We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. What to Buy Containers & Organization The 12 Best Kitchen Cabinet Organizers, According to Pros These clever storage solutions make cookware, snacks, spices, and other kitchen essentials easily accessible and aesthetically pleasing. By Alyssa Sybertz Alyssa Sybertz Alyssa Sybertz is a writer and avid home cook with nearly a decade of experience writing about food, cooking, nutrition, and wellness. She is the author of The OMAD Diet: Intermittent Fasting with One Meal a Day to Burn Fat and Lose Weight, for which she developed over 100 recipes. In addition to writing about food and cooking for Southern Living, she writes about cooking for Allrecipes and Reader's Digest, pregnancy and parenting for Verywell Family, health and fitness for Peloton, and nutrition for First for Women and other outlets.Alyssa is the food editor for Closer Weekly. She also edits special interest health and nutrition magazines for Centennial Media on topics including intermittent fasting, gut health, and the keto diet. Prior to working as a freelance food and wellness writer, Alyssa was an editor at First for Women magazine, where she contributed to the nutrition, food, and fitness sections. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on October 31, 2024 In This Article View All In This Article Our Top Picks Reviews Factors to Consider FAQ Our Expertise Photo: Food & Wine / Amazon Nothing is worse than packing your leftovers into a storage container and then spending what feels like forever searching for the matching lid, which turns out to be somehow missing. Or going grocery shopping, picking up some canned goods and condiments, only to get home and realize you already have those same items pushed to the back of a cluttered pantry. This is where kitchen cabinet organizers come in. Kitchen organizing solutions can come in many forms: pull-out shelves, cookware racks, shelf risers, turntables, and more. No matter what your space looks like or how cramped your kitchen is, there is a way to bring order to the chaos and actually get the most out of your kitchen cabinets. For expert kitchen organizing tips, we turned to Joanna Wirick, a professional organizer at Joanna Organize. “Organizing your kitchen cabinets can help you make the most of the storage space,” she says. “When you know exactly where everything is, you can utilize the full height and depth of your cabinets. This can help you avoid wasted space and make room for more items. Plus, you won't waste time searching for items or moving things around to get to what you need.” From cookware to spices to cleaning supplies, there’s a storage solution for everything in your kitchen cupboards (and even your kitchen drawer organization, too). Keep scrolling to shop the top kitchen cabinet organizers for tidying up cupboards and keeping them that way. Our Top Picks Best Overall: SALE SimpleHouseware Expandable Stackable Kitchen Cabinet Organizer at Amazon $20 $17 Jump to Review Best Splurge: SALE Rev-A-Shelf 2-Tier Wire Basket Pull Out Shelf at Amazon $119 $85 Jump to Review Best for Pots and Pans: SALE Cuisinel Heavy-Duty Pan Organizer at Amazon $35 $28 Jump to Review Best Pull-Out Shelf: Lynk Professional Roll Out Cabinet Organizer at Amazon $53 Jump to Review Best for Spices: YouCopia 24-Bottle Spice Organizer at Amazon $40 Jump to Review Best for Lids: SALE SWOMMOLY Expandable Food Storage Container Lid Organizer at Amazon $22 $17 Jump to Review Best Over-the-Door: SimpleHouseware Over the Cabinet Door Organizer Holder at Amazon $20 Jump to Review Best for Bakeware: YouCopia StoreMore Bakeware Rack at Amazon $20 Jump to Review Best Turntable: Copco Pantry Cabinet Turntable at Amazon $17 Jump to Review Best Sliding Basket: Simple Houseware 2 Tier Sliding Cabinet Basket Organizer Drawer at Amazon $24 Jump to Review Best Overall SimpleHouseware Expandable Stackable Kitchen Cabinet Organizer PHOTO: Amazon $20 $17 at Amazon $38 at Walmart “If you have a small kitchen, look to see where adding a shelf to any of the cabinets can increase the amount of space you have,” says Michele Vig, the founder and chief organizer of Neat Little Nest. Most of the time, running out of cabinet space has to do with the footprint of your items while the vertical space goes unused. An excellent option is this set of two sturdy metal shelves, which earn the best overall slot on our list. With one slightly smaller than the other, these can stack vertically, overlap slightly for narrower cabinets, or stand