Trunk organizers are an ideal way to prevent items from rolling around in your trunk when driving, particularly those that are liable to break or potentially cause damage to your car interior.
They come in a range of sizes, with various means of installation, and can have anywhere from 1 or 2, to 6 or even more compartments.
Below, we’ve detailed 5 of the top organizers available right now.
What Is a Trunk Organizer?
Whether it’s for camping or a trip out of town, you’ll need to pack plenty of equipment and other essentials. The problem is, securing your stuff in your car’s trunk isn’t always easy. Not only will you have to find space for everything, but you’ll also have to make sure they don’t get thrown about while you’re on the move.
If you’re tired of seeing your precious belongings scattered in your car compartment, get a trunk organizer. Basically, this tool keeps all of your essentials in proper order. It has a series of small compartments and divisions that allow you to arrange your stuff.
You can use it as storage for repair tools, car accessories, and other things you may need on your trip. The size and number of compartments you need often depend on what your vehicle can accommodate or what you would likely put in it.
Different Types of Trunk Organizers
If you feel like having a trunk organizer would benefit your life tremendously, then we have some good news for you. You don’t have to stick to just one type if it does not suit your needs. In fact, you have a wide variety of options to choose from when trying to organize your stuff.
Foldable
The simplest type available on the market today is the foldable trunk organizer. It often has two proportionate cargo areas divided in the middle for bulky or large tools. Plus, there are several side pockets where you can store little items.
The best thing about this is that you can fold this type of trunk organizer and store it in your glove compartment when it’s not in use.
Insulated
The next type of trunk organizer guarantees temperature control for all your warm or cold packages. While they may not be foldable, insulated trunk organizers also have large cargos in the middle or on one side and a few pockets on the side. The insulated part would also have a cover to maintain the temperature inside.
Backrest-Mounted
Some trunk organizers don’t necessarily use the floor space of the back portion of your car. These are called backrest-mounted organizers. They have Velcro covers to keep the stuff inside in their proper places. There are also durable straps to prevent them from breaking when hung from the headrests.
Organizer Blocks
On the other hand, there are trunk organizers that are not technically bags but can keep your stuff in proper order. Organizer blocks are freestanding barriers mounted on the floor to separate your items from one another or to prevent them from rolling around.
Bins
Aside from the foldable trunk organizer, there’s another simple way to keep your stuff altogether. This is done by using bins. These are basically boxes with mesh pockets on the front or at the sides and have handle holes at the top for portability.
Our Trunk Organizer Reviews
Comparison Chart
MIU COLOR Foldable Car Trunk Organizer Washable Automotive Waterproof Storage Box Suitable for SUV (Black with 2 Strap) (Black Trunk Large)
Tuff Viking Convertible Large Trunk Organizer with Built-in Insulated Leakproof Cooler Bag – 3 Compartments, Easy to Clean (5-in-1, Black)
Drive Auto Car Trunk Organizer – Collapsible, Multi-Compartment Automotive SUV Car Organizer for Storage w/ Adjustable Straps – Truck & Car Accessories for Women and Men – Grey
Tidy Globe Premium Heavy Duty Auto Trunk Organizer. Best Cargo Storage for SUV, Cars, Trucks and Minivans, with 3 Compartments and Side Pockets. Durable Divider, Collapsible and Foldable with.
1. MIU COLOR
The MIU COLOR Foldable Cargo Trunk Organizer comes in just one color, despite the name: black. However, it is still a highly attractive product, built from sturdy materials and strong compartment dividers. Though more expensive than some other competitors we’ve listed here, the build quality is also better.
Features:
- Size: 16.7 x 12.4 x 4.4 inches
- Materials: High quality 1680 D polyester; high-elastic mesh
- Compartments & Pockets: 1 large, 1 medium, 2 small
- Installation System:No means of securing the organizer
What’s to like:
Aside from the 4 main storage compartments, this organizer features a range of exterior pockets (3) with zippers and Velcro, as well as strong aluminum handles that can carry a lot of load when removing the storage unit from the trunk of your car.
