The best parts organisers, compared.
Top pick: Stanley FatMax deep organiser 1-97-518 Best value: Stanley STST81679-1 – About £3.59 with 4.5 from 1,749 ratings, the highest value score on another product. Updated October 2026.
A parts organiser is a lidded case or a small-drawer cabinet that keeps screws, wall plugs, nails and connectors in separate bays. In the UK, people buy one to replace torn boxes in a garage, a tool tote or a van. The useful split is between adjustable dividers, removable cups and a cabinet that stays on the bench. Quality shows up as a lid or cup that stops parts jumping bays, latches that match the model you actually received, and a size line you can believe. Stars are high across this set, so the job matters more than a tenth of a star. How to choose dividers, cups or drawers is set out in the [parts organiser buying guide](/hub/workshop/parts-organiser/sub/parts-organiser-buying-guide). Removable cups suit one size taken to the bench. Drawers suit a collection that no longer leaves the garage.
A parts organiser is a lidded case or a small-drawer cabinet that keeps screws, wall plugs, nails and connectors in separate bays. In the UK, people buy one to replace torn boxes in a garage, a tool tote or a van.
38 products checked · 61 hrs invested · +24,600 readers
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
Where will the parts live?
The Stanley FatMax 1-97-518, listed at £22.79 and about 2 kg, is a deep organiser the bullets size at 43.2 × 10.9 × 33.0 cm, with 10 removable cups and metal latches in the title. On amazon.co.uk it is 4.8 from 3,700 ratings, and the UK reviews describe a thick case, cups that lift out, and a lid that locks those cups so parts stay put when the case is shaken. One review says the metal latches popped off when someone stood on them, then clipped back on. That is the mechanical note in the sample, not a run of cracked bodies. The amazon listing says a waterproof seal and does not print an IP code. Stanley’s UK page for this model states IP53, which is dust and spray, not immersion, and also uses the word waterproof. The same maker page is where the 8 kg load is set out. Side latches are for other FatMax organisers, not for a SortMaster, and it is the strongest cup box in this set at a higher price than the divided SortMaster.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You carry sorted screw sizes and you want cups that stay shut when the case is shaken.
Less suitable: You need movable dividers for odd shapes, or you will treat waterproof as safe to immerse.
Specifications
Common questions
Do the cups come out?
Yes. The bullets say 10 removable and stackable compartments, and reviews say the cups lift out.
Does this Amazon listing print an IP code?
No. It says a waterproof seal. Stanley's UK page for 1-97-518 is where IP53 is stated.
Will screws mix if you close the lid?
Reviews say the lid locks the cups so contents stay put, including when the case is shaken.
The raaco HandyBox 55 x 4, part 136242, is listed at £66.67 and 4.98 kg, with four assorter cases, sliding locks and a carry handle. On amazon.co.uk it is 4.8 from 659 ratings. UK reviews describe removable inserts for mixed fixings, a design that has stayed compatible for years, and a unit that still holds when it is full of screws. Several of those reviews call it pricey and keep it anyway, and one review says pieces do not snap off in the cold. The amazon specification says 14.8 × 10.4 × 12.2 cm and 4 compartments, which matches four cases and does not match Wickes, where the same part number is 310 × 376 × 265 mm. The recommended-use field says arts and crafts, while the reviews are about screws, nuts and tool spares. Water resistant is stated with no IP code, and the 25 kg maximum-weight field is the listing figure. This is a frame system, not a £10 tray.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a raaco frame you can add to over years, and you will check a trade size rather than the 14.8 cm amazon line.
Less suitable: You want a first screw case under £25, or you will buy on the amazon dimensions.
Specifications
Common questions
Can it be locked with a padlock?
The lock type is a sliding lock on the cases. No padlock loop is listed.
How many compartments does Amazon state?
The specification says 4, which matches the 4 assorter cases, not a count of every insert.
Does the Amazon size match a trade listing for 136242?
No. This listing says 14.8 x 10.4 x 12.2 cm. Wickes lists the same part number at 310 x 376 x 265 mm.
