The Akro-Mils 10116 is a compact 16-drawer cabinet for screws, fasteners, electrical connectors, craft pieces and other small items that disappear in larger bins. Its 10½-inch-wide frame stacks or mounts to a wall, every drawer is clear and dividable, and the exact cabinet is made in the United States. It is an efficient organizer when its small footprint matches the job, but buyers should expect a lightweight plastic shell, supply their own mounting hardware and verify that its six-inch drawers are large enough before ordering.
We verify manufacturing against primary exact-product evidence, analyze recurring owner feedback, and do not accept payment or free products for rankings. This is an independently researched review, not a hands-on test.
This review applies only to the Akro-Mils 10116: the black 16-drawer cabinet measuring 10½ inches wide, 6⅜ inches deep and 8½ inches high. Akro-Mils also sells 24-, 44- and 64-drawer cabinets. Those larger products are not interchangeable with the compact unit reviewed here, even when they share drawer materials or cabinet features.
Small footprint, sensible drawer layout
The 10116 uses a straightforward four-by-four grid. All sixteen drawers are the same size, so there is no mental sorting between large and small compartments. That consistency works well for machine screws, nuts, washers, terminals, picture-hanging hardware, beads, model-making parts and similar items that benefit from a dedicated visible home.
Each drawer measures 6 inches long, 2 7/32 inches wide and 1 9/16 inches high. Those dimensions matter more than the cabinet’s overall drawer count. The organizer is built for small parts, not hand tools, bulky fittings or deep containers. A buyer who skips the measurements may receive a cabinet that looks smaller than expected; size is one of the recurring mixed themes in the shared owner-feedback pool.
The clear drawers make a label optional for visually distinct parts and useful for pieces that look alike. Finger-grip pulls are easy to understand, while rear stop tabs let a drawer hang partially open without immediately falling out. For a workbench where the same fasteners are reached repeatedly, that simple access is the core advantage.
Stack it carefully or mount it securely
Akro-Mils says the cabinets stack securely and provides rear keyhole slots for wall mounting. Freestanding use is convenient when the cabinet will stay lightly loaded on a deep, stable surface. Mounting is the safer choice when drawers will hold metal hardware, children can reach the unit or the work surface gets bumped.
The exact cabinet does not include mounting hardware. That is sensible because the correct anchors depend on the wall, but it means installation is not an out-of-box job. Match screws and anchors to the wall material and expected load, keep the cabinet level, and confirm the heads fit the keyhole slots before filling every drawer.
The frame’s shallow depth is helpful in tight rooms, yet it also reduces resistance to tipping when heavy drawers are pulled forward. The cabinet is most convincing as a fixed organizer rather than something moved around while full.
Dividers add flexibility—with a catch
The drawers accept dividers, allowing a single six-inch drawer to hold two related groups of parts. Akro-Mils includes a limited number of dividers molded into the back of the cabinet frame. The economical idea avoids loose pieces in the box, but the user must remove and trim them before use. Additional dividers are sold separately.
That approach is functional rather than polished. Anyone expecting a full set of pre-cut dividers for all sixteen drawers will be disappointed. Plan the layout first: divide only the categories that truly need it, leave enough finger space to retrieve tiny parts, and use front labels when adjacent compartments contain similar fasteners.
Rear stop tabs are another modest but useful feature. They reduce accidental spills during normal access, though drawers remain removable when lifted past the stops. This is not a locking system, and the cabinet is not intended to secure hazardous or valuable items.
What owners consistently report
The selected product-family listing showed 4.5 out of 5 from 55,343 global ratings on October 26, 2026. The large pool covers multiple cabinet variants, so it is best used to identify recurring design themes rather than calculate an exact satisfaction rate for model 10116 alone.
Organization and visibility are the clearest strengths. Owners repeatedly use the family for hardware, hobby supplies, building pieces and children’s craft items. Clear drawers and a dense grid turn mixed piles into categories that can be scanned quickly.
