In my never-ending quest to organize my shop, I started to look for better way of sorting all my small parts and supplies. My research led me to Auer Packaging and their Assortment Boxes, which are actually reasonably priced.
Auer is a German company that provides a factory-direct business that skips the middleman. They have a very large catalog of products, including a range of organizer boxes in five different sizes, priced from ~$7.27 to ~$17.28.
Here are the 5 Auer Assortment Box sizes:
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- 30 x 20 cm (11-13/16″ x 7-7/8″)
- 35 x 29.5 cm (13-3/4″ x 11-5/8″)
- 40 x 20 cm (15-3/4″ x 11-13/16″)
- 44 x 35.5 cm (17-5/16″ x 14″)
- 60 x 40 cm (23-5/8″ x 15-3/4″)
What I’ve Been Using
My current solution is a large supply of Dewalt 10-compartment Organizers stored on wire shelving (I use Elfa). There’s nothing inherently wrong with these boxes, but I’m constantly frustrated trying to find the right box, and they often get caught on the shelving.
My long-term goal is to build another one of my modular cabinets, and I wanted to find a storage system with more flexibility.
I started by roughly cataloging my needs. By my calculation I needed at least 140 different containers to organize everything I already had.
Of course this lead me to Sortimo and Adam Savage’s (of Mythbusters fame) very appealing setup. However, after estimating my needs I was approaching an $800 purchase.
Doing more research, I discovered Auer Packaging Assortment Boxes on Pinterest.
Insertable Bins
The inside of each of the Assortment Boxes can be filled with their removable bins. A standard 1×1 insertable bin is 5.2 x 5.2 x 6.3 cm, (2-1/16″ x 2-1/16″ x 2-8/16″), which forms the basis of their grid system.
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There are 9 bin sizes available – 1×1, 1×2, 1×3, 1×4, 1×5, 2×2, 2×3, 2×5, 2×6. (Auer’s page has their full dimensions.)
Plus, they come in 6 different colors – yellow, red, sky blue, grey, anthracite (Black), and yellow green, with the latter being the exact same RAL color as Festool’s green!
Auer Assortment Boxes are available in several configurations with each containing different assortments of their insertable boxes:
Alternatively, you can also buy the boxes empty and pick and choose your own insertable bins. If you want a specific color for all bins, this is the option you’ll pick.
It’s actually cheaper to pick empty boxes and pick the bins. However, they won’t fill the boxes with the bins for you, so this will bulk out the shipping.
Sortimo T-Boxx Comparison
These boxes stack up very favorably against Sortimo’s T-Boxx. A T-boxx will set you back $63.65, but the Auer equivalent is a very reasonable $22.85.
I needed 12 boxes minimum, which makes them almost $500 cheaper for an almost identical solution. In fact, whilst they don’t appear to be trying to compete with Sortimo, it’s interesting the marketing pages features a box equipped with a nearly identical internal box layout.
Stuart’s Note: Sortimo seems to be placing more emphasis on their “T-Boxx G”, with the black inset boxes as shown above. You can still find T-Boxxes with multi-colored inserts, but the lowest price isn’t much better, at ~$52 plus shipping.
Ordering a Couple to Try Out
What was a little concerning was the distinct lack of reviews of Auer’s solution. Whilst I did get some feedback from both the Festool Owners Group and the ToolGuyd forum, I had already decided to place an order for a few boxes. Fortunately the feedback on the products was generally very positive. However, the feedback on ordering the product was not as great, as I soon learned myself.
I placed an order for 4 of their smallest boxes, and filled them with a mixture of different bins. I figured I could make use of these boxes even if they didn’t work out.
To cut a long story short, whilst they do offer a reasonable 15.00 euro flat rate in EU, they don’t provide a shipping option to the US. After failing three times to work with DHL through their German website I ended up having them shipped to my brother in the UK. He runs an eBay business so it’s easy for him to slap a new label on the box and forward it on to me.
Auer really didn’t help me through this. In fact, I had to call them twice at midnight to get an update.
First Impressions
When the products finally did arrive, Auer’s packaging was pretty awful. The cardboard box was completely split on one side and the items inside didn’t have anywhere near enough bubble wrap to stop them from rattling around. There’s really no excuse in today’s e-commerce world for this kind of packaging.
That said, I was expecting to find some damage when I opened the box, but everything surprisingly arrived in excellent condition.
Auer’s boxes are solid and very nicely built. I was immediately impressed, and my frustration in getting my hands on these boxes was soon forgotten.
