Best tool storage boxes

You also get tons of color and personality choices to give your shop some life. We love the pinup series in particular for a bit of nostalgia. Anyone who needs a tabletop for their project should feel right at home with this inch Milwaukee mobile workbench.

The difficulty with Husky toolboxes is knowing when to stop. But then you look at what else Husky sells…and your eyes start to grow bigger. Because Husky also sells a inch combo…and a inch…and a inch…Get my point?

In fact, it remains our top pick above. So decide what size you need for your stackable solution, and then go for the Husky to get a really great value. And see our best tool box article if you want our recommendation on what to carry onto the jobsite. Our recommendation for the best tool chest with tools easily goes to the Sonic Tools S9 toolbox. Now, with that said, we picked the best tool chest with tools…not the cheapest! You get a lifetime replacement warranty and tools that stay in place thanks to foam liners in every drawer.

Of course, Sonic Tools also makes larger boxes like the S12 or even the S14 if you want to go absolutely overboard. They give you almost unlimited combinations of tool combinations. Above we briefly mentioned the Husky tool chests. Their anti-scratch-coated inch rolling tool cabinet and inch tool chest combo might be the best thing going right now. How much storage? And you get things like auto-returning ball-bearing slides with lbs loading.

The rolling base features 5 drawers with 8, cu. We have several key ways we tend to organize our tool chests. These fall under a few key categories. With so many different drawer sizes in tool chests, you really want to make good use of them.

The thinnest drawers are excellent for wrenches, screwdrivers, and pliers. Medium-sized drawers work well for tape measures, meters, larger hand tools, and socket sets. Full-width drawers hold larger tools like long pry bars, 2-foot levels, and even conduit benders. Lastly, tall bottom drawers are perfect for power tools or anything else demanding additional storage.

You also want to take into account accessibility. Conversely, place your least-used tools in the drawers that are furthest out of reach. You Might Like: Check out our articles on the best screwdrivers and the best pliers. Nearly all good quality tool chests come with included drawer liners. The problem is that these drawer liners immediately slide around on you when opening and closing the drawer.

We recommend applying spray adhesive on your drawer liners. To do this, just pick up some spray adhesive we recommend Gorilla Heavy-Duty spray adhesive. First, clean or vacuum out the drawers we try to do it as soon as we get the tool chest. This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognizing you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

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Tags: tool box. About The Author. Clint DeBoer Editor-in-Chief When he's not remodeling part of his house or playing with the latest power tool, Clint enjoys life as a husband, father, and avid reader. Related articles. Connect with. Notify of. I agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy. The comment form collects your name, email and content to allow us keep track of the comments placed on the website.

Please read and accept our website Terms and Privacy Policy to post a comment. Newest Oldest Most Voted. Inline Feedbacks. The bottom line is that this system is meant to be wheeled around.

If wheeling your tools around on the dolly isn't ideal for you, this probably isn't the best system. This is unfortunate because I originally planned to have a dedicated electrical and dedicated plumbing tool box in the Pro Organizers because they are the perfect size with the perfect amount of interior organization.

The lack of top handle convinced me otherwise. The Ridgid Pro Toolboxes are a great option for many people. It's a great balance of price, size, and durability. If you have lots of tools to store but still want a nice system, this will be the most economical option. For some, the top handle issue I harp about is no big deal. If that's you, this could be a great system. For my needs, the durability is overkill and the dolly system, while extremely well built, doesn't help with the setup of my house.

I am a huge fan of the crates, and those will be part of my system on into the future. I wanted to mention this Ryobi system because I use it and love it, but unfortunately, they are usually not available in North America.

My wonderful wife Abby found them at a Direct Tools Outlet and bought them for me as a birthday gift. And what a gift it was! I haven't seen them at this tool outlet since. The Toolblox cabinet is my only stationary storage system. In the system, I store tools and accessories that stay in the basement, such as certain clamps that I use with my work bench and woodworking tools that I use with my miter saw.

It's also where I store a dust mask and my tool vest. The idea behind the system is all of these stacking and modular units. They snap together and then all rest on a high quality dolly that rolls around easily. For high quality storage like this, I think it was a great value.

If you live in Australia, the Toolblox system may be easy to find. If you're in North America, you may be out of luck unless you happen to stumble into one like we did at the tool outlet. I don't use these totes for tools, but I've seen others use them in that way. They are the storage totes that I use in our garage to store camping, fishing, and backpacking gear.

I'm mentioning them here because I've been impressed with their durability. They also stack well, and they're a reasonable value for the money.

If you need to store bigger, less-frequently-accessed tools, these totes may be a good option for you. They certainly aren't mobile without a good handle or latching lid, but for pure storage volume, these are great. This is a relatively new system that Milwaukee introduced in , and it may just be the best modular tool box system available. Unfortunately I've never used this system.

For that matter, I've never even seen them in person. They are available online , but I haven't seen any pieces of this system at our local Home Depot. This system must be pretty popular because in a few short years, it's already been built out to include a rolling toolbox, a large tool box, small tool box, and numerous small parts organizers. It's a complete collection already. For my needs, the most appealing storage container in this line is the large tool box.

