRIS in price.

If you have a lot of hardware

IRIS USA 64-Drawer Parts Cabinet

$49.99

The 64-drawer IRIS is worth considering if you have dozens of screw/nail sizes. At about $49.99 directly from IRIS, you're getting 20 additional compartments for relatively little extra money.

My recommendation: Start with one or two IRIS 44-drawer cabinets. Label each drawer with something like #6 × 1", #8 × 1¼", 3" deck, 1¼" finish nail, etc. Keep specialty/oversized hardware in larger bins elsewhere.

If you tell me roughly how many different types/sizes of screws and nails you have, I can recommend the ideal drawer count and a labeling layout.