independently to create a large second level in your cabinet. The metal frames support up to 30 pounds, so you can confidently use these shelves to house anything from coffee mugs to full dinnerware sets. And at just $20 for two shelves, the price is hard to beat. Dimensions: 11.25 x 7.9 x 5.4 inches; 2.7 x 9 x 5.9 inches | Material: Alloy steel Best Splurge Rev-A-Shelf 2-Tier Wire Basket Pull Out Shelf PHOTO: Amazon $119 $85 at Amazon $114 at Kohls.com $116 at Lowe's Wirick agrees that one of the most efficient ways to organize your cabinets is to make use of empty vertical space. To do so, “install pull-out shelves or use risers to take advantage of the full height of your cabinets,” she suggests. For a system built to last — and to hold anything you want to store — splurge on this two-tier pull-out basket system from Rev-A-Shelf. After mounting it inside your cabinet, the metal wire shelves extend out and support up to 50 pounds each so you can easily retrieve and stow heavy pots and pans, and other kitchen tools. There are many different sizes to choose from, and each of them is adjustable to suit your exact cabinet setup. Dimensions: 14.75 x 22 x 19 inches (adjustable) | Material: Steel Best for Pots and Pans Cuisinel Heavy-Duty Pan Organizer PHOTO: Amazon $35 $28 at Amazon $28 at Walmart Pots and pans are big and bulky — and with different designs and handles on each one, they can seem almost impossible to store efficiently. If you don't have a stackable cookware set, this five-tier organizing rack will allow you to store pots and pans vertically. With five shelves of varying heights and widths, you can store skillets, sauté pans, griddles, and even shallow saucepans. And at just over a foot tall, it will fit in almost any cabinet, though you can also use it horizontally if that better suits your space. You can bring on your cast iron, ceramic, and carbon steel cookware; this organizer's 50-pound capacity can handle it. Dimensions: 10.5 x 8 x 12.2 inches | Material: Steel Best Pull-Out Shelf Lynk Professional Roll Out Cabinet Organizer PHOTO: Amazon $53 at Amazon $50 at Wayfair $53 at Walmart Sometimes, the organization you need is to be able to see everything in your cabinet — even the seldom-used items that get pushed to the back and can be forgotten about. This single pull-out shelf from Lynk Professional doesn't really add more space, but it does help you make better use of the space you have. When mounted on the bottom of your cabinet, this commercial-quality steel and chrome shelf effortlessly slides in and out. As a single shelf, it’s perfect for tall bottles of oil, vinegar, or liquor, or small kitchen appliances that require lots of effort to reach in the back of the cupboard, like as a food processor. This particular model is 11 by 21 inches, but it also comes in six other sizes to suit your needs. Dimensions: 11 x 21 x 4 inches | Material: Chrome and steel Best for Spices YouCopia 24-Bottle Spice Organizer PHOTO: Amazon $40 at Amazon $40 at The Container Store Of all the kitchen cabinets, one of those most prone to clutter and disorganization is the spice cabinet. While Vig recommends organizing your spices in drawers if possible, not everyone has the space to do so. We love this spice rack organizer, which contains a set of mini-shelves designed to prevent you from having to pull out every single other jar whenever you can’t find the coriander. Three shelves accommodate up to 24 spice jars or bottles in total, and adjustable dividers ensure you can fit both the tallest and shortest in your collection. It also comes with printed and blank labels, so you know where each spice lives and can access it quickly (plus return it to its proper place when you’re done). Dimensions: 10.5 x 11 x 8.3 inches | Material: Plastic Best for Lids SWOMMOLY Expandable Food Storage Container Lid Organizer PHOTO: Amazon $22 $17 at Amazon Let’s be honest: Our food storage containers would be much better organized if it weren’t for all those lids floating around and cluttering up the cabinet. Fortunately, this lid organizer provides the solution we’ve needed for years. With six adjustable dividers, you can separate it to accommodate all different sizes and shapes. The base itself is expandable, so you can adjust its footprint based on the number of lids you need it to hold and the space in your cabinet. Finally, the included labels allow you to organize each section by lid size. Dimensions: 17.3 x 10.8 x 3.8 inches | Material: Plastic Best Over-the-Door SimpleHouseware Over the Cabinet