Table of Contents
- View The Best Tool Chest Below
- 1. Craftsman 3-Drawer Metal Portable Chest Toolbox
- 2. Milwaukee Drawer Tool Chest
- 3. Goplus Tool Chest
- 4. Craftsman Chest Box
- 5. Husky 5-Drawer Roller Cabinet
- 6. Keter Masterloader Resin Rolling Tool Box
- 7. DEWALT TSTAK Tool Box with Wheels
- 8. Montezuma SM200B Toolbox
- 9. Husky 5-Drawer Tool Chest
- 10. Goplus 6-Drawer Rolling Tool Chest
- Tool Chests Buyer’s Guide
Having the best tool chest is key to any mechanical worker’s organization and efficiency, whether at work or at home. Knowing where all your tools are at any given time can save so much more time than you probably even realize – we speak from experience here!
Becoming lax with keeping your workspace tidy – whether at your place of work or just in your garage at home – will quickly result in tools becoming impossible to find. Sometimes it can take literally hours to simply find a socket that’s the right size for the one bolt you need to take off – you’re guaranteed to find it in the very last place you look because that’s how Murphy’s law works.
Tool chests are the key to this. As your tool arsenal builds, so must your storage capability. Some tools come in cases or stands, such as ratchets or screwdrivers. But some of your tools will come just as they are or in sleeves. For these tools – or the others too, if you don’t have the space to keep the boxes and stands safely – a tool chest offers exactly what you need to keep everything safe, secure, and organized, ready to be used at a moment’s notice. They come with drawers and cabinets that help you put everything in order.
We have compiled ten examples of what we believe to currently be the best tool chests available on today’s market, as well as a buyer’s guide to help guide your thoughts and decide what product might be best for your needs.
We hope you find this article exploring the best tool chests useful.
View The Best Tool Chest Below
1. Craftsman 3-Drawer Metal Portable Chest Toolbox
This toolbox is ideal for storage due to the size of it but is the best toolbox in this list for other reasons too. This sturdy toolbox not only has the usual latches to lock down the lid, but it also has the option to be locked with a padlock, meaning the box can’t accidentally open, keeping your tools protected and secure.
This sturdy metal box has drawers that slide smoothly, giving you the ease of use, and when the lid is put down, a removable locking bar engages down the back of the box, securing the drawers in place. The entire tool chest is solid, sturdy, and durable, and has smooth latches and hinges that hold in tools with ease.
Pros:
+ Extra secure locking available
+ Sturdy
+ Removable locking bar
Why We Like It – We particularly liked this chest tool box because of the removable locking bar, which secures the drawers in place, making it safer to use. The option to add a padlock provides added security.
2. Milwaukee Drawer Tool Chest
Designed for craftsmen at both a hobby and professional level, this wheeled tool chest is an example of some of the best quality. Built with heavy duty, strong 20-gauge all-welded steel, the chest is extremely durable. This product has a textured powder coat paint, which makes it more resistant to strain, corrosion, and weather. The tool cabinet has 16 drawers of varying sizes; three large, six medium, and seven small, with a total holding capacity of 27,223 cubic inches.
It is, therefore, the ideal tool storage cabinet for a large amount of equipment. It comes with a shelf and a tray, which allows you to customize your equipment and tools in your own way. It has four wheels with brakes, making it easy to move and secure. Featuring gas struts, the lid has improved safety when closing and opening, providing direct support.
Pros:
+ Heavy-duty steel
+ 16 drawers
+ 22,223 cubic inch holding capacity
+ Gas struts
Why We Like It – We selected this tool cabinet as the best tool chest for quality. Having four wheels makes it easily movable, and reduces the chance of injury, such as back strain. The brakes make it more sturdy and reliable, and it also has a huge holding capacity.
3. Goplus Tool Chest
This 20-inch portable tool chest has a powder coat red paint finish. It’s made from durable steel and has rounded edges that are wear-resistant. The smooth surface makes it easy to clean with a simple wipe of a damp cloth or sponge. This tool cabinet has two steel latches to help you keep your equipment safe and secure. Equipped with three drawers, they each have ball bearing slides, which make them easy to move.
