
<PAGE>   1
                                   EXHIBIT 21


Subsidiaries of the Registrant:

<TABLE>
         <S>                                       <C>
         Bell Electronics Corp. (California)       (*)

         Bell Industries, Inc. (Minnesota)

         J. W. Miller Company (California)         (*)
</TABLE>





All companies listed are considered wholly owned by the Registrant (Bell
Industries, Inc. of Delaware) and are included in the consolidated financial
statements.



(*)      Inactive.





