The 10 Best Car Organizers

Anyone who wants one box that handles most trunk jobs should start with the Fortem Trunk Organizer. Stiff plates line the base and every wall, so it keeps its shape when half empty. The three sections fold into one big space for bulky loads, and a cover that comes off hides what's inside. Straps and grippy strips underneath help stop it sliding on turns. The side pockets are shallow and hold little more than a scraper or a rag.

Cheap as it is, the Drive Auto Trunk Organizer still does the main job of staying put. Straps with hooks clip to the tie-down rings found in many trunks and cargo areas, so it doesn't slide when you brake. Each wall has a stiff panel, the lining wipes clean, and the dividers fold so it can shrink to fit. The straps take some fiddling to set up, and the fabric sides can sag when it's only partly full.

Parents whose kids kick the seat in front will get the most from the Helteko Backseat Organizer. Each panel hangs from a front headrest and covers the seat back, so muddy shoes land on fabric instead of upholstery. There are nine pockets per panel, bottle holders and a clear window that holds a tablet while it plays. You get a pair. The window plastic is thin, and the panel can swing if the lower strap isn't pulled snug.

If you'd pay more for a bin that's built to last, look at the Thule Go Box. Car and Driver's gear team loaded it with groceries and praised its sturdy build, stretchy side pockets and strong clips. The water-resistant fabric wipes clean, a fold-over cap keeps rain out, and it folds flat when empty. Its warranty runs two years. It's pricey for fabric storage, and the seller's page offers two sizes, so check which one you're buying.

Sales reps, contractors and anyone who works from the driver's seat can turn the passenger seat into a desk with the Tidify Front Seat Organizer. It straps around the headrest and seat, with a padded laptop sleeve, a deep pocket for binders, pen slots and two bottle holders. A shoulder strap lets you carry it inside. It fills the seat, so it suits cars that rarely carry a front passenger, and safety groups advise keeping heavy gear in the trunk.

For big grocery runs, the Gorilla Grip Trunk Organizer uses walls of corrugated plastic instead of cardboard, so the sides stay upright if a drink spills. The bottom has textured feet and hook-and-loop strips that grab trunk carpet, and a divider lets you choose one big bay or two. It folds flat for storage. There's no cover, and no outside reviewer has put it through a trial yet, so its toughness rests on the maker's word.

The gap between the front seats and the console swallows phones, keys and fries, and the Drop Stop Seat Gap Filler plugs it. Each soft neoprene tube wedges into the gap and slides with the seat, and a slot leaves the seat-belt buckle free. The set covers both front seats. It doesn't suit every car, though, because some gaps are too tight or too wide for it to sit flush.

A small hatchback or a tight trunk is where the Hotor Trunk Organizer fits best. It has two sections, six mesh pockets around the outside and a firm base panel, and hook-and-loop strips on the sides let you fold it to half size or flat. It costs little and comes in several colors. Only the base is stiffened, so the sides can lean in when it isn't full.

Work trucks and muddy SUVs suit the Carhartt Seat Back Organizer, which is made from heavy nylon canvas with a finish that sheds light rain. It has eight pockets plus rows of webbing that take clip-on pouches, a knife or a flashlight. It hangs from the headrest on an adjustable strap. It's pricey for a seat-back panel, and Carhartt doesn't publish its size, so check the seat it's going on.

Wrappers and tissues need a home too, and the Hotor Car Trash Can hangs off a headrest or the console where everyone can reach it. It has a lid, magnetic clips that keep a liner bag in place and side braces that hold it open, plus a leak-resistant lining for drink drips. It folds flat when you don't need it. It's still fabric, so wet trash needs a bag inside it.