The 9 best shoe organizers to buy in 2022 to sort your favorite footwear

The best shoe organizers allow you to conveniently sort and access your favorite sneakers, heels, sandals, and other footwear. Whether your collection is modest or rivals that of a major department store, a reliable organizer will make it much easier for you to complete your OOTD with the perfect shoe.

Having hoards of shoes scattered across your home is not only unsightly but also makes you more prone to losing or mismatching your favorite pairs. A classic shoe quote from Christian Dior goes: "You can never take too much care over the choice of your shoes."—and we posit the same goes for how you store them. Thus, we've put together a guide of the nine best shoe organizers that'll keep your bedroom, common area, or entryway neat and tidy. 

Perhaps sorting your footwear isn't on your official spring cleaning checklist but if you're constantly in a tizzy trying to match your shoes together, we highly suggest you make time to remedy that. Check out our other handy cleaning hacks for an impeccably spotless home, too.  

How to find the best shoe organizer

To find the best shoe organizer for your space, consider the following:

• Your shoe collection: How many pairs of footwear do you own, and how often do you wear them all? Prior to buying a new organizer, go through your collection—feel free to toss anything that no longer fits your feet or current style. Your organizer should be large enough to hold all of your shoes, plus several pairs extra to accommodate the new best sandals you're likely to buy this summer.
• Your space: Shoe organizers take many forms. If you're seeking a freestanding rack or cubby, measure the space where you intend to put it for a proper fit. Otherwise, if you're tight on space, an over-the-door or under-the-bed solution should suit. Clear stacking boxes are a good idea if you want to organize the shoes in your closet.
• Your decor: Ideally, your shoe organizer won't clash with your room's aesthetic. Various finishes are available, from finished wood to wrought iron. Of course, this is less of a consideration if you plan to tuck your shoe organizer in a closet or another inconspicuous space.
• Your budget: Most shoe organizers aren't terribly expensive, but there are high-end models that double as a piece of trendy furniture—and those will cost you a pretty penny. Find something that'll comfortably fit your space and budget.

The above criteria heavily influenced our picks for the best shoe organizers. Our list below contains a wide range of styles and price points so you can find the ideal solution for your needs and budget.

The best shoe organizers, as selected by our experts

The Songmics 3-Tier Bamboo Shoe Rack Bench is an excellent choice if you're looking for a way to organize shoes by your front door. With a max capacity of nine pairs, it's only really suited to accommodate the styles you wear frequently along with any guests' shoes. But you can sit on the bench when putting on or taking off your shoes—which is much more convenient than having to find a nearby chair or simply resigning yourself to the floor. 

It's available in six different finishes so matching this shoe rack bench to your decor should be quite easy. Some assembly is required but 20 minutes should be about all you need to put it all together. Once assembled, you'll have yourself a sturdy and functional shoe storage space that can support up to 264lbs/120kg. 

Note that this particular model is out of stock in the UK; however, the oddly-named Grandma Shark 3-Tier Bamboo Shoes Rack appears to be the exact same model on sale at Amazon, though it's only available in two finishes as of this post.

The Container Store is known for its savvy storage solutions, and that includes its popular stackable Shoe Box. Made from clear, acid-free polypropylene, this simple yet stylish box will allow you to view its contents without opening the lid so you'll be able to find what you need in an instant. Plus, since your shoes will be enclosed they'll be safeguarded against dust and debris, helping them last longer.

At roughly $2.50 apiece, you can buy multiples without worrying about going overboard financially. (Multipacks of 5 and 20 are available and typically discounted.) Plus, the Shoe Box can be used for more than shoes—we've also found it suitable for storing art supplies, makeup, and general bits-and-bobs you don't want cluttering up your space. 

Do note that for high-top sneakers or chunky boots you'll likely need something larger. The Container Store Men's Shoe Box will do the trick for those styles, but it's much pricier at $15 a pop.

Want a discreet yet accessible way to store your shoes? Check out the IKEA BISSA 3-Compartment Shoe Cabinet. Each compartment folds out and contains dividers you can adjust or remove so you can achieve the right fit for your footwear. 

It's not expandable per se, but you can buy a pair of these cabinets and place them next to one other—with room for a lamp, succulent or a couple of picture frames on top of each. It's practical and functional.

Unless you're unfamiliar with the ways of IKEA furniture—and even if you are at this point—you'll need to set aside plenty of time (and patience) to put it together. But the end result will be a way to organize your shoes that'll create more space in your bedroom or entryway. Oh, and it'll look good in your home, too.

Keep your shoes out of sight and off the floor with the SimpleHouseware 24-Pocket Hanging Shoe Organizer. Simply hang it over your bedroom door or in your closet for easy access to your footwear without sacrificing precious space. The plastic covers will protect your shoes from dust—and you can even choose from four color schemes if you're particular about matching this organizer to your aesthetic.

At under $10/£20, this is a true value buy so definitely consider this hanging shoe organizer if you're on an especially tight budget. We do wish the pockets were deeper or at least able to be adjusted in some way, as slotting in larger footwear presents a bit of a challenge. However, for flip-flops, slippers, comfortable flats, and even many kids' shoes, it'll certainly get the job done. 

