Best Small Parts Storage – Hardware Bins and Jar Systems

Every DIYer, woodworker, and home mechanic accumulates an enormous quantity of small parts – fasteners, hardware, electrical connectors, fittings, washers, and specialty items that have no obvious home in a standard tool chest. The right small parts storage system keeps these items sorted, visible, and accessible rather than mixed together in a coffee can or scattered across every horizontal surface in the shop. From classic glass jar systems to professional hardware bins, this guide covers the solutions that actually work in practice.

Types of Small Parts Storage

Hardware Bins and Cabinets

Multi-drawer organizers with small individual drawers. The most organized solution for large hardware inventories – each size screw, bolt, or fitting has its own drawer. Already covered in depth in the Parts Organizers guide. The best system for permanent shop hardware storage.

Glass Jar Systems

Mason jars, baby food jars, or purpose-made glass jars with lids fastened to the underside of a shelf. You spin the jar down to access the contents and back up to store. Almost free to build, infinitely customizable, and allows complete visibility of all contents at a glance. A beloved shop storage method that has been used in woodworking shops since glass jars were invented.

Stackable Plastic Cases

Divided boxes with adjustable compartments that stack vertically. The best portable solution for hardware that travels to job sites. Milwaukee Packout Organizer, DeWalt ToughCase, and similar modular systems fit into larger job site storage platforms.

Magnetic Parts Trays

Covered separately in the magnetic tool holders guide – excellent for sorting fasteners during assembly when working from a bench.

Our Top Picks

1. Ball Wide Mouth Mason Jars with Under-Shelf Lid Mount

The classic shop-built storage system. Screw Mason jar lids to the underside of a shelf using wood screws through the lid – space lids at jar-width intervals across the shelf. Fill jars with sorted hardware and screw them into the lids. Access by spinning down; store by spinning up. Ball wide-mouth pint jars are the right size for most hardware categories. The lid mounts are available pre-made from woodworking suppliers or made in five minutes with a drill and wood screws.

2. Akro-Mils 10164 64-Drawer Cabinet

Already recommended in the Parts Organizers guide but worth highlighting for small hardware specifically. The 64-drawer configuration provides individual homes for a very complete fastener inventory – every standard size of wood screw, machine screw, and common hardware gets its own labeled drawer. The most organized permanent small parts system available.

3. Plano Molding 3600 Series Tackle Box Organizers

Fishing tackle box organizers with fully adjustable dividers are among the most versatile and cost-effective small parts organizers. The latching clear lid provides secure storage and visibility, and multiple compartment configurations cover the full range from tiny set screws to 1/2-inch lag bolts. Available in many sizes and stackable.

4. Harbor Freight 20-Bin Organizer

For sorting large quantities of the same hardware type: the 20-bin organizer divides a box into removable bins that can be taken to the work location. The bins are generously sized for sorting by visual inspection. A practical, inexpensive solution for the large-quantity hardware that mason jars and small drawers handle less well.

5. FastCap 2-Second Lean Hardware Organizer

A purpose-built system from FastCap (a woodworking accessories company) specifically for workshop hardware. The FIFO (first in, first out) dispenser tubes for frequently used screws and the magnetic tray for current-job hardware address the specific needs of woodworking shop organization with products developed by woodworkers for woodworkers.

The Glass Jar System: How to Build It

1. Collect uniform lids – Ball wide mouth pint jar lids work best for consistency.
2. Drill two small pilot holes through each lid.
3. Screw lids to the underside of a wood shelf, spaced at jar-diameter intervals (about 3.5 inches for wide mouth pint jars).
4. Fill jars with sorted hardware, spin onto lids, done.
5. Label the shelf position above each jar with a label maker or paint pen.

FAQ

How should I organize my hardware collection?

By type first (wood screws, machine screws, bolts, nuts, washers, nails, staples), then by size within each type. In a multi-drawer system, dedicate one drawer per size per type. In a jar system, one jar per type/size combination. The label at each location is what makes the system work – without labels, you end up reading every container to find what you need.

Is it worth sorting by size down to the nearest 1/16-inch?

For most shop purposes, sort by the nominal size increments available from hardware stores: 1/2, 5/8, 3/4, 1, 1-1/4, 1-1/2, 2, 2-1/2, 3 inch for wood screws, for example. Finer sorting is overkill for hardware that comes in standard size increments.

What do I do with leftover partial boxes of hardware?

Dump the contents into the appropriate organized bin and recycle the packaging immediately. Keeping hardware in original packaging that sits half-full is how organized systems devolve into a collection of boxes that must be individually inspected to find anything.