My Honest Take on Dollar Tree Organizing Products

I just spent $76 at Dollar Tree testing organizing products so you don’t have to!

There are some genuinely great organizing finds at Dollar Tree, and a few of the things I tested surprised me with how good they were for the price. But there were also plenty of products that I would skip completely, either because they didn’t work very well or because you can get something much better without spending much more.

Keep reading or watch the video here to find out what’s actually worth the purchase!

And before we get into the products, there’s one really important thing to remember when shopping at Dollar Tree.

Dollar Tree Isn’t Always Cheaper

I think one of the biggest mistakes people make at Dollar Tree is assuming that because something costs $1.25 or $1.50, it must be cheaper than buying it somewhere else.

That’s not necessarily true.

I noticed this with a bag of Life Savers. The Dollar Tree package was $1.25 and contained five servings, which works out to 25 cents per serving. The larger bag I normally buy at Walmart costs $4.88 but contains 27 servings, bringing the cost down to about 18 cents per serving.

Obviously, we’re not talking about huge amounts of money with a bag of candy. But apply that same thinking to dozens of purchases throughout the year and it starts to matter.

Dollar Tree often sells smaller quantities, particularly with food. Sometimes that’s actually useful if you don’t need much or you’re buying something that could go bad. But don’t assume you’re getting the lowest price just because the total on the price tag is lower.

Do the math and compare the price per item, ounce, serving, or whatever measurement makes sense.

There’s one other Dollar Tree reality worth mentioning: inventory varies tremendously from store to store. I have several stores within about ten minutes of my house, and people making Dollar Tree shopping videos are often visiting multiple locations to find all the best products. You can order some things online, but you may be required to purchase multiples.

With that out of the way, let’s get into what I found.

Stackable Storage Bins: C

These stackable plastic bins were $1.50 each, and I bought four to see how well they actually worked together.

There are little slots that allow the bins to hook together, and once I applied enough pressure to get everything connected, the stack felt reasonably sturdy. I also liked that the open fronts allow you to reach into each bin without taking the stack apart.

But they weren’t quite as sturdy as I wanted them to be. When I moved or shook the stack, the bins could start popping out of place.

I could see these working for smaller toys like Squishies or Matchbox cars, seasoning packets, wrapped candy, or small amounts of produce. The problem is that they’re fairly bulky for their actual storage capacity. If I put potatoes in one and couldn’t fit the entire bag, for example, now I have the bin and the leftover bag of potatoes to store.

They’re much cheaper than some of the multipurpose bins I normally use, so I can see the appeal if you’re organizing on a tight budget. They work. They’re just not amazing.

My grade: C

Plastic Book Bins: D

These book bins were only $1.25 each and came in several colors. They also stack nicely when they’re empty, which is convenient if you’re storing them.

Unfortunately, I’ve tried these before and I’m still not a fan.

The sides angle inward quite a bit, which means you’re losing usable storage space. There’s also a fairly large lip around the outside. When you line several bins up on a shelf, those lips hit each other and make the bins want to tip.

They also aren’t sturdy enough to reliably hold heavier items like clipboards unless everything is positioned just right.

You could absolutely make these work if your budget is the top priority. Prop them against something, make sure they’re weighted properly, and be thoughtful about what you store in them. But compared to sturdier magazine files or the narrow multipurpose bins I normally use, I’d rather spend more for something that doesn’t constantly want to fall over.

My grade: D

Egg Storage Container: D

I found a clear egg container for $1.50 that holds 12 eggs.

The plastic is pretty flimsy and brittle, and mine already had a small crack. The lid doesn’t attach securely either. It basically just rests on top.

None of that is actually my biggest problem with it.

My question is simply: What problem is this solving?

It holds 12 eggs and takes up approximately the same amount of refrigerator space as the carton the eggs already came in.

I use a larger rolling egg container at home because it gives me an actual benefit. I can combine eggs from multiple cartons, fit more eggs into one space, and when I remove an egg, the others roll forward.

The Dollar Tree version does let you see how many eggs you have, and if you really dislike keeping eggs in their original cartons, it’s an inexpensive way to transfer them into a clear container.

But personally, I don’t see enough benefit to bother.

My grade: D

Basic Drawer Organizers: B

These were much better.

The larger drawer organizers came two to a package for $1.50, while the smaller ones came three to a package. The plastic is definitely flimsy, but that doesn’t bother me much in a drawer organizer. They’re not being carried around or holding anything particularly heavy.

In fact, having a little flexibility can sometimes help when you’re trying to squeeze organizers into a drawer.

The different styles also lined up with each other nicely, which I really liked. My biggest complaint is that they angle inward so you lose some space between containers. I also couldn’t find very many sizes at my store.

That’s important because when you’re organizing a drawer, having the right combination of sizes makes a huge difference.

The drawer organizers I normally use come in more sizes and aren’t wildly more expensive, although they’re generally sold in sets. If you only need one particular size and Dollar Tree has exactly what works for your drawer, these could be a great buy.

