The Best Tool Chests of 2024 for Organizing Your Workshop, Tested
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Want to keep your tools, fasteners, and other useful accessories in one neatly organized location? A tool chest holds it all.
Tool chests offer a straightforward solution for organizing and storing small tools and accessories. Our test team tried out today’s most popular tool chests, scrutinizing everything from build quality to organizational design, and ultimately, a few winners rose to the top. Our favorite of the bunch, the Husky Standard Duty 9-Drawer Mobile Workbench Cabinet, offers a winning combination of rugged construction, butter-smooth drawer slides, and versatile storage options.
But the Husky tool chest is far from the only winning model in our tests. Whether you’re looking to organize a collection of screwdrivers, sockets, or router bits, you’ll find a tool chest that suits your needs on our list. Keep reading to learn about important considerations when shopping for the best gear storage, and find out how the following models earned a spot on our lineup of the best tool chests on the market today.
- BEST OVERALL: Husky Standard Duty 9-Drawer Mobile Workbench Cabinet
↓ Jump to Review - BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Craftsman S2000 5-Drawer Metal Tool Chest
↓ Jump to Review - BEST ENTRY-LEVEL: Kobalt 4-Drawer Steel Rolling Tool Cabinet
↓ Jump to Review - BEST ORGANIZATION: NewAge Pro Series 5-Drawer Tool Cabinet
↓ Jump to Review - BEST MULTIPURPOSE: U.S. General Series 3 Roll Cab Tool Chest
↓ Jump to Review - BEST WOOD: Windsor Design 8-Drawer Wood Tool Chest
↓ Jump to Review - BEST PLASTIC: Festool SYS 4 Sortainer Tool Chest
↓ Jump to Review - BEST NARROW BUILD: Husky 10-Drawer Tool Chest and Cabinet Combo
↓ Jump to Review
How We Tested the Best Tool Chests
The right tool organizer for one user might not be right for another, so we set out to test models in various sizes with different options at diverse price points. We considered the brand to an extent; after all, manufacturers such as Husky and Craftsman have sterling reputations in the industry. We also looked closely at the relative newcomer, NewAge Products, which is making a big splash in high-quality storage and outdoor entertainment products.
In actual testing, we noted whether assembly was required and, if so, how clear the instructions were. Then, we examined and tested every tool chest organizer, assessing each one’s design, portability, security, and how much weight the drawers would hold. We assigned points based on a rubric; the better a tool chest performed, the higher the points. After testing, we averaged the points to find our best overall pick and determine the best categories for the other chests.
| Testing Stats | |
| Products tested | 8 |
| Time spent testing | 1 week |
| Tests performed | 4 |
| Price range | $150 to $1,000 |
Our Top Picks
Each of the following tool chests earned a spot on our list based on the results of our hands-on tests and assessments. Size, weight, mobility, storage capacity, and cost vary from one model to another, but one of the picks on our lineup is sure to meet your tool-storage requirements.
Best Overall
Husky Standard Duty 9-Drawer Mobile Workbench Cabinet
Photo: The Home Depot
Our Ratings: Assembly 5/5; Organization 5/5; Build Quality 5/5; Portability 4.5/5; Value 5/5
Product Specs
- Compartments: 9
- Dimensions: 38 inches high by 52 inches wide by 24.5 inches deep
- Locking drawers: Yes
- Weight capacity: 1,500 pounds
What We Like
- Packed with useful design features, such as a wood workbench top
- Offered in a variety of colors, drawer configurations, and steel thicknesses
- Comes mostly assembled; minimal setup required
What We Don’t Like
- Heavy, but handle and casters make it easy to move
At 267 pounds, this nine-drawer Husky workbench cabinet made from 21-gauge steel is a beautiful beast. It’s packed with features, including a solid wood worktop, built-in power strip, and soft-close locking drawers. None of the drawers have an organization system, but no dividers are necessary given the attached (but removable) padded grippy liners that hold loose tools in place while protecting against scratches and dents.
Assembling this Husky was quick and easy—all we had to do was attach the wheels, handle, and cord keeper. The only part of the setup that took any real time was adding all our tools. While we don’t have a totally comprehensive set of tools for our home, we have all the basics. Everything we wanted to store fit nicely, including a circular saw, jigsaw, screw organizer, variety of hand tools, T square, and a large cutting mat.
Because this workstation has a side handle and large caster wheels, we were able to move it around during testing, even when full. The locking wheels held nicely when we pushed against the unit, though we’d be nervous about them holding this heavy chest on a hill. For general shed or garage spaces, however, its six built-in outlets and two USB-A ports make it an ideal option for mobile project work. Though inconsequential to its operation, we also love its beautiful finish and trim. Upon seeing it, our 17-year-old daughter (who couldn’t care less about tools) said, “When I came home and saw that, it instantly made me happier!”
Get the Husky 9-drawer tool chest at The Home Depot or Amazon.
