The Best Tool Boxes of 2024 for Weekend DIYers, Tested
Hello, my friend, hello again; today we come together to talk about The Best Tool Boxes of 2024 for Weekend DIYers, Tested and hope the blog can help you.
Keep your tool collection organized with one of these top-notch tool box picks. They’ve all been team tested and approved!
What’s the best way to store, organize, and transport your tools? For generations and to this day, the answer has always been a well-made tool box. We researched several dozen tool boxes and chose 10 for testing. We also found a favorite: The Trusco tool box earned top honors in our trials thanks to its two-tiered tool storage system and quality build.
But like tool chests, tool boxes aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution. For this reason, we tested several types, sizes, and designs. Ahead, discover our best tool box shopping tips and find out how the following products earned a spot on our lineup of the best tool boxes.
- BEST OVERALL: Trusco ST-350-B 2-Level Tool Box
↓ Jump to Review - BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: DeWalt TSTAK Long-Handle Tool Box
↓ Jump to Review - BEST FOR ORGANIZING: Keter Masterloader Rolling Tool Box
↓ Jump to Review - BEST WEATHER-RATED: Milwaukee Packout Large Tool Box
↓ Jump to Review - BEST ROLLING SET: DeWalt ToughSystem Tool Box Set
↓ Jump to Review - BEST PLASTIC: Festool Systainer3 SYS3-Combi M 287
↓ Jump to Review
| Testing Stats | |
| Products tested | 10 |
| Time spent testing | 2 to 3 weeks |
| Tests performed | 4 |
| Price range | $60 to $280 |
Our Top Picks
The following tool boxes represent the best models from our hands-on testing. These boxes are designed to store and transport different tools and components, but each one excelled in our trials and earned its spot on this list. One is sure to be the right choice for your tool storage needs.
Best Overall
Trusco ST-350-B 2-Level Tool Box
Photo: Amazon
Our Ratings: Organization 4.5/5; Portability 5/5; Build Quality 5/5; Value 5/5
Product Specs
- Material: Metal
- Dimensions: 8.5 inches tall by 13.8 inches wide by 6.3 inches deep
- Transport style: Carry
What We Like
- Excellent handles
- Smooth open-and-close design
- A lot of storage for a smaller box
What We Don’t Like
- No latch
Finished in spiffy blue enamel, the Trusco two-level tool box features side hinges that allow the top to open in two directions. This reveals a tiered interior storage area that can be customized with reconfigurable metal dividers. The entire box is metal, and the tiered compartments cantilever out of the way smoothly.
It isn’t often that a product surprises us enough to take the top spot during a hands-on review, but we very much liked the Trusco. Compared with other boxes of its size, it’s made with much higher-quality metal, and the fit and finish were spot on. With the box fully loaded, the metal handles were remarkably comfortable to hold. We could fit almost all of our typical hand tools in the box, save for a speed square, staple gun, and one screwdriver. The one issue we found was that it lacks a latch, which we would prefer for transport.
Get the Trusco tool box at Amazon or Kmart.
Best Bang for the Buck
DeWalt TSTAK Long-Handle Tool Box
Photo: Amazon
Our Ratings: Organization 5/5; Portability 4.5/5; Build Quality 4.5/5; Value 4.8/5
Product Specs
- Material: Plastic with metal latches
- Dimensions: 7.3 inches tall by 17.3 inches wide by 13 inches deep
- Transport style: Tall carrying handle
What We Like
- Works with TSTAK system
- Domed lid allows for a lot of interior storage
- Affordable price
What We Don’t Like
- Top lid isn’t terribly secure
- Not a lot of tool storage in lid
The DeWalt TSTAK line of tool organizers includes a variety of tough, tried-and-true options for specialized needs, plus a few everyday tool boxes. This budget-friendly TSTAK model features a segmented upper compartment for small fasteners, bits, and parts, as well as a larger open bottom section for hand tools (or a drill and battery combo). It also has a hole for slipping a padlock through.
There was a lot to like about the TSTAK tool box organizer during testing. In general, we just like the idea of the TSTAK system, so the fact that it has latches and connects to other boxes is appealing. We also like that the lid has a domed shape inside, which means bulkier items that stick up a bit won’t prevent the box from closing. Also, it feels like a steal for the price.
However, there are two things we didn’t like: The plastic lid that holds parts and bits in place isn’t very secure, and there isn’t much storage underneath it for hand tools. Everything goes in the main compartment, which means tools can easily become jumbled.
Get the DeWalt TSTAK tool box at Amazon, Walmart, Grainger, Acme Tools, or Zoro.
Best for Organizing
Keter Masterloader Rolling Tool Box
Photo: Amazon
Our Ratings: Organization 5/5; Portability 4.8/5; Build Quality 4.5/5; Value 4.8/5
Product Specs
- Material: Plastic resin
- Dimensions: 16.3 inches tall by 24.3 inches wide by 14.9 inches deep
- Transport style: Wheels with telescoping handle
What We Like
- Easy single-handed opening
- Separate hand tool and parts storage
- Slide-open compartment allows lots of access
What We Don’t Like
- Low-quality telescoping handle
Keep hefty tools organized while trucking them from project to project with the Keter Masterloader rolling tool box. This heavy-duty resin tool box provides up to 66 pounds of tool-hauling capacity, allowing for the transportation of hand tools, power tools, and hardware. The polypropylene resin is weather-resistant to protect tools from the elements.
