We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More ›
Kitchen drawers are home to all of your cutlery, utensils, and assorted kitchen tools. But before you know it, the drawers are also crammed with clutter, and you need to send out a search party to locate your meat thermometer or bottle opener. It can be frustrating and overwhelming when kitchen drawers are disorganized—time in the kitchen should be enjoyable, not stressful. A good flatware organizer can bring order back to your kitchen.
The best flatware organizer is the right size for the drawer, has enough compartments for your needs, and keeps the contents of your drawers arranged neatly. With a flatware organizer, there’s a dedicated place to store cutlery once it’s out of the dish drying rack.
We’ve outlined some purchasing considerations and found some of the best flatware organizers on the market. We hope these top picks inspire you to refresh your kitchen drawers.
- BEST OVERALL: Spectrum Hexa 5-Divider Expandable Silverware Tray
- RUNNER-UP: Rubbermaid Cutlery Tray, Large, White
- UPGRADE PICK: KitchenEdge Premium Silverware, Flatware and Utensil
- BEST FOR VERSATILITY: OXO Good Grips Large Expandable Utensil Organizer
- BEST CADDY: Towle Living 3-Piece Ceramic Caddy with Wood Tray
What to Look for When Buying the Best Flatware Organizer
The best flatware organizer comes down to only a few key features. As every kitchen is different, buyers need to consider the size of their space as well as the size of the flatware organizer. They should also take into account the style of organizer and the material from which it’s constructed. Making choices regarding these three factors will help determine the best flatware organizer for your space.
Size and Dimensions
The size of the flatware organizer that’s best for your needs depends on the space you have available. To find the best fit, measure the length, width, and height of the drawer so you can shop for an appropriately sized organizer. Without knowing all the dimensions, you may end up with an organizer that’s too tall or too long for your drawer space. Some home chefs prefer a flatware organizer that is not as wide as the drawer so they have space to store odd-shaped tools next to the organizer. If you’re still not finding enough space in the kitchen to keep your tools neat as a pin, you may need a kitchen storage solution.
When selecting a flatware organizer, take a look at the cutlery you have. An organizer does little good if you have two complete sets of cutlery and purchase an organizer intended to hold only one. The amount of flatware you have determines how many compartments your organizer should have.
- Traditional flatware sets have six place settings, each with seven pieces of cutlery.
- Modern flatware sets have five cutlery pieces, usually for four or eight place settings.
Style
The main styles of flatware organizers include expandable trays, stackable designs, and cutlery caddies.
- Expandable trays are practical and save a lot of space in the drawer. These trays have side sections that can be extended outward and adjusted to suit the size of the drawer. The farther out they’re expanded, the more compartments they have. When ordering an expandable tray, make sure that the drawer accommodates the expanded width of the organizer.
- Stackable designs are a good choice for those who have kitchen drawers that are deep but not particularly wide. These organizers have flatware compartments that stack on top of each other. Stackable organizers are appropriate for flatware and utensils that aren’t used frequently, but quickly become bothersome if they’re installed in drawers that are accessed multiple times a day. Users will likely grow wary of having to lift an organizer to access the items underneath.
- Cutlery caddies are organizers that take flatware and other utensils out of the kitchen drawer entirely. A caddy is a container with dividers for each type of cutlery. Some caddies also have room for additional supplies, like napkins and salt and pepper shakers. Cutlery caddies are usually made from plastic, metal, or ceramic.
Material
Most flatware organizers are made from either plastic, metal, or bamboo, and each material has its advantages and disadvantages.
- Plastic is the most common material from which flatware organizers are made. High-quality plastic lasts a long time, doesn’t react to moisture, and doesn’t promote bacterial growth. It’s affordable, easy to clean, and available in different colors.
- Metal flatware organizers are typically made from food-safe metal wire mesh. Instead of being one solid piece of metal, mesh consists of intersecting wires fused by welding or weaving, leaving small holes in the organizer. Crumbs and other debris may get stuck in mesh that’s woven too tightly, making wider woven mesh easier to clean.
- Bamboo is a renewable resource that is more eco-friendly than other materials. As it is a grass, not a wood, it doesn’t soak up water and warp the way wood does. And, unlike plastic and metal, it’s resistant to bacteria. Bamboo offers a warm, natural look.
Our Top Picks
With these key features and shopping tips in mind, read on to learn about the top picks from among the numerous selections on the market. The following flatware organizers vary in style, size, and price, so there will likely be one here to suit your needs.
Best Overall
Spectrum Hexa 5-Divider Expandable Silverware Tray
This plastic silverware tray from Spectrum has five compartments to contain modern cutlery sets. When it’s fully expanded, there are two additional compartments for additional flatware or utensils that need a home. Users can adjust the tray to the dimensions that best suit their kitchen drawer and then lock that configuration in place with small pegs. Measuring 13.5 inches by 10.25 inches by 2 inches, the tray expands to 16.75 inches wide. The low-profile flatware organizer fits easily into drawers, and its silicone feet keep the organizer stationary even if the drawer slams shut.
