The Best Desk Organizer
1. Exerz Mesh Desk Organizer with 7 Compartments
Key Features
Metal mesh organizer
Seven compartments
One pull-out drawer
Seven different colours
8.6 x 5.7 x 5 inches
Our best choice for a desk organizer is the Exerz Mesh Desk Organizer with 7 Compartments. This is a compact organizer for desk areas but has room for all the essentials, including notebooks, pens, scissors, paperclips and many more accessories. There are seven different compartments and one small drawer.
The Exerz Mesh is available in seven colours so you can choose a bright version, or a more subtle black or chrome design to suit your room.
Pros
Smart design
Compact
Affordable
Colour selection
Cons
Small – may not suit everyone’s needs
2. Tilemall Adjustable Rotating Desktop Bookshelf Desk Organizer
This Tilemall Adjustable Rotating Bookshelf Desk Organizer is not your typical organizer. It is a small bookcase, made from bamboo material, and it can be configured into five different shapes and sizes. The smallest width is 12.3inches, but it can be extended to 24inches. If you have books to arrange on your desk, then this is one of the best options available thanks to its open shelving design.
There are no small compartments in this unit, so if you are looking for a space to store small items like staples or pens, you would need to get additional pots or baskets to sit on the shelves. The Tilemall desktop organizer requires an element of assembly, but the necessary tools are included in the pack even if the instructions are a little vague.
Pros
Ideal for organizing books
Adjustable
Sturdy design
Cons
Requires assembly
No small storage compartments
3. KEEGH 5 Tier Mesh Paper Organizer Tray
Key Features
Five tiers
Industrial strength steel wire mesh
Anti-slip feet
Holds A4 size papers
Small trays included
13.5 x 9.6 x 15.3 inches
With the Keegh Desk Organizer you get five tiers plus an extra drawer sorted. The extra drawer can fit on top of the organizer, or inside one of the shelves. The unit is made from metal mesh, requires two minutes of assembly and has rubber feet to stop it from slipping or marking your desk.
Each tier measures 13 x 9 x 2inches, meaning they are large enough to hold A4 sized documents, and the drawer has multiple different compartments to neatly store your smaller office supplies. This product is only available in black and is not the best choice if you have heavy items to store.
Pros
Multiple tiers
Drawer with small organizing spaces
Large enough for A4 documents
Cons
Only one colour option
Not suitable for very heavy items
4. UnionBasic PU Leather Office Desk Organizer
Key Features
Available in 15 colours
Seven divided compartments
11.2 x 5.7 x 5.7 inches
Small drawer included
PU faux leather
The UnionBasic Multi-Functional Office Desk Organizer provides you with seven compartments to hold your pens, pencils, scissors and small accessories. The cover of this unit is made with faux leather, that is easy to clean, elegant and is available in fifteen different colours. It could easily be mistaken for a jewellery box with this design.
If you have smaller items like thumb tacks and staples to organize, this is a great compact product with a miniature drawer to keep things even tidier. The UnionBasic is a well-made, affordable, desktop organizer, but it won’t suit you if you need to store documents.
Pros
Elegant design
Compact and sturdy
Alternative colours available
Cons
Not large enough for notebooks or paper
5. STORi Clear Plastic Office Desk Drawer Organizers
Our budget pick for the best desk organizer is STORi Clear Plastic Office Desk Drawer Organizers. If you have a desk drawer or a small cabinet, then this organizer is worth considering to help you keep your supplies neat and tidy and stop them from rolling around in the drawer.
The STORi unit is multi-functional, designed to work in any drawer and can be used to hold cosmetics, crafts, or office supplies. Each of the six containers are made from durable plastic, have rounded corners and recessed bases. This means they can stack together and will slide when on top of each other, depending on how you configure them.
Pros
Affordable
Versatile
Space saver
Cons
Only works in a drawer
Suitable only for small items
6. SimpleHouseware 6 Tray Desk File Tray Organizer
Key Features
Five tilted trays
Drawer with three compartments
Six mesh letter trays
Easy to assemble
13 x 9 x 15.5 inches
The SimpleHouseware 6 Tray Desk File Tray Organizer is a good value for money product that comfortably holds paperwork (A4 size or smaller). The trays are designed with a tilt, so there is no risk of the unit falling forwards, even when loaded with paper or books. In addition to the trays, there is a fully removable drawer at the base that has a small compartment inside to hold loose office supplies.
Overall it is a sturdy well-sized model, built with steel mesh; the only challenge is that the shelves can be removed a little bit too easily. You may accidentally pull a shelf out of the unit with your papers so make sure you handle with care.