The famuka stack, model GJX-01--UK, is three red plastic boxes listed at £19.99 and 1.91 kg. Each layer is about 31.3 × 22 × 6.5 cm in the bullets, and about 550 g, with a clear lid and six removable dividers. The specification says 30 compartments and the bullets say 10 per box. On amazon.co.uk the line is 4.8 from 10 ratings, and the raw file contains three UK reviews. Those three call it sturdy, mention feeder fishing as well as general parts, and disagree about the catches: one says the boxes lock and unlock, and one says the stacked catches are so stiff the boxes cannot be pulled apart. That split is the whole of the written complaint, and there is no IP code behind the waterproof line. Ten ratings are not a basis for treating 4.8 as the same evidence as a FatMax with thousands of ratings. Buy it only if you want three small lidded boxes and you can return a stack that will not separate.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want three small stackable boxes and you accept a thin review record.
Less suitable: You want a case with thousands of UK ratings, or catches you have seen release.
Specifications
Common questions
Are the compartments fully adjustable?
The bullets say each box has 6 removable dividers that slide on and off. They do not define fully adjustable.
Do the three boxes separate?
The bullets say each layer can be used on its own. One of three reviews says the stacked catches will not release.
How many reviews are on the listing?
The listing shows 4.8 from 10 ratings. The raw file contains 3 UK reviews.
This listing is two Stanley SortMaster cases, model 1-94-745, at £19.98, so about the same £9.99 each as the single. The bullets still say 12 compartments and removable dividers on each unit, at about 44.2 × 32.7 × 9.2 cm. The star line is 4.7 from 9,281 amazon.co.uk ratings, and the named UK reviews in the file are the same reviews as on the single-unit listing. Reviewers talk about sorting screws and plugs across two boxes, and about clip-together stacking, including a price they read as under £10 a case. Small items can still slip under the movable dividers, which the single does not solve by being sold as a pair. The specification prints 17.4 × 13.1 × 3.6 cm, against those bullets, and the included-components field says 1 while the item count says 2. Buy the pair when you already know you want two SortMasters. It is not a different organiser.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You already want two SortMaster cases and you will check the bullet size, not the 17.4 cm specification.
Less suitable: You have not tried the divider layout yet, or you need cups the lid locks.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this a different organiser from the single SortMaster?
The model number is 1-94-745, the same as the single. This listing is a pack of two at £19.98.
Which size should you trust?
The bullets repeat 44.2 x 32.7 x 9.2 cm for each unit. The specification says 17.4 x 13.1 x 3.6 cm. Both are on the listing.
Does the included-components line say two cases?
Number of items is 2. The included-components field says 1.
The Stanley SortMaster 1-94-745, listed at £9.99, is a shallow divided case the bullets size at about 44.2 × 32.7 × 9.2 cm, with a clear lid and side clips for other SortMaster cases. Across 9,280 amazon.co.uk ratings it sits at 4.7, and the UK reviews use the removable dividers for screws, wall plugs, nails, fuses and connectors. Those reviews say the lid keeps the main sections apart when the case is on its side, and that several clipped cases can be lifted by one handle. Small items can slip under the movable dividers, which is the complaint that comes back. The specification says 1 compartment and a maximum weight of 1 milligram, and both contradict the bullets, so they are listing errors rather than a load you can use. One buyer who already owned shop units reported yellow locking parts on an Amazon batch that did not match boxes which had lasted over three years. It is the top pick in this set because that price sits on thousands of ratings for a case that sorts mixed fixings, not because a lab soaked the lid.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want one shallow case for mixed screws, plugs and nails, and you may add another SortMaster later.
Less suitable: You need every small washer to stay in its bay when the case is shaken, or the stock never leaves the garage.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the listing say it holds screws?
The question is on the page and is not answered there. The bullets name screws, nuts, bolts and other small parts.
How many compartments does the listing give?
The bullets say 12 compartments with removable dividers. The specification block says 1.
Can it clip to another organiser?
The bullets say side latches clip multiple SortMaster organisers together. They do not say it clips to a FatMax.
