My husband and I like DIY projects, and we have quite a few tools. Keeping them organized is really important, so we can start (and finish) our projects quickly and not accidentally buy tools we already have (but can’t find).
For some reason, wrenches can be particularly difficult to keep track of, in my experience. I’ve misplaced more than one over the years.
So, to help you find a storage solution that works best, I’ve collected the best wrench organization ideas I could find. Time to get inspired!
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1. Sort and Store by Wrench Type and Size
This is by far the easiest of wrench organization ideas. Sometimes the simplest solution is the best.
You’ll definitely want to separate and store your wrenches by type and size, particularly if you have both standard SAE and metric wrenches. You don’t want to get those jumbled up.
If you hang them or store them lined up by size, it’s very easy to see if one is missing.
Sorting by type, you may end up with designated areas for:
- Adjustable wrenches
- Combination wrenches
- Open end wrenches
- Ratchet wrenches
- Short body wrenches
You might also have an assortment of Allen wrenches. I feel like the Allen wrenches multiply like rabbits! Each time we buy an assemble-it-yourself piece of furniture, we gain five more Allen wrenches.
2. Try Pegboard Storage for Easy Access
In my household, the best tool organization solution has been this pegboard. My husband built the whole workbench when we first moved into our house. The pegboard is the one place in the garage that never gets cluttered or disorganized!
I love being able to see all of my smaller tools in one place. And as you can see, a large pegboard wall is a great way to display both power tools and hand tools. And it can be easily reorganized as you build your tool collection. I move my pegboard hooks around all the time. It’s a very versatile solution.
Pegboard can be made from compressed wood fiber, plastic or metal. We used standard sheets of HDF (high-density fiberboard) pegboard in our garage. These can be purchased at your local hardware store or from Amazon:
They are often sold in 2′ x 4′ sheets and can be easily cut to fit your space. We framed our space with 1″ x 2″ boards and fastened the pegboard to the frame.
You can paint the HDF pegboard to match any decor, too.
P.S. Be sure to check out my post on all the ways you can organize with pegboards in your home. You will be amazed at the creative ideas people have come up with, indoors and out!
3. Assign Different Colors to Your SAE Wrenches and Metric Wrenches
Having a color-coded system is a good way to keep your wrenches organized and easy to find. It doesn’t have to be fancy; just a little dab of paint will do!
Some people add blue paint to metric wrenches and red paint to standard wrenches (SAE). Other people will color code by size. It’s up to you which way to go. Whatever helps you quickly identify the right wrench is the best solution for you.
Another option: If the thought of painting your nice tools doesn’t sit right with you, no problem. You can also purchase a set of metric wrenches with black nickel plating to easily distinguish between them and SAE:
4. Use a Magnetic Strip in a Small Work Area
You may not have space for a pegboard solution like I did, and that’s ok! The next best wrench organizers (that let you see all of your wrenches and hand tools in one place) are magnetic strips.
The strong magnetic backing on these organizers keeps a tight hold on wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers, scissors and many other small metal tools.
As long as your tool has a metal surface, it should attach nicely to strong magnets. Line your tools up by size and type, just like you would on a pegboard.
This solution below comes in a 7-piece set that includes a magnetic belt clip for securing screws and other small hardware. Each strip measures 12 inches long and can be placed on a wall, the edge of a workbench, or wherever you have space to hang tools.
Magnetic strips are great space-saving solutions in a small kitchen (check out my post!). Hang knives and small kitchen tools on your wall instead of cluttering up your counterspace.
5. Assign a Wrench Drawer JUST for Wrenches
A tool drawer is a great place to organize your tools, BUT it can also become a cluttered dumping ground. To me, the best way to keep your tool drawers organized is by assigning one category of tool for each drawer.
This means wrenches go in one drawer, screwdrivers in another, etc.
If you only have a few wrenches and screwdrivers, by all means, put them in the same drawer. Just separate them with tool drawer organizers like this:
With this set, you can designate a wrench organizer tray, a screwdriver organizer tray, a plier organizer tray…you get the picture.
P.S. Drawer organization is my passion! Check out my tips for bathroom drawer organization, kitchen drawer organization, and desk drawer organization. I’ve also got tips on organizing cables and cords in a drawer organizer!
6. Use a Toolbox Widget to Organize Wrenches in a Tool Chest or Toolbox Drawer
A portable tool chest or toolbox is so handy to have during those little DIY projects. When it’s time to replace a bathroom faucet, all you need to do is grab your toolbox and head to the bathroom.
However, your toolbox can be very difficult to keep organized. For me, there’s nothing more frustrating than digging through cluttered trays and drawers for the right tools.
One great solution is a toolbox widget. This is a completely customizable, modular wrench organizer that fits shallow drawers or toolbox trays.
Each widget has a magnetic backing to sit securely in a tool chest drawer. Add as many widgets as you need to accommodate your tools and available space.
Each kit can hold 12 wrenches.
7. Attach a Magnetic Wrench Rack to the Side of Your Tool Chest
This is a great option if you have sets of SAE wrenches and metric wrenches. This 2-pack magnetic organizer offers a black rack for SAE wrenches and a red rack for metric (mm wrench).
The racks attach right on the side of a steel tool chest for super easy access. This comes in handy if you’re working on a project in your garage, tuning up your car, etc.
NOTE: These racks only work for straight (non-convex) wrenches.
