The most important criteria to consider when looking at over-the-door organizers, or really any type of organizer, is that it suits your lifestyle and your space. As attractive and clever as some products are, if an organizer won’t be utilized, it will only add to your clutter and not create that organizational oasis you’re dreaming of. For that reason, we took our organizer hunt very seriously. We did extensive research on dozens of options, evaluating them on size, features, material, design, and overall value. Our favorite option, the West Elm Over-The-Door Hanging Organizer, has pockets in an array of sizes, latches for both the bottom and top of the door, and a neutral, easy-to-match color. Here are the best over-the-door organizers for maximizing storage and minimizing clutter in your living space. While the brand touts that the pockets can fit up to eight pairs of shoes, we see potential for all kinds of useful storage. If you’re not using it for shoes, this off-white organizer could easily work for clothes in a bedroom, toys in a kids’ room, diapers and other supplies in a nursery, sheets and more in a linen closet, or hats and scarves in a coat closet. Since it’s moderately priced, you might be tempted to try one in multiple rooms, as well. Speaking of trying it in different ways, it’s not adjustable beyond the straps, and all of the pouches are in fixed positions. As long as you’re not in need of firm, adjustable baskets or a more flexible design, though, we think it is a great choice for maximizing storage. Price at time of publish: $23 Not only are the pockets spacious—measuring 12 inches wide and roughly 4.5 inches deep—they’re also so solid, so even your smallest items, like cotton swabs or hair pins, will stay put. They’re reinforced by cardboard that you insert when it arrives, so they’ll keep your items secure and hold their shape when they’re not totally full. While the cardboard adds stability, you can still fold it down whenever you need and tuck this organizer away when it’s not in use. We also appreciate the seven color choices available for this organizer. Unfortunately, the bottom does not have any built-in secures or latches, but you can always add your own. Price at time of publish: $20 Each of the six baskets are the same size which, while nice for visual consistency, doesn’t allow for variation in the volume each one stores. As always, when it comes to baskets, be mindful that your small items (bandages and bobby pins, for example) can slip through, too, so you’ll want extra containers for them. Unlike some of our other picks, this rack does require some basic assembly, but no tools are necessary. Overall, we think that once it’s hanging in your bathroom (or laundry room or pantry), you’ll agree that it’s well-worth that bit of effort. Price at time of publish: $45 Four metallic hooks ensure that the organizer is stable once in place, too, while still allowing for easy hanging and removal. Even though it’s a lightweight piece, you can feel confident in its design, and it even promises a weight capacity of 25 pounds. While we would have appreciated a way to secure the bottom, even as is, this is a great choice for shoe storage. Price at time of publish: $19 We also love how this over-the-door organizer comes in a set that includes a matching entryway organizer, though we can also see this second piece serving as a jewelry catch-all or belt hanger. The versatile pairing works well when hung together or apart, giving you lots of flexibility and options when creating the organizing system of your dreams. Just note that, between these two pieces, the only basket or bin is within the smaller piece. The many rows of hooks are the stars of this show. Price at time of publish: $22 Just be sure to bundle small items together or keep them in containers of their own, since the metal basket weave could allow slim items—like crayons or pencils—to slip through. Altogether, it has a weight capacity of roughly 55 pounds. Price at time of publish: $50 At just over 40 inches tall and 14 inches wide, and with a depth of 3.5 inches, this organizer is large enough to hold dozens of pieces of jewelry. (Actual count will vary depending on their size, but rest assured there’s plenty of space for your longest statement necklaces and biggest bangle bracelets.) There’s a second inner mirror, so you can check how your choices look without having to close everything up. And, speaking of closing it, there’s even a key and lock feature, so your keepsakes will stay safe and secure. The black velvet lining also ensures your jewelry won’t get scratched, and makes it easy to spot and distinguish pieces from each other, too. While this is a pricier piece than the other organizers on this list, we believe niche design and thoughtful details make it worth consideration. Price at time of publish: $130 Some assembly is required for initial setup, but no tools are necessary. Another feature that’s unique to this rack is the ability to use it freestanding. For temporary decor (or say, a photo shoot), it’s easy to lift down and display. It’s also available in white and black. Price at time of publish: $34 But, inside your coat closet, bedroom closet, bathroom, or kid’s room? Yep, it can handle any of those. The one “downside” we can see with this rack is that the hooks are spaced fairly close together, with less than 3 inches between them, so bulky scarves and larger items like hats may throw off your ability to use neighboring hooks. Still, you have plenty of room for more vertical storage, so it’s a great choice. Price at time of publish: $17 There’s a full line of metal grid storage items so you could easily coordinate additional wall storage, as well, but building a collection would get pricey, so you’ll want to plan accordingly. The other thing we would have liked to see is a bit more storage space available with the basket, but we’re willing to overlook the current size in favor of the minimalist, contemporary design. Price at time of publish: $99 Effort can go up from there, with some organizers requiring you to slide the bins or baskets onto the frame, like our “best for bathrooms” pick, the Anay Cabinet Door Organizer from Latitude Run. Some also feature extra points to secure, like the Closetmaid Adjustable Organizer Rack. Ultimately, all of the assembly requirements should be readily available to you during the shopping process, so take into account what works for you and your home, or have a friend ready to come help you when your new organizer arrives!