The small tool box doesn't have a top handle, and you know that's a big issue for me. While this system seems nice, it's also about twice the cost of the Ridgid Pro Toolbox line. For some, the superior design and functionality of the Milwaukee tool boxes may be worth it.

For others it won't be worth it. The DeWalt Tough System could be a good middle ground between the Ridgid Pro Toolbox System and the Milwaukee Packout system for someone looking for ultra-durable contractor-grade wheeled storage. The price falls in between the two competitors, but it is still closer in price to the Ridgid boxes. To me, the best thing about the DeWalt Tough System is the small case.

It has lots of nice internal storage and, unlike the Ridgid Pro small toolbox, it has a top handle! That means that you can carry the toolbox around without everything shifting and rolling around on the inside. The only problem is that it is about twice the cost. The DeWalt Tough System also has a workshop racking system to hold the boxes for about a hundred dollars.

If you hear the hinges squeaking, the clasps starting to seize, or the wheels suddenly not rolling as freely, just put a couple dabs of oil on them. Make sure that you clean the joints a bit by wiping them down using a paper towel before you put a couple of drops on them.

Clean your tools, too. Cleaning your tool box will be futile if you will just be filling it with dirty tools. While you are waiting for the tool box to dry, gather all of your hand tools and wipe as much oil and dirt as you can from all of them using a soft rag. Then fill a bucket with warm water and put in the recommended amount of general cleanser, like Pine-Sol or Lestoil.

Throw your tools into the bucket with cleaner and allow them to soak for at least half an hour. After scrubbing and cleaning, dry the tools properly before putting them back inside the tool box. Now that you know how to give your trusty old tool box a bit of TLC, you can be sure that it will continue serving you properly.

Not all of them, but most of the plastic ones have certain degrees of waterproofing. Some can survive getting splashed by a bit of water and still function. If you weigh just a couple of pounds over a hundred, then you might be able to use mobile tool boxes as a step stool to reach something from a high shelf.

However, you should not make a habit out of it. If you stand or sit on top of your tool box, you are deforming the lid, if even just a bit. You are also placing a lot of stress on the hinges that are not actually meant to carry any amount of load. So, if you can avoid it, do not stand or sit on top of your tool box.

This is subjective and will depend on the manufacturer. However, there are some big-name companies that put a lot of pride in their products that they are willing to provide limited lifetime warranties on all kinds of portable tool boxes. Limited warranties mean that as long as the damage is not caused by human error, meaning the materials in the product are the ones that have deteriorated, you can get a replacement unit for absolutely free.

Or at least, you can send your tool box over and the company will refurbish it and send it back to you good as new. The main criteria for choosing a portable tool box is the size of the tools that you usually carry with you to your worksites.

If you will only be carrying the basic hand tools, like wrenches, hammers, screwdrivers, and the like, then a hand-carry tool box is the best choice. This will provide you with more than enough space for all your tools and other stuff. If your tool box is made of steel, odds are that you close it using stainless steel clasps at the front.

Usually, these clasps come with built-in locking systems, so you just close them up then use the key that came with the tool box to lock the clasps in place. If you use a plastic tool box, you just need to close it up properly then look for a hook or a hole that goes through the lip of the lid and the lip of the base. That is where you need to place the padlock. Portable tool boxes come with trays that have different-sized compartments.

These are great for storing small tools and other materials that you might need for your other projects. The rule of thumb when it comes to organizing any kind of tool box is to put the tools that you usually use at a place that is easy to access, somewhere where you can reach in with just your hands and pull out the exact tool that you need.

Steel portable tool boxes only need to be vacuumed and wiped down every couple of weeks or so. Washing them will only lead to corrosion. On the other hand, plastic tool boxes could benefit from a good scrubbing down with some soapy water every couple of months, and given a coat of plastic conditioner to keep the plastic from getting brittle.

You can find all kinds of tool boxes in any kind of hardware store or big-box supply chain. However, if you want more choices, and the ability to compare prices from different sellers, you can shop for the best one online. You need to be sure of what your needs are before you go out shopping for one. If you do not have a clear idea of what you need, there is a good chance that you will waste your money on something that you do not really need.

Keter Masterloader Portable Tool Box 2. Stanley H Mobile Chest 3. Waterloo Portable Series Tool Box 6. Milwaukee inch Rolling Tool Box 8. Stalwart Heavy-duty Rolling Tool Box 9. One issue I encountered, though, is that it is not that easy to use in work settings that require you to climb stairs.

What We Like. Compartmentalizes your tools for further ease in storage and organization Equipped with removable dividers Sturdy and chemical-resistant polypropylene resin used as one of its materials Features a heavy-duty frame, making the tool box capable of handling heavy items Promotes ease of mobility, thanks to its 7-inch wheels.

