10 Best Socket Organizers of 2023 – Top Picks & Reviews

No matter what size your toolbox, finding the right socket when you need it can be quite challenging if you don’t keep them properly organized. Some kits keep them lockup in a case, but that’s not convenient when you are working, and if you are like us, they pile up on the bottom of your toolbox.

We’ve found ten different socket organizers to review for you to help you keep your workshop more organized. We’ll go over the pros and cons of each as well as any features they offer. We’ve also included a short buyer’s guide where we look at what a socket organizer is and how to choose one.

Keep reading while we discuss the maximum number of sockets, durability, socket size, imperial and metric measurements, and more to help you find the perfect socket organizer.

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2023

Rating	Image	Product	Details
Best Overall		ARES 70233 Magnetic Socket Organizer	26-piece Magnetic ¼” sockets	CHECK PRICE
Best Value		Hansen Global 92000 Socket Organizer	ABS plastic Thick base Edge tangs	CHECK PRICE
Premium Choice		TEKTON 91805 Socket Holder	Twist-O-Lock design Side mount holders Measurement stickers	CHECK PRICE
		OEMTOOLS 22233 Socket Tray Organizer	Six pieces Marked posts Holds ¼ ⅜ and ½-inch sockets	CHECK PRICE
		Ernst Manufacturing 8415 Socket Organizer	Holds 14 ⅜-inch sockets Metric and imperial sizes Includes 96 size stickers	CHECK PRICE

The 10 Best Socket Organizers – Reviews

 1. ARES 70233 Magnetic Socket Organizer – Best Overall

The ARES 70233 Magnetic Socket Organizer is our pick or the best overall socket organizer. It uses a durable high impact plastic construction that can take plenty of abuse without warping, cracking, or deforming. The rubberized bottom helps protect the edges of the sockets while you store them in the socket organizer. It fits standard and deep ¼-inch metric sockets. A strong magnet keeps the sockets in place while you store them.

We like the ARES 70233 organizer and no problem using it to store our sockets. The only downside is that it only holds metric sockets, and we tend to use imperial more often. Despite this, we think this is the best socket organizer available today.

2. Hansen Global 92000 Socket Organizer – Best Value

The Hansen Global 92000 Socket Organizer is our pick as the best socket organizer for the money. It’s a huge set that features six pieces and can hold all of your ¼, ⅜, and ½-inch sockets in both imperial and metric sizes. It features the size markings right on the organizer to instantly know which socket you are using, or which ones are missing. It uses durable ABS plastic that resists oil, gasoline, and other contaminants, and its extra thick base won’t bend or crack. It also has edge tangs that are easy to grip when you need to lift the organizer to make your selection.

We found the Hansen Global 92000 very impressive, and it held most of our sockets. However, we felt that it left several sizes out that should be included. The plastic also seems a little flimsy. All in all though, this is the best socket organizer for the money you can get this year.

3. TEKTON 91805 Socket Holder – Premium Choice

The TEKTON 91805 Socket Holder is our premium choice socket organizer. This three pies organizer can store all of your ¼, ⅜, and ½-inch sockets in both metric and imperial sizes. It features a Twist-O-Lock design that keeps your sockets in place while storing them, even if you keep them in a drawer or toolbox. There are no markings on the organizer, but you can mark them with the included stickers so you can quickly find the most important sockets. You can also add convenient side mounts that will hold your wrenches.

We enjoyed using the TEKTON 91805 and took advantage of the convenient mounting hole to install it on our workshop wall. It held the bits firmly, and none ever fell off. The only downside is that there weren’t enough spots for sockets. The ¼-inch piece was especially short.

4. OEMTOOLS 22233 Socket Tray Organizer

The OEMTOOLS 22233 Socket Tray Organizer is a large organizer that features six pieces and can hold up to 170 sockets in both imperial and metric sizes. It can store ¼, ⅜, and ½-inch sockets on a durable ABS plastic that’s resistant to gasoline and oil. The extended base is easy to hold and transport, and it also provides more stability to the sockets, so they don’t tip over. The posts are all marked, so it’s easy to select the socket you need and see which ones are missing. It accepts deep and shallow sockets.

The downside we experienced while using the OEMTOOLS 22233 was that some sockets wouldn’t fit on their post. We also wish they locked in place so we could mount it on a wall or put it in a drawer.

5. Ernst Manufacturing 8415 Socket Organizer

The Ernst Manufacturing 8415 Socket Organizer is a ⅜-inch socket organizer that can hold up to 14 sockets. You can place metric or imperial sockets on it, and it includes 96 stickers so that you can mark it with the proper sizes. The sockets twist-lock in place so they won’t fall off if you store them in a drawer, and it has a convenient hole in one end to hang it on the wall, which works best in our workshop. It uses a durable ABS plastic that feels durable and resists staining and is available in red, blue, and black to fit with any color scheme.

The biggest downside to the Ernst Manufacturing 8415 is that it can only hold ⅜-inch sockets, so you will need to make additional purchases to accommodate other sizes. Some of the sockets were also quite difficult to twist on, and we fear it may wear out after some use.

6. Olsa Tools 6-Piece Socket Organizer

The Olsa Tools 6-Piece Socket Organizer is another massive organizer that can hold up to 172 sockets. The six-piece set holds metric and imperial sizes along with shallow and deep sockets. It’s color-coded green and black, and each piece has the size marked on its peg, so you can quickly find the tool you need and which you need to purchase. There’s room for ¼, ⅜, and ½-inch sockets, and the thick ABS base keeps the sockets from falling over.

When reviewing the Olsa Tools, we noticed that a few of our sockets wouldn’t fit on their peg, and we wished they locked down to prevent the sockets from falling off if it tipped over. We also noticed the pegs, especially the longer and thinner ones, are quite brittle and easy to break. We broke one almost immediately when we were first adding our sockets.

7. ABN Black Aluminum SAE Socket Organizer

The ABN Black Aluminum SAE Socket Organizer is a three-piece set that can hold ¼, ⅜, and ½-inch sockets. It can fit 48 sockets in total in metric and imperial sizes, and it uses durable ABN black aluminum that will last many years. Spring-loaded ball bearings will keep your sockets in place firmly but will release them when you need them.

The downside to the ABN Black Aluminum SAE is that there are rubber end pieces that keep the socket holders on the rail. These rubber pieces wear out quickly and no longer keep the sockets in place and allow them to slide off. Therefore, the tool doesn’t keep the sockets organized, and it’s much less useful. We also noticed that there wasn’t enough room on the rail for all the holders once you start placing sockets on them. This lack of space means you have less than sockets per rail and cannot reach the full 48 sockets.

8. MLTOOLS T8252 Socket Holder

The MLTOOLS T8252 Socket Holder is a large set that holds up to 90 sockets. It’s color-coded, and there is space for both metric and imperial sizes and also ¼, ⅜, and ½-inch sockets. Each size has a strip, and three strips sit in a tray for additional stability. The sockets lock in place with the twist-lock system, so they don’t fall off if they tip over.

The downside to the MLTOOLS T8252 is that it uses a flimsy plastic in its construction and does not feel durable. It also doesn’t always hold the socket secure, and sometimes the sockets cause the plastic to flex, which can release the other sockets.

9. Neiko 02454A Aluminum Socket Holder

The Neiko 02454A Aluminum Socket Holder is a three-piece organizer that can hold up to 54 sockets. It uses a durable aluminum housing to hold clips equipped with a spring-loaded ball bearing that holds your sockets in place even if you place it in the toolbox or drawer. Rubber ends allow you to slide off the clips so you can interchange sizes if you want, and it can accept ¼, ⅜, and ½-inch sockets in either imperial or metric measurements.

The downside to the Neiko 02454A is that even though the rail is aluminum, the clips are plastic and easy to break. Some of the clips don’t hold the sockets securely, and the rubber ends fall off, allowing the clips to slide off the rail. After they fall off a few times, the rubber ends won’t stay on at all.

10. Craftsman 9-65172 Socket Organizer

The Craftsman 9-65172 Socket Organizer is a huge socket organizer that can hold up to195 sockets and still has room for adapters and extensions. It has lots of room for both imperial and metric sockets, so you’ll never need a size you don’t have. The six-piece organizer is a durable ABS plastic that will never rust or corrode and is resistant to gasoline and oil stains.

The problem with the Craftsman 9-65172 Socket Organizer is that you are supposed to use it with a Craftsman toolbox or chest, and if you don’t own one, you will likely find it bulky and too short to hold the sockets in place.

Buyer’s Guide – Choosing the Best Socket Organizer

Let’s look at a few things you should consider before you choose your next socket organizer.

