A parts organizer receives small parts such as mechanical fasteners in bulk form and organizes a plurality of the parts in a common desired orientation. Unoriented parts are received on top of a parts holder and subsequently moved along an upper side of the parts holder by an agitator. A plurality of receptacles are formed in the parts holder and open on its upper side. Each receptacle is configured to hold one of the parts in the desired orientation and may include a lead-in feature to help reorient the parts as they encounter the receptacles during movement. A retaining wall operates to contain unheld parts at the upper side of the parts holder during a parts organizing step and to allow the agitator to clear unheld parts away from the upper side of the parts holder during a purge step.