Best Bang for the Buck
Craftsman S2000 5-Drawer Metal Tool Chest
Photo: Lowe’s
Our Ratings: Assembly 5/5; Organization 5/5; Build Quality 4.5/5; Portability 4/5; Value 5/5
Product Specs
- Compartments: 5
- Dimensions: 23 inches high by 19 inches wide by 29 inches deep
- Locking drawers: Yes
- Weight capacity: 650 pounds
What We Like
- Well made from 18-20 gauge steel
- Chest can be used on its own or as a topper
- Rated to hold up to 650 pounds of weight
- Affordably priced yet high quality
What We Don’t Like
- Slightly misaligned lid made opening and closing the top tricky
You don’t have to spend a lot to get a high-quality tool chest to stow and protect your tools and accessories. This five-drawer model from Craftsman’s S2000 series offers ample room for storing a collection of sockets and other small tools. It has a double-wall steel construction, and its dimensions are well suited to storing various tools.
We placed it on a table because, with its 23-inch height, we felt it would be too much trouble to bend and retrieve tools from the lowest drawers if it were positioned on the floor. If desired, users can order another tool chest and set this upper model on top, but it works just as well when placed on a bench or table.
This handy Craftsman chest features a keyed lock on the upper front as well as two easy-grip handles built into the sides to facilitate relocation. Although it’s smaller than some of the other garage cabinets in our tests, it’s not wimpy. It weighs a beefy 72 pounds when empty, so it won’t be easy to carry when filled with tools.
We filled this compact mechanic tool chest with as many tools as we could, and the drawers still slid smoothly. We did run into one issue: The chest arrived with the lift-open top slightly misaligned, which caused the lid to hang when opening and closing it. The problem wasn’t insurmountable, though. We found we could push the lid to the left to open and close it. It could have gotten misaligned during packaging or shipping, but it didn’t diminish our feelings about the quality of the Craftsman. This is a great, affordable tool chest.
Get the Craftsman tool chest at Lowe’s.
Best Entry-level
Kobalt 4-Drawer Steel Rolling Tool Cabinet
Photo: Lowe’s
Our Ratings: Assembly 3/5; Organization 5/5; Build Quality 4.5/5; Portability 4.5/5; Value 4.5/5
Product Specs
- Compartments: 4 drawers, top chest, bottom tray
- Dimensions: 37.5 inches high by 35 inches wide by 17.75 inches deep
- Locking drawers: Yes
- Weight capacity: 550 pounds
What We Like
- 6 colors to choose from
- Good for most people with a standard set of tools
- All casters rotate 360 degrees
What We Don’t Like
- Not ideal for heavy-duty or professional use
- No self-closing drawers
The Kobalt tool chest is not only nice to look at—it’s also packed with features any homeowner or DIYer would need to store a standard set of tools. And compared to other models we tested, we loved this chest’s ease of portability.
While we wouldn’t consider its 94-pound frame heavy duty, it can hold up to 550 pounds and feels fairly lightweight when being rolled around the garage. The drop leaf and multiple screwdriver storage holes on the exterior were a pleasant surprise, as they provide extra workspace and access to your most used screwdriver set without having to unlock the chest.
When testing the drawers, we quickly realized that adding heavier tools can cause the chest to become top-heavy and tip when the bottom shelf is empty. This can be prevented by organizing tools according to weight, keeping the heaviest on the bottom.
We did experience a hiccup during installation because the instructions didn’t clarify if the holes in the legs should be closer to the top or bottom (the correct answer is the top). After that trial and error, it was fairly easy to put together.
Mike Illig, a builder and business owner from Ebensburg, Pennsylvania, who has more than 60 years of building experience and has used several different tool chests over the years, was impressed with its portability. “It’s not common for all four casters to rotate completely. The Kobalt is easy to move in all directions and a good height for a workspace. You’re getting a nice tool chest for the money.”
Get the Kobalt tool chest at Lowe’s.
Best Organization
NewAge Pro Series 5-Drawer Tool Cabinet
Photo: The Home Depot
Our Ratings: Assembly 5/5; Organization 5/5; Build Quality 5/5; Portability 2/5; Value 4.8/5
Product Specs
- Compartments: 5 drawers
- Dimensions: 32.3 to 37.1 inches high (adjustable) by 28 inches wide by 22 inches deep
- Locking drawers: Yes
- Weight capacity: 1,000 pounds
What We Like
- Great for custom tool box organization
- Made from solid materials; can last a lifetime
- Drawers operate smoothly, even with heavy loads
- Soft padded liners in each drawer keep everything in its place
What We Don’t Like
- Very heavy and difficult to move around (attachable wheels sold separately)
The first thing we noticed about the NewAge cabinet was how heavy it was. Made from 18-gauge double-walled steel and weighing 172.8 pounds, this waist-height cabinet was difficult to unbox and move around since there are no wheels (although caster wheels can be purchased separately and added on if desired). Once we got it into place, though, the features started to shine through.
This tool cabinet has four standard drawers and one large drawer at the bottom. Each opened and closed with a silky smooth motion, and all of them featured a soft lining to prevent tools from banging and sliding around.
The standout feature of this tool box was the adjustable dividers you can use to customize each drawer to fit exactly what you want to store inside it. With eight vertical and eight horizontal dividers, these were more than enough to create our own perfect storage spaces in each of the four standard drawers. If you tend to hold on to an assortment of small items in your workshop and wish you could find them easily, the organizational power of this tool cabinet might just be exactly what you’re looking for (it certainly was for us).
Get the NewAge tool chest at The Home Depot or NewAge.
Best Multipurpose
U.S. General Series 3 Roll Cab Tool Chest
Photo: Harbor Freight
Our Ratings: Assembly 5/5; Organization 5/5; Build Quality 5/5; Portability 4/5; Value 4.8/5