The Masterloader features a telescoping handle and two 7-inch heavy-duty wheels for easy pulling. The two top storage boxes slide out of the way, providing access to the tools below. One of those wings has a clear plastic lid and plenty of storage for tools or odds and ends such as screws and nails. The Masterloader also features a top-mounted latch for securing tools, though it doesn’t lock.
We found the Masterloader very easy to open with one hand, and the sliding storage provided all the access we could ask for. We also liked the smaller compartment for hand tools that’s separate from power tools and parts (each of which has its own section). If there’s room for improvement, the telescoping handle is low quality, and the button stuck a few times.
Get the Keter tool box at Amazon.
Best Weather-Rated
Milwaukee Packout Large Tool Box
Photo: Ace Hardware
Our Ratings: Organization 5/5; Portability 5/5; Build Quality 4.8/5; Value 4.5/5
Product Specs
- Material: Heavy-duty polymers
- Dimensions: 11.1 inches tall by 22.1 inches wide by 16.2 inches deep
- Transport style: Carry or pair with matching components for rolling
What We Like
- Rugged and watertight
- Pairs with other Milwaukee Packout stackable tool boxes
- Holds up to 100 pounds
- Single-handed latch operation
What We Don’t Like
- Relatively heavy at 12.1 pounds
The Milwaukee Packout serves as a tough tool box by itself, or it can be paired with any other Milwaukee Packout components for stacking, locking together, or rolling on a Packout rolling base. At 12.1 pounds, it can’t be considered lightweight, but we appreciated that Milwaukee designed it to be a rugged and weathertight tool box.
The box is rated IP65, meaning it will withstand blowing rain, so we tested that claim by setting it in the path of a lawn sprinkler for 30 minutes. We then dried it off and opened it to see if any water had gotten in. We were pleased to find the interior bone-dry.
Although the box features steel latches that hold the top down securely, we were able to open and latch them with one hand. The Milwaukee tool box comes with a 100-pound weight limit and we have no reason to doubt that. We loaded it with heavy tools and sockets and even overloaded it a bit so we had to push the lid to get it to close. The latches (and hinges) held tight. Typically, you probably wouldn’t want to load that much weight in the box, since it’d be challenging to carry, but it’s nice to know it will hold up to the task. Because of their high-quality construction, Packout boxes make great mechanic tool boxes.
Get the Milwaukee tool box at Ace Hardware, The Home Depot, SupplyHouse.com, or Zoro.
Best Rolling Set
DeWalt ToughSystem Tool Box Set
Photo: The Home Depot
Our Ratings: Organization 5/5; Portability 5/5; Build Quality 4.8/5; Value 4/5
Product Specs
- Material: Plastic
- Dimensions: 60.6 inches tall by 19.9 inches wide by 23.8 inches deep (stacked)
- Transport style: Carry (individually) or roll
What We Like
- IP65 rated for dust and water resistance
- Durable construction that withstands drops
- Single-handed latching operation
- Backward compatible with older ToughSystem components
What We Don’t Like
- When stacked, lid on upper box bumps handle and won’t stay open
When you have a lot of tools to store and tote, DeWalt’s ToughSystem 2.0 is an excellent solution. ToughSystem components come in a variety of sizes, but they’re all designed to connect with other ToughSystem components. The specific set we tested contains a 22-inch small tool box (DWST08165), a 22-inch large tool box (DWST08300), and a mobile storage box (DWST08450).
We loaded a variety of tools in each box—filling them completely—and then attached the large and small box to the rolling mobile base. Auto-connect side latches held the boxes together. Even when we accidentally tipped the tower of boxes over so it fell onto concrete, none of the latches came loose. It was easy to tip and roll the connected boxes, even when they were full, thanks to the large wheels on the mobile base.
This three-piece portable rolling tool box also got a water test, and no water seeped in. Each box comes with removable trays that can be left in or removed to suit individual or garage tool storage needs. The only thing we would change is the telescoping handle. When we had the boxes stacked and we opened the top one to retrieve tools, the lid hit the telescoping handle and wouldn’t stay open. But, that’s a minor issue for ToughSystem components that are built to last and designed for versatile tool box storage needs.
Get the DeWalt ToughSystem tool box (set of 3) at The Home Depot.
Best Plastic
Festool Systainer3 SYS3-Combi M 287
Photo: Tool Nation
Our Ratings: Organization 4.5/5; Portability 4.5/5; Build Quality 4.8/5; Value 4/5
Product Specs
- Material: Plastic
- Dimensions: 11 inches tall by 15.6 inches wide by 11.7 inches deep
- Transport style: Carry or combine with matching components to roll
What We Like
- High-quality plastic construction
- Compatible with other Festool Systainer components
- Versatile drawer and open-top design
What We Don’t Like
- Bulky upper latch
This rugged tool box is so nice, it’s almost a shame to call it plastic. From German manufacturer Festool comes the Systainer3 SYS3-Combi tool box that features a pull-out drawer at the bottom and a lid that opens in traditional tool box style to reveal a large upper-storage space.
The SYS3 is a new Festool release, but it connects with all other Systainer components. This means you can stack it, lock it, roll it (with a compatible base), or carry it just as it is.
We tested it as a single-carry tool box and found it perfect for storing several small tools and access