Top 13 Best Tool Chest for The Money 2024 – Budget Tool Chests to Complete the Task

Working any type of job that requires you to use high-quality tools is a day-to-day routine for many hard-working folks around the globe.

That said, no matter how skillful you are at your job and regardless of how good your tools are if you don’t have them neatly in order at all times (other than the exact moment you’re using them, of course), you can rest assured that the amount of time you need to complete a job will inevitably increase.

The thing is, any handyman worth his salt needs to have the best budget tool chest where he can keep his tools handy, clean, and ready to be used at any moment.

Of course, if you’re working hard and have a lot of tools, you might need a larger specialized container to keep your tools. A full-sized tool chest, for example, will give you more than enough storage space to neatly arrange and keep all of your tools.

In this article, we’re going to present to you some excellent tool chests, so you can easily find the best tool chest for the money you’re working with – and that would suit your needs the best, too.

Without further ado, here’s the lot.

Our 13 Favorite Best Tool Chest

1. Giantex 2pc Mini Tool Chest & Tool Box

For anyone looking for a spacious toolbox that has a sleek and professional appearance, this toolbox model from Giantex can be a perfect solution.

Although the title says that this product would fall into the category of a mini toolbox, there’s still plenty of space inside it, so you can comfortably store all of your smaller tools. (If you routinely work with bigger tools, you might need a bigger toolbox.)

Even if you fill this toolbox to the brim with tools, you can rest assured that you’ll be able to move this box around your workshop or garage with ease, thanks to the four caster wheels that are inbuilt on this model. Once you’ve found the perfect spot for your toolbox, all you need to do is leave it there, rotate a couple of its wheels slightly to the side, and then the tool box will stay as it is.

2. Keter Rolling Tool Chest with Storage Drawers.

This one is a classy-looking tool chest that will suit anywhere you place it. Presenting the Keter Rolling Tool Chest with Storage Drawer, one of the top-rated tool chests of the market. Features 5 different-sized drawers which should be enough for storing a decent amount of tools. It is a compact tool chest, comes with small footprints so it easily fits in most places. The dimension is 22-inches wide, 23-inches tall, and 11-inches deep.

However, this is not a tool chest for storing heavy tools, it is made of plastic so it can bend very easily when gets overweight. Do not pick this if you have heavy tools to store, you better go for a steel-made tool chest. For a few wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, and tiny items like nails, sockets, nozzles, etc. this would be a nice choice. Plus, you can store a power tool on the bottom drawer, so the tool chest will remain stable as well. One thing we liked much about this too chest is its mobility. It can be broken into two parts which are convenient.

It has a central locking system, that secures all drawers. And the drawers open and closes pretty smoothly. Thanks to the caster wheels, you can move the loaded tool chest pretty easily from one corner to another. Lastly, with the purchase, you will get 16 bins that are removable. You will love these small bins, they are for keeping tiny items separated such as bolts, nuts, screws, nails, etc.

 

3. Goplus 6-Drawer Rolling Tool Chest.

Our top pick is the GoPlