Best Router Bit Storage: Drawer Trays and Fit Checks

The best router-bit storage starts with the drawer or case you already use. Choose the POWERTEC 71217 for a narrow drawer and a modest mixed-shank collection; choose the larger 71046 when you need more quarter-inch positions and have the footprint to keep it intact. Neither tray's hole count tells you how many large cutters will fit without touching.

PRODUCTS IN THIS GUIDE

POWERTEC 71046 Router Bit Storage Tray for 110 Bits

A broad foam insert for a mixed-shank collection. Large cutter diameters can reduce usable positions below the hole count.

Check price on Amazon ↗ for POWERTEC 71046 Router Bit Storage Tray for 110 Bits (opens in a new tab)

POWERTEC 71217 Router Bit Storage Tray for 50 Bits

A narrower foam insert for a drawer or compatible case. Measure closed-drawer clearance above the tallest bit.

Check price on Amazon ↗ for POWERTEC 71217 Router Bit Storage Tray for 50 Bits (opens in a new tab)

Research comparison — October 27, 2026. We checked POWERTEC's dimensions and product catalog and identified the Amazon listings. We have not tested foam retention, resistance to chemicals, or long-term wear. Listing images show example bits; the storage trays are sold without router bits. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Two useful drawer inserts

See the 71217 product page and 71046 product page for the manufacturer dimensions. Both are foam inserts, not complete carry cases, and both can be trimmed. Cutting changes the available layout, so calculate your remaining useful positions before buying on headline capacity.

POWERTEC 71217: the better starting point for a narrow drawer

A six-inch-wide insert is easier to incorporate into a divided drawer than the larger tray. It lets you reserve an adjacent strip for a collet wrench, setup bars, bearings, or labels rather than filling every inch with holes.

Its hole mix is worth noticing: more positions are allocated to half-inch shanks than quarter-inch shanks. That suits a collection that already includes substantial half-inch tooling. A trim-router owner with mostly quarter-inch bits may find the apparently smaller tray surprisingly poorly matched to the collection.

The practical limit is cutter spacing. A broad raised-panel or rabbeting cutter can occupy the area above several nearby holes. Lay out your largest cutters on paper, leaving clearance for fingers, before deciding that fifty holes means room for fifty bits.

POWERTEC 71046: capacity for a larger mixed collection

The broader tray provides a larger quarter-inch section and more total positions. It is worth considering for a deep enough router-table drawer where you want the collection visible at once.

The tradeoff is the footprint. A drawer's advertised cabinet width is not its clear interior width; slides and side walls occupy space. Also check the drawer's front opening. A tray may sit inside but be difficult to remove or reach if the drawer does not open fully.

The larger tray can be cut to fit, but trimming should be planned around the hole pattern. If you remove the very section containing the shank sizes you use most, the larger purchase offers little advantage. Compare two smaller inserts against one cut-down large insert before deciding.

Height is the measurement buyers often miss

Measure clear space from the drawer floor to the obstruction above it with the drawer closed. Then compare that with the height of your tallest stored bit in its intended position. Tray thickness alone is insufficient: the cutter and any exposed shank also need clearance.

Do not close a drawer against a cutter to discover whether it fits. Start with an empty drawer and a paper or wooden height gauge. If long pattern bits or stacked sets do not fit upright, keep them in a separate suitable case or another position that protects the cutting edges.

A plywood block can be a sensible alternative if you need unusual spacing. Our router-bit organization guide covers that approach. Buy a manufactured tray when its convenience and layout actually save work, rather than assuming an insert is mandatory.

Drawer, wall rack, or carry case?

A drawer insert is best for protected storage at a fixed station. You can scan profiles without having to move individual packages, and the drawer keeps the collection out of the open work area. That convenience depends on a readable layout and enough room to grip the shank safely.

An open wall rack gives quick visibility, but leaves the bits exposed to falling dust and accidental contact. It also needs a layout that keeps cutting edges away from a casual reaching hand. We would not choose it solely because it photographs well above a router table.

A carry case is the better format for regularly traveling bits. A tray sitting loosely in a toolbox does not provide the same retention as a fitted, closed storage case. Before transporting an insert, make sure the complete case arrangement prevents the bits from being shaken loose or contacting one another. We have not tested either tray in a drop or transport test.

Organize by the decision you make at the router

Group profiles so the useful differences are visible: straight cutters, edge-forming bits, joinery cutters, and flush-trimming or pattern bits. Keep metric and fractional sizes clearly identified. A label should help you select a cutter without picking up several sharp alternatives.

Record the manufacturer model, cutting diameter, shank size, and any important bearing arrangement. For a matched set, identify the set and the sequence in which its pieces are used. A storage location labeled only “small roundover” is not a reliable record once similar profiles accumulate.

Keep the maker's speed and operating information with the bit or in a separate index. The tray organizes tools; it does not establish the correct router speed or suitability for a particular machine. Our workshop labeling guide explains a consistent naming system.

What not to put in the tray

Do not use a storage insert as a place to collect hot cutters immediately after work, wet tools after cleaning, or a mixture of bits and loose sharp offcuts. Follow the cutter manufacturer's care instructions and allow tools to be ready for storage before returning them.

Avoid treating the foam as proof of corrosion prevention. We have not verified a corrosion-inhibiting claim for these trays. In a damp shop, inspect the collection and deal with the storage environment rather than expecting the insert to solve it.

Questions buyers ask

Are the bits in the photographs included?

No. These are storage products. Confirm the package contents of the exact listing; the example cutters illustrate how the tray is used.

Will an eight-millimeter shank fit a quarter-inch hole?

Do not assume so. The published layouts are for quarter-inch and half-inch shanks. Use an insert explicitly suitable for your shank sizes or a correctly designed custom holder.

Can I put every adjacent hole into use?

Only if the cutter diameters and access allow it. Count usable positions after arranging the actual profiles, not just the molded or drilled holes.

Which tray would you buy first?

For a narrow drawer, the 71217 ↗. For a broad drawer and a collection with many quarter-inch shanks, the 71046 ↗. Measure the closed-drawer height before choosing either.