Cubbies are a viable shoe organization solution if you have a spacious home—and we're particularly fond of the ClosetMaid 25-Pair Stackable Shoe Rack. Made from laminated wood with a clean white finish, it'll look nice in just about any room that can hold it. Assembly is required, but the process is straightforward so you'll be able to store your heels, boots, and more in no time.

If a 25-slot cubby isn't enough to contain your shoe collection, you'll be able to expand the capacity by stacking it with other compatible ClosetMaid organizers. Alternatively, you can use it to hold other items like handbags, beauty products, books, and much more. 

One major drawback is that it won't be able to sufficiently accommodate very high heels or large-sized shoes (beyond a men's US 13). You could possibly place such footwear atop the cubby if you're really at a loss for adequate storage, however—but it could look a tad unseemly. 

The Container Store Natural 3-Tier Grippy Shoe Rack is named as such for the gripped foam bars that'll keep your shoes in place. Originally 25in wide, it expands up to 46in wide so it'll grow along with your sneaker or heel collection. At maximum capacity, it can hold as many as 21 pairs of women's shoes or 15 pairs of men's shoes.

Available in black or walnut, you can match this shoe rack to the color scheme of your bedroom or entryway if you wish—although it'll also fit well at the bottom of most closets. If your feet are particularly small, the 'grippy' bars might be too wide and your shoes may fall through the gaps. We certainly recommend this shoe organizer for individuals with standard-to-large feet.

Keen to store shoes under your bed frame? Do so in an orderly way with the Woffit Under Bed Shoe Storage Organizer. It includes two foldable plastic containers—so if you only need one organizer at the moment you can easily store the spare away.

Officially, each plastic container has 12 slots for a total capacity of 24 shoes. However, we found that you can double up on flats or flip-flops so you can actually increase your storage space. Each slot is also capable of holding larger boots or chunky sneakers—which makes the lack of adjustable dividers more forgivable. 

The thin plastic construction may give some shoppers pause but this shoe organizer is more durable than it seems. With top-side handles, you can also use it to readily transport your shoes—whether you're embarking on a long road trip or moving house.

The Sole Secret Shoe Storage Bench is a stylish, discreet way to organize your favorite footwear. Place this ottoman at the foot of your bed or in a common area. Lift up the lid—which is supported by a couple of hydraulic arms—to find storage for up to 18 pairs of shoes. The slots are large enough for you to double up on flats, flip-flops, or sandals if you so wish. You can even adjust the dividers in order to readily fit boots or your best designer heels. 

This shoe organizer ottoman is not particularly cheap, but you'll be availing from a well-built piece of upholstered furniture that's made in the USA. At 51in long, we recommend it for more spacious homes.

Give your bedroom the feel of a chic shoe boutique with the Kings Brand Furniture 4-Tier Revolving Shoe Organizer. It comfortably stores up to 16 pairs of shoes (four per tier)—which you can conveniently retrieve by rotating the Lazy Suzan-style shelves. On top, you can opt to showcase a couple of extra pairs of your most stylish shoes or have it pull double duty as a small shelf for your favorite books or a few cute succulents.  

This vertical shoe organizer will free up plenty of room in your closet or bedroom—and it'll be a great fit in more cramped quarters. But you may want to ask someone to help you put it together as assembly is a bit cumbersome and the packaging it arrives in is quite heavy. 

Where is the best place to store shoes?

It's not enough to find an organizer for your shoes; you also need to consider where in your home you should keep them. We consulted with several expert organizers and stylists to find out where and how you should securely store your favorite footwear...

• Keep your shoes in a temperate area (like your bedroom closet): "Keeping [your shoes] in attics or basements can shorten the life of the shoe as these areas are not usually climate controlled and the volatile swings in temperature can accelerate their deterioration."—Yolandie Hamilton, Personal Style and Confidence Coach 
• A central shoe storage area is key, especially for families: "For a family or those living together in one household, a central spot for keeping shoes is easy for everyone to remember where to put them and to avoid shoes being scattered all over the house. By organizing shoes near the door but not fully inside, you avoid tracking dirt inside the house."—Macie Kreutzer, Owner of For the Love of Simple
• Shoes you wear frequently should be easily accessible: "Take the shoes that you wear the most often [like running shoes or everyday work shoes] and place those in your hallway/entryway closet. That way, when you are rushed and heading out the door, you don’t have to rummage through your entire collection to find the one pair you need."—Grace Baena, Interiors Curator at Kaiyo
• But shoes you wear less often don't need to be front-and-center: "Shoes you don't wear often, like for formal occasions or specialty shoes, should be more remote—even in another closet or up high."—Ben Soreff, Professional Organizer at h2h Organizing

If you're feeling like Marie Kondo and ready to chuck your home of anything that no longer sparks joy, we can help you with that. Check out our guides on how to organize your closet, to help you get your clothes in order, and the best makeup organizers that'll leave your vanity nice and tidy. You can also, learn how to organize a pantry and kitchen cabinets so you're not left scrambling for items when it's time to meal prep.

woman&home thanks Yolandie Hamilton, Macie Kreutzer of For the Love of Simple, Grace Baena of Kaiyo, and Ben Soreff of h2h Organizing for their time and expertise.