An organizer for holding surgical instruments includes a tray that has instrument wells extending from the top surface of the tray. The shape of each instrument well corresponds to particular surgical instruments shapes. Each wells depth corresponds to the height of a particular stack of surgical instruments. Pivoting locking bars extend over each instrument well to a locked position and prevent adding or removing any instruments. When the bar extends over the instrument well, it rests against the top-most instrument if the well is full. If any instruments are missing from their well, part of the locking bar projects above the trays surface. Thus, one can notice quickly whether all instrument wells are full. The locking bar also may pivot over the instruments. The tray may have a plunger that projects about the trays top surface if any surgical tools have not been returned to the tray.