The Stanley STST81680-1, listed at £7.57 and 292 g, is a small clear organiser rather than a full SortMaster. The bullets say 17 compartments with removable dividers, impact-resistant polypropylene, and a recessed grip instead of a large carry handle, at about 30 × 18.5 × 4.5 cm. The specification says 7 compartments and prints a different size line, 27.2 × 4.6 × 18.9 cm. On amazon.co.uk it is 4.7 from 2,373 ratings. UK reviews use it for a modest set of screws, washers, bolts and cables, and they say the dividers stay put if the case is held upright so the contents do not mix. Several buyers say it is smaller than they expected, and that a large stock of screws needs a bigger organiser. Quality is called adequate rather than the stoutest case they own. No side-clip link to a SortMaster or a FatMax is stated.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a small Stanley case for a modest set of fixings and you will trust the bullet size over the specification.
Less suitable: You are storing a garage of screws, or you need a handle and side clips for a stack.
Specifications
Common questions
Does it have a carry handle?
The bullets describe a built-in recessed grip, not a separate handle.
How many compartments are listed?
The bullets and the included-components line say 17. The specification says 7.
Will it hold a large stock of screws?
Reviews say it suits a small quantity. Buyers with a large stock are pointed toward a larger organiser.
The Stanley FatMax 1-97-521, listed at £27.00 and 1.9 kg, is a 10-compartment organiser whose bullets repeat a lot of the 1-97-518 text, including 43.2 × 10.9 × 33.0 cm. The specification on this listing says 44.3 × 35.6 × 11 cm. On amazon.co.uk it is 4.7 from 2,333 ratings. UK reviews praise deep tubs that lift out, a clear lid that stops screws mixing, and side clips that lock and release. They also say the front catches are plastic, unlike metal clips on other versions, and that a full case is heavy enough that one buyer split the screws across a second organiser. One review says the lid does not fold back flat. Do not copy the 1-97-518 IP53 line onto this model: the raw file does not print that code, and the title’s waterproof wording is not a measured rating. At £27.00 it costs more than the metal-latch 1-97-518 in this same set.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want this model’s deep cups and you have checked you are not paying for the 1-97-518’s metal latches.
Less suitable: You want the metal-latch 1-97-518, or a listing whose bullets are not shared with another model.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this the same box as the 1-97-518?
No. The model is 1-97-521. Several bullets match the 1-97-518 text, and reviews say the front catches are plastic.
Does the listing give one size?
The bullets say 43.2 x 10.9 x 33.0 cm. The specification says 44.3 x 35.6 x 11 cm.
What do reviews say once it is full of screws?
They say it is heavy, and one buyer bought a second organiser to split the load.
The Stanley FatMax Pro shallow organiser FMST1-75779, listed at £19.45, is a 14-compartment polycarbonate case at 44 × 7.5 × 28 cm and 1.4 kg. The bullets say an IP53 waterproof rating, while the specification says water resistant. IP53 is dust and spray protection, not a case you immerse, so the word waterproof in that bullet overreaches the code. On amazon.co.uk it is 4.6 from 515 ratings. UK reviews like the shallow layout for small fixings, van parts and sleeves that stay separated if the case is flipped, and they say it stacks with other Pro organisers. The end latches are what those reviews trust to clamp the lid, while the front plastic catches are called thin and likely to break with knocks. One review says the lid uses press clips rather than the metal cantilever clips of other FatMax Pro boxes. The maximum-weight field says 60 kg, which is a listing figure with no second line in this file to support it.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a shallow Pro-family case for small fixings in a van and you will not rely on the front clips.
Less suitable: You want the metal latches of the FatMax 1-97-518, or a load figure you can treat as 60 kg.
Specifications
Common questions
Is it waterproof or IP53?
The bullets say an IP53 waterproof rating. The specification says water resistant. IP53 is dust and spray, not immersion.
What do reviews say about the clips?
They say the front plastic catches are thin, and that the end latches are what clamp the lid.
Is the 60 kg figure a load rating you should use?
It is the maximum-weight field on the listing. It is not backed by another line in this raw file.
The Stanley STST81679-1, listed at £3.59 and 110 g, is a 10-compartment pocket case with a clear lid, removable dividers and a ruler marked on the lid. One review says those marks run to about 160 mm. On amazon.co.uk it is 4.5 from 1,749 ratings, which is the best-value mark in this set because of that price and that count, not because it holds a shed of screws. UK reviews put it in the front pocket of a tool tote for ferrules, crimps, fuses and small screwdrivers, and they say the dividers click in and stay put when the case is shaken. One buyer says a divider needs force and then catches the lid. The specification prints 9.1 × 4.7 × 1.4 cm. One reviewer measured about 21 × 10 × 2.5 cm, and the title’s 9 inches sits nearer that measurement than the centimetre line. The 5 kg maximum-weight field is a listing figure on a 110 g box, so this is the case you add beside a larger organiser, not the organiser itself.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a few fuses and small screws in a tool-tote pocket and you will ignore the 9.1 cm specification.
