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My family has a collection of secondhand puzzles gifted to us by friends who pass them along after they’re done putting them together. We also have access to additional puzzles through our public library. Finding a good spot in the house to assemble puzzles can be a challenge, though. Leaving a half-assembled puzzle out on the dining room table or on the coffee table in our sunroom is not a good long-term option. We also need those spaces for other things.
I’ve looked into buying a puzzle organizer, which consists of a portable wooden surface that rests on a tabletop. It usually features drawers for organizing and storing puzzle pieces as you work. It can be picked up and moved when necessary, and because it’s flat, you can slide it under a bed or couch when you want to move it out of the way.
However, most puzzle organizers on Amazon go for around $50 to $90, which is more than I want to spend since I’m just a casual puzzle person and don’t do puzzles all the time.
Of course, Aldi came to my aid. For the first time ever, the discount grocer is selling a puzzle organizer.
The Huntington Home 1,000 Piece Puzzle Organizer is an Aldi Find, which means it’s only in stores for a short time. Each store gets one shipment, and after that sells out, it’s gone unless Aldi decides to bring it back later. Aldi does not offer online ordering for this if it’s sold out at your local store.
The puzzle organizer cost $24.99 at the time of publication. That’s at least half the cost of similarly sized puzzle organizers on Amazon.
Details on the back of the box. (Click to enlarge.)
Here’s more information about the Aldi puzzle organizer, according to the box:
- Fits 1,000 puzzle pieces (some Aldi Reviewer readers have commented that, depending on the type of puzzle, it may not fit all 1,000-piece puzzles)
- Dimensions: 30″ long x 22″ wide x 1.9″ high
- Includes four sliding drawers and non-slip feet
- Sliding drawers come with both rope handles and bamboo knobs
- Magnetic closures help keep drawers closed
- Includes a cover to protect your progress
- Features a swivel system for steady rotation
Out of the box, with its protective cover.
This is sold under the Huntington Home brand, which is not a company. It’s the private label Aldi uses for assorted home goods.
The back of the box states the supplier for this puzzle organizer is Rank Sharp Industries Ltd. Their website indicates they are “an innovative and sustainable global sourcing company. A leader in storage, organization, home decor and fragrance.” They also state they specialize in developing house brands. Some of the other products shown on their website, such as kitchen organizers, look like things I’ve seen at Aldi before. I also noticed that they feature Aldi-branded food and laundry products in photos of some of their home organization products.
Opening the Box:
The puzzle organizer is pretty much fully assembled when you unbox it. Mine came with rope handles in all four drawers. I found a small sealed bag inside one of the drawers containing four bamboo knobs and four screws, so if I decide to swap the rope handles for knobs, I’ll just need to use my own phillips screwdriver. I’ve opted to use the rope handles for now.
A bag with knobs and screws tucked inside one of the drawers.
This is impressive right out of the box. The construction feels sturdy. The swivel system on the bottom moves smoothly. The plastic semi-clear protective cover is a nice feature to keep your pet cat from messing with your puzzle pieces when you aren’t looking.
Instructions for putting in the rope handles or screws. My organizer came with the rope handles attached. (Click to enlarge.)
Using the Puzzle Organizer:
Without the plastic cover.
I initially tried this puzzle organizer with a simple 300-piece puzzle and it worked great. It has a decent-sized workspace, and the drawers offer some nice extra space. The swivel feature is cool if you’re working a puzzle with a couple of people or if you simply want to look more closely at part of your puzzle.
This organizer features a small raised lip around three of the four sides to keep your puzzle from sliding off. One of the long sides has no lip, and you should position this side facing you so you can easily grab and slide pieces off the surface to pick them up.
The swivel mechanism on the bottom.
When you need to move the puzzle organizer, it can be a bit awkward if you need to carry it through a door. It’s best if you carry it with the narrower side closest to your body, and go slowly so you don’t chip your doorframes.
Puzzle in progress.
The storage drawers are handy for organizing pieces.
The puzzle organizer weighs about 12 pounds. I determined this by weighing myself on my home scale when I was holding the organizer and when I was not holding it and subtracted the difference. It doesn’t feel too heavy or hard to lift for me, and I think most people should be able to lift it without too much trouble.
With the plastic cover over the puzzle in progress.
The Verdict:
The Huntington Home 1,000 Piece Puzzle Organizer is a great budget-friendly way to organize the current puzzle you’re working on. You can place it on any flat surface — a dining room or kitchen table, a coffee table, desk, kitchen island, or wherever. When you want to move it out of the way, you can simply pick it up and move it without worrying about your puzzle falling apart. It features a cool swivel system on the base, and it includes four storage drawers for organizing your pieces. This puzzle organizer costs a lot less than similar organizers from other retailers and is one of the more useful Aldi Finds we’ve bought recently. If you’re an avid puzzle person, we highly recommend this.