Not that suitable for work involving the use of stairs. With this Keter portable tool box, you will experience ease and efficiency when it comes to storing and organizing your hand tools, power tools, and any other items you need to use frequently at work. However, because of its large and bulky size, it may not work conveniently in some work environments. Features a lockable design, promoting the security of your items Portable and mobile, which means that you can easily bring it on travel Features a wide work surface Boasts of its enormous storage capacity Easy to maneuver, thanks to its wheels.

Large and bulky. Still, this portable tool chest from Stanley is a sound investment as it is well-designed, easy to maneuver, heavy-duty, and secure. However, one flaw you have to remind yourself about this mobile tool storage is that it is not waterproof.

Heavy-duty and robust design, capable of withstanding abrasion and heat Versatile as it is compatible with all platforms while fitting different tools and accessories Plenty of storage capacity guaranteed Can be padlocked for security purposes Highly mobile, thanks to its wheels that can handle all terrains. Not waterproof. Despite that, this mobile tool storage solution from Husky is famous for containing all the features that are essential securely organizing the tools and accessories that you usually use at work.

Highly versatile and flexible design Compact and portable, promoting ease of maneuverability Promotes ease and comfort when lifting the unit, thanks to its bi-material handle Robust and sturdy, thanks to its reliable latches and hinges Stackable design. Non-lockable drawers. Still, investing in this portable tool box from DEWALT is a decision you will not regret because it can store a lot of your stuff while taking pride in its versatile and stackable design. Tough and sturdy construction, resisting all sorts of elements Comes with removal trays that can hold small tools Portable, compact, and lightweight, promoting ease in carrying and storing it Features a handle that has a comfortable grip Lockable, making the tool box more secure.

Not as spacious as other tool boxes. Despite that, the Waterloo Portable Series Tool Box already delivers a decent performance for the majority of its users, making it deserving of a spot in this comprehensive review.

One noticeable flaw, though, is the lack of wheels that are supposedly helpful in maneuvering the tool box. Comes with compartments with automatic closing and locking function Highly protective and secure because of its draw bolt fastening system Sturdy metal construction Capable of protecting the contents inside Provides a huge tool organization and storage capacity.

Not equipped with wheels. Despite that, no one can deny how valuable and useful the Craftsman 3-Drawer Metal Chest Tool Box especially for professional tradesmen and workers who want to make their most used tools handy and easily accessible. However, I am not that fond of its price as it seems to be slightly higher than the others that hold similar features and quality.

Solid and tough metal built High weight limit Good storage capacity while also giving you the chance to further increase it Well-reinforced and strengthened, making it even more solid and stable Easy to maneuver even on tough surfaces, thanks to its all-terrain wheels. Slightly pricey. While offered at a slightly higher price, you will still be delighted by purchasing this tool box from Milwaukee because it holds the majority of features and qualities you wish to see and enjoy from a tool box.

However, this Stalwart rolling tool box may be incapable of handling too much load, particularly one beyond its threshold or limit. Solid and stable polypropylene and metal construction Impressive storage capacity, thanks to its spacious compartments and tool trays Features cable hooks to prevent tangled or lost cords Highly mobile, thanks to its strong and sturdy wheels Easy to carry and move around with its comfortable handle.

Not ideal for extremely heavy uses. Overall, I find this tool box from Stalwart truly economical and practical and is a sound investment for workers who intend to keep their tools in a safe, organized, and structured manner. The only downside I recognized in this tool box is that it is slightly heavier in comparison to other tool boxes currently available in the market.

Highly portable, making it easy to bring to various job sites Offers more than adequate space for your stuff Features an ergonomic telescopic, further making the tool box easily maneuverable Can be opened smoothly even when fully loaded, thanks to its ball-bearing slides Easy to transport with the help of its heavy-duty and all-terrain wheels.

A bit heavier compared to other tool boxes. The added weight is still manageable, though, so you can rest assured that it will not significantly hamper nor negatively affect your work performance and efficiency when you decide to use it for better productivity. However, the price of this Milwaukee tool box is noticeably high. Weather-sealed, allowing it to withstand even harsh work environments Highly durable and tough Lightweight, portable, and easy to manage Stackable and boasts of a high weight capacity Equipped with strengthened corners and reinforced locking points.

To conclude, this amazing tool box has enough storage capacity and high weight limit, so even if it is expensive, it is still one of the soundest and wisest investments anyone can make. However, I find its axle slightly flimsy, making it incapable of rolling smoothly when heavily loaded.

Rugged design, thanks to the combined metal, PVC, and polypropylene materials Can safely and securely hold your hand and power tools Plenty of storage space guaranteed Can smoothly roll and move over various surfaces and terrains Features a metal hook in each compartment, allowing padlock security.

Slightly flimsy axle. Despite that flaw, this stackable mobile tool box from Stalwart carries several functional features, making it deserving of the positive reviews it seems to earn consistently. However, it is not suitable for extremely heavy tools. Solid and tough built, protecting contents even from harsh conditions Three roomy and detachable compartments, providing a lot of storage space Equipped with foldable auto-lock handle Comfortable to use and move around Lightweight and water-resistant.

Not that appropriate for tools that are extremely heavy.