Less suitable: You need the only organiser for a workshop, or you are buying because the specification says 9.1 cm.
Specifications
Common questions
What size is it?
The title says 9 inches. The specification says 9.1 x 4.7 x 1.4 cm. One reviewer measured about 21 x 10 x 2.5 cm.
Will the dividers stay in if you shake it?
Reviews say the dividers click in and hold small parts. One review says a divider can catch the lid.
Is it for full-size hand tools?
Reviews use it for small screws, fuses and small screwdrivers. The bullets do not describe a full tool kit.
The Amazon Basics TO-002, listed at £21.37, is a polystyrene organiser the bullets size at 41.91 × 33.53 × 6.1 cm, with 19 removable compartments and a clear lid. On amazon.co.uk it is 4.4 from 927 ratings. The bullets print four cup sizes, from about 4.8 cm square up to about 9.7 cm square, all around 5 cm deep. UK reviews say you can take a cup to the job and put it back, and that parts stay in when the closed case is turned. They also say most cups are the largest size, so washers need a lot of screws before a bay looks full. The lid is described as flimsier than older shop organisers, and as less secure. Stacking is not agreed: one review says the cases stack, another says they do not interlock. No IP code is stated, and water resistant is the specification word, which is not a soak test.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want lift-out cups for screws and plugs and you can live with mostly large bays at £21.37.
Less suitable: You want a lid as stiff as a shop organiser, or clips that join a second case of a named family.
Specifications
Common questions
Do the compartments come out?
Yes. The bullets say 19 removable compartments, and reviews describe taking them to a job.
Does the listing say the cases clip together?
No clip system is named. Reviews disagree about whether the cases stack securely.
What are the cups made of?
The organiser is listed as 100% polystyrene. A separate material for the cups is not given.
The Amazon Basics TOC-01-A, listed at £22.02, is a 24-drawer plastic cabinet at 16 × 54.1 × 40.1 cm and 3.22 kg, meant for a bench or a wall rather than a tool bag. Each drawer is about 15.24 × 11.94 × 5.08 cm outside, including the handle, and about 13.65 × 11.75 × 4.76 cm inside, with a removable divider. On amazon.co.uk it is 4.4 from 407 ratings. UK reviews praise the number of small drawers, a divider in every one, and stops that keep a drawer from falling if the unit is tipped. The listing says you lift a drawer slightly to pass that stop. Reviews say the drawers stick anyway, and that the plastic bends if a stuck drawer is forced. Wall holes are pre-drilled and the screws are not included, and nothing on the listing is a water rating. It suits screws that stay in the garage, and it does not replace a lidded case you take to the job.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a fixed grid of small drawers in a garage and you will lift each drawer past the stop.
Less suitable: You need to carry the screws in a van, or you expect metal drawers and fixings in the box.
Specifications
Common questions
Can you mount it on a wall?
The bullets say pre-drilled holes for wall mounting. Screws are not included.
Does every drawer have a divider?
The bullets say removable dividers in each drawer. One review says dividers were fitted in every drawer.
Why are the drawers hard to open?
The listing says you lift a drawer slightly to pass the anti-fall stop. Reviews also say drawers stick and the plastic bends if forced.
Scores use the eleven amazon.co.uk listings in this comparison, plus Stanley UK for the FatMax 1-97-518, Wickes for raaco 136242, and Sealants and Tools Direct for the SortMaster 1-94-745. This is not a lab test. The highest total is the top pick, once. Best value is the highest value score on another product, once.
Amazon evidence
40%Star rating scaled by review count, using the UK review notes. A 4.8 from ten ratings, with three written reviews, stays low. Repeated migration, latch or sticking complaints come off this block.