To open the box, there’s a latch on both sides that has to be pressed at the same time to open the lid. The box definitely won’t come open in a hurry.
The bins are well made and securely held in pace. There’s a 3/4″ perimeter on all four sides of the box. This seams like a bit of a wasted of space, but it does mean the items in the bins will be very well protected.
As I expected, the smallest 1×1 bins (~2″ x ~2″) are too deep to easily use, so the 1×2 boxes are probably the most useful smallest size.
When the lid is not locked into place a little spring holds it open, which makes it hard to miss that it’s not locked.
The bins are held in place by a grid in the base of the box.
There’s a matching grid in the lid, and the combination of the two grids holds the bins really well.
On the front there’s a handle which folds down. I found this a little unusual because all my Dewalt box handles folds up, but I’ll get used to it.
The top and bottom of the boxes are completely flat, so they do not lock together. I do find this a little surprising, but I had expected this from what I’d read. I don’t plan to stack them, so this doesn’t bother me.
More Info:
- Assortment Box 30 x 20 cm – $11.63 to $13.81
- Assortment Box 35 x 29.5 cm – $11.94 to $20.30
- Assortment Box 40 x 30 cm – $17.12 to $22.65
- Assortment Box 44 x 35.5 cm – $19.76 to $28.33
- Assortment Box 60 x 40 cm – $29.84 to $42.31
Conclusion
I think the key question is whether I’m going to buy more, and the answer to that is a resounding yes.
These are very solid, well built, and a functional system. They are a significant upgrade from my large collection of 10-compartment Dewalt organizers.
I am, by nature, a very positive person, so I’ve forgotten about the frustration I had with the delivery. I’m placing an order for 20 small boxes, 8 large boxes plus a good mixture of variety of insertable bins.
Would I recommend them for others? If you live in the EU, yes. If you live outside the EU, then shipping them is not straight forward, so it’s hard to recommend them.
Stuart’s Note: Would you be interested if these small parts organizer boxes were available from a USA-based source? Let us know in comments. Maybe with enough interest we can convince a tool retailer or two to start carrying them.
Frank D
I made my own Sortimos with doubled up wire shelving ( buy two shelf units, put all shelves on one) and an array of stanley slim and deep organizers, with removable cups, sourced from different stores and the internet as nobody ever carried both sizes in retail nor in enough quantity.
Never heard of Auer. Would be interested if they had a US outlet … and if I were to redo my setup.
Graham Howe
Would you be interested if these small parts organizer boxes were available from a USA-based source?
If that source can supply Canada at a reasonable price then I would certainly want some. I’ve been through a few of the Stanley/DeWalt options and have come to the conclusion that I need something that is not stacked and is highly configurable. I am 100% workshop based so portability is not important to me, but ease of access and compact storage are important. The very flat and square profile of these cases would make it very easy to slide them into a purpose made cabinet. The price is excellent as well.
Garrick
I found that I liked the small bins full of little drawers in the shop. I think I counted around 700 small drawers. They do use up wall space, but they are very quick to get at, compared to sliding out a box and setting down to open it. See through fronts help a lot, as does practicing finding something in the dark.
I do keep a couple of my compartmented L-boxes empty for carrying around parts from the drawers when needed though.
David
I’m curious about what a real head-to-head between these and the Sortimo T-Boxxes would be like. The lid plastic is a top concern for me, as the Sortimos use a nice plastic that has held up well for me.
I’m also trying to figure out what the difference is between the T-Boxx and T-Boxx-G other than color. I had previously been buying black T-Boxxes which were suddenly discontinued. If they’re actually the same basic unit with black inserts, I’m back in business with matching containers as a I scale up my storage.
Stuart
The main difference between T-Boxxes and the new T-Boxxes-G seems to be the new removable box/bin shape, with larger sizes also fearing internal dividers. It looks like everything is cross-compatible between T-Boxx and T-Boxx-G.
When I asked about the differences, I was told it’s a “New dirt resistant colour” and “new features like mySortimo labels and tool inlays.”
David
Thanks Stuart! That means I should be able to buy some new ones and have them roughly match. I kept hoping to find someone with new old stock stashed so I could fill out my storage, but this gets me there.
Gus
I have read and seen the same thing you mentioned, I have contacted Sortimo and they explicitly told me they are the exact same thing, only differences are the color and the available dividers in some boxes.
I called it BS and asked them if that is true then wtf is the new T-Boxx G almost a pound heavier than the old colored one? Silence.
CaveSAR
Lee Valley has Allit organizers made in Germany. They look the same.