Door Organizer Holder PHOTO: Amazon $20 $18 at Amazon For large pantries or cabinets with space between the door and the shelves, consider adding this over-the-door hanging holder. The steel basket is ideal for small cutting boards, cookie sheets, baking pans, or even long rectangular boxes of plastic wrap and aluminum foil, creating additional storage space where there wasn’t any before. Pick up a few and organize your food storage lids or boxes of pasta; the door mount is convenient, and there's no shortage of cabinet and pantry items that fit snugly in this basket. The ultra-thin hooks fit over most cabinet doors, but you can also remove them and mount the basket directly to a door or wall if you’d prefer. Dimensions: 13.5 x 3.62 x 18.5 inches | Material: Alloy steel Best for Bakeware YouCopia StoreMore Bakeware Rack PHOTO: Amazon $20 at Amazon $20 at Target $29 $20 at Macy's Many home cooks are savvy enough to store flatter items like cookie sheets, cooling racks, and muffin tins vertically, but nothing is worse than trying to dig out a small cutting board from in between large sheet trays, or catching the feet of your cooling rack on the muffin pan leaning against it. This YouCopia bakeware rack is the solution, featuring seven adjustable dividers you can place as close together or as far apart as you’d like to accommodate different sizes and styles of pans for easy removal. Plus, the non-slip feet on the bottom of the rack ensure it won’t slide around in the cupboard, and you won’t risk pulling the whole thing out when you go to grab a single item. Dimensions: 7.3 x 11.5 x 6.4 inches | Material: Plastic base and coated steel dividers Best Turntable Copco Pantry Cabinet Turntable PHOTO: Amazon $17 at Amazon $17 at Walmart $30 $13 at Belk.com Those oddly shaped cabinets tucked into the corners of your kitchen offer some of the largest storage spaces, but they are also some of the most difficult to access — and typically the most full of disarray. “When your cabinets are disorganized, you may end up buying items you already have or letting food expire because you didn't see it buried in the back of a cabinet,” says Wirick. “Organizing your cabinets can help you keep track of what you have, reducing waste and saving you money.” One timeless organizing trick: Utilizing turntables, like this non-slip one with two tiers, to utilize vertical space and make it easy to see everything you have and restock when you’re out. Dimensions: 12 x 7.5 inches | Material: Plastic Best Sliding Basket Simple Houseware 2 Tier Sliding Cabinet Basket Organizer Drawer PHOTO: Amazon $24 at Amazon $30 at Walmart Sliding shelves are great for items that stand on their own, but what about those that don’t, or that topple over easily? Sliding baskets are the solution. This two-tier organizer from Simple Houseware features two white metal baskets great for corralling small items such as spices, canned foods, and condiments. Plus, the freestanding unit doesn’t need to be mounted, allowing for easy removal if you're a renter, or if you just decide to move it to a different cabinet. Dimensions: 14 x 8 x 12.75 inches | Material: Metal Best for Corners Bambüsi Bamboo Kitchen Corner Shelf PHOTO: Amazon $30 $20 at Amazon Whether you’re trying to maximize the corner space on a countertop or in a cabinet, this stylish bamboo shelf unit is an excellent pick. The thick slats on the wooden shelves ensure they can hold various food items and kitchen tools, while the snug corner fit eliminates the risk of small items falling behind the shelves. And as a bonus, if you’re entertaining and need extra space to display food on the buffet, you can pop it out of the cabinet to do double duty — it’s certainly attractive enough. Dimensions: 10 x 10 x 9.5 inches | Material: Bamboo Best for Plates Simple Houseware Plate Drying Rack with Drainboard PHOTO: Amazon $20 $17 at Amazon $31 at Walmart Don’t be thrown off by the name: We love using this "drying rack" as an organizer because storing your dishes upright offers easier access, is safer and gentler on them than stacking them in a pile, and will also help you cycle through them (as opposed to using the same four plates every day). The rack is sturdy, fits in most cabinets, and has 19 slots to fit all your dinner plates and then some. It fits snugly inside the drainboard, but you can also use the rack on its own if you’d prefer to ditch the plastic base and stand the rack on a shelf liner instead. Dimensions: 16.6 x 9.2 x 2 inches | Materials: Steel and plastic Factors to