Pros
Adjustable shelf height
Good size for papers and small stationery
Cons
The shelves slide out too easily
7. AUPSEN Rose Gold 5 Compartment Desk Organizer
Key Features
Five compartments
One sliding drawer
Wire mesh and rose gold design
Available in three elegant colours
8.7 x 5.5 x 5 inches
The Aupsen Rose Gold Desk Organizer is marketed towards ladies and is available in three elegant colours (gold, rose gold or dark grey).
Made from steel frames and wire mesh, this unit will easily keep your office accessory looking neat and tidy, as it has a large compartment to hold documents, plus four other smaller compartments. There is also a tiny sliding drawer at the base. If you don’t want to use it for a desk organizer, it also works very well on a dressing table for cosmetics and toiletries.
Pros
Appropriate size for all stationery
Elegant look
Good quality
Cons
A little more expensive than similar products
8. NEOLETEX 4 Tier Bamboo Desktop Organizer
Key Features
Bamboo construction
Four-tiers
Fully assembled
Fits 8.5 x 11 inch paper
Eco-friendly
13.1 x 11.3 x 10.2 inches
Our premium pick for the best desk organizer is the Neoletex 4 Tier Bamboo Organizer. Bamboo is a popular alternative to wood as it is highly durable, antibacterial, absorb carbon monoxide and has produced with sustainable harvesting. It is an environmentally friendly product.
The Neoletex has four tiers, with two of the shelves capable of holding 8.5×11 inch paper, and the other tiers split into smaller compartments and a small drawer. This is a very well made, nice looking organizer, although it does have a slightly higher price point than other options.
Pros
Environmentally-friendly production
No assembly required
Very sturdy
Cons
High price-point
9. Jerry & Maggie Desktop Adjustable Wood Display Shelf
Key Features
Natural wood
Adjustable shelving
Available in white, black or natural wood colouring
Lightweight
16 x 15.8 x 6.8 inches
The Jerry & Maggie Desktop Adjustable Wood Display Shelf is very similar to the Tilemall wooden unit. This organizer comes in the form of two small wooden open storage units that you can configure to be the size and shape you require.
The wood is sturdy enough to hold heavy items such as hardback books and at 15.5 inches tall, it is not too intrusive to have on your desk. Some assembly is required with this product, but it is relatively straight forward, despite some unclear directions, and while it is not ideal for small office items (USBs, paper clips etc.), it is great for holding books, binders and papers.
Pros
Heavy duty
Adjustable
Suitable for heavier items
Cons
Not suitable for small, loose accessories
Assembly required
10. DESIGNA Stackable Mesh Desk Organizer with 3 Sliding Letter Trays
Key Features
Four file holders
Three sliding letter trays
Two side compartments
Wire mesh and steel construction
Stackable design
14.4 x 13.6 x 14 inches
Our best value selection is a desk organizer that comes with everything! The DESIGNA Stackable Mesh Desk Organizer has a file holder, three sliding trays for letters, and two side compartments for pens, pencils and any small accessories. It comes in a stackable format, so the file holder fits nice on the trays, so it takes up minimal space on your desk. The mesh fronting is even designed so that post-it notes can be stuck to it, which is handy as a reminder.
It does require some assembly, and the instructions for this are not clear, particularly around the snap connector and rubber feet, but it is worth preserving with. It is highly functional, has rubber feet to help with balance and prevent scratching and gives you a large capacity of storage.
Pros
Multi-functional
Space-saving
Large storage capacity
Cons
Confusing assembly instructions
11. Marbrasse Wooden Stationary Organizer
Key Features
Twelve compartments
Environmentally friendly wood board
Sturdy screw structure
Small drawer included at the base
8.2 x 5.9 x 10 inches
Available in six different wood finishes
If you enjoy a bit of construction or model making, then this organizer is one for you! The Marbrass Wooden DIY Desk Organizer comes in fifteen pieces so you will need some patience to put it together. However, once constructed, you get a well-designed, durable unit that looks like antique furniture.
There are twelve components in this unit, ideal for pens and smaller items, but there is no space for large documents or letters. The drawer at the base is a nice added touch to hide away tiny bits of clutter such as odd paper clips. The Marbrass is a compact unit that isn’t large enough for staplers or hole punches but works very well for pens.
Pros
Nice looking product
Sturdy
Cons
A considerable amount of assembly required
Very small
12. Safco Products Wood Customizable Desk Organizer
Key Features
Adjustable desk organizer
Furniture-grade compressed wood
Twelve compartments
Laminate finish
12 x 19.5 x 16
The Safco Products Wood Customizable Desk Organizer has twelve storage compartments that are completely adjustable. The hardboard shelves can be removed to make the unit suitable for storage of binders and files or left in place to comfortably hold letter-size documents. The standard height of each shelf is 2.5inches with a depth of 11.4inches.