Material and Durability
The material of your organizer will directly impact its overall durability. Frequently used materials for over-the-door organizers, like fabric, metal, and plastic, all have their own pros and cons. Fabric is lightweight and brings a casual texture; metal is durable but sometimes heavy; plastic falls in between. Consider what type of storage you need, and then hone in on something that’s up to the task. Makeup rounds and cotton swabs, for example, need far less structure and support than shoes or pantry staples. Once you have a clear idea of what you need, you can narrow down your choices.
Style and Color
With any dual-purpose item that’s going to be on display and serve as storage, it’s hard to make a choice without factoring in how it’s going to look in your home. As you’re searching for organizers, you’ll find that the vast majority come in neutral tones and with accents designed to subtly fit in with multiple spaces, with occasional bright colors in the mix, too. This is a pro for shoppers who like variety and aren’t trying to match a door organizer to a niche design style, but it can mean that it’s a challenge to search for an over-the-door style to match a certain type of decor or aesthetic in your home. In that case, the power lies in how you style it. And yes, you can style a door organizer, especially when there are shelves or baskets involved. Organizers often say that if you like the appearance of a specific storage tool, and of the results it provides, then you’re more likely to keep it up and use it well. But, as always, the best organizer for you isn’t always going to be the one that’s trending or even the most aesthetically pleasing. It’ll be the one that you find easy to use, and that helps you check things off your list quickly and easily.
Organization Options
Pockets, bins, and hooks are among the most common storage options within over-the-door organizers. You’ll find some variation among them, but know that they’re going to all be sized to comfortably hang on a door when it’s both open and closed. The Brightroom Over the Door Shoe Organizer is a great example of how brands accommodate this specific spacial need, since it’s designed to hold shoes vertically (not, say, horizontally with their toes pressed at the door). These smart design choices are what make over-the-door organizers so effective, but the flip side is that they can be limiting in what sort of storage they provide. Be sure to look closely at the overall sizes of pieces you’re considering, as well as their pouches or compartments, and consider how these dimensions will suit what you intend to store. While over-the-door organizers aren’t the right tool to solve every home organizational need, they can be an excellent choice for the smaller products that regularly turn into clutter around our homes.
Why Trust The Spruce?
Dena Ogden is a lifestyle and commerce writer who has been writing professionally since 2016 and with The Spruce since August 2022. For this piece, she did extensive research on over-the-door organizers currently available at major retailers, and evaluated products based on size, features, material, design, and overall value. She combed reviews, consulted external sources, and considered the role of over-the-door organizers in different spaces throughout the home. She made it through the process without completely overhauling her own home storage methods, but just barely. Ultimately, the capacity of models depends on their material, structure, and hanging requirements. You’ll see that some organizers can be reinforced with additional screws and mounting, ensuring that you can get the most out of their suggested limits. First, you can consider racks that can be fully mounted or at least secured to the surface or the bottom of the door as well as the top, like West Elm’s Over-The-Door Hanger Organizer. You can also look at racks with other key design elements meant to avoid that, like the Latitude Run Anay Cabinet Door Organizer, which has plastic feet to keep it in place against your door. Take weight recommendations and bin sizes to heart, since those can factor in, as well. Finally, there’s always room to add a DIY support, such as velcro, tacks, or even zip ties, depending on the organizer. Just be sure that any additional steps you take are safe, and don’t compromise the integrity of the organizer.