The compartments are large and sturdy on this organizer. Not only are they very deep, with plenty of room for larger objects such as liquid-filled bottles, but they are also held in place by very strong Velcro connectors. This prevents the compartments from detaching and moving around.
What’s not to like:
When opening the packaging, your first impression may be that the product is in fact smaller than it appears in pictures. When placed into a large vehicle trunk, it doesn’t often completely fill up the compartment. On the flipside, when placed into a smaller car, the lid tends to hit the roof of the trunk, unless you pull the organizer forward, first.
PROS
- Separators fastened with strong Velcro
- Full-size documents wallet in the rear
- Tall enough to accommodate upright bottles
CONS
- Appears larger in pictures
- Sides aren’t too rigid or sturdy
- In smaller cars, opening the lid can be trickier
2. Tuff Viking
The Tuff Viking storage organizer comes in 2 distinct colors, with a reasonable storage capacity and broad range of pockets. It’s at the higher end of the budget and is perfect in size for larger vehicles such as SUVs and trucks.
Features:
- Size: 23 x 14.5 x 12.5 inches
- Materials: 1680D polyester with double-thread stitching
- Compartments & Pockets: Adjustable, up to 6 large pockets
- Installation System:Anchoring system uses straps
What’s to like:
This organizer comes with a free drawstring bag, which is ideal for carrying soiled clothing or footwear after outdoor activities; perfect for keeping your organizer free from dirt and grime. It’s also supplemented by a vast range of 11 pockets that extend storage beyond the interior compartments.
With its variety of straps and handles, as well as the buckles used to keep the bag held together, this storage organizer can easily be removed from your trunk and carried around for offloading shopping. When not in use, it collapses either halfway, or completely, fitting into a small space within your car for future use.
What’s not to like:
Though the straps are useful for carrying the container, they cannot be shortened so they won’t be quite so suitable for everyone. The anchoring system is also not ideal for every size vehicles. The only other negative point worth mentioning is that the product smells strongly of plastic when first opened; it’s worth airing out the organizer before beginning to use it.
PROS
- Easy to lift out and carry
- Folds away when not in use
- Comes with a handy drawstring bag
CONS
- Straps cannot be shortened
- Strong odor when first opened
- Anchor system not too compatible with some vehicle’s models
3. Drive Auto Products
This is a large vehicle organizer unit produced by a popular brand, Drive Auto, which features Patent Pending designs. It’s one of the cheaper models on the market with three optional colors: black, tan, and original gray.
Features:
- Size: 23 x 17 x 10.8 inches
- Materials:Reinforced polyester
- Compartments & Pockets: 1 large, 2 medium compartments. 2 large pockets on the front exterior. 8 mesh side pockets
- Installation System: Series of straps to secure when driving
What’s to like:
Lots of the storage space in this organizer is found on the exterior, with a vast total of 10 different pockets. Cables can also be used to secure this organizer unit in place while driving, so that it does not slip around the trunk.
This is a stylish bag with lots of detailing, including additional edging on the main points of wear that helps to increase durability. There are 3 compartments inside, but storage space is extended by 2 exterior pockets with space for additional accessories.
What’s not to like:
This bag has the common issue with new products in that it smells strongly of plastic when first unpackaged. In terms of its design, there is room to make the exterior 2 pockets larger, and the clasps used to secure the straps when driving get open quite easily.
PROS
- Extra edging on main wear points
- Side pockets provide additional storage
- Attachment cables prevent movement in transit
CONS
- Side pockets could be roomier
- Has a strong odor of plastic
- Clasps on straps open easily
4. Tidy Globe Premium Heavy Duty
Price-wise, this is a mid-range organizer with limited internal compartments, but it has other notable advantages that bring it onto our list of top storage units for the car. It’s ideal for SUVs, cars, trucks, or minivans owed to its generous size.