8. Pack Your Wrenches in Tool Rolls
I love these roll-up wrench pouches! They’re perfect to throw in a bag or toolbox and head out to any project.
This set is made from sturdy cotton duck canvas. It features 16 pockets. The pouch fits SAE wrenches ranging in size from 1/4″ to 1 1/2″ and metric wrenches from 6 mm to 37 mm.
The pouch comes in several colors, so you can designate one for SAE and another for metric — and never confuse the two again!
9. Add Foam Inserts to Your Tool Chest Drawers
Foam inserts are a simple and easy way to organize wrenches in a drawer. You can buy full sheets of foam and customize them to fit your tools. It’s like a fun little art project, for your tools. Here’s how you use them:
- Place your tools carefully onto the top layer of foam, allowing for enough space between them.
- Trace around each tool.
- Use a utility knife to cut along your trace lines.
- Peel the backing off the top layer of foam and attach it to the bottom (colored) layer.
- Place the foam in a tool drawer and set your tools inside. Lovely!
You can also buy pre-formed foam inserts for your wrenches. These won’t be cut to the exact shape of your tools, but they’re effective and easy to use.
Simply store a wrench or two in the pre-made storage slot and you’re good to go.
The brand below offers both blue/black and red/black to keep standard and metric wrenches separate. The inserts will fit wrenches up to 10 inches long. You can also choose foam inserts for your screwdrivers, pliers and sockets.
10. Store Extra Allen Wrenches in a Portable Tool Bag
When you buy a set of Allen wrenches, it’ll usually come in a handy case. But what do you do with all of those extras you pick up over the years?
I cleaned out my junk drawer a few months ago and discovered eight random Allen wrenches that had been tossed in there. Every assembly-required item we buy comes with at least one. Even my cat’s scratching post came with an Allen wrench if I remember correctly.
Where do those little tools end up? The junk drawer, of course.
It’s hard to find a tool organizer just for Allen wrenches. I found this portable tool bag that I’m going to order for my own house. I’ll keep only Allen wrenches in it, and we’ll just see how quickly I can fill it up. Ha!
11. Try a Versatile Socket Organizer
To find the best socket organizer, I went to Amazon. I checked out both the reviews and the number of purchases in the last month for several options.
This versatile solution seems quite popular with the average tool enthusiast. It’s actually a set of socket organizers, and it comes in 6, 9 or 12 pieces for large socket collections.
The 6-piece set holds up to 86 sockets: 32 1/4″, 30 3/8″, and 24 1/2″. To me, that’s a lot of sockets…but I know people who have a ton, so the 12-piece set might be the way to go for some folks.
What I like about this option is the fact that it can be mounted vertically or horizontally (on a wall or pegboard), set on your workbench or placed in a drawer. You can also slide the end cap off and add or remove clips as needed.
12. Hide and Lock Your Wrenches in a Tool Storage Cabinet
Not everyone likes to have their tools hanging in plain sight. You may prefer the look of a closed cabinet, or you may have a need to lock your tools up when you’re not using them. There’s a solution for you, too!
This cabinet features pegboard organization, shelves AND locking cabinet doors… and it’s on wheels. Pretty sweet little setup.
You could set a couple of these tool storage cabinets side by side in a garage or basement and keep your tools, hardware, small car or project parts safe and secure.
The wheels are detachable and two can be locked so your cabinet doesn’t accidentally shift or roll to the side.
13. Try an Organizer Key Just for Crowfoot Wrenches
Crowfoot wrenches are great for working in small, tight spaces. Think tightening or loosening a bolt under a sink. They work with ratchet (socket) handles. And as small as they are, crowfoot wrenches are pretty easy to misplace.
I found this sweet little organizer key that fits any 3/8″ drive crowfoot wrenches. It comes in an 8-inch or a 10-inch option.
14. Get a Gripper Organizer for Your Stubby Wrenches
Stubby wrenches (also known as short-body wrenches) have an open end and a box end. They are shorter than traditional combination wrenches, making them useful for work on cars, trucks and other compact spaces.
If you have several of these wrenches, this gripper organizer stores them all in one portable, compact design. Store up to 11 wrenches ranging in size from 3/8″ to 1″. The versatile organizer can be hung on a wall (or pegboard) or placed in a toolbox or drawer. Very convenient!
15. Mount Wrenches, Hand Tools and Power Tools on a Utility Storage Rack
I’m always looking for ways to organize more things in less space. I found this nicely compact utility storage rack on Amazon. It’s a great way to use empty wall space in a small garage or basement.
This rack will allow you to hang and store multiple drills, a grinder, hammers, screwdrivers, wrenches and more.
It holds up to 120 pounds of tools, yet measures only 15″ wide by 13 1/2″ tall and 7 1/2″ deep. Heavy duty and affordable!
More Garage and Outdoor Organization Ideas
I hope these wrench organization ideas have inspired you to tame your tool clutter! And this is just the start. I can help you with so much more.
- Organize all of your tools on a pegboard
- Learn how to declutter your garage quickly and easily
- Organize your entire garage on a budget
- Get help with ball storage and sports gear organization
- Check out 45 ways to organize your car
- Completely organize your glove box in just 3 easy steps
Also, check out these backyard organization ideas for help corralling the chaos in your yard!
Happy organizing!
Last update on 2024-04-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API