Best Valet Trays to Stay Organized in 2023

“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	Buy Now

The Best Valet Trays for Your EDC Gear

The Best Overall Valet Tray: Holme and Hadfield Nightstand Organizer

Purchase

Key Features

Phone docking slot

Hidden cable pathing

Drawer for extra gear

Specifications

Dimensions

7.1” x 4.3” x 6.5”

Weight

33.44 oz

Materials

Wood

EDC Rating

113 ratings

Price

$

There’s no need to overthink it. The best valet tray for most people is the one that is the most versatile, which in this case is the Holme and Hadfield nightstand organizer. With dimensions of 7.1” x 4.3” x 6.5”, this valet tray is large enough to hold all your essentials without being too big and bulky to fit on your nightstand. It’s made entirely of solid wood save for a soft felt section on top perfect for things like your keys or glasses. There’s even a charging dock for your phone and a small drawer for any extra items that might not get used daily, but you still want to keep within arms’ reach should you need them. Whether you’re looking to gift this to someone you know or just want to treat yourself to something nice, this should check all the boxes.

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The Best Valet Tray on a Budget: The Ridge Valet Tray

Purchase

Key Features

In-unit cable fastener

Reversible carbon logo plate

Perforated leather footings

Specifications

Dimensions

7.5" x 12" x 2.3"

Weight

9 oz

Materials

PC + ABS

EDC Rating

17 ratings

Price

$

If you’re not looking to break the bank but still want something that will hold your most essential items, check out the Valet Tray from The Ridge. It has a PC + ABS construction for the base plate, but inside each cutout are anti-slip inserts that give you a soft place to place your items securely when you walk in the door. It has cutouts perfectly shaped to fit wallets, knives, your iPhone, and even a dedicated place for a ring, so you’ll always have a place for it when you take it off. The dimensions are 7.5” x 12” x 2.3”, so it’ll also keep a low profile on your desk or nightstand. The best part is that The Ridge has a 99-day free trial where if you don’t end up liking it you can just send it back, so it should definitely be on your shortlist.

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The Most Premium Valet Tray: Grovemade Desk Tray

Purchase

Key Features

Cork bed

Fits under Desk Shelves

Made in the USA

Specifications

Dimensions

1.5” x 13” x 8.75”

Weight

N/A

Materials

5052 aluminum, cork

EDC Rating

Just released

Price

$$$

If you want premium, look no further than Grovemade. This company has plenty of experience making top-notch EDC gear from its headquarters in Portland, Oregon. While not cheap, the Desk Tray is one of the best-made valet trays you’ll find. The frame is made entirely of aluminum, while the natural cork inside is shaped to give you four different compartments for your EDC items. If you have a Grovemade Desk Shelf, you’ll find that this slides perfectly into the shelf as well. That said, the desk tray is perfectly functional all on its own, even if this is your only piece of Grovemade gear.

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The Best Valet Tray for Devices: mophie 4-in-1 Wireless Charging Mat

Purchase

Key Features

Charges up to 5 devices

Qi-compatible charging

Apple Watch mount

Specifications

Dimensions

11.14" x 7.68" x 0.51"

Weight

N/A

Material

TPU

EDC Rating

800 ratings

Price

$$$

If you find that more and more of your EDC is becoming battery-powered, then it might be worth checking out the mophie 4-in-1 Wireless Charging Mat instead of your traditional valet tray. This charging mat is perfect for all Qi-compatible devices, including most modern smartphones and earbuds. There’s even a mount for your Apple Watch to keep all your devices charged without a rat's nest of charging cables. This uses just a single cable that plugs into the mat; then, all your devices can draw power from that.

