# Drawer organisers Canonical HTML: [Drawer organisers](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/drawer-organisation/) Drawers Plan drawer organisers around the base, closing height and contents. Compare dividers and trays, with practical guides for kitchen and clothes drawers. [Find a buying guide](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/drawer-organisation/#buying-guides) [Plan & organise](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/drawer-organisation/#practical-guides) ![An open oak drawer with small ivory trays holding a brush, hair ties and folded handkerchiefs](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/assets/images/drawer-organisation.jpg) A useful first step ## Measure the base and the closing height Check the narrowest resting footprint, loaded height and how far the drawer opens. [Open the measuring guide](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/measure-for-drawer-organisers/) Start with the job in front of you ## Useful places to start Choose a product comparison or a practical layout for the space you have. [ Buying guide ### Dividers for rows of clothes or tools Compare the adjustment range, end fittings and height against the drawer. Read the guide](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/best-adjustable-drawer-dividers/)[ Buying guide ### Trays for mixed-size items Compare modular sets by individual pieces and the complete layout you need. Read the guide](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/best-modular-drawer-trays/)[ Practical guide ### Plan a layout before buying trays Use paper footprints, group the contents and leave room to pick things up. Read the guide](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/plan-a-drawer-organiser-layout/)[ Practical guide ### Use a drawer that opens partway Keep daily items in the exposed opening and plan a route to the back. Read the guide](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/organise-a-drawer-that-only-opens-partway/) Explore the whole topic ## All drawer organisation guides Compare products when you need something new, or find a layout for what you already own. Buying guides ### Compare dividers, trays and organisers Compare exact products by dimensions, access and the details to check before ordering. - [Best adjustable drawer dividers for clothes and utensils](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/best-adjustable-drawer-dividers/) - [Best clothes drawer organisers for socks and folded clothes](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/best-clothes-drawer-organisers/) - [Best cutlery trays for shallow drawers](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/best-cutlery-trays-for-shallow-drawers/) - [Best drawer organisers for cables](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/best-drawer-organisers-for-cables/) - [Best jewellery drawer trays for rings, earrings and bangles](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/best-jewellery-drawer-trays/) - [Best makeup drawer organisers](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/best-makeup-drawer-organisers/) - [Best modular drawer trays for mixed-size items](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/best-modular-drawer-trays/) - [Best shallow drawer organisers for small items](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/best-shallow-drawer-organisers/) - [Best spice racks for drawers](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/best-spice-racks-for-drawers/) - [Best utensil drawer organisers for long kitchen tools](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/best-utensil-drawer-organisers/) [Buying guides for every storage area](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/buying-advice/) Practical guides ### Plan layouts and solve awkward drawer fit Measure the space, organise the contents and work around awkward openings or everyday routines. - [Drawer dividers vs trays: which fits your drawer?](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/drawer-dividers-vs-trays/) - [How to measure for drawer organisers](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/measure-for-drawer-organisers/) - [How to organise a deep kitchen drawer for pots and pans](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/organise-a-deep-kitchen-drawer/) - [How to organise a drawer that only opens partway](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/organise-a-drawer-that-only-opens-partway/) - [How to organise a drawer with rounded corners](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/organise-a-drawer-with-rounded-corners/) - [How to organise a shared chest of drawers](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/organise-a-shared-chest-of-drawers/) - [How to organise food-container lids in a drawer](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/organise-lids-in-a-drawer/) - [How to plan a drawer organiser layout](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/plan-a-drawer-organiser-layout/) - [How to stop drawer organisers sliding](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/stop-drawer-organisers-sliding/) - [How to store foil, cling film and baking paper in a drawer](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/store-food-wrap-in-a-drawer/) [Practical guides for every storage area](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/guides/) Before you buy ## Measure inside the drawer - Measure width and depth at the base where the organiser sits. - Check the height under the front rail as the drawer closes. - Note how far the drawer opens and whether the back is within reach. [Full measuring guide](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/measure-for-drawer-organisers/) ## Use dividers for rows and trays for loose pieces Adjustable dividers suit rows of folded clothes when their stated range matches the inside of the drawer. Check the end fittings and the surfaces they press against. Smaller lift-out trays help when you want to take hair ties, buttons or other little items out together. ### A modular set for mixed contents Blox trays clip together in different arrangements. Lay out the pieces you need for the drawer, then measure the entire arrangement. The dimensions below describe one example layout rather than the size of each individual tray. For loose everyday essentials ### Joseph Joseph Blox 7-piece organiser Seven trays clip together in different arrangements, so you can group small accessories without committing to one large fixed insert. **Example layout · cm**: 43.9 × 26.5 × 5 **Access**: Lift-out trays **In the pack**: Seven trays **What to check** The maker’s example arrangement is 43.9 × 26.5 × 5 cm. Check your chosen layout and the clearance under the drawer’s front rail. View on Amazon — Joseph Joseph Blox 7-piece organiser ## Arrange for the things you use most Put daily essentials near the front. In a drawer that opens partway, keep spares at the back or use a tray you can lift out without tipping. Compare the outside width of all the trays you intend to put side by side. Rounded corners and thick walls can make the actual compartments smaller. ### Check the base Use the inside width and depth where the organiser sits. Allow for rounded corners and any fixings. ### Check the closing height A tall divider can clear the drawer side yet catch on the rail or shelf above it. ### Check your hand space Leave enough room to pick up small things without lifting out the whole insert. If the drawer is already full to the top, look at [wardrobe organisers](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/wardrobe-organisation/) for bulkier clothes, or [boxes and shelving](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/boxes-and-shelving/) for occasional items. ## Check the inside base and closing route Follow the [drawer organiser measuring guide](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/measure-for-drawer-organisers/) for base width and depth, closing clearance and usable travel. The modular-tray example explains why spare space in a calculation is not a guarantee that a filled drawer will close. [Back to all drawer organisation guides](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/drawer-organisation/#guide-library) ## Questions before you choose ### Do I measure a drawer at the top or the base? Use the inside footprint where the organiser rests, checking front, middle and back. Sloping walls and rounded corners can make the top measurement misleading. ### Why can a tray stop a drawer closing? The tray or its contents can hit a front rail or another obstruction above. Measure the lowest closing clearance and include liners and feet. ### Are dividers or small trays more useful? Dividers suit rows of folded items; lift-out trays suit loose pieces you want to keep together. Check adjustment range, compartment shape and access before choosing. ### How do I organise a drawer that only opens partway? Put the things you use most in the exposed area. Keep spares at the back only where you can retrieve them, or choose a tray that lifts through the opening without tipping. Test the loaded route as well as the tray footprint. ### Should I buy an organiser set before planning the layout? Map the inside base and group the contents first. Paper footprints help show whether the pieces you need will fit around corners and fittings. Include liners, feet and the tallest loaded item when checking whether the drawer will close. ## How this guide is put together We group the guides around the space, the contents and the way you need to reach them. Product examples use published specifications for the linked model, with limitations explained beside each recommendation. The checklist is a planning aid. Confirm the exact variant, installation requirements and loaded access before buying. Our [editorial policy](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/editorial-policy/) and [source policy](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/source-policy/) explain how we compare products and handle incomplete or conflicting details. **Affiliate disclosure.** If you buy through a product link on this page, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. [How affiliate links work](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/affiliate-disclosure/).