Size expectations cause avoidable disappointment. Some buyers praise the compact dimensions; others say their cabinet was smaller than expected. Both reactions can be true because Akro-Mils offers several similar-looking configurations. Comparing the official cabinet and drawer dimensions with the intended parts is essential.
Durability feedback is mixed. Many owners describe long service and smooth drawers, while some report damaged frames or brittle-feeling components. Shipping condition, cabinet size, load and mounting method can all affect that experience. The 10116’s plastic construction is appropriate for organized small parts, but it should not be treated like an impact-resistant industrial chest.
Divider expectations need managing. Owners value the ability to subdivide drawers, but the molded-in limited set is less convenient than a complete pack of finished inserts. That limitation is easier to accept when disclosed before purchase.
Made in USA verification
- Exact model: Akro-Mils’ current product page identifies the 16-drawer cabinet as model 10116.
- Exact image record: the manufacturer’s image-library entry names the black 16-drawer 10116 and displays it within Akro-Mils’ “Proudly Made in the USA” site context.
- Manufacturing context: Akro-Mils identifies its manufacturing operation in Wadsworth, Ohio, and says the vast majority of its products are manufactured in the United States.
- Scope: our classification is limited to this exact 10116 cabinet and does not automatically cover every Akro-Mils item or accessory.
We classify the exact Akro-Mils 10116 as Made in USA. The model-level manufacturer page, exact official image record and current U.S.-manufacturing statements agree. As with any long-lived catalog product, buyers who require origin documentation for a regulated purchase should retain the current product page and confirm the physical label received.
Specifications
| Product reviewed | Akro-Mils 16 Drawer Plastic Storage Cabinet |
| Exact model | 10116 |
| Configuration | 16 equal-size clear drawers in a 4 × 4 layout |
| Cabinet dimensions | 10½ × 6⅜ × 8½ in. (W × D × H) |
| Drawer dimensions | 6 × 2 7/32 × 1 9/16 in. |
| Mounting | Stackable; wall-mountable with rear keyhole slots |
| Drawer features | Clear, dividable, finger-grip pull, rear stop tab |
| Dividers | Limited quantity molded into the rear frame; additional dividers available separately |
| Mounting hardware | Not included |
| Origin | Made in USA |
| Owner rating | 4.5 / 5 from 55,343 pooled family ratings, checked October 26, 2026 |
Who should buy it?
Choose the 10116 when you need a compact, fixed organizer for many small categories and can verify that six-inch drawers fit the contents. It is especially well suited to a narrow workbench, electronics station, sewing or craft area, model-building desk, or maintenance shelf where visibility matters more than portability.
Choose a larger Akro-Mils configuration when you have more categories, need mixed drawer sizes or want a cabinet that spans more wall space. Choose bins or a steel drawer system when the contents are bulky, extremely heavy or exposed to hard shop impacts. And choose a lidded portable organizer when parts need to travel without spilling.
Pros & cons
Pros: exact-model Made in USA evidence; sixteen clear equal-size drawers; compact 10½-inch width; stackable and wall-mountable design; rear drawer stops; dividable compartments; no assembly required; easy visual inventory; useful for fasteners, electrical pieces, craft supplies and model parts; and strong pooled family owner sentiment for organization and functionality.
Cons: smaller than listing photos may suggest; plastic frame is not a steel tool cabinet; mounting hardware is not included; only a limited number of dividers are molded into the rear frame; dividers require removal and cleanup; pooled rating includes other configurations; durability feedback varies; drawers do not lock; and dense hardware makes secure mounting more important.
Should you buy it?
Yes—if your parts are truly small and your available space is not.
The Akro-Mils 10116 earns a recommendation because it uses a small footprint intelligently, keeps sixteen categories visible and provides exact-model U.S.-manufacturing evidence. Its limits are equally clear: the drawers are shallow, the plastic shell needs sensible loading, mounting hardware is your responsibility and the included dividers are sparse. Measure the parts first, plan a secure location and the 10116 should be a practical long-term antidote to bench-top clutter.