Drill bits are one of those shop essentials that can be surprisingly difficult to organize. You want the bits you use most within easy reach, but dedicating a large section of valuable wall space to them isn't always practical.
This folding drill bit organizer solves both problems.
Four plywood wings pivot from a central mounting base, allowing the organizer to hold a large assortment of bits in a relatively small section of pegboard. Fan the wings apart when you need a bit, then fold them back together when you're finished.
Better yet, the organizer can be made almost entirely from plywood scraps.
A Space-Saving Drill Bit Storage Idea
The key to this design is storing bits on several movable layers instead of spreading them across one large rack.
A mounting base attaches to the pegboard and supports four pivoting plywood wings. The wings swing independently, allowing them to fan apart so you can see and access the bits stored on each one.
When the organizer isn't being used, the wings fold back together. This makes much better use of limited pegboard space while still keeping a sizable drill bit collection close to the workbench.
Build the Plywood Mounting Base
The mounting base is made from two pieces of plywood glued together.
This creates the central support for the organizer and provides a solid mounting point for the four wings.
The completed base is bolted to the pegboard.
The four plywood wings attach to the base with rods that serve as pivots. Instead of being fixed in position, each wing can rotate outward for access.
Customize the Wings for Your Drill Bits
There's no fixed length required for the storage wings. That's one of the advantages of building the organizer yourself.
Size them according to the bits you want to store.
For this organizer, the frequently used twist bits and brad-point bits are kept front and center on the lower wings.
The Forstner and spade bits aren't used as often, so they're stored on the upper wings.
This creates a simple hierarchy: everyday bits are easiest to reach, while less frequently used bits remain organized but don't occupy the prime storage locations.
Make the Upper Wings Longer for Large Bits
Forstner and spade bits have considerably larger heads than ordinary twist or brad-point bits.
Making the upper wings a little longer provides the extra room those larger bits need while keeping them from interfering with the bits stored on the other wings.
Woodsmith Tip: Lay Out the Bits Before Drilling. Arrange your actual drill bits on each plywood wing before drilling the storage holes. This lets you determine the best spacing and helps prevent the larger bits from interfering with one another when the wings are folded together.
Organize Drill Bits by How Often You Use Them
There's another idea here that's worth applying to any shop storage project: organize tools by frequency of use rather than simply by size or type.
For this rack, the twist and brad-point bits that get regular use occupy the most accessible positions. Forstner and spade bits that are needed less often go on the upper wings.
You could customize the same arrangement around your own work. If you regularly reach for Forstner bits, for example, give them a more accessible wing.
The organizer doesn't dictate where every bit belongs—the design lets you arrange the storage around the way you actually work.
Get More Storage from Your Pegboard
A conventional drill bit rack works fine when wall space is plentiful. In a small shop, though, adding more storage often means finding ways to use the same space more efficiently.
That's what makes this folding drill bit rack so useful.
Instead of dedicating a wide section of pegboard to several different bit holders, the pivoting wings stack that storage into a compact footprint. Swing them open and the bits are easy to see and select. Fold them together and the organizer takes up considerably less wall space.
It's an inexpensive project, uses little material, and can be customized to fit exactly the drill bits you want close at hand.
Need More Space on Your Pegboard?
You can squeeze even more storage from a crowded shop wall with custom holders, angled pegboard panels, and other shop-made organizers designed to make better use of limited space.
EXPLORE MORE PEGBOARD STORAGE IDEAS → Custom Pegboard Tool Holders That Save Wall Space
