Key takeaways
- Gasketed or tight-sealing lids so small screws do not migrate between cups when the case is carried on its side.
- Removable cups you can lift out and set on a workbench, then pour back.
- Clear lids so you can see contents without opening.
The best storage for screws and nails is a set of small, clear, labeled compartments sorted by type and then by length, kept in either a portable organizer with removable cups or a wall-mounted drawer cabinet, depending on whether your hardware travels with you. Everything else, from coffee cans to repurposed jars, works only until the collection grows past a few dozen sizes.
Start With How You Use Hardware
Before choosing containers, answer two questions. Do you carry fasteners to jobs around the house or to other sites? And how many distinct sizes do you actually keep? A typical homeowner has 20 to 40 distinct screw and nail types. A woodworker or contractor can easily pass 100. The right system depends on both answers.
Akro-Mils 24-Drawer Plastic Storage Cabinet, 20" W x 6" D x 16" H, Black
Included for 'Storage for Screws and Nails: Organizers, Drawer Cabinets and a Sorting System That Sticks' because the listing specifies 20" W x 6" D x 16" H and Black, details this guide uses to compare options.
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Akro-Mils 10164, 64 Drawer Plastic Parts Storage Hardware and Craft Cabinet, 20-Inch W x 6-Inch D x 16-Inch H, Black
Included for 'Storage for Screws and Nails: Organizers, Drawer Cabinets and a Sorting System That Sticks' because the listing specifies 64 Drawer Plastic Parts Storage Hardware and Craft Cabinet and 20-Inch W x 6-Inch D x 16-Inch H, details this guide uses to compare options.
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Akro-Mils 44 Drawer 10144REDBLK, Plastic Parts Storage Hardware and Craft Cabinet, (20-Inch W x 6-Inch D x 16-Inch H), Red & Black, (1-Pack)
Included for 'Storage for Screws and Nails: Organizers, Drawer Cabinets and a Sorting System That Sticks' because the listing specifies Plastic Parts Storage Hardware and Craft Cabinet and (20-Inch W x 6-Inch D x 16-Inch H), details this guide uses to compare options.
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Akro-Mils 19320 Steel Parts Garage Storage Cabinet Organizer for Small Hardware, Nails, Screws, Bolts, Nuts, and More, 17-Inch W x 11-Inch D x 11-Inch H, 20-Drawer, Gray Cabinet/Gray Drawers
Included for 'Storage for Screws and Nails: Organizers, Drawer Cabinets and a Sorting System That Sticks' because the listing specifies Nails and Screws, details this guide uses to compare options.
View on Amazon| Storage type | Typical compartments | Portable? | Best for | Usual price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small-parts organizer with removable cups | 10–20 cups per case | Yes | Taking fasteners to the job | $20–$60 per case |
| Plastic drawer cabinet (wall or bench) | 24–64 drawers | No | Large collections in a garage or shop | $30–$90 |
| Stacking or hanging bins on louvered panel | Bins of 1–5 lb capacity | Somewhat | Bulk boxes of common sizes | $2–$8 per bin |
| Fixed-divider tackle-style box | 10–30 slots | Yes | Small kits, light use | $8–$20 |
| Glass jars or tins | 1 per jar | No | Small collections, display shelves | Low or free |
Portable Organizers With Removable Cups
Hard-shell organizers with clear lids and removable cups are the most practical choice if you move hardware between rooms or jobs. Several tool brands sell them as part of stackable systems: DeWalt’s TSTAK and ToughSystem lines, Milwaukee’s Packout line and similar modular systems from other brands all include low-profile organizers. The useful features are the same across brands:
- Gasketed or tight-sealing lids so small screws do not migrate between cups when the case is carried on its side.
- Removable cups you can lift out and set on a workbench, then pour back.
- Clear lids so you can see contents without opening.
Weight is the hidden limit. A fully loaded small-parts case with nails and lag screws can easily reach 10 to 15 lb, and stacking several gets heavy fast. Keep heavy bulk items such as framing nails in their own bin and carry only working quantities in the organizer.
