Simple Headphone Storage Solutions

As technology continues to play a significant role in education, headphones have become an essential tool in the classroom. They help students focus on their work, listen to audio materials, and participate in online discussions.

However, with multiple students using earphones and earbuds, it can be challenging to keep them organized and prevent them from getting lost or damaged.

Headphone storage, particularly in the classroom when you can have up to 40 sets or more, can be challenging.  Finding a storage bag or case that not only fits everything in, but also is easily accessible to students is always a task.

Whether you have traditional large ear headphones for listening centers or computers or instead have small earbuds that have never-ending tangled cords, here are some of the best storage solutions for classroom teachers everywhere!

Quick Tips for Headphone and Earbuds Organization

1. Assign a designated storage area

One of the simplest ways to organize headphones is by assigning a designated storage area for each student. You can use labeled bins or baskets to store earphones and earbuds. This method ensures that each student has their own headphones and reduces the risk of them getting lost or mixed up.

2. Use a hanging organizer

A hanging organizer is another clever solution for storing multiple headphones in the classroom. You can hang it on the wall or on the back of a door, making it easy for students to access their headphones when needed. This method also saves space and keeps your classroom clutter-free.

3. Create a DIY headphone stand

If you’re looking for a fun DIY project, you can create a headphone stand using materials such as PVC pipes or wooden dowels. This solution not only provides an organized storage space but also adds a touch of creativity to your classroom.

4. Use magnetic hooks

Magnetic hooks are an excellent hack for storing earphones and earbuds in the classroom. You can attach them to metal surfaces such as cabinets or whiteboards, making it easy for students to grab their headphones when needed.

5. Label your headphones

Labeling your headphones is an effective way to prevent them from getting mixed up or lost. You can use colored stickers or markers to label each student’s headphones with their name or class number. Bonus hack: Keep reading below to grab your FREE editable labels!

DIY Headphone Storage Racks

PVC Pipe Solutions!:  Have a low to nonexistent classroom budget left?  No worries!  You can make your own headphone storage stand with some simple supplies from the hardware store.

Hang Your Headphones Anywhere with Two Binder Clips:  Love this idea because it can easily be moved anywhere in the room you need it to be throughout the school year.

Use a box for storage:  This solution is easy!  Grab a box with a lid and  cardboard tube (I would suggest something sturdy like a cardboard mailer).  Cut some hole in the box and slide in your tube.  Toss your headphones along the rod and done!

Command hooks to the rescue every time!:  Keep the headphones right at the computer station by attaching a command hook on the side of the monitor.  Cords will stay put and no reason for students to mess around with the plugs or adapters either!

Mesh Wall Hanger:  Perfect for smaller headphones.  You can also label each student’s name on the pocket for easy retrieval too!

Hanging crates:  How perfect is this?  Grab some file crates and stack them.  {Hint:  use zip ties to connect them together.}  Make sure to add some heavy textbooks to the crates to keep them grounded.  Then, add some baskets on the side with book rings.  Use the baskets for storing your headphone stash!

Drying rack:  This has to be one of my faves!  Grab a clothing dry rack at the local big box store and place it along a wall in the classroom where the technology is conveniently located.  Pop your headphones on the bars and you’re good to go!

Ribbon and name tag clips:  A great solution for a listening center when you only have a handful of headphones to store.  Hot glue the ribbon to the wall and then add name tag clips on the phones and the ribbon to connect.  The radio unit on the floor makes it a perfect spot for listening skill centers all week long.

Towel bars:  Oh yeah – very clever for sure.  Get as many as you need for your class.  They can be stacked horizontally or vertically – and the best part?  You can display them at student height for super simple student access.

Repurpose a coat tree:  Get crafty and add in some extra “hangers” with long screws covered with pool noodles.

Over the door shoe organizer:  You can even store this behind the classroom door which makes it “hidden” until the materials are needed.

Another example of a shoe organizer:  This one has the headphones sitting inside in a different orientation.

Fabric basket:  Cute and super functional!

Home decor display rack:  Normally I display candles or baskets with handles on my racks like this at home, but I adore how this teacher chose to place headphones on the pegs instead.  Another tip?  These are BROKEN sets that are used for kids who need a sensory break from extra noise in the room.  #love

Mega shoe organizer:  By having the pockets face horizontally, this particular organizer is able to hold far more sets of materials.

Quilt racks:  Also another genius idea from a fellow educator!  This particular example is great because it appears it is made of a heavy iron rod too, which means no buckling and tipping over on any students.

Best Storage Units for Earbuds

Now, if you have ear buds to contend with in the classroom, you also understand the frustrating hours of unraveling them after students toss them all in one big pile as they rush out to recess.

Ear buds might be compact and take up less space, but they certainly have organizational challenges of their own.  Let’s take a look at a few great tips for containing these corded wonders.

Tackle box:  Fishing lures?  Nope.  A bunch of wiring ear buds?  You bet.  Love this idea because it easily travels to the computer lab if needed as well.  No sharing here.  Everyone has their own sanitary set.

Rolling cart organization:  This idea is handy for moving around the classroom for various needs.  Each student has their own device, headphones, jump drive, and/or peripherals.  The cart makes it a snap to get from place to place in the room where it’s needed.

Plastic containers for the win:  These little containers are super cheap at the dollar store!  Use them for individual earphone storage cases.  Label with student names and drop them all in a basket for easy travel.

Shower rods aren’t just for bathrooms anymore:  What a super idea!  Grab a shower curtain and some rod hooks.  Then, duct tape the edges of large baggies, pop the hook through, and label them with student names.  They are even clear to see through.

Crafting supply box:  This storage case creates the perfect sized spot for ear bud sets for each student in the classroom.  Take it a step further and add in student numbers to be able to use from year to year without needing to change out names.

There you have it!   Oodles of ideas for storing headphones and earbuds in your classroom!

Organizing headphones in the classroom doesn’t have to be complicated.

By using these tips and solutions, you can keep your classroom clutter-free and ensure that each student has access to their own headphones when needed.

Whether you choose to assign a designated storage area or create a DIY headphone stand, these ideas will help you find the best way to organize earphones and earbuds in your classroom.

Need some student name labels for your listening devices? Grab them below and edit names using Powerpoint or Google Slides!

Click here to email your freebie

Do you have another idea not shown above?  Or do you have a favorite from above?  We would love to hear about it!  Please leave a comment below and have a chat!

Talk to you soon,

~Charity