My grade: B

Velvet Hangers: Almost an A

This was one of the products I was most excited to test.

Dollar Tree had a package of 15 velvet hangers for $5, which works out to about 33 cents per hanger. The velvet hangers I normally purchase online are around 40 cents each, so Dollar Tree actually wins on price.

And remember, that’s exactly why you should do the math instead of assuming either store is automatically cheaper.

The Dollar Tree hangers also felt surprisingly sturdy. My husband noticed it immediately when he picked them up. They actually felt sturdier than the ones I’ve been using for years.

They rotate easily at the top, which I like. My usual hangers have a little notch that helps hold tank top straps, while the Dollar Tree version doesn’t, so that’s one drawback.

Initially, I was ready to give these an A.

Then we moved them.

They shed like crazy.

There was black fuzz everywhere, and I could pull more material off just by rubbing them. I’ve never had that happen with my usual velvet hangers.

So I’m withholding my enthusiastic A until I see whether that shedding continues with use. The price and sturdiness are excellent, but I don’t want black fuzz ending up all over my clothes.

My grade: Promising, but proceed with caution

Cabinet Shelf: B… If You Find a Good One

This little cabinet shelf was $1.50, and I love the idea of inexpensive shelf risers because they’re a great way to take advantage of vertical space inside cabinets.

Unfortunately, mine was warped.

It wobbled on the counter, and that alone would drive me crazy. It also felt a little small for some of the things I’d naturally want to store on it. Regular dinner plates fit, but I kept wishing the shelf were just a little wider and deeper.

That said, it’s only $1.50.

If I needed an inexpensive cabinet shelf and could find one at Dollar Tree that wasn’t warped, I could absolutely see using it.

My grade: B if you find a flat one

Gold Office Tray: B

This office tray was $1.50, and I really liked the gold color.

It looks like it should be designed for standard sheets of paper, but oddly enough, regular paper doesn’t fit perfectly. The edges curl up just a little bit.

Why make a paper tray that’s slightly too small for paper?

It still works, and I could definitely see using it as an inbox for mail, paperwork, or smaller items. I just wish they had made it slightly larger.

My grade: B

Woven Storage Basket: A

Now we’re getting to one of my favorites.

This basket was $5, which is definitely on the more expensive end for Dollar Tree. These days, Dollar Tree carries products at several price points, and while that means not everything costs $1.25 anymore, it also allows them to sell some larger and better-quality items.

This basket was surprisingly sturdy. I’ve owned more expensive baskets that didn’t feel as substantial.

It’s fairly shallow and about 11 inches across at the top, so I could see using it on a shelf in a living room or family room to corral card games, small toys, art supplies, or other odds and ends.

I actually liked this one enough that I planned to keep it and already had a place in mind for it.

My grade: A

Glass Storage Jar: A

This little glass jar was only $1.50, and I think it’s a great value.

You can stand it upright or angle it on its side, and I think several lined up together in a kitchen could be really cute.

I immediately thought of using mine for our cinnamon sugar mixture. The container we currently use is a little too small, so this would allow us to make more at once while still keeping it easy to scoop out.

It’s cute, functional, and extremely affordable.

My grade: A

Clear Pencil Organizer: A

For $1.25, I was really impressed with this desk organizer.

It has compartments at different heights, feels sturdy, and because it’s clear, it can work with almost any decor. Obviously you could use it for pens and pencils, but the smaller compartments would also be great for things like paper clips or a staple remover.

This is another one I planned to keep and use on my own desk.

My grade: A

Interlocking Drawer Organizer Set: B+

This $1.25 drawer organizer set surprised me.

The pieces snap together, and once they’re connected, they’re actually quite sturdy. You can also configure them in different ways depending on the shape of your drawer.

The plastic felt much sturdier than I expected at this price, and I loved the color.

My biggest complaint is that you’re stuck with the sizes and pieces included in the set. I would much rather be able to buy individual pieces and mix and match exactly what I need.

Still, for $1.25, the value is impressive.

My grade: B+

24-Pack of Gel Pens: B

These weren’t technically an organizing product, but I couldn’t resist trying them.

For $5, you get 24 gel pens in glitter, metallic, and neon colors. I’m very picky about gel pens, especially because I love using black paper, so I was highly skeptical.

They were much better than I expected.

Some of the colors wrote very smoothly. Others needed a little scribbling to get the ink flowing, but even expensive gel pens sometimes do that.

They weren’t good on black paper. Some of the metallic colors showed up better than others, but if you’re specifically looking for pens for dark paper, I wouldn’t buy these.

On regular paper, though, they’re surprisingly decent for $5. I also think they’d make a fun inexpensive gift.

My grade: B

Individual Interlocking Drawer Organizers: D

I found another style of interlocking drawer organizer for $1.25 each.

The plastic itself was perfectly adequate, although not as sturdy as the interlocking set I had just tested. Unfortunately, the actual interlocking feature didn’t work nearly as well.