One advantage the Hexa has over other trays is that its bottom is an open, plastic honeycomb pattern instead of a solid piece of plastic, as with most other organizers. The hexagon-shaped holes in the mesh-like design allow dirt and crumbs to fall through, so each compartment stays clean.
Runner-Up
Rubbermaid Cutlery Tray, Large, White
Simple and timeless, this plastic Rubbermaid flatware organizer makes reconfiguring a kitchen drawer a breeze. This household staple is affordable and lasts a long time. This organizer has space for most utensil essentials: A modern silverware set fits comfortably in the tray’s five vertical compartments, and the additional horizontal compartment can accommodate other items, such as a corkscrew or small knives.
Though it does not expand, Rubbermaid’s tried-and-true tray usually has room for additional utensils to be stored next to it. It measures 13 inches by 11.52 inches by 1.84 inches, so users don’t have to factor in expandable measurements when determining whether it will fit in their kitchen drawers. In addition, keeping this flatware organizer clean is simple; when dust or crumbs accumulate, just toss the organizer into the dishwasher.
Upgrade Pick
KitchenEdge Premium Silverware, Flatware and Utensil
For those who love cooking and own many utensils, KitchenEdge’s flatware organizer will make it easier to find what they’re looking for. Constructed from 100 percent premium bamboo with anti-slip pads, this organizer has natural beauty and strength to match its utility in the kitchen. Dovetail corner joints and a full-perimeter support frame prevent the organizer’s bottom from sagging or separating from the compartment dividers, even when it’s fully loaded with utensils.
Measuring 17.25 inches by 14 inches by 2.5 inches and expanding to 25 inches wide, the KitchenEdge organizer offers up to 10 compartments for flatware, measuring spoons, spatulas, and more. Another benefit is that this organizer is deeper than other flatware organizers and has room for up to 12 place settings. Due to its impressive size, the inside of the drawer where it will reside must measure at least 18 inches from front to back in order for the organizer to fit.
Best for Versatility
OXO Good Grips Large Expandable Utensil Organizer
OXO’s plastic flatware organizer is a large-capacity option for drawers that require a custom solution. Built to accommodate all utensil shapes and sizes, its removable dividers adjust to fit cutlery from any manufacturer. The dividers allow two standard sets of cutlery to be stacked neatly in each compartment, keeping them in place even as the drawer opens and closes.
However, users can also forgo the dividers entirely and create roomy compartments to house bulkier kitchen tools.
Measuring 16.74 inches by 15.4 inches by 2.24 inches, this tray expands to over 22 inches wide, with five cutlery compartments and two compartments for longer utensils.
Best Caddy
Towle Living 3-Piece Ceramic Caddy with Wood Tray
Towle Living’s simple and stylish ceramic cutlery caddy keeps flatware close at hand and neatly organized on the counter or tabletop. Each of the three caddies measures 3.15 inches by 3.15 inches by 4.33 inches and sits securely during transport on the 13.5-inch by 5-inch wood tray. These caddies can hold more sets of cutlery than a standard flatware tray, making them an excellent storage solution for large families, potlucks, and casual get-togethers.
Each caddy is decorated with a stainless steel knife, fork, or spoon icon, so users know which utensils go where. All spoons and forks can go into the same designated caddies, as the soup spoons and dinner forks are easily identified because they’re longer than teaspoons and dessert forks. The caddies can be washed in the dishwasher, but the tray is hand-wash only.
FAQs About Flatware Organizers
Figuring out which flatware organizer suits a kitchen best is the hardest part; caring for them and using them are simple. If you have lingering questions about how to get the most out of your flatware organizer, here are some commonly asked questions and answers about the best flatware organizers.
Q. How should I organize flatware?
It depends on your style and drawer size constraints. Some people prefer a specific place for each type of cutlery, where others sort all types of cutlery—teaspoons and soup spoons, for example—into the same compartment.
Q. How do I organize my kitchen utensils in a drawer?
Some expandable flatware organizers include spaces for additional kitchen utensils. If space is an issue, utensils can often be placed in a caddy on the countertop for easy access. You can also check out this article on how to organize your kitchen drawers if you need additional help tidying up.
Q. Do I need to clean flatware organizers?
Yes. Flatware containers are one of the most often neglected areas in the kitchen when it comes to cleaning. Crumbs from the counter, cutlery that didn’t quite get clean in the dishwasher, and other debris that finds its way into the flatware organizer means your flatware organizer can benefit from a cleaning now and then. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and either give it a hand-wash or toss it in the dishwasher.