“A place for everything, and everything in its place,” as the saying goes. If you’ve ever had a hard time finding your gear before heading out the door or misplaced a part of your EDC because it’s scattered all over your desk, having a valet tray for all your EDC gear helps keep you neat, organized, and out the door in a jiffy.
A good catchall tray provides a flat, soft surface for storing your daily items when not in your pockets. It keeps everything in sight and in one place and prevents your gear from getting scratched or damaging your desk or nightstand. There are many options in design and materials for your EDC kit’s landing zone, from supple premium leather to tough molded Kydex to CNC-machined aluminum. Some valet trays even have dedicated compartments sized just right to fit specific things, like your wallet, watch, or keys.
As with all things EDC, picking one that fits your exact needs is essential, and we’ve got you covered with different sizes of nightstand or desk real estate to match your personal loadout. Wallet, watch, pen, knife, multi-tool, keychain, plus loose change—it’s all there and ready to go when you are.
In this guide, we break down some of the best valet trays that give you a place to unload your EDC at the end of the day. Whether it’s a simple single-compartment valet tray, one with plenty of organization compartments, or even one that helps you keep your gear sanitized, there are plenty of choices in optimizing your daily pocket loading and unloading routine.
Our Top Picks
The Best Overall Valet Tray: Holme and Hadfield Nightstand Organizer [Buy]
The Best Valet Tray on a Budget: The Ridge Valet Tray [Buy]
The Most Premium Valet Tray: Grovemade Desk Tray [Buy] / [Full Review]
The Best Valet Tray for Devices: mophie 4-in-1 Wireless Charging Mat [Buy]
The Most Weather-Resistant Valet Tray: The Brown Buffalo STORMPROOF Valet Tray [Buy]
Holme and Hadfield Nightstand Organizer | The Ridge Valet Tray | Grovemade Desk Tray | mophie 4-in-1 Wireless Charging Mat | The Brown Buffalo STORMPROOF Valet Tray |
 |  |  |  |  |
| $ | $ | $$$ | $$$ | $ |
| Dimensions: 7.1” x 4.3” x 6.5” | Dimensions: 7.5″ x 12.0″ x 2.3″ | Dimensions: 1.5” x 13” x 8.75” | Dimensions: 11.14″ x 7.68″ x 0.51″ | Dimensions: 2.0″ x 8.0″ x 6.0″ |
| Materials: Wood | Materials: PC + ABS | Materials: Aluminum | Materials: TPU | Materials: 500D nylon |
| Key Features: Drawer for extra gear | Key Features: In-unit cable fastener | Key Features: Fits under Desk Shelves | Key Features: Charges up to 5 devices | Key Features: Portable and weather-resistant |
| Buy Now | Buy Now | Buy Now | Buy Now |
The Best Valet Trays for Your EDC Gear
The Best Overall Valet Tray: Holme and Hadfield Nightstand Organizer
Purchase
The Best Valet Tray on a Budget: The Ridge Valet Tray
Purchase
The Most Premium Valet Tray: Grovemade Desk Tray
Purchase
The Best Valet Tray for Devices: mophie 4-in-1 Wireless Charging Mat
Purchase
The Most Weather-Resistant Valet Tray: The Brown Buffalo STORMPROOF Valet Tray
Purchase
Orbitkey Nest
Purchase
Dango EDC Tray Bundle
Purchase
DEFY CLUTTER Tray
Purchase
Craighill Nocturn Catch Valet Tray
PurchaseBest Valet Tray FAQs
What do you put in a valet tray?
A men’s valet tray is typically used as a central place to empty your pockets of small items at the end of the day. For most people, that means keys, a wallet, spare pocket change, a pocket knife, and a tool or two. That said, everyone’s EDC is different, so we also mentioned valet trays that can double as a charging station or carrying case when needed.
Where do you keep a valet tray?
A valet tray usually goes in your home’s entryway, on a nightstand, or even on your desk. You can put it wherever you typically empty your pockets and unwind for the day or in a prominent place you can’t miss as you walk out the door. The point is to keep all your most essential items together so nothing gets forgotten or lost.
How to make a valet tray?
You don’t have to buy a valet tray if you don’t want to. As with anything, making your own can be rewarding all on its own and adds a bit of personal flair to the object, especially if you know your way around Italian leather, good wood, or natural fibers like merino wool. Even a simple wooden bowl can act as an excellent dump tray. Making your own valet tray can be a great project, but as a full-blown how-to, it’s beyond the scope of this article, so instead, we highlight the artisans that have spent years perfecting their methods.
Why is it called a valet tray?
A valet tray likely traces its origins to the clothes valet, a piece of furniture used to hang clothing that can be worn multiple times before being washed (like suits or pants). Some of these furniture pieces even had built-in accessory stands to hold small valuable items like watches, rings, or cufflinks.
How We Picked
Decades of experience and deep connections in the everyday carry industry give us a unique viewpoint on the market to inform our product recommendations. We have the depth of information for thousands of products that have come before and an extensive eye on the market to see what’s new and trending for each piece of gear. The result is a buying guide that we feel is informative and useful for EDCers of every trade, industry, and budget.
What is Everyday Carry?
Everyday Carry is both the concept of what people carry in their pockets and the process of picking out gear that thoughtfully considers what one wants or needs in their daily life. It encompasses everything from style to preparedness to utility, meaning an entire industry full of valuable tools and essentials to choose from.
Why You Should Trust Us
Our team has decades of combined experience in all aspects of everyday men’s essentials, from wallets to pens to bags and everything in between, and we know where to find great gear ideas that you may not come across at your local stores or when shopping online. Our expertise in the industry and familiarity with design, materials, and usability help you make more informed choices when it comes to picking up your next piece of gear.