This desktop organizer is made with compressed wood and has a laminate finish for added durability, plus a fiberboard back so it is a relatively sturdy unit. The shelves also have plastic edges to prevent them from sliding forward in the organizer. The Safco model is not very easy to put together so you will need to set time aside for construction.
Pros
Adjustable shelves
Stable unit
Cons
Considerable assembly required
No small compartments for pens or office supplies
13. Mindspace Office Desk Organizer with 6 Compartments + Drawer
Key Features
Mesh desk organizer
Black metal frame
Six compartments
Pull out drawer
Lightweight model
Rubber grip feet
8.7 x 5.5 x 5 inches
Lifetime warranty
The Mindspace Office Desk Organizer is one of the best desktop organizers if you are looking for a multi-functional yet compact option. With this model, you get six compartments of varying dimensions and a sliding drawer so there is plenty of space to keep all the small office products you need within easy reach. The sections are not very big but the back compartment can hold notebooks in an upright position, but no larger documents.
This desktop organizer is made from steel and mesh so it is durable and lightweight, and as it has a smooth ABS coating it will look nice and sleek in your office. It requires no assembly and has rubber feet for stability. The Mindspace Office unit is one of the few products that come with a lifetime guarantee.
Pros
No assembly required
Lifetime guarantee
Multiple spaces
Cons
No large compartments
Features To Consider With Desk Organizers
Adjustability
While many of the best desk organizers are a set structure, you will find a few that have adjustable features. These include the ability to adjust the full width or height of the unit, or the ability to adjust the positions of the shelves. If you are likely to change the items you need the storage unit for, then adjustability may be important for you.
Design
Desktop organizers come in a variety of designs, which gives you a lot of flexibility in the look and feel you choose. It is possible to find subtle products that blend into an office or one with prettier features that you may want in a home office environment. Several of the best desk organizers come in an assortment of colours.
Durability
Durability refers to how long the desktop organizer will last without breaking. Usually, those constructed with steel mesh tend to be the most durable.
Organizers for desk use that have to be built with multiple wooden parts have joints that may be susceptible to breakage although wood does tend to be highly durable.
If you are to choose a desktop storage solution that has a leather or paint covering then make sure you select one that is high quality or comes with a guarantee. These coverings are likely to chip or flake over time. It is also important not to overload the organizer with heavy products to maintain its durability.
Efficiency
The efficiency of the best desk organizers measures how well it does what it intends to. In other words, is it easy to use and does it allow you to store all the items you want to keep tidied away. Whichever desktop organizers you choose, it should keep office supplies neat, yet easy to access. If you intend to store a lot of papers and documents in your organizer then the best option will be a unit that has sliding, adjustable shelves or trays that are big enough to keep the paper off your desktop but accessible enough to be a convenience rather than a hassle. In case you have larger piles of paperwork that need to be sorted, you can consider adding file cabinets. If you need to take something from the desk organizer every few minutes, then getting an in-drawer product won't be a great solution as constantly opening and closing the drawer will make you less, not more productive. It would be better to select one of the organizers that sit on your desktop, within arms reach.
Material
Desk organizers are usually made with plastic, steel, wood or wood board, all of which are chosen for their durability. Which one you choose largely depends on personal preference and which material will match your office look. Wood will give you a heavier but more sturdy design, so is the best option if you want to store books in them. If you need more compartments and a lightweight unit that is easy to move around, then a mesh desktop organizer is the better choice.
There are a few desk organizers that are made with cardboard backs and interiors, rather than wood, and these provide must less stability and durability, so it is best to look at the full description of the material, rather than just its appearance.
Size & Space Needed
Size and space is probably one of the most important considerations when you choose desktop organizers.
Firstly, you need to look at how much space you have on your writing desk and select a storage unit that will fit appropriately. Organizers vary considerably in size, from 8 inches to 20 inches wide, so there is a great assortment to choose from. The best desk organizer is not a specific size, it is one that meets your needs.
Next, you need to make sure you are selecting a product that can keep all your office supplies and hold documents if appropriate. The most compact products are designed to hold small items like pens, paper clips and USBs. However, larger units can hold letters and A4 documents.
Some people may choose to use their organizer as a desktop bookcase, and there are several models available that have this amount of space. If you want to opt for a larger unit, then you will tend to find that you need to sacrifice small compartments. To keep your pens and pencils tidy, you may need to invest in pots or small storage trays to sit on the bookcase.