It has a top box, meaning it easily holds a large range of tools. The steel cabinet is very lightweight, making it easily portable, and it has a comfortable, easy-grip handle and can be used at home as a storage compartment or at work for everyday use. In only a few steps, this steel tool chest can easily be constructed, leaving you with good value, well-functioning storage compartment.
Pros:
+ 20 inch
+ Two steel latches
+ Each of the three drawers has ball bearings
+ Lightweight
+ Top box
Why We Like It – As this tool chest is smaller than others, it’s more lightweight and so can easily be used by a variety of people for a variety of purposes.
4. Craftsman Chest Box
With six full extension drawers in three different sizes, this heavy duty chest box helps you to maximize your space by fitting the size of the drawer for the contents required. The hinged lid is also a storage area, providing an extra compartment for added tools, or as another storage option for more bulky items. Each drawer has ball bearing slides that allow them to open and close smoothly, with a weight capacity of up to 75lbs in each drawer.
The drawers have convenient and comfortable aluminum drawer pulls that fit the length of each, giving you the best grip for opening them. It can be an extra added storage compartment to an existing Craftsman bottom chest. This also comes with an option to return within ten days.
Pros:
+ Three different size drawers
+ Can be added to an existing Craftsman bottom chest
+ Aluminum drawer pulls
+ Six extension drawers
Why We Like It – We particularly liked this chest because of the large storage capacity, which we liked as it can be increased by adding to another Craftsmen bottom chest.
5. Husky 5-Drawer Roller Cabinet
At three feet tall, this tool chest holds up to 1000lbs of tools and equipment. The cabinet has five drawers: three small, one medium, and one large, which provides a total holding space of 8,586 cubic inches. The wheels on the bottom of the chest make it easily portable and safe to move. The all-welded steel construction makes it able to handle heavy usage, and the outside of the chest is finished with a textured powder coat that has rust-resistant properties, protecting it from the daily wear and tear.
With fully extendable, ball-bearing drawers, they feature a latch retention system, which helps keep them securely closed. The top of the cabinet doubles up as a work surface, giving you a mobile workbench, providing you with extra space for projects. Featuring a toe lock that keeps your unit in place, the Husky 5 Drawer Roller Cabinet also has an internal locking system and two keys, meaning your tools can easily be secured.
Pros:
+ Five drawers
+ Wheels
+ Latch retention system on the drawers
+ Top doubles up as a mobile workbench
+ Steel construction
Why We Like It – The fully extendable drawers allow for optimum storage and use, and with a latch retention system, the drawers are kept securely closed.
6. Keter Masterloader Resin Rolling Tool Box
This portable sliding plastic tool box is an easy and efficient chest to store tools. With an extendable handle, this tool chest is easily moveable. And with compartmentalized bins, it has a solid, resistant exterior surface and also has a central locking system. This not only keeps your tools safe but additionally stable and secure. The inside of the tool box has been designed to maximize space with a tool divider to make it easy to organize your tools in a way that is best for you.
Easy-to-use, the top layer of storage opens up, sliding apart to show the main compartment underneath. This small feature makes using the tool box very convenient as it allows you to store your most regularly used tools in the more accessible top section of the tool box. The ball-bearing sliders mean you can easily get to the lesser-used tools without the inconvenient step of having to remove the top compartment fully.
Pros:
+ Extendable handle
+ Central locking system
+ Top layer slides apart
+ Tool dividers
Why We Like It – Unlike other tool boxes, this one has an extendable handle, which makes it safe and easy to pull around instead of carrying it.
7. DEWALT TSTAK Tool Box with Wheels
This deep, mobile storage box is manufactured and tested to the highest standards to ensure long life and durability and includes anti-rust metal latches. Tightly fitting, the latches keep your equipment secure, also having the added facility to be able to lock with a padlock for added safety.
On large, sturdy wheels, it’s easily maneuverable. You can use the telescopic handle, which is operated by a push button to extend and retract it. The tool box is compatible with other DEWALT TSTAK units and can be stacked and secured using the side latches.
Pros:
+ Deep
+ Stackable with other DEWALT TSTAK units
+ Durable
+ Maneuverable
Why We Like It – Compatible with other DEWALT TSTAK units, this durable tool box can be made even bigger, giving you even more storage space for all kinds of different tools.
8. Montezuma SM200B Toolbox
This portable tool chest is particularly unique due to its triangular shape. Reliable, durable, and long-lasting, this chest is ideal for anyone who wants to keep their valuable equipment safe and organized. Not only does the layout make it easy to access your equipment, but this toolbox also has gas springs, raising the lid and socket tray when unlatched, giving you easy access to the storage below.
When closed, the lid secures your tools in place. The multi-tiered design means you can easily see and access your tools. Made of high quality, heavy duty steel with professionally welded seams, this tool box is built to last. It has built-in side handles for easy handling. Montezuma also designs and creates their tool boxes to be resilient against weather, with a water-resistant seal on the lid that helps to protect your tools from moisture and dust.
Pros:
+ Easy access to equipment
+ Multi-tiered drawer design
+ Resilient and durable against weather
+ Side handles – easy to carry
Why We Like It – We found This tool box particularly likable because of the unique triangular shape. This made it easy to organize and access equipment.
9. Husky 5-Drawer Tool Chest
With five drawers, this tool chest is ideal for storing tools and helps you efficiently organize. Made of high-grade steel, this chest is all welded and finished with a rugged textured black powder coat paint. Each drawer extends fully, with ball bearing slides and a unique secure latch retention system, ensuring draws are completely closed and secured.
A reinforced lid is supported by chrome gas struts, making it easy and smooth to open and close. The tool chest also has side handles made of recessed aluminum, making it easy to move around your workspace. For added security, the chest has an internal keyed locking system with two keys. This tool chest also has a three-year Husky warranty.
Pros:
+ Five storage drawers
+ Unique latch retention system
+ Three-year warranty
+ Internal keyed locking system
Why We Like It – We liked this tool chest because of the reinforced lid that is supported by chrome gas struts, making it easy to control and use. We love the drawer feature.
10. Goplus 6-Drawer Rolling Tool Chest
This durable, high-quality tool chest is made of cold-rolled steel, a unique material compared to others. The steel is glossy and easy to clean, as it’s finished with anti-rust and corrosion-resistant paint. The toolbox also has a large storage capacity with four small drawers, two large drawers, two trays, and one large cabinet at the bottom, making it suitable for a variety of different tools of different sizes.
The storage unit itself can be detached into two separate boxes, meaning you can use the chest as a whole or in two parts, depending on your preference or requirement. Secured by a keyed external locking system, the top chest drawers are protected from being stolen. Featuring four swivel wheels, this steel chest is easy to move, and with two brakes, it is sturdy and secure. There is also a handle on the side, making it easy to control, no matter the weight.
Pros:
+ Made of cold-rolled steel
+ Detachable to make two separate boxes (top chest and bottom one)
+ Four swivel wheels with two brakes
+ A durable handle
Why We Like It – We liked this tool chest because it easily splits into two pieces, meaning you can use it in three different ways; as a whole or two separately. The drawer feature makes it an adaptable way to store your tools, not taking up too much space while maintaining its size.
Tool Chests Buyer’s Guide
Who Makes the Best Rolling Tool Chest?
If you think it’s likely that you might have to move your tools box around a bit, then getting a rolling tool cabinet (that is, a tool chest with wheels attached) might be the best way to go for you.
As you will have been able to see from reading our list of the top 10 best tool chests shown above, we feel that the best tools chest that is currently available on the market (in terms of being the top quality) is the Milwaukee Drawer Tool Chest. The Milwaukee drawer tool chest also happens to feature wheels, and it’s one of the best rolling tool chests that you can get your hands on at the moment.
Are Craftsman Tool Chests Any Good?
The debate has raged on for literally decades in terms of all the different aspects of tools and. Likely, it will continue to rage on for many decades to come.
In our opinion, all Craftsman tools are more than worth looking into, including its tool chests. The Craftsman brand is now owned by Stanley Black & Decker, a company that has shown commitment in bringing the manufacturing process back to the United States from China. In theory, this also represents an increase in quality and, in practice, helps to boost local economies. All Craftsman tools also come with a lifetime warranty. It’s difficult to go wrong.
