The best socket organizer keeps all of your sockets well organized, ready to pull out at a moment’s notice. Choosing the wrong one can result in tons of frustration, trying to find the correct socket in a crowded tool shed. Our evaluation focused on construction, clear labeling, SAE vs. METRIC socket compatibility, and carrying methods.
After more than 16 hours of research and testing, our top pick goes to the BB&C Home Goods Socket Organizer Tray. This tray is really sturdy, helping to free up toolbox space with a solid base and clearly marked posts to place your sockets in. Color-coding also makes it easy to distinguish between SAE and METRIC-based sockets. Keep reading to learn more about the BB&C Home Goods Socket Organizer Tray and five others that met our strict eye for quality and dependability. But before we get down to business, check more quality tools for the money.
Top 6 Best Socket Organizers
#1 BB&C Home Goods Socket Organizer
Award: Top Pick
WHY WE LIKE IT: This socket organizer uses color-coordinated trays for SAE and METRIC tools. It is a great choice for people that have sockets using both metric systems.
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- Best quality
- Clearly marked posts
- Easy to organize sockets
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- Sockets not included
- Not magnetic
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This socket organizer can store the more popular 1/4″ drive, 3/8″ drive, and 1/2” drive sockets. It works great in decluttering your toolbox and work area. Our favorite feature is its clearly marked posts that depict the measurement, making it easy to locate your favorite socket. Each post is tall enough for sockets not to dislodge or fall off. Bonus points for its extra-large base, which keeps sockets from falling.
Related: Go over our post on the best small chainsaws.
We like this socket organizer tray’s color coding, which uses 3 black trays for METRIC and 3 red trays for SAE. ID’ing sockets quickly really helps us with our productivity, preventing us from having to search for them in a cluttered toolbox with no labels. And if you need a wrench for jobs that require precision, check out the best torque wrench.
#2 OEMTOOLS 22233 6 Piece Socket Organizer
Award: Honorable Mention
WHY WE LIKE IT: This socket organizer comes with a dual rail system with clearly labeled posts. It is a great way if you prefer to organize shallow and deep well sockets in their own sections.
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- Easy to use
- Can be used for SAE and METRIC
- Clearly labeled
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- Shallow socket posts very close together
- Some users reported light fitment issues
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This socket organizer is very good at storing 1/4”, 3/8” and 1/2” drive sockets. Clearly labeled posts really help us distinguish well between SAE and METRIC-bases sockets. We also like its sturdy base, which prevents sockets from tipping, even when sitting at an incline. With tons of tools nearby capable of knocking against this socket organizer, this is a great thing to have.
We like the spacing between this socket organizer’s posts, making sockets easy to place and remove, even if you have fat fingers. Also, sockets do not hide the measurement labels. We are very comfortable using this socket organizer with home and automotive sockets. Another socket holder worth checking out is the TEKTON 1890 Socket Holder and Organizer Set. This organizer holds 1/4-Inch, 3/8-Inch, and 1/2-Inch drive sockets with spring-steel socket clips and has a storage capacity of 16 sockets per rail. You should also organize your best allen keys for easy access.
#3 Olsa Tools Aluminum Socket Organizer
Award: Best Design
WHY WE LIKE IT: This aluminum socket organizer fits 1/2, 3/8, and 1/4 inch drive sockets using a single rail. It is an excellent choice for people looking to declutter their toolboxes and work benches.
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- Excellent space saver
- Very durable
- Nice design
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- High cost
- Not labeled SAE vs. METRIC
- May wobble inside drawers
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Unlike our #1 BB&C Home Goods Socket Organizer Tray and #2 pick OEMTOOLS 22233 6 Piece Socket Organizer, this socket organizer uses a single rail, saving space on top of tool chests, work stations, and inside toolboxes. It also uses aluminum rails with spring-loaded clips and steel ball-bearing holdings, making it easy to “pop in” and remove sockets.
Each of these socket organizer’s rails stores up to 24 sockets. Our top two picks contain 48 sockets in total. If you prefer storing only sockets you frequently use, this socket organizer may be a better choice. Since sockets take up more space than something like the best pipe wrench, this is a great way to keep everything neat. Another organizer to hold sockets is with the Olsa Tools Magnetic Socket Holder which has a powerful magnetic base for secure and sturdy storage. It should be noted though that impact sockets do not fit in this holder.
#4 Hansen Global 92000 SAE & Metric, 2-Row Socket Organizer
Award: Most Durable
WHY WE LIKE IT: This 2-row socket organizer set is constructed using very durable ABS plastic. It is an excellent choice if you plan on exposing it to constant wear and tear.
