Use foam drawer organizers for small tools and bits

Line shallow drawers with non-slip foam liner or cut rigid foam inserts to create organized compartments for small tools such as screwdriver bits, drill bits, Allen keys, sockets, and measuring instruments. This prevents small tools from sliding around, mixing together, and getting lost in a drawer.

How It Works

Foam drawer liner (either adhesive-backed or friction-grip) keeps tools from shifting when drawers open and close. For more structure, use rigid foam dividers or interlocking foam tiles to create dedicated compartments within the drawer. Each compartment holds a category or set of small tools.

Options

Non-slip liner -- Rubberized shelf liner material (like Duck Brand or Con-Tact brand) laid in the bottom of drawers. Prevents tools from sliding. Inexpensive and easy to cut.

Interlocking dividers -- Plastic or foam dividers that slot together to create a grid of compartments. Adjustable to different sizes.

Custom foam inserts -- Closed-cell foam (EVA or polyethylene) cut to create specific pockets for each tool (see Kaizen foam method for the precision approach).

Silicone socket organizers -- Molded silicone trays with posts sized for 1/4-inch, 3/8-inch, and 1/2-inch drive sockets.

Tips

• Assign one drawer per category: one for drill/driver bits, one for sockets, one for measuring tools, one for electrical supplies
• Place the most frequently accessed drawer at the top or most accessible position
• Non-slip liner is the minimum baseline for any tool drawer; it costs under $10 and takes 5 minutes
• For drill bit sets, use a drill bit index (the flip-top case they come in) stored upright in a drawer
• Magnetic strips inside drawers can hold small steel items in place
• Keep drawers from becoming junk drawers by having a rule: if it does not fit the category, it does not go in that drawer

Common Mistakes

• Overcrowding drawers: leave enough space to see and grab each item without moving others
• Not securing the liner: it should lay flat without bunching
• Mixing categories in one drawer: defeats the purpose of organization