Board games today are more beautiful—and more component-heavy—than ever. And while that’s great for gameplay, it often leaves players wondering: How am I supposed to organize all of this?
Whether you're a casual gamer, a family game night enthusiast, or someone who alphabetizes their game shelves by game weight (you're awesome!), having a way to organize your game pieces can make all the difference. It speeds up setup, prevents lost components, and helps you get the most out of your gaming time. Let’s break down your main options for organizing: plastic baggies, custom inserts, and BitsBins.
Option 1: The Classic – Plastic Baggies
Most board games come with some version of resealable plastic baggies. These are the “default” option for a reason—they're cheap, light, and easy to replace.
Pros:
- Cost-effective
- Simple to use
- Keeps small parts from getting mixed
Cons:
- Constant sorting and resorting
- Doesn’t help with game setup or in-game organization
- Easily torn or lost
- Not ideal for cards
- Can be frustrating to seal the bag closed
Plastic baggies can be fine for casual gamers or lightweight games. But if your game night starts with 20 minutes of un-bagging components and placing them on the game table, you’ve probably already outgrown this system.
Option 2: Custom Board Game Inserts
Custom inserts are often made of laser cut wood or foamcore, and they’re designed specifically for a single game. Some companies make gorgeous inserts that let every card, tile, and token slot into a labeled compartment inside your game box.
Pros:
- Tailored fit for a specific game
- Can speed up setup
- Visually appealing
Cons:
- A bit more expensive
- Usually not transferable to other games
- Typically can't use if you want to store games on their side
- Not modular or adjustable
Custom inserts can be great when you have a forever game like Gloomhaven or Terraforming Mars that you play often and want to treat like royalty. But they aren’t always the most practical or flexible option—especially if expansions get added later or if the insert doesn’t actually help much during gameplay.
Option 3: BitsBins – Modular Storage for Real-Life Play
This is where BitsBins comes in. Unlike fixed inserts or floppy baggies, BitsBins are modular plastic containers specifically designed for board game organization. They’re stackable, come in a variety of sizes, and help with both in-box storage and on-the-table gameplay.
Pros:
- Modular design
- Cost effective
- Easy box to table setup
- Transferable to other games
- Will outlast your game
Cons:
- Can be tricky to know what size you need
- Not as visually appealing as a custom game inserts
So why do board gamers love BitsBins?
Stackable, modular sizes: Whether you’re sorting tokens, dice, tiles, or cards (sleeved or unsleeved), there’s a BitsBin for that.
Smooth table-to-box transitions: Our containers are designed to go straight from storage to play. No extra dumping or sorting needed.
Cost Effective: ALA-Carte options to customize your game with exactly what you need. BONUS: if/when you decide to donate or sell your game, keep the BitsBins and use for another game.
Don't know what you need to organize a specific game?
We’ve created curated sets for games like Clank! Catacombs, Wingspan, Quacks of Quedlinburg, Canvas, and Earth that fit right back into the original box.
BitsBins can organize card games!
Uno, PHASE10 and Magic: The Gathering work well in the extra deep Card box and even sleeved Dixit cards fit in the Tarot-size box.
And here’s something we hear all the time from BitsBins users:
“I didn’t realize how much time I was wasting setting up games until I started using these.”
and this one
"These bins are perfect for organizing your game and keeping everything in its place. You no longer need to drag out a pile of trays every time you play, everything is already organized and ready to go. Easy cleanup too! "
Why Organize at All?
We get it—organizing your games may not sound as exciting as actually playing them. But here’s the truth: the smoother your setup and cleanup, the more often you’ll actually play your games. And when your components are neatly sorted and easy to access, it changes the entire experience.
Benefits of organized board game storage:
- Faster game night setup (less time sorting, more time playing)
- Easier to teach new players when things are accessible
- Prevents damage to cards and components
- Reduces stress and makes your collection feel more enjoyable
- Faster cleanup
Plus, if you’ve ever watched a game hit the table, only to be abandoned because “it takes too long to set up,” you already know how important this is.
Which One Is Right for You?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, and that’s okay. Here’s a quick summary:
| Organizer Type | Best For | Key Drawbacks |
| Plastic Baggies | Light games, casual players | Constant sorting, flimsy |
| Custom Inserts | Dedicated fans of one game | Expensive, fixed layout |
| BitsBins | Players with a growing collection who value setup speed, modularity, and flexibility | May take a few tries to find your ideal game storage layout |
If you’re someone who loves playing games and loves when game night flows smoothly, BitsBins hits the sweet spot. They're durable, easy to use and satisfyingly stackable—and most importantly, they adapt to how you play.
Final Thoughts
Your time is valuable, and game night should be fun—not frustrating. Whether you’re organizing a sprawling Eurogame, a fast-paced card game, or just trying to keep your family’s favorites nice and tidy, investing in a better storage solution can genuinely improve your gaming experience.
And if you’re ready to see how BitsBins can work for your games, check out our curated sets or grab a free sampler set to test out our most popular sizes.
Because a little organization goes a long way—and trust us, your game night will thank you.