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- Holds 160+ sockets
- Clearly labeled posts
- Made in the U.S.A.
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- May take up a lot of room in a toolbox
- Some sockets may not slide in easily
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We love this socket organizer’s durable ABS plastic construction, which is impact resistant. It is very strong, capable of withstanding accidental drops without denting or breaking. Its posts are also sorted from largest to smallest going from left to right, keeping your sockets very well organized.
Like our #1 and #2 picks, this socket tray set uses clearly labeled posts for easy identification. Each post’s base is very thick, allowing sockets to fit in securely. We like the ability to quickly access the socket we need without having to dig through cluttered tool boxes and sheds. Bonus points for being made in the good old U.S.A. That’s something that we always look for in the best wrench as well.
#5 ARES 70235 30-Piece 3/8-Inch Metric Magnetic Socket Organizer
Award: Best Budget
WHY WE LIKE IT: This socket organizer comes in an egg carton-shaped design with underside magnets that ensure sockets firmly in place. It is a great choice for people who prefer the convenience of dropping instead of aligning sockets into posts.
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- Holds 160+ sockets
- Clearly labeled posts
- Great value
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- Only good for 3/4-inch drive sockets
- Not suitable for big fingers
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Unlike the previous picks, this socket organizer uses a magnetic base to keep sockets in place. This gives us the flexibility to drop sockets in any position, as opposed to inserted upright using poles. This feature is only offered by this pick on our list. Each socket is also labeled with a number, expressed in millimeters, which is very easy to read (can’t beat white lettering on black!).
Though this socket organizer is sturdy, it only carries deep and shallow ⅜-inch drive sockets. Our previous picks hold a larger capacity, fitting ½ and ¼-inch sockets. Bonus points for its bottom rubber cover which helps protect surfaces and prevent shifting. It works with the best socket set.
#6 Precision Defined Portable Tool Socket Organizer
Award: Best for Travel
WHY WE LIKE IT: This is the best portable socket organizer, with room for up to 80 SAE and METRIC sockets. It is a great choice for mobile mechanics, who could benefit from a side hook for easy carrying from job to job.
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- Multiple mounting positions
- Easy to use
- Tough plastic
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- May be too big for smaller toolboxes
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We like this socket organizer’s ABS plastic construction, which can withstand wear and tear in messy toolboxes. It is also corrosion chemical and rust-resistant, great if you work in a humid environment or a commercial mechanic shop. Bonus points for its side hook, making it easy to hang on a wall or carry from job to job.
This is also one of the best snap-on socket organizers, thanks to spring loaded ball bearing socket lips that allow sockets to easily pop in and out of place. While testing, we tapped the base with different levels of intensity. All sockets remained in place without shifting or falling off, so we are very confident using this organizer. With this organizer, you’ll have your best socket wrench in the perfect place every time you need it.
How We Decided
In determining the best socket organizer to buy, we explored construction, capacity, SAE vs. METRIC holders, and portability. We recommend socket organizers with tough ABS plastic and/or a rubberized construction, which is better at withstanding accidental drops or heavy shifting in crowded tool belts and toolboxes. Bonus points for a rust coating to keep socket holders from fraying.
Capacity is very important. Some socket holders carry essentials, while others carry non-essential socket sizes. SAE and METRIC are two measurements used for sockets, where SAW uses fractions of an inch and metric tools measured in millimeters. The BB&C Home Goods and OEMTOOLS 22233 6 Piece Socket Organizer use color-coordinated socket organizers and clearly marked socket holders to make them easier to find.
Lastly, portability is very important. If you move from job to job, a socket organizer like the Precision Defined Portable Tool Socket Organizer Tray uses a side hook to make it easy to carry. This also makes it the best socket organizer for tool bag.
Best Socket Organizer Buying Guide
The Most Important Features to Consider
- Construction
We recommend durable ABS plastic or rubber to keep socket organizers from denting and breaking. Tool sheds and boxes expose tools to tons of wear and tear, so this is critical. Another focal point its the use of posts or a magnetized base to secure your sockets in place. One requires more coordination to organize than the other (fitting into posts vs. dropping), so it is largely a matter of preference. - SAE vs. METRIC
If you use sockets from both SAE and METRIC systems, some of our recommended picks use color coded organizers to distinguish between the two. This is a lot more efficient than having to search for sockets in a crowded toolbox. - Portability
We like socket organizers with different carrying options. Our #6 pick, Precision Defined Portable Tool Socket Organizer Tray is an excellent example with a side hook for easy carrying.