Features:
- Size: 23 x 14.5 x 12 inches
- Materials: Waterproof Nylon and rubber, triple-reinforced polyester
- Compartments & Pockets: 2 large compartments
- Installation System: Multiple units can be chained together
What’s to like:
This is one heavy and durable bag, reinforced to handle that extra load with a triple-reinforced polyester body and strong, thick nylon handles. The fabric used is thicker than ballistic nylon and the product is backed up with a lifetime warranty.
This bag is built from highly durable materials, including rubber, nylon, and other strong fabrics. Although this increases the carrying weight of the empty bag itself, it adds exceptional durability and support to the bag, which holds its shape well. That said, the bag still has a very small footprint once collapsed down.
What’s not to like:
These bags come with just 2 main compartments, which is few compared to other products; additionally, the middle divider cannot be moved, making the internal storage quite restrictive. The material used for the external base is also not ideal, as it doesn’t have non-slip properties, meaning it has the potential to move around in your trunk when driving.
PROS
- Heavy-duty, durable materials used
- Tiny footprint when collapsed down
- Support on the base helps to keep the bag from collapsing
CONS
- Middle divider cannot be moved
- Material on base isn’t non-slip
- Additional durability and support results in a heavier storage bag
5. Busy Life Camo Trunk Organizer
The Busy Life storage unit is an SUV-grade organizer that has a ton of storage space. Price-wise, it’s at the lower end of the budget range, with only one color option. It lacks any belts or buckles for securing to the trunk but is large and heavy enough to stay put when full.
Features:
- Size: 21 x 10 x 15 inches
- Materials: 600D polyester fabric and plastic
- Compartments & Pockets: 1 large, 1 medium, 1 small
- Installation System:No means of securing the organizer
What’s to like:
This organizer comes equipped with 2 free reusable grocery bags, which can be inserted into the compartments for better stability when packing, and easy removal for shopping or at home. Clasps around the exterior fasten to keep the bag compact when collapsed either halfway or completely.
Whereas many storage units can be collapsed when not in use, this one can be half-collapsed; this means using half of the compartments when needed, while retaining space in the trunk for larger items. The compartments are very deep, too, meaning lots of room for storage.
What’s not to like:
One of the problems with this storage unit is that the compartment dividers can be easily deformed if they’re only loosely packed and have heavy items pressing against them when in transit. Coupled with weak Velcro strips, the compartments don’t always retain their shape well. The rigid panels on the base could also be easily stained and degrade, due to the materials used.
PROS
- One half can be collapsed
- Compartments are very deep
- Comes with 2 reusable grocery bags
CONS
- Dividers can be deformed
- Velcro connections could be stronger
- Rigid panels built from flimsy material
How To Choose The Right Trunk Organizer
If you’re still having problems with choosing the perfect trunk organizer, don’t worry. We are here to keep things simple for you. Here’s a quick guide on how to get the right trunk organizer that accommodates your needs.
For Camping Trips
For those of you who love taking camping trips with friends or family, you may want to invest in an insulated trunk organizer. This guarantees that whatever food you bring to the site remains fresh despite driving for quite some time.
While insulated trunk organizers are often more expensive than other types, you get to save money in the long run because you never have to face spoiled food in camping ever again.
For Long Drives
If you often take long drives, the last thing you want is a broken vehicle. That’s why you need to make sure you have all the tools you need for quick repairs. Having bins inside your vehicle ensures you can bring anything necessary, from small repair tools to heavy equipment.
For Space-Saving
There might be times when the load we need to bring is quite huge and wouldn’t fit inside a trunk organizer. In instances such as these, you need to clear the floor space in your trunk, and the organizer might just be in the way. This makes foldable or backrest-mounted trunk organizers superb choices.
Final Verdict
Based on all the products that we’ve examined, our best in class is the MIU COLOR storage organizer. This product features some of the strongest Velcro and dividers that we’ve found, which means they won’t fall apart or deform over time, keeping your items separated properly. The storage compartments are also extremely deep, with plenty of space for items that need to remain upright.