Stuart
They do look similar, but there are noticeable differences in the handle, lid, and latches. We posted about those previously, at https://toolguyd.com/allit-modular-storage-cases/ .
Graham Howe
Big difference in cost too!
Bob
Looks like a promising alternative to some of the premium european storage boxes. I am in the midst of planning a shop upgrade. I’ll probably get some of these and competitive options to see which ones I like best. Thanks for bringing this to my attention!
You got my attention when you mentioned building one of your modular cabinets just for holding the storage boxes. With the material cost in those cabinets (look great by the way) and the huge amount of time I think you are getting close in cost to industrial storage options like Vidmar or Lista. Did you consider buying cabinets like that? I am trying to decide to build or buy now.
For those that don’t know, Lista etc are built for industrial environments where drawers are opened literally hundreds of times a day. Ergonomics, service life, organization, productivity are all maximized in these types of cabinets. They are also as expensive as hail lol. They will also outlast me and my kids especially in a non-production environment.
They have customizable drawers where you can divide up the drawers into numerous bins/compartments etc. I believe the bins are also removable from the Lista drawers much like the bins in the organization box systems Auer, sortimo, L-boxx etc. The Lista cabinets are not as portable as a single section of L-boxx. And you certainly won’t have the same look as your cabinets or the satisfaction of building your own.
I guess it sort of breaks down into your individual needs. If you’re pulling out fasteners/material and using it on a bench the Lista may work best. If you need to be mobile one of the box systems may work better. The best of both worlds is if you could pull the bins you need out of Lista cabinets and place them in a portable carrying box if you had to go mobile.
Either way very interested in your thoughts on this.
Alex Peel
I bought one of these Lyon parts cabinets second hand for I think $900. It has 13 drawers that are about 4ish inches deep and I think around 45″x45″. If you have all the internal dividers installed then the drawers can hold 400lbs each. The drawers fully open. Pretty sure though you would need to bolt it down if you had a drawer with a few hundred pounds of stuff in it. I took out all the dividers and use it for tools. Even empty it weighs a ton. Seriously must be 300-400lbs. Highly recommend for tool storage.
Alex Peel
Sorry 25″ x 25″ drawer size.
Ben V
Hi Bob,
I did look at Lista when I was exploring options. Somewhere I have a spreadsheet that compared 3-4 different options. At the time it appeared to be too expensive but in hindsight, I wonder if it is comparably priced. I also really like how easily I can move my solution to our next house, and have the same design for a CNC, Miter and Router Table. So I might still pick the path I’m on 🙂
With Auer, I have decided (after writing this post) to store mine on the 12″ versions of the shelves I currently store my Dewalt boxes. It turns out that the two 20×30 or one 40×30 will fit in the same space as a Dewalt T-Stak. Plus the smooth bottom of the Auer means it works nicely on a wire shelf. I have also ordered enough of the Insertable bins to fill two drawers in one of my cabinets. The combination of these two will almost double the amount of small parts space, but take up only a small amount of extra space.
Ben
Dennis
The bins look very similar to the ones that Sortimo has for their L-Boxx series. Could you post a picture of the bottom of the bins? Or perhaps try placing some inside an L-Boxx if you happen to have one? Because from the pictures they look interchangeable.
Ben V
Hi Dennis,
I don’t have any Sortimo boxes so I can’t do a side by side. I can post some more close up photos on Instagram if that helps?
Ben
Nathan
I’d be marginally interested. Somewhat surprised someone like KC tool or samstag or some other german tool speciality group doesn’t already carry these.
I didn’t look either so, maybe I’m wrong.
How are these vs the stanley organizers? I was planning to go that route but if they don’t work well or the price vs quality is vastly different. Then that’s a big consideration.
Another thing I’d like to see – maybe they do this. Is recycled plastic content or some commitment to using ______% etc. I’m sure I’ll get flamed for being environmentally aware. But this is all plastic so it stands to reason.
Thank you for the review and mention though I wouldn’t have found those otherwise.
Joseph
I would be very interested. I have been using the Milwaukee packout but they are $45 for the small parts organizers and quite bulky for a shop environment.
I would only buy them if there was a US based distributor though because international shipping makes things way more complicated.
Hopefully you can use your influence with the tool distributors to convince them to carry then locally. I’m surprised that the US has such terrible shop organization options in comparison with Europe. Why do you think it is so much harder to organize a shop in the US?
I know that you and I are not the minority because every magazine in the big box stores advertises “build better organization in your shop” etc. And the hottest show on Netflix this year was Marie Kondo’s Tidying Up. It’s a felt need, so you think someone would capitalize on it.