What Is a Socket Organizer?

As you read over the reviews, you probably noticed that a socket organizer is a very simple device that keeps all of your sockets together and allows you to organize them in order of their size. How they hold them and how many they can hold is the difference between them.

Maximum Capacity

One model on our list holds only 14 sockets, and each of the sockets must be ⅜-inch. Another brand allows you to store 195 sockets, and they can be ¼, ⅜, and ½-inch. What you need depends on what you have. Many people only have one ratchet and a few sockets and only require a small organizer to throw in a toolbox or drawer and bring it out when they need a socket. If this sounds like you, you will want to concentrate on the smaller organizers we have on our list.

Mechanics and many other people will have a lot of sockets and finding the right size can be next to impossible when they are all piled in a toolbox. If this sounds like you or intends to expand your collection, you’ll want to look at the bigger organizers.

Metric, Imperial, or Both

Another decision you need to make based on your tools is whether to buy an organizer for metric or imperial sockets. Metric sockets have sizes in millimeters, while imperial sockets have sizes marked in fractions of an inch. Imperial tools are more popular in America while metric tools are more popular elsewhere, but we tackle more and more tasks that use the metric system in our workshop, and there’s a good chance you do too.

Most of the organizers on our list will accept both types, but many only take one kind, so be careful when shopping.

Holding Grip

The next thing to consider is how the tool will hold the sockets.

Posts

The first way that an organizer holds the sockets is the simplest. It uses thin posts that stand up from a stable base, and you place the socket on the post until you need it. The posts will be different thicknesses that correspond to the imperial or metric socket you want to place on them. In many cases, they mark the post at the top with the correct size to speed up the retrieval and replacement process. It’s a good system if you have many sockets because you can quickly find them and know which ones are missing.

The downside to the post system is that there are different sets for metric and imperial sockets. It doesn’t lock the sockets in place, so you can’t put them in a toolbox to keep with you. The posts are delicate and break easily, and they don’t always fit the intended socket because of the poor machining of the post or the socket.

Spring-Loaded Ball Bearing Clip

The spring-loaded ball bearing clip is a popular method that uses the same system as your ratchet to hold the socket in place until you need it. This system is easier to use than posts because it doesn’t care about metric or imperial sizes and is only concerned with drive size. A ⅜-inch spring-loaded ball bearing clip will accept any socket that uses a ⅜-inch drive, imperial or metric. These organizers are often aluminum and hold the sockets tight enough that you can throw them in a drawer or toolbox until you need them, so it’s the perfect solution for someone who needs their sockets on the go.

The downside to this system is that many modern brands try to improve the system by allowing you to slide the spring-loaded ball bearing clip off the shaft, which allows you to group sockets with different sized drive shafts for increased versatility. While this is a handy feature for those that need it, the rubber stoppers that keep the clips in place often wear out and allow them to slide off the aluminum base, leaving you with the same pile of sockets at the bottom of your toolbox as when you started.

Twist-Lock Clip

Another method for keeping your sockets sorted that’s gaining in popularity is the twist-lock system. This system is similar to the spring-loaded ball bearing clip in that it works with drive size so that you can use it with imperial or metric sockets. However, instead of the spring-loaded ball bearing, this system has you place the socket on the clip and twist it to lock it in place. A high-quality twist lock can hold the socket as well as the ball bearing, and you can keep it in your toolbox or hang it on the wall.

The downside to the twist lock is that many companies use them as a cheaper alternative to the ball bearing. Cheaply made twist-lock systems can break or strip while you are trying to lock your socket, and it will be hard to twist.

Conclusion

When choosing your next socket organizer, we highly recommend the ARES 70233 Magnetic Socket Organizer for most people. It allows you to hold a good number of sockets for the extremely popular ¼-inch drive. It’s easy to read and uses powerful magnets to hold your sockets in place. Its high impact housing will last a lifetime, and its rubber bottom helps keep it in place and protects your sockets from damage. If you have a large number of sockets, we highly recommend our pick for the best value. The Hansen Global 92000 Socket Organizer allows you to store up to 186 sockets for easy retrieval. The post style system is color-coded for metric and imperial measurements, and all markings are easy to read. It has a very thick, stable base, and it’s durable ABS plastic will last many years.

We hope you have enjoyed reading over these reviews and found them helpful for getting your workshop organized. If we have answered your questions, please share these ten best socket organizers on Facebook and Twitter.