Fit for the job
35%A bay you can match to screws, a lid or cup that reviews say contains parts, an honest model line for latches and water, and same-family clips or a clear bench role. A specification that contradicts the bullets, a waterproof claim with no code, or copied bullets from another model cost points.
Value
25%Shelf price in GBP against a usable case and a real review line. The lowest price stays off the top pick when the size line is unusable. The value column can still mark best value on a cheap case with a large review count.
Buy the type of bay before the star rating. Dividers suit odd shapes. Removable cups suit one size you take to the bench. Drawers suit screws that stay in the garage. The lid should meet the dividers or lock the cups, and side clips only join the same family. Metal latches on one FatMax model are not evidence for the next model number. A waterproof line without a code is not immersion. Stored prices on these eleven amazon.co.uk listings run from about £3.59 to about £66.67.
A parts organiser is a lidded case or a small-drawer cabinet that keeps screws, wall plugs, nails and connectors in separate bays. In the UK, people buy one to replace torn boxes in a garage, a tool tote or a van. The useful split is between adjustable dividers, removable cups and a cabinet that stays on the bench. Dividers suit odd shapes. Removable cups suit one size taken to the bench. Drawers suit a collection that no longer leaves the garage.
A high number with mostly large cups wastes space on washers. The Amazon Basics 19-cup reviews say most cups are the largest size. Match the bay to the longest screw you actually keep. Drawers, dividers and cups are different jobs.
Several listings print a size, a compartment count or a load that does not match the bullets or a reviewer's measurement. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 requires a match to the description. Buy on the bullet layout you can reconcile, not on the contradictory figure.
Stanley's UK page rates the FatMax 1-97-518 as IP53, which is dust and water spray, not immersion. Other listings say waterproof or water resistant with no code. IP53 on that model is not a rating you can copy onto the 1-97-521.
The first check is the type of bay, then whether that bay matches the screws you actually keep. Dividers suit odd shapes. Removable cups suit one size taken to the bench. Drawers suit a collection that no longer leaves the garage. A high compartment count with mostly large cups wastes space on washers, which is what UK reviews say about the Amazon Basics 19-cup organiser. The SortMaster bullets say 12 compartments with removable dividers.
The lid should meet the dividers, or lock the cups. SortMaster reviews say the lid keeps the main sections apart when the case is on its side, and that small items can still slip under the movable dividers. FatMax 1-97-518 reviews say the lid locks the cups so parts stay put when the case is shaken. Side clips only join the same family. SortMaster clips are not FatMax latches, and neither joins raaco or Amazon Basics. Latch material belongs to that model number.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You want one clear case for mixed screws, wall plugs and nails, and you may add another of the same family later. The Stanley SortMaster 1-94-745 is the top pick at about £9.99, with 4.7 from 9,280 ratings. Small items can slip under the movable dividers. The specification disagrees with the bullets.
You already sort fixings by size and you want cups that stay shut when the case is shaken. The Stanley FatMax 1-97-518 is the deep cup box at about £22.79, with 4.8 from 3,700 ratings and metal latches on this model. It scores 80 and stays off the top pick on price. Stanley's UK page rates it IP53, which is spray and dust, not immersion.
You want a few fuses and small screws in a tool-tote pocket, not the only organiser for a workshop. The Stanley STST81679-1 is best value at about £3.59, with 4.5 from 1,749 ratings. Reviews say the dividers stay put when the case is shaken. The specification size does not match a reviewer's measurement, so do not buy on that centimetre line.
The top pick is the Stanley SortMaster 1-94-745 at about £9.99. It scores 83, the highest here: 4.7 from 9,280 ratings for a divided case the bullets describe as 12 compartments, after a deduction for the divider gap and for a specification that disagrees with the bullets. Best value is the Stanley STST81679-1 at about £3.59. It leads the value column, with 4.5 from 1,749 ratings. Its fit score stays lower because the specification size does not match a reviewer's measurement. The FatMax 1-97-518 scores 80. Reviews say the lid locks the cups, and it stays off the top pick at about £22.79.
Stanley STST81679-1
About £3.59 with 4.5 from 1,749 ratings, the highest value score on another product.
Editorial
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Public UK sources and the amazon.co.uk listings compared on this page. Updated October 2026.
This page contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars and review counts are the amazon.co.uk figures already stored for this set. This is not a laboratory test.
