10 Water Bottle Storage Ideas from a Professional Organizer

Keep your reusable water bottles tidy with these smart storage solutions.

Throughout my years as a professional organizer, I’ve found most people are stumped by how to store one specific item—water bottles. Because reusable water bottles like Yetis, Stanleys, and Nalgenes are usually to tall to store upright, but too bulky to lay horizontally, they often just become a cluttered mess inside a cabinet. I completely understand this, because I’ve struggled with them in the past as well.

Between the various sized heights and widths, handles, lids, and straws, water bottles aren't easy to store, nor are they easy to keep upright or in any kind of order. Toss in the fact that we're always using and cycling through them, and it can be difficult to maintain a storage system.

It might seem like a daunting task, but it’s certainly not impossible! I'm sharing my best tips and organizing ideas to help you get a handle—pun intended—on water bottle storage in no time.

Related: The 12 Best Water Bottles of 2023 to Quench Your Thirst

First, Declutter

Before diving into any home organization project, the first thing you should do is pull everything out and decide what to keep or toss, a la Marie Kondo. In this case, you may have to embark on a bit of a scavenger hunt through kitchen cabinets, the dishwasher, the kid’s backpacks, or your home office to locate all of the reusable bottles you own. You probably own more than you actually need, but you won’t know that until you see them all in one place.

After laying them out on the table or countertop, go through each bottle and make the following piles:

• Donate water bottles that are in working condition but you don’t need or like

• Toss any bottles that are cracked, broken or otherwise not usable

• Keep the water bottles that you love and will continue to use
  

Related: 14 Clutter-Causing Household Items You Should Pare Down ASAP

Sort by Type

Now that you have only the water bottles you’d like to hang onto, it’s a good idea to separate by style—especially if you own a wide variety. Consider creating categories such as kids bottles, bottles with handles, bottles with built-in straws, and so on. Again, visually seeing the quantity and type will make you aware of what you actually own so that you can decide the best way to organize them (and possibly prevent you from impulse buying any new bottles in the future).

Choose your Storage Solution

If you’re lucky, one of the following water bottle storage ideas will be enough to contain all of yours. However, you may need to implement a few different depending on how many you have and their sizes or shapes. Another factor in deciding how to organize them will be the available space in your kitchen. A cabinet or drawer near the sink or fridge with a water dispenser should be the first choice for convenience. But don’t rule out other options, like the pantry, if you're tight on kitchen storage space.

Related: 31 Kitchen Storage Ideas to Help You Declutter on a Budget

1. Water Bottle Organizer

There are several organizers on the market that are specifically made for reusable water bottles. You'll find stackable and expandable options as well as vertical and horizontal versions. They’re also available in materials like acrylic, bamboo, and metal so you’re bound to find one that fits your style, as well as the shelf you want to place it on. Choose one with generous space to accommodate different sizes of bottles. Take note of how many bottles it can store; if you have a large collection, you may need to order more than one.

2. Wine Rack

Alternatively, you can repurpose a wine rack to function the same way as a plastic water bottle organizer. Simply slide the bottles into the wine rack and place it in a cabinet or on an open pantry shelf. Because wine bottles are generally larger than most water bottles, this is a good idea if you own chunkier styles.

3. Magazine File Holder

For a DIY storage idea, try turning a magazine rack on its back and stacking water bottles in it. This will only hold about three bottles, but you can line up a few matching racks in a row to store more.

4. Drawer Dividers

Behind designated water bottle organizers, this is my next favorite way to keep them tidy. If your kitchen or pantry has deep pull-out drawers, insert a set of spring loaded dividers, line up water bottles in rows, and adjust the width of the dividers accordingly. The only caveat with this method is that you may have a bottle or two that is simply too tall for the drawer. In that case, lay them down in their own row instead.

Related: 15 Pullout Kitchen Storage Ideas that Maximize Every Inch

5. Open Containers

This method is versatile because it can work in a drawer or on a shelf. Sort water bottles into narrow open top bins, preferably with handles if you plan to store them on a shelf, and label each one by type if needed. This keeps the bottles upright and makes them easy to identify on busy mornings.

Related: 6 Pretty Ways to Organize with Storage Containers

6. Lazy Susan

Using a lazy Susan for water bottle storage is not my preferred method, but it may work for you if you have the right storage method. If you have an awkward, underused corner kitchen cabinet, add a large turntable and corral bottles onto it. They are an ideal candidate for lazy Susan storage because of their round shape. I would, however, suggest using it for shorter bottles so they don’t topple over as you spin it. Or find a turntable with a low wall to keep them from falling over.

7. Back-of-the-Door Storage

Take advantage of empty space on the inside of the pantry door by installing an over-the-door rack with baskets or, as a more budget friendly option, a clear pocket shoe organizer. Tuck water bottles into the slots or line them up in baskets so that they’re easy for everyone to find when they want to use them and return once they’re clean.

Related: Store More with These Door Storage Ideas

8. Under-Cabinet Basket

This is another idea for those with only a handful of water bottles to store. Attach the arms of one of these types of organizers onto a shelf with room underneath to spare. Then, simply slide bottles into the basket horizontally with their tops facing forward for easy retrieval.

Related: 22 Brilliant Ideas for Organizing Kitchen Cabinets

9. Rolling Cart

If you're out of storage space in the cabinets, drawers, and pantry, use a tiered cart on wheels for water bottle storage. Use open containers to keep them in place on a larger cart that can be rolled anywhere you have a bit of open floor space. A rolling cart can be kept inside the pantry and easily rolled out of the way when you need to access the shelves. Or squeeze a slim cart in the open gap between the refrigerator and a cabinet.

10. Bins for Accessories

Regardless of what solution you choose, you might find yourself with extra attachments, lids that are temporarily separated from their mate, or parts that won’t fit on a bottle when stored away. For example, you might only be able to line up your bottles in a drawer if the lids and straws aren't attached. In this case, gather up whatever accessories you have and store them in a small container that is kept nearby and accessible.

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