We’ve researched and tested tool chests from the top brands, evaluating durability, quality, storage capacity, and value. Our top pick is the Husky 52-Inch Heavy-Duty Rolling Combination Tool Chest, a sturdy steel beast with enough room to store a massive tool collection. Here are the best tool chests available online. The Husky 52-Inch Heavy-Duty Rolling Combination Tool Chest is your best option if you need serious tool storage. This 18-gauge-steel-framed master of organization has 15 drawers, each with a heavy-duty soft-close drawer slide that can support up to 120 pounds. One of the drawers even has a wooden pull-out shelf to hold your laptop while you work. And the whole tool chest is built to last, so you’ll be using this matte-black beauty for many years to come. The chest consists of a lower cabinet with nine drawers and an upper chest with six drawers and a lift-up lid that exposes a large work area, a 500-lumen LED work light, and a power strip with eight outlets and four USB ports. While technically you can separate the lower cabinet and upper chest to use the pieces separately, be aware that the top of the lower cabinet is just a steel surface; it is not topped with wood. All of the drawers have liners to protect your tools from scratches, as well as to help keep them from sliding around should you move the tool chest. There are three locks to keep your tools safe. Four 7.5-inch sturdy casters let you maneuver the tool chest right where you need it and then lock the wheels to keep the chest from moving while you work. A handle on one side of the cabinet, as well as hand grips on the upper chest, make it fairly easy to move this admittedly heavy—555 pounds—beast of a tool chest to wherever you need it. The overall size of the Husky Heavy-Duty Rolling Combination Tool Chest is 52 inches wide, 56.8 inches tall, and 21.5 inches deep. Other than attaching the casters, handle, and bottle opener, there is no assembly required. Price at time of publish: $1,198 Drawers: 15 | Width: 52 inches | Height: 56.8 inches | Depth: 21.5 inches | Power Strip: Yes The sturdy, cold-rolled steel tool chest has a large cabinet with a door, providing the perfect spot to stash your larger tools and supplies. The top of the upper portion lifts up so you can access the inner tray. In between, there are six drawers, two of which are deeper for larger tools. Each lined drawer can hold up to 22 pounds. Four hooks on the exterior are perfect for holding wrenches or other small tools. The tool chest has a lock to keep your tools safe. Four casters, two with brakes, let you maneuver the chest to wherever you need it. If desired, you can separate the upper chest from the lower cabinet. The tool chest measures 23.5 inches wide, 52 inches tall, and 13 inches deep. Price at time of publish: $250 Drawers: 6 | Width: 23.5 inches | Height: 52 inches | Depth: 13 inches | Power Strip: No The tool chest consists of two parts: an upper tool box with three drawers, and a lower chest with two drawers and a large storage cabinet. You can separate the two sections if desired, or use them stacked as shown. All drawers have ball-bearing slides. Four smooth-rolling 3-1/8-inch casters let you move the tool chest to where you need it, although this tool chest lacks a side handle for easy maneuvering. The overall dimensions of the tool chest without including the wheels are 24.5 inches wide, 39.3 inches tall, and 13 inches deep. The total weight capacity is 110 pounds, and the tool chest itself weighs 68 pounds. Price at time of publish: $226 Drawers: 5 | Width: 24.5 inches | Height: 39.3 inches | Depth: 13 inches | Power Strip: No There are a total of 11 lockable drawers in the tool chest, each with a 100-pound capacity. There’s also an open cabinet with a shelf for more large tools or other items, a power strip with six outlets on the side for recharging your power tools, and an exterior shelf for other small items. The tool chest has six 5-inch, locking casters. The tool chest measures 37.8 inches tall, 61 inches wide, and 23.9 inches deep. The peg board is 61 inches wide, 22.1 inches tall, and 1.5 inches deep. Price at time of publish: $1,318 Drawers: 11 | Width: 61 inches | Height: 37.8 inches | Depth: 23.9 inches | Power Strip: Yes The four 4-1/2-inch casters and side handle make it easy to maneuver the chest right where you need it, and the lock keeps your tools safe after hours. You also get a mat for the top of the chest, which provides a nonslip surface for setting tools, your laptop, or other items you don’t want to be scratched or damaged. The cabinet measures 26.5 inches wide, 34 inches tall, and 18 inches deep. The total weight capacity for the entire tool chest is 650 pounds, and the chest itself weighs 96 pounds. Price at time of publish: $350 There are nine lockable drawers total: one extra long, six regular, and two extra-deep. The bottom drawers each have a 200-pound weight capacity, while the other seven drawers each hold up to 100 pounds of tool weight. All drawers are lined to protect your tools and prevent scratches. There’s even an integrated charging bar on the side of the chest with four outlets and two USB ports so you can power up your tools’ batteries as needed. The workbench measures 46 inches in width, 24.5 inches deep, and 37 inches in height, including the 5-inch casters. Price at time of publish: $498 Drawers: 9 | Width: 46 inches | Height: 37 inches | Depth: 24.5 inches | Power Strip: Yes The cabinet measures 28 inches wide, 28 inches tall, and 12 inches deep. Each shelf can support up to 100 pounds, for a total of 200 pounds capacity. The cabinet itself weighs 34 pounds and must be securely mounted to studs. All hanging hardware and instructions are included. This is a great way to add extra storage space when a floor-standing tool chest isn’t quite enough, or to hold a small collection of tools while keeping floors clear. Price at time of publish: $169 Drawers: None | Width: 28 inches | Height: 28 inches | Depth: 12 inches | Power Strip: No There are 12 drawers total: eight small, three medium, and one large. The drawers glide smoothly on ball-bearing slides and are padded. There’s also a cabinet with a height-adjustable shelf for storing larger items. Four 5-inch heavy-duty casters, along with a side handle, make it fairly easy to move the tool chest when needed. There’s a lock for extra security. However, it must be noted that the weight capacity is rather low at 30 pounds per drawer, for a total weight capacity of 500 pounds for the entire tool chest. The Seville Classics Ultra-HD Mega Workbench is 72 inches wide, 37.5 inches tall including the casters, and 20 inches deep. Price at time of publish: $530 Drawers: 12 | Width: 72 inches | Height: 37.5 inches | Depth: 20 inches | Power Strip: No The three drawers have ball-bearing slides for smooth performance. Each drawer is 2 inches high. The top of the box lifts up, revealing a further 2.5-inch storage area. There’s a handle atop the box for easy portability. A lock lets you secure your tools when not in use. The Gearwrench tool box measures 20 inches wide, 8 inches deep, and 12 inches tall. Price at time of publish: $90 Drawers: 3 | Width: 20 inches | Height: 12 inches | Depth: 8 inches | Power Strip: No The chest has three small drawers and 16 exterior storage slots to hold your tools as you work. There are also two fold-down, magnetic storage trays to hold nuts, bolts, or other small items. With the drawers directly underneath you as you sit, all you have to do is reach down to find and switch out tools. The four 2-inch ball-bearing casters provide a stable base to glide around hard surfaces like the garage floor, while the thick, vinyl-covered padded top will keep you comfortable for long periods. The chest’s overall dimensions are 27 inches wide, 14 inches deep, and 18 inches high. Price at time of publish: $141 Drawers: 3 | Width: 27 inches | Height: 18 inches | Depth: 14 inches | Power Strip: No
Drawers
Small tool chests might only have three or four drawers, while large chests could have as many as 16. There’s no right or wrong number here, just what works best for you in terms of space and organization needs. Along with the number of drawers total, you should consider the drawer size; typically, there will be a couple of deep drawers toward the bottom for large power tools, and several shallower drawers for smaller hand tools. Another important consideration is the drawer weight capacity. Large, sturdy tool chests can often support as much as 100 pounds per drawer, but smaller chests usually hold less weight. Finally, the best tool chests have ball-bearing, slow-close drawer slides for smooth operation without a slam.
Casters
Just about all large tool chests have casters so you can maneuver the chest to where you need it, and then easily push it back into its storage spot. Casters should be sturdy enough to support the weight of the chest plus your tools, which can add up to hundreds of pounds. You’ll also want casters that lock to prevent the tool chest from drifting out of place or moving when you open a drawer. Commonly, tool chests also have a handle on the side so you can easily pull or push the chest into position.
Why Trust The Spruce?
This article is edited and updated by Michelle Ullman, the tool expert for The Spruce. She has extensive experience not only in writing about all things related to the home, but also in carrying out various DIY projects, including landscaping, painting, flooring, wallpapering, furniture makeovers, and simple repairs. Clean your toolbox before adding items back. While there is no one method for achieving an organized tool chest, and you should do what works best for you, in general store heavier tools at the bottom, medium-sized tools in the middle, and smaller supplies at the top. It also makes sense to sort and label small supplies such as nails and screws so you won’t waste time rooting around for the right size in the middle of a project or job. Keep in mind that if you are driving long distances, the contents are bound to shift, so secure it properly with furniture straps. An extra pair of hands always helps, but you may also need a car jack and a dolly to move the chest between your workspace and the transport vehicle, and from there to the job site and back again, so plan accordingly. If you really don’t have room for a full tool chest, consider a wall-mounted option, or look for a plastic storage chest that can withstand rain without wetting the tools stored inside. For this roundup, she considered dozens of tool chests, evaluating each for basic features, extras, and customer feedback, as well as input from Eamon Lynch, director of warranty service at Power Home Remodeling.