Consider Cabinet Organizer Style When shopping for kitchen cabinet organizers, the first and most obvious thing to consider is what items you want to organize. While basic shelves can be used for dishes and some cookware, they're not as handy for canned goods or snacks. Other organizers are made to fit in specific sizes of drawer or cabinet, or to hold individual items like spices or bakeware. The things you are organizing will help you determine the best organizer style, but the location of those items also plays a role. For example, pull-out shelves and baskets are typically best for under-the-counter cabinets, while turntables and shelves tend to be easier to access in above-the-counter cabinets. Still, others work best in a large pantry instead of standard cabinets above or below your countertop. Cabinet Organizer Materials All the organizers on this list are sturdy and well-constructed, whether made from metal, plastic, or wood. The material's color may come into play more if you intend for the organizer to be in a highly visible part of your kitchen, such as on an open shelf or in a cabinet with glass doors. If you’re going to see it every time you walk through the kitchen, you’ll want to choose one that’s equally functional and attractive. Metal or wood usually have higher weight capacities than plastic, so turn to those materials for heavy cookware or stacks of canned food. Cabinet Organizer Size A cabinet organizer isn't very useful if it doesn't actually fit in the cabinet. Before you buy anything, carefully measure your cabinet space, noting every shelf's width, depth, and height. Also, check to see if your existing cabinet shelves are adjustable; it may be worth it to move (or remove) a shelf to fit a more efficient organizer. It can also be helpful to measure large cookware and dishes to ensure everything will fit. Frequently Asked Questions What is the best way to organize kitchen cabinets? The kitchen is one of the most high-traffic areas in the home, which is why it is crucial to keep it organized. The first and most important step is making sure everything has a logical place based on where your kitchen cabinets are located.“Assigning kitchen cabinets to hold specific items is a great way to keep your kitchen organized and make it easier to find what you need,” Wirick says. “When you assign specific cabinets to certain items, you can create a logical flow that makes sense for your cooking and meal prep needs.” She recommends grouping items by function. “Kitchen items are either for prepping, cooking, baking, or serving. Group similar items together based on how they’re used.” This will prevent mad dashes across the kitchen in the middle of cooking to find the right spice or spoon, and save the time you would have spent getting ready for a party searching for your favorite charcuterie board. How do I organize a corner cabinet? Corner cabinets can feel like wasted space, especially if they're disorganized. The best way to keep your corner cabinet from becoming the cabinet version of a junk drawer is to get an organizer made specifically for a corner. This will fit into the very back of the space to keep things from getting lost and will avoid the awkward fit of trying to shove two regular shelves into the corner. Corner organizers with multiple shelves will help you actually see everything, rather than guessing what's behind the stuff in front or digging around and wasting time. What's the best material for cabinet organizers? Metal, wood, and plastic all have their place when it comes to kitchen cabinet organizers. The most important thing is that your organizer is sturdy. You don't want to risk collapse when storing heavy cookware or cans.Plastic is generally less durable than metal or wood, but sturdy, thick plastic can be strong enough for lighter turntables or spice racks. Metal is the most common and is easy to clean and generally very sturdy. The benefit of wood is that it's sturdy and durable, plus it usually fits more with the decor of most kitchens if your organizers are in view. Our Expertise Alyssa Sybertz is an experienced food and cooking writer and recipe developer who covers anything and everything you may find in your kitchen for Food & Wine. For this article, she spoke with professional organizers and scoured the market to find the best cabinet organizers for every kitchen. The 10 Best Places to Buy Cabinet Hardware for Your Kitchen Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! 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