The Best Tool Chests
Nothing screams professional workspace louder than a quality tool chest. These boxes keep tools organized and easily accessible, so they're the go-to for both commercial garages and home workshops alike. Whether you're arranging a handful of hand tools, assembling a stash of spare parts, or carrying components to a job site, the tool chest is an essential accessory no matter your level of craftiness. Prepared below is a summary of our five favorite storage chests, ranging from compact options for space savers to enormous all-weather options for professionals and grab-and-go jobs.
Wen Garage Glider Rolling Tool Chest
Glide to Glory
Losing your tools is no laughing matter. WEN is here to ensure you never misplace another wrench. The Garage Glider main body features four rubber caster wheels fit for 360 degrees of motion thanks to high-quality ball bearings, as well as three deep drawers. The sides offer two ingenious folding magnetic trays, while the top flaunts a generously-padded, vinyl-coated seat. While the WEN Garage Glider is an absolute must-have for the grease monkey in your social orbit, we believe that it checks all the boxes as a general, multi-purpose garage and warehouse tool chest as well.
Pros:
- Includes a 2-year warranty
- Exterior side-mounted slots for frequently used tools
- Supports 350 lbs of weight
- Drawers also come with inserts and are magnetized as well
Cons:
- May be uncomfortable to sit on for taller individuals
CRAFTSMAN Tool Chest and Cabinet
Big Bad Box
In the umbrella categories of ‘tools’ and ‘outdoors,’ you won’t be scrolling for long before you run across a CRAFTSMAN product, and with good reason. CRAFTSMAN is a stalwart brand in the home improvement market that made its debut in the Sears catalog nearly a century ago, offering lifetime warranties on nearly all of its products. While this generous endorsement has been reined in somewhat since the 20th century, the Tool Chest and Cabinet combination is a testament to this brand’s legacy for heavy-duty designs. The four locking drawers on the tool chest are ideal for various hand tools, while the cabinet boasts a 500-pound weight limit and almost nine cubic feet of storage space.
Pros:
- Made in the USA
- Cabinet’s wheels lock and swivel
- Includes drawer liner roll
- 3-Year limited warranty
Cons:
- Drawer placement may interfere with the locking mechanism
Keter Rolling Tool Chest
The Master of Modular Management
Keter’s Rolling Tool Chest is the perfect addition to the growing garage or workshop. Keter’s chests feature interlocking tabs on the product’s exterior, which means as your storage needs grow, so too does your Rolling Tool Chest stack. The full product features four drawers 2 inches high and one drawer 5 inches high, boasting enough storage for both power and manual tools. Additionally, Keter utilizes polypropylene as its base material, a water-resistant polymer that doesn’t rust or dent, and comes in at a fraction of many metal competitors’ weight. When you need to store a wide variety of hardware, tools, and accessories in the most efficient way possible, look no further than Keter.
Pros:
- One lock for all drawers
- Includes 16 removable bins
- The top of the product doubles as a recessed parts tray
- Removeable wheels
Cons:
- Drawer rails should glide more smoothly
DEWALT TSTAK Tool Storage Organizer
Storage Never Stacked So Good
Our next recommendation isn’t so much one singular product, as it is an individualized storage solution. DEWALT is another formidable player in the tools and construction industry. It offers several self-contained tool chests, trollies, carts, and organizers that seamlessly lock into one another for effortless transportation and storage. For the handyman and casual tinkerer, the two-drawer case with 16.5-pound weight capacity should do the trick. Simultaneously, electrician-types may find use in both the Flat Top Toolbox to store power tools and the Clear-Lid Organizer for various wires, resistors, and diodes. If both professionals need to meet up with their plumber friend and her Long Handle Toolbox variation, all four storage units can be locked together on the TSTAK Trolley for easy transportation to the next construction site.
Pros:
- The load capacity is up to 200 lbs
- Trolley boasts two 360 degree swivel casters and two thick 7″ primary wheels
- Heavy-duty metal handles, drawer rails, and ball bearings
- Superior customer service
Cons:
- Some lost space due to poor interior design
Keter Masterloader Resin Rolling Tool Box
I Think I'll Roll With You
Keter returns for a second showing with a much more imposing toolbox in the Masterloader. For oversized items that are frequently on the go, Keter’s extra-large option boasts a simple design that can stand up to abuse and get your tools where they need to go. Regarding design, the unit features two sliding drawers which face upward, and feature six removable rubber bins. By unlocking and parting the plastic divide, you reveal the primary compartment, nearly a foot deep and perfect for securing larger tools. While some extra dividers for the bottom partition would have been nice, it’s hard to complain about the unrestricted space, sizeable wheels, and durable handle, so we won’t.
Pros:
- Extremely lightweight
- Weather-resistant
- The top drawer is translucent for ease of storage
Cons:
- The weight limit is only 66 pounds
- The locking feature is cheaply made
Frequently Asked Questions
I don’t have a garage or workshop, should I still buy a tool chest?
Absolutely. Tool chests have a wide variety of applications not just for carpenters and mechanics. Many tool chests feature translucent storage drawers and bins, which can be utilized in various crafts such as sewing, soldering, jewelry making, and many more. Furthermore, hard plastic or weather-resistant polymer chests are a great addition for camping or beach trips. Since most toolboxes have a healthy combination of both compartmental and open storage, as long as you’re not going too far off the beaten path, a tool chest will get your luggage where it needs to go.
What are the main factors I should consider when buying a tool chest?
The first factor to consider when purchasing a tool chest is your level of mobility. As far as movement is concerned, a tool chests’ mission statement typically does not feature constant transportation, although they’re rarely static. If you’re going to be constantly moving in and out of a workspace or ferrying your tools to a job site, a tool bag or toolbox may be more to your liking. Conversely, for projects that have one specific area, a workbench or pegboard would, in all likelihood, better suit your needs. The second most important factor to consider is storage and tool selection. As stated above, tool chests usually divvy up space evenly among numerous small components and bulky instruments; you need to pick the right partitions for your situation. Lastly, the miscellaneous features on tool chests are as numerous as they are ingenious; From drawer liners and locks to parts trays and bins, extra bells and whistles can be the difference between finishing a project on time or forgetting your circular saw before you even start.
About the Author
Why Trust Us
With the constantly shifting landscape in the world of technology, GameRevolution seeks to provide gamers and tech-enthusiasts with the information they need to select the right products for their needs. Since 1996, our experts have used their knowledge on all the latest gadgets – everything from headphones to standing desks – to help millions of people navigate specs and answer common questions.