Wall-Mounted Drawer Cabinets
For a garage or shop, plastic multi-drawer hardware cabinets, made by brands like Akro-Mils and Stack-On among others, put dozens of sizes in one footprint. A 44- or 64-drawer cabinet is roughly 20 inches wide and 15 to 20 inches tall, so it fits above a workbench. Small drawers usually hold about a handful of screws each; larger drawers hold a full 1-lb box.
Two practical notes: screw the cabinet to studs or a backer board, not only to drywall anchors, because a full cabinet can weigh 20 lb or more. And add drawer dividers in the small drawers so two sizes can share one drawer without mixing.
Bins for Bulk Boxes
Nails often come in 1-lb, 5-lb or larger boxes. Open-front stacking bins, sometimes called hopper bins, hold a box’s worth of nails while letting you reach in from the front. Hang them on a louvered panel or rail so you can rearrange. For 5-lb quantities of 16d framing nails, a medium bin is a better fit than any drawer.
How to Sort So You Can Find Things
- Separate by fastener type first: wood screws, drywall screws, deck screws, machine screws, sheet-metal screws, nails, brads, then anchors.
- Then sort by length, shortest at the top-left or front, longest at the back. Keep the same order everywhere so your hand learns it.
- Split by finish where it matters. Bright steel, zinc-plated, galvanized and stainless fasteners look similar but behave very differently outdoors. Mixing a bright nail into exterior work can leave a rust streak within a season.
- Label with size and head type, for example “#8 x 1-1/4 in, flat, Phillips” or “8d common, 2-1/2 in”. A small label maker or masking tape and a fine marker both work.
- Keep one “unsorted” cup for leftovers and empty it into the right compartments at the end of each project.
Common Sizes Worth a Dedicated Compartment
| Fastener | Size | Typical household use |
|---|---|---|
| Wood screw | #8 x 1-1/4 in and #8 x 2 in | Furniture repairs, brackets, hinges |
| Drywall screw | 1-1/4 in and 1-5/8 in | Drywall patches, general utility |
| Deck/exterior screw | 2-1/2 in and 3 in | Fences, decks, outdoor repairs |
| Finish nail | 4d (1-1/2 in) and 6d (2 in) | Trim and molding |
| Common nail | 8d (2-1/2 in) and 16d (3-1/2 in) | Framing and rough carpentry |
| Brad / picture nail | 5/8–1 in | Picture hanging, small crafts |
| Wall anchors | Assorted with matching screws | Shelves and hooks in drywall |
Keeping Fasteners Rust-Free
Garages and sheds swing in humidity, and bright steel nails rust quickly. Store uncoated fasteners in closed containers, drop a silica gel pack in each case and replace or dry it every few months. Avoid storing fasteners directly on concrete floors, where condensation collects. If your shop is very damp, a lightly oiled rag in the drawer helps too.
Low-Cost Ideas That Actually Work
- Baby food or spice jars with lids screwed to a shelf underside: twist the jar off, take what you need, twist it back. Free and space-saving.
- Muffin tins as a sorting tray for dumping a mixed bag before putting things away.
- A magnetic parts bowl on the workbench to catch screws during disassembly; it is not storage, but it stops losses.
- Repurposed pill organizers for tiny machine screws, washers and set screws.
Choosing Your Setup
| Situation | Recommended setup |
|---|---|
| Apartment, occasional repairs | One portable organizer with 10–15 cups |
| Homeowner with a garage bench | One drawer cabinet plus a portable case for jobs |
| Active woodworker or remodeler | Drawer cabinet, hopper bins for bulk nails, and two or three stackable organizers by category |
| Shared family toolbox | Clear-lid organizer with large, printed labels |
Whatever you choose, consistency matters more than containers. Sort by type, then length, label every compartment and return leftovers after each project. A modest organizer kept in order beats an expensive cabinet full of mixed screws.
