I Tried 3 Popular Drawer Organizers (Under $10) — And There’s a Clear Winner

I’m perfectly capable of measuring my kitchen drawers, but I’d rather not. Don’t get me wrong — having tidy, organized drawers has made a world of difference in my kitchen storage, but products that take the fuss out of tasks like measuring and fitting really are the cherry on top. That’s why I love spring-loaded, adjustable drawer dividers. No need to track down my measuring tape; I can just click “Buy Now,” and figure out a system when they arrive. 

To install these organizers, all you have to do is compress the spring by pushing one end of the divider. Then place the divider in the drawer, and let the spring expand to fit the space. Boom: You just created little walls between tools and utensils! It’s brilliant and easy — exactly how I like my organizing projects.

To find the best adjustable drawer dividers on the market, I rigorously tested three popular bamboo versions at all different prices, and I think the winner will surprise you just as much as it surprised me.

Ease of installation: 3/5
Appearance: 3/5
Usefulness: 3/5
Overall: 3/5

These dividers are not only expandable, but they also come with divider inserts to separate drawers into smaller cubbies, not just long rows. They come in four shades and range in length from 17 to 22 inches. 

The SpaceAid Bamboo Drawer Dividers remind me of a Rubik’s cube: The moment you solve one side, you realize you’ve triggered another problem elsewhere. I thought the SpaceAid would be my favorite divider because of the inserts, but I found them incredibly frustrating. The inserts come in two sizes, 4.75 inches and 7.1 inches, which was consistently either too small or too large for my tools. Even when they were the correct size, often the points where they connected to the dividers weren’t where I needed them to be. No matter what I tried, there was always wasted space. I also don’t love the look of the unused notches marking the surface of the dividers. Overall, this one was disappointing.

Ease of installation: 4/5
Appearance: 4/5
Usefulness: 3.5/5
Overall: 4/5

Ryqtop Bamboo Drawer Dividers come in four neutral colors, and range in length from 12 to 17 inches. They’re almost as beautiful as The Container Store ones (below!) and cost less than half as much. The only problem here is size: At their longest, they’re only 17 inches, an inch shy of The Container Store version’s 18 to 22.25 inches. In my drawers they only fit sideways, which worked but isn’t as visually balanced, as the spring-loaded side is visible the moment you open the drawer. 

Ryqtop offers a longer version, but the cost is $39.98 for a four-pack. At that price ($9.99/divider), you can purchase the upscale version from The Container Store.

Sale alert: If you’re in the market to shop right now, Ryqtop’s longer drawer dividers (12 to 22 inches) are currently on sale for only $24.99, normally $39.98. At that price, they’re an even better buy than my favorite at The Container Store.

Ease of installation: 5/5
Appearance: 5/5
Usefulness: 4.5/5
Overall: 5/5 

The Container Store’s Bamboo Drawer Organizers are expandable and sleek. They range in length from 18 to 22.25 inches, making them the biggest dividers we tested. These chic organizers are easy to install and look fantastic! While they can’t subdivide the rows like the SpaceAid can, they definitely perform as promised. In less than a minute my kitchen utensils were organized, and my long spoons and spatulas don’t need subsections anyway. Psssst — they’re on sale for only $14.99 now!

The Container Store Bamboo Drawer Organizers were the clear winner — the most beautiful and useful of all three dividers I tested. Unfortunately, they’re also the most expensive (although they do tend to have good sales). You don’t have to let the best be the enemy of the good, though; I’m happy enough with all three brands to recommend them. 

While the SpaceAid dividers with inserts are brilliant in theory, they are frustrating in practice and waste space. The Ryqtop dividers are a bargain if your drawers are short enough. Overall, The Container Store Bamboo Drawer Organizers were the best buy. Yes, I found the SpaceAid dividers frustrating, and the Ryqtop organizers were too short, but I didn’t return either of them. The SpaceAid will never be as beautiful as The Container Store version, but it does offer storage for smaller tools, assuming I’m patient enough to puzzle it out. And if your kitchen drawers aren’t as long as mine, the Ryqtop is a steal.