Easy DIY Drawer Dividers (Using What You’ve Got!)

Almost nothing beats a perfectly organized drawer. But since drawers come in all shapes and sizes, it can be tricky (and expensive!) to outfit each and every one with store-bought organizers. Thankfully, making your own is a quick and easy DIY project that works in any drawer, every time! Today, I’m breaking down my very favorite way to make DIY drawer dividers…a process I’ve perfected across (at least) 5 different sets of drawers! Let’s get to it!

Cost

Without a doubt, one of the best reasons to make your own drawer dividers is to save money. Custom plastic, acrylic, or wood drawer organizers aren’t super expensive but they aren’t inexpensive either (especially when you need to outfit lots of drawers at once). Comparatively, DIY drawer dividers made from cardboard or foam board range from free (if you use your leftover Amazon boxes) to just a few dollars per drawer!

Customization

Whether you need a wide expanse of dividers for a kitchen utensil drawer or deep dividers for dresser drawers full of clothes…making your own means you can create the exact storage you need without having to scour the depths of the internet for ones that are the “just right” size.

Further, cutting your own allows you to determine the best layout and fit for your precise drawer, meaning no leftover space or awkward slots you can’t use.

Reuse & Recycle

Whether you move a lot like we do or your needs for a particular drawer simply change with time, DIY drawer dividers are much more disposable than their store-bought counterparts. Not only is my version made with cardboard you likely already have around the house; but if you no longer need a particular divider, you can simply toss it into the trash/recycling instead of having to store, sell, or donate the non-disposable version.

Do You Have to Use the Cord Clips?

This DIY drawer divider tutorial is the culmination of several iterations over the past 10+ years. Each time I’ve made these dividers, I’ve refined the process in order to make them as crisp, clean, and sturdy as possible.

The very first few times I made these dividers, I did not use cord clips to hold the dividers in place.

And while I was (ultimately) able to size my cardboard panels so that they fit snug inside our drawers, it didn’t take much for them to shift around or all-out collapse.

Over the years, I’ve learned that adding the cable clips makes a significant difference in the sturdiness of the dividers. They will allow a bit more “wiggle room” when it comes to cutting your dividers (i.e., they won’t have to be so precise), and they significantly help the overall longevity of this project. So while you don’t have to use the cable clips, I strongly recommend them!

NOTE: This project will demonstrate two cable clips on each side of the divider; however, one clip per side is likely sufficient for stability (especially if your dividers are short!)

If you really don’t want to use cord clips for this divider project, I have a DIY version you can try instead using some folded paper! See here: How to Make Your Own Box Dividers

How to Make Easy DIY Drawer Dividers to Fit ANY Drawer

These drawer dividers are not only super inexpensive and easy to make, but they stand tall and firm and do wonders for keeping drawers compartmentalized. Below are the step-by-step instructions!

Step 4 – Place Cable Clips

Next, you will “dry fit” your boards into your drawer in order to 1) ensure they fit just right, and 2) identify the right placement for the cable clips.

To do this, place one or two cable clips on each side of the horizontal divider (as shown in the two photos below). Do NOT remove the paper backings off the cable clips yet.

With the clips on the board but the paper backings still on, slide the divider into your drawer, ensuring it’s exactly where you want it and completely upright.

Then, use a pencil to trace around all the cable clips.

With the locations of the cable clips marked, remove the divider from the drawer and the clips from the divider itself. Now you can remove the paper backings off the cable clips and secure them to the sides of the drawer according to your pencil markings.

Now the clips are perfectly positioned to hold the first board. Do NOT yet place the board back into the clips. Instead, repeat the exact same process with the second board, this time positioning it vertically (front-to-back) in the drawer (rather than side-to-side).

When finished, all your cable clips should be perfectly positioned to receive the dividers.

Then, fold the adhesive-backed paper over your foam divider and trim away all the excess edges with the craft knife. (Watch the video tutorial to see exactly how I wrap the boards.) Then repeat the process on the other/shorter divider.

Step 6 – Cut Out Intersection from Each Board

Finally, so that your dividers fit together, you need to cut out where the two boards will intersect. Use the craft knife to cut a 1/4″ wide slit halfway down the exact middle of one board and halfway up the exact middle of the other (as shown below).

NOTE: For thick cardboard or foam core, this will be more than just a straight slit. You will need to remove about 1/4″ or so (depending on the thickness of the boards you’re using) to allow the two pieces to fit into each other, as shown below.

Step 7 – Insert Completed Divider Into Drawer

With your dividers papered and fitting into each other nicely, all you need to do is slide them back into the cable clips you’ve already secured to the inside of your drawers! If needed, adjust the intersection slits so that the boards sit flush with the drawer and each other.

Step 8 – Get Organizing!

With your perfectly-fitting cardboard dividers in place, now it’s time to organize to your heart’s content!

Adapt & Expand

One of my very favorite things about making your own drawer dividers (besides using up leftover cardboard!) is that you really can adapt them to any drawer and any layout you need!

I was having trouble organizing the super wide-but-shallow drawers in my son’s art table.

Instead of the basic “+” formation of the dividers, I instead make six different compartments. As shown below, the single “horizontal” divider was notched out three times to accommodate three different “vertical” slats.

If you are creating a layout beyond the basic “+”, I recommend placing your “vertical” slats first and notate their location right on the bottom of the drawer. Then place the “horizontal” board separately and mark where each perpendicular slat is located onto the slat itself (see pencil markings below).

Once notched out, your dividers will connect together in just the right spots!

FAQ About These DIY Drawer Dividers

Can These Drawer Dividers Be Used In Shallow Drawers Too?

Of course, just see above! You simply adjust the HEIGHT measurement to be anything you wish (so a shorter drawer will just have shorter dividers).

Which Material Do You Recommend Most?

I have made these drawer dividers using both thick corrugated cardboard and foam core. While both work very well, I do find that foam core dividers have a bit more rigidity to them comparatively.

Can You Make Drawer Dividers Out of Wood?

If you have access to a miter saw, circular saw, or jig saw, you can use this same tutorial to make dividers out of wood (e.g., thin plywood, MDF, balsa wood, etc)

Where Can You Buy Drawer Dividers?

Not up for a DIY solution this time around? Then I encourage you to check out these drawer organizers. They come in a wide range of useful sizes; they are affordable; and they are super sturdy! Next to the DIY solution shown in this post, they are my other favorite way to organize the drawers all over our home!

Making your own custom drawer dividers is an exceptionally gratifying project. Not only can you create the exact size and layout you need for ANY size drawer, but using free/cheap materials makes this cost-effective and environmentally friendly too.

Next time you wish you had a few more compartments in a messy drawer, I hope you give this quick and easy project a try!