Med
The Stanley 25 small bin Organizer is awesome.
Frank D
I have probably 36 shallow and deep units!
Beats those without removable cups any given day.
John
The ‘dead space’ perimeter isn’t appealing to me. I wonder how these compare to other systems in terms of the ratio of actual storage volume to total volume.
NewtonsApple
I really like these, but that dead space seems super annoying in the small sizes.
Frank D
It bugs me too. The dead space adds to material cost and has no practical value / use justification; considering shop space and van space is limited. The cases would have been better a touch smaller without wasting space or simply right sized with an extra column and or row. It looks like it would almost fit an extra long bin making it 6×3 or just make it 6×4.
Ben V
Yeah I don’t disagree 🙂
Kent
I like that the bins are in a wider variety of sizes that the other available boxes.
I also like the colors – I could easily see color coding the hardware in the same box.
The price is good, especially when compared to the competition.
No US distribution makes it a no-go for me.
Sell them here, and I’d certainly consider a purchase.
smee
I agree that the wider variety of bin sizes would be useful. I run into a lot of limitations with the sizes in the Stanley organizers, for example.
I expect I’d try some if they were available in the US. I always seem to be experimenting with storage solutions.
Frank D
If you have access to a 3D printer, then you could possibly print what you need. Reading the other Ben ‘s posts here on Toolguyd, when he started with 3D printing, convinced me to get a small 3D printer myself.
I have downloaded some printable parts, Ben’s bins, … and created a few bins and inserts myself for milwaukee. I just got some yellow filament to see what I can do to expand my stanley options. I have done some mixing and matching of bins between stanley units, but I know one of the shortcomings for the slim version is longer narrow items … so I intend to print some, and if need be design them.
Frank D
Some options are readily available to print: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:951543
Nick
I like these, especially the price. I’ve always been tempted by the T-Boxxes but the price always deterred me.
I would probably pick some of these up if they sold them here in the states.
Altan
None of these tool boxes are good for small and thin stuff like metric M2, M2.5, M3 washers, spring washers and other small things, I use DeWALT DS100 Toughsystem toolboxes and in each I can fit 48 DeWALT mini Tic Tac boxes which are the best for small things, I have labelled them all so I can see and read from the DS100 clear lid. For bigger things I use DS100 and DS150 Toughsystem boxes , I use DeWALT 10-compartment organisers also but again I store them in DeWALT DS300 Toughsystem boxes, at the end everything should get in Toughsystem boxes. I want everything to be in one platform, it is easy to organize then.
Altan
Hi Stuart,
Would you please let me know what your brother is selling on eBay? We may buy from him.
He can sell the things that are only available in the US and you can cooperate with him, I would like to buy a lot of things that are only available in the US.
Gus
Sortimo NA has been a rip off in my opinion. Their German site has been running a 20% discount for the entire month of March, the same box from their German site is selling 35.50 euros or USD 40. Same box in the Sortimo US site is $64.
T-BOXX G inkl. IB-Set 48 Stk. H63 Ref. No.: 6000010979
Sortimo US refuses to honor the 20% discount offered by their parent to their own prices, and now because Sortimo is present in North America their counterpart in Germany refuses to ship to the US like they would before.
I really wish Milwaukee got some sense in them and started making those packout boxes with smaller compartments instead of those giant a$$ bins so I could just ditch this Sortimo idea forever.
Frank D
I got a 3D printer because of that. BenJ from ToolGuyd, myself and a few other people now have been creating 3D printable inserts and different bins to make our packouts more versatile. I am working on some insert grids for extra compartments, rather than printing bins.
Steve
I like the idea of the separate and different sized bins of the Auer. But for my small parts needs, I use the HD HDX 2pk for $10 works for me. Locking (slide & flip tabs), adjustable dividers (for larger pieces) and stackable. Can’t beat the price.
TonyT
I have a bunch of those. You can also get identical looking boxes at Walmart for the same price.
For smaller items I use Plano 3700 series boxes.
Charles
These are available via Amazon.de
https://www.amazon.de/s?k=auer+packaging+sortimentsbox&__mk_de_DE=ÅMÅŽÕÑ&crid=TB6MQWNGPHQ2&sprefix=auer+packaging+%2Caps%2C210&ref=nb_sb_ss_i_5_15
Shipping is usually no issue and since Amazon removes the VAT from overseas orders and does the $$$ conversion for you (billing your card in $$$) then the price in Euros is roughly the price you pay in $$$ delivered to your door.
Ben V
Interesting! I didn’t find them on Amazon.de because they have named them slightly differently (sortimentsbox vs assortment box). Looks like they don’t ship them to the US 🙁
Charles
You’re right. I overlooked that. Up until recently, they were posting restrictions right under the price in the middle of the page – not off to the right like they’ve done here.
That said, I’ve bought lots of stuff there at great prices.
jayne
What I like about this is you can see all the contents at once. I might get a small one. To try out ,pretty slick.
aas
I’ve kitted my whole workshop and mobile setup out with AUER. I use a lot of Mafell and Festool tools, I prefer the dark grey ‘no name’ boxes for transporting my tools – when I open my van/truck, no one can see the value of my tools!
AUER sell a ‘rack’ that takes either drawers (I use these as my main tool boxes for hand tools), or the 35cm x 29,5cm assortment boxes. Obviously these are mix and match, so for arguments sake, I can go into a customers house with one rack, first drawer with some hand tools, 2nd slot an assortment box, 3rd slot a drill and some bits. There is also a handy recess under the bottom drawer with ‘hidden’ storage. The mobile carts and trolleys from AUER are expensive in comparison, but the quality is OK.
I have around 20 of the racks with a maybe 20 drawers and 40 assortment cases. Also a lot of all the different size tool boxes. All is in RAL7016 Anthracite (dark grey) including the bins.
I’d second the comment on delivery, delays can run into months, items badly packed, but when they arrive broken, they do send replacements.
I’ve maybe spent close to 2000 euro, if I did the same with systainers it woud be closer to 6000 without the flexibility of switching the drawers and assortment bins in the racks.
Would definitely recommend, but then I’m in Europe so shipping is cheaper!
Frank D
The bright flashy colors and / or branding of NA main brand storage solutions bugs me too. I have a set of ridgid for carpentry stuff (among other things) and even they stand out too much. I used to have a series of plain black tool boxes, and felt quite comfortable having them in my van, could barely see them unlike the ridgids or milwaukees … one can see those from a mile away.
Frank D
Now the empty / wasted space makes sense.
I did not consider toolboxes made to a certain size, and then having a storage boxes to match the same size … which then means with their standard size bins, there will be some wasted space.
Those three drawer tool boxes and other boxes look cool. I could use a few of those to mix and match a few sets of specific tools and parts.
The carts made out of aluminum could be cool too … though drawer density is lacking and in a typical shop environment, too much dust would get in.
Tom
I really like these AUER organizers but no US distribution just makes it to difficult for me. I luckily found a large VIDMAR cabinet at my local ReStore and have that full of hardware and 80/20 components.
After reading this and your other articles I was wandering through my local Lowe’s today and happened on an end cap of these. https://m.lowes.com/pd/CRAFTSMAN-Pro-Organizers-12-Compartment-Plastic-Small-Parts-Organizer/1000578353
They are very well built unlike most of the new Craftsman stuff. Metal latches, nice deep compartments that are removable and interlock with each other if needed. I bought 5 boxes and will be moving my pocket screws, wood screws other woodworking hardware into them. Being able to just grab a bin is much easier than back and forth to the large cabinet when building.
Thought this might help some others looking for affordable options.
Badbot
I like Raaco (Amazon has a Raaco store)
Some time ago Akro-Mils was a reseller or had a version made by Raaco called Arko/Logic or something like that.
The thing I like best is Racco has separate smaller bins that fit into a larger box.
TANOS Rack-systainer® IV is a systainer that comes with and holds 4 of the Raaco boxes.
A TANOS/Festool option that I use is SYS-StorageBox, kind of like a fishing tackle box. You have to buy the insert boxes separately, I think they come in 3 sizes. The inserts are about 2x bigger then the Raaco inserts if that is of concern.
Chrissy
I looked close to the picture, and it seems they are stackable! The bottom is flat, but the borders are a few mm lower and the same in reverse on the lid.
I once wrote to Auer, and as I remember they are stackable (which means you can put one on top af an other), but dont hold together (they aren‘t clipable together or something similar).
> If there are any English faults, I‘m sorry, it‘s not my main language.
Ben V
Yes they are stackable, the feet on the bottom do slot into the top of another one. They don’t lock together, but definitely stack.
Ben
Bert Vanderveen
Hi Ben, in your article you mixed up one of the sizes – in the first summation of the 5 sizes. There is no 40 x 20 cm box — should be 40 x 30 cm… : )
I own a lot of Auers and really like them. You may have seen my input on FOG.
Really like your site, which I only discovered today.
Cheers from the Low Countries!
Shane
Would definitely love to get these if they were available in the US!!