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The Most Weather-Resistant Valet Tray: The Brown Buffalo STORMPROOF Valet Tray

Purchase

Key Features

Twisted multifilament nylon thread

Phthalate-free

Made in the USA

Specifications

Dimensions

2.0" x 8.0" x 6.0"

Weight

N/A

Material

500D STORMPROOF nylon

EDC Rating

Just released

Price

$

Sometimes you might need a valet tray that isn’t just for the house. In that case, check out the Brown Buffalo Stormproof valet tray. While you can use it to throw your keys into at the end of a long day, it’s also small and light enough to take with you whenever you travel or go camping. It’s made of 500D nylon fabric that makes it resistant to bad weather, so your gear stays dry. It’s worth mentioning that Brown Buffalo offers a variety of valet trays ranging from CORDURA black multicam to green, but they’re all out of stock at the time of this writing. So if the STORMPROOF black color doesn’t suit your style, keep an eye out for a restock.

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Orbitkey Nest

Purchase

Key Features

Wireless charging

Cards and loose item storage on the inside lid

Customizable dividers

Specifications

Dimensions

10.83" x 6.1" x 2.09"

Weight

‎10.2 oz

Material

PC shell, nylon poly melange fabric, genuine leather

EDC Rating

305 ratings

Price

$$

The Orbitkey Nest combines two useful products into one. Not only can you use it as a valet tray with a built-in wireless charger on the lid, but it’s also a convenient carrying case for your entire EDC. Elastic nylon wraps around to secure it shut while you’re on the move, and then once you get back home or to the office, you have all your gear in a neat desk organizer. The padded internal compartment has multiple sleeves and elastic pouches for items like SD cards, charging cables, AirPods, or even spare keys, but there is also a large compartment to hold your main EDC items or any spare ones that don’t fit in your pockets. If you tend to bring a bunch of smaller EDC items back and forth with you to the office every day, the Orbitkey Nest is a great option to consolidate them all into one easy solution.

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Dango EDC Tray Bundle

Purchase

Key Features

CNC-machined construction

Integrated cable routing

DTEX pads for extra protection

Specifications

Dimensions

11“ x 8.4” x 0.75“

Weight

N/A

Material

Aluminum, DTEX

EDC Rating

2 ratings

Price

$$$$

Dango might sound familiar if you’ve ever looked at our best wallets buying guides, but the company makes all kinds of quality gear, including EDC valet trays. This bundle comes with two minimalist trays designed to hold all your gear. The frame is made from solid CNC-milled aluminum and has cavities of different sizes that can hold almost anything you have in your carry, from your keys and wallet to a pen. If you want a little extra cushion, you can also get optional DTEX pads that will give the tray a soft bottom.

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DEFY CLUTTER Tray

Purchase

Key Features

Premium leather

Brass snaps

Handcrafted in the USA

Specifications

Dimension

6.25" x 6.25" x 2"

Weight

8 oz

Material

Horween leather

EDC Rating

Just released

Price

$

Sometimes a simple catch-all is the best valet tray. If all you need is a quality place to dump your gear into at the end of the day, look no further than the Defy Clutter leather valet tray. Made of a single piece of high-quality Horween leather, this 6.25” x 6.25” x 2” catchall tray is perfect for holding everything from your keys to your EDC knife or any other smaller essentials. Just snap the brass rivets together, and you’re good to go. The benefit of this handcrafted style of valet tray too is that it’s easy to pack up and bring with you while traveling too. You can choose from two classic colors to better match your style, so if you’re in the market for a high-quality leather catchall, look no further.

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Craighill Nocturn Catch Valet Tray

Purchase

Key Features

Smooth satin finish

Three wood options

Made in the USA

Specifications

Dimension

7.5" x 11" x .75"

Weight

13 oz

Material

American hardwood

EDC Rating

19 ratings

Price

$

If you want a minimalist wooden valet tray that won’t look like a mess when you dump all your gear onto it, check out the Craighill Nocturn Catch. This catchall valet tray is made of solid wood and comes in three options: walnut, maple, or black. It maintains a low profile with dimensions of 7.5” x 11” x 0.75” with a small raised section in the middle that acts as a divider. If you want a sleek, gorgeous catch-all that’s as much a statement piece as a practical tool, then you should give the Nocturn Catch a chance.

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Best 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.