The pieces were harder to connect, didn’t stay together particularly well, and started pulling up awkwardly when they were attached.

Could you still put them in a drawer, fill them with things, and make them work? Sure.

But when Dollar Tree sells another option that’s cheaper and works better, I don’t see a compelling reason to choose these.

My grade: D

Plastic Tablecloths: A

These are one of my tried-and-true Dollar Tree purchases.

For $1.25, you get a disposable plastic tablecloth, and I love keeping a few on hand.

They’re perfect for messy crafts because you can cover the table, let everyone make a mess, and then gather up the entire tablecloth and throw it away. They also come in tons of colors, so they’re great for parties.

I’ve purchased these many times and will continue buying them.

My grade: A

Plastic Spoons: C

I bought 48 plastic spoons for $1.25 because I wanted to know whether they were actually a good deal.

Price-wise, they are.

A comparable quantity of basic spoons at Walmart was more expensive, and the heavy-duty disposable spoons I normally buy at Sam’s Club cost about twice as much for the same number.

But you’re definitely giving up some quality for that savings.

The Dollar Tree spoons are smaller and considerably less sturdy. They’re probably perfectly fine for softer foods, but I wouldn’t want to hand them to guests who need to cut through something firmer.

If I’m hosting people, I’d personally pay more for the sturdier option. But if your top priority is getting disposable spoons as cheaply as possible, these are genuinely inexpensive.

My grade: C

Reusable Serving Tray: A

This $2 serving tray is another Dollar Tree product I’ve already been using for years.

It’s technically sold as disposable, but I just wash mine and reuse it. I’ve had one for around four years, and despite accidentally dropping it onto asphalt and later onto a tile floor, it’s still completely fine.

I don’t own a huge collection of serving platters because I don’t use them often enough to justify storing them. Having a couple of inexpensive trays like this works perfectly for me.

For $2, this one is hard to beat.

My grade: A

Collapsible Fabric Storage Bin: A

This collapsible fabric bin was only $1.25.

It’s smaller than the cube storage bins I normally use, so it wouldn’t work in my particular cube shelving. But if you need this size, I think it’s an excellent deal.

It has the standard removable piece that creates a sturdy bottom, a little handle on the front, and overall the quality seemed very similar to other basic fabric bins.

I found comparable bins online that were around $3 each and had to be purchased in multipacks.

If this is the size you need, I don’t see a reason to spend more than double for essentially the same thing.

My grade: A

Rubber-Lined Drawer Organizers: D

These drawer organizers were $1.50 each, which made them considerably more expensive than Dollar Tree’s other options.

To be fair, you are getting something for that extra money. The plastic is sturdier, there are little rubber feet on the bottom, and the inside is lined with a rubbery material to keep things from sliding.

But do you actually need those features?

For most of the things I store in drawer organizers, I don’t. If I need an organizer to stay firmly in place, I’d rather use a little museum putty. I also didn’t love that these weren’t completely modular.

There’s nothing particularly wrong with the product. I just don’t see a reason to pay extra for features I don’t need when Dollar Tree itself sells cheaper alternatives.

My grade: D

Plastic Supply Caddy: C

Finally, I tested a large plastic caddy for $1.25.

The price is fantastic for the size, and I can imagine plenty of uses for it. It could hold kids’ art supplies, homework supplies, pens, markers, scissors, or anything else you want to carry from place to place.

My problem is that it’s fairly bulky for the amount of usable storage space it gives you.

The handle and shape take up quite a bit of room, and the sides aren’t as tall as I’d like. You also need somewhere to store the entire caddy when you aren’t using it.

If you specifically need a portable organizer like this, $1.25 is hard to argue with. I just wouldn’t buy one without knowing exactly what I planned to put in it and where I planned to store it.

My grade: C

The Dollar Tree Products I’d Actually Buy

After spending $76 and testing all of these products, there were definitely some standouts.

My favorite finds were:

• Woven storage basket
• Glass storage jar
• Clear pencil organizer
• Plastic tablecloths
• Reusable serving tray
• Collapsible fabric storage bin
• Basic drawer organizers
• The $1.25 interlocking drawer organizer set

The velvet hangers also have a lot of potential because the price and sturdiness were excellent, but I’d want to see whether the shedding continues before stocking an entire closet with them.

And that’s probably the biggest lesson from this whole experiment.

Cheap isn’t automatically a good deal.

A $1.25 organizer that doesn’t fit your space, constantly falls over, or doesn’t solve an actual problem isn’t saving you money. It’s just another $1.25 item you now have to store.

On the other hand, there are absolutely Dollar Tree products that perform just as well as much more expensive alternatives. Those are the things worth looking for.

So before you fill your cart because everything seems inexpensive, ask yourself whether the product actually solves a problem, whether it’s the right size for your space, and whether you’re truly getting a better value than you would somewhere else.

Sometimes the Dollar Tree version really is the winner.

And sometimes it’s worth spending a few dollars more.