While there are many competitive brands out there in the tools market, Craftsman is certainly up there with the trusted ones. It’s a full-blown competitive player in this game at the moment. Craftsman tool chests are no different. You can certainly consider them a good potential investment.
We would always recommend delving into details as much as possible before you buy tool chests. Make sure you get the best one to fit your needs.
Who Makes Husky Tool Chests?
Husky is a company that is currently owned by The Home Depot. You will find Husky tool chests on The Home Depot’s website.
As a company, Husky has gone through many previous owners.
What Should I Look For When Buying a Tool Chest?
A tool chest can be an expensive purchase for anyone, so you want to make sure you get it right the first time. There are several factors when considering which tool chest will be the best for what you need it for. What size should it be? How much storage space do you need?
We have listed some of them here to help you begin to organize your thoughts.
Tool storage space – in general, you’ll probably be looking for as much space for tool storage as possible, but it’s also possible that you’re after a smaller model. Perhaps you have limited space in your garage or workshop. It’s worth measuring the space you have available because this will give you a better idea of what tool chests are going to fit. You can find the size and storage space available on the product descriptions.
Brand reputation – although it may sound slightly fickle, getting a tool cabinet with a better reputation will give you more security on your investment. It’s best to do this because these brands will care more about maintaining brand image than cheap models that might come straight off the production line in China. Although they may be more expensive, this is usually worth the risk, in our opinion. A brand that is well known for making quality tools is a better investment than a cheaper one that you know nothing about.
Appearance and aesthetics – again, you may think this sounds irrelevant – and, in terms of practicality, you would be correct. How a tool chest looks will make absolutely no difference to how well it holds your power tools. However, if this is important to you (and we aren’t saying it is or should be), then find something that looks good and matches the paint scheme in your workshop. Alternatively, you may want to paint it. The bottom line is that almost every tool chest looks around about the same, and so this may be a completely useless point – but it’s there, just in case this is something that would make a difference to your thought process.
Portability – there are two aspects to whether or not the product is mobile: the weight, and whether or not the tool chest has wheels. Obviously, the lower the weight, the easier it will be to move around. Wheels will also take the strain off your back, and if the tool chest you are looking at does have wheels, you can afford for it to have a little more weight. Alternatively, portability concerns (weight and maneuverability) may not be of note to you if you don’t plan on ever moving your tool box. It’s nice to have the option, though.
Tool storage organization – Pretty much every tool chest comes with drawers, and some with bigger cabinets. In terms of tool storage, you might want to think about how much you need to organize your tools. Do you need a separate drawer for 1/4″ sockets, a separate drawer for 3/8″ sockets, and a separate draw for those of 1/2″ drive? Or will you throw them all together in one drawer along with all your ratchets? Might you need to take your tool chest apart into a top chest and bottom one? If you are already set on the amount of storage space you need, how many separate drawers you get in your tool chest may be influenced by how much organization you want to do. It’s certainly possible to be over-organized, but that’s all up to you. What will be best for you?
Security – most tool chest products come with a lock of some kind. You should expect to get a lock like this because tool chests are expensive products that keep tools – tools that are sometimes even more expensive themselves. If security is likely to be a concern for you, look for the most advanced lock mechanisms, or tool chests with possible alternate ways to keep their tools secure. Either way, a lock is usually imperative.
Price – while we very much stand by the general principle of “you get what you pay for,” we would certainly recommend factoring price if you have reached a point where you have two or three different possible tool chests to choose from and can’t decide otherwise.
Material – almost every tool chest available on the market today will be made of metal. This is best because it makes them durable and secure. Steel construction is the most common type used, but aluminum is also used occasionally.
Conclusion
There are many tool chests available, and almost all of them will do a keep your tools just fine. But honing down the best tool chest for you requires careful consideration of what you need it to do and what works for you.
We hope this article has helped you to narrow down your thoughts in terms of deciding what tool chest will be the best for you, and as always, thank you for reading.
