What are your Tips for an Organized Workbench? [Ask e14 - Join, Share & Win Competition] September 2025

This might be a little outside the box... or rather inside the box.  I have been using little cardboard boxes with dimensions slightly smaller than a shoe box.  Specific dimensions are 32cm x 23cm x 10cm.  These boxes have a lid and I've been packing them with items that fit a common theme... for instance I labeled one AV cables and another Tube Amp Supplies. So far I bought six of these boxes, which retail for $0.99 and I've been stacking them on a book shelf.  It helps to de-clutter.

This might be a little outside the box... or rather inside the box.  I have been using little cardboard boxes with dimensions slightly smaller than a shoe box.  Specific dimensions are 32cm x 23cm x 10cm.  These boxes have a lid and I've been packing them with items that fit a common theme... for instance I labeled one AV cables and another Tube Amp Supplies. So far I bought six of these boxes, which retail for $0.99 and I've been stacking them on a book shelf.  It helps to de-clutter.

I've been doing similar but with 'Really Useful (plastic) Boxes'. 

They are clear so can get a rough idea of what is inside. Also being plastic a bit more resistant to water if you get a leak or spillage.

Sizes are 9L, 3L, 1.6L

Two 3L at right angles will securely stack on top of a 9L but unfortunately only one 1.6L will stack securely on a 3L. 

Have about 50 of them now forming towers around the room.

I've been buying them when they have been discounted in store.

I use the plastic containers from food delivery services. The white ones with a transparent lid.

The great thing about the Really Useful Boxes is that they are !

I've been using them (mainly 18L, but other sizes too ) for (at least) 23 years.

The pictures show only about 1/3 of them (and that's not counting the 700 or so 0.3l and 0.14L ones in nests) !

MK

I find boxes are useful not only for allowing stacking of randomly shaped objects but also for keeping all the accessories  together with the main item. (We had a ~£4k accident not so long ago as a 20V charger and a 5V charger got mixed up loose on the shelf and proceeded to let the 'magic smoke' out.)

The ability to create bespoke foam inserts would be useful but I've not really explored that.

Boxes can be useful for subdividing larger shelving systems without the need to be adjusting shelf heights all the time.  

One downside though is that the empty box also takes up storage space and often you don't know what size of box you will need up-front. Some of the cardboard ones flatpack so take up little space until required.

Cost can be a big factor as storage solutions often don't come cheap.

I agree boxes can be useful for that. But also whenever I get new equipment with, e.g., wall wart power supplies, I label the supply and the cable (for fishing around under the desk) with a labeler... naming the primary thing it belongs to. For stuff I tend to rewire or have more complex relationships (e.g. the home theatre) even the "data"cables get labels, e.g. Sub-L or Scope1 on both sides. The cable labels can be completely wrapped or tabbed depending on how accessible they are (tabbed are generally easier to read with a flashlight, unless they're at a bad angle, so sometimes I do both).

It's fine so, using transparent boxes it is a pretty good improvement. 

I label as well but relying on other people to actually read labels is not a very good control measure.

Most stuff is already labelled to some degree but often the labels are covered over by PAT testing labels or printed so small that it is not easily read.

Nice, I can see how the plastic provides protection against water.

Very nice.  I zoomed in and took a look at your labels.  I noticed that some of them have dates and that the bins collect the items from specific projects.  That would be my strategy as well... as opposed to others who might instead gather like components all together, ie capacitors with capacitors etc.

Good re-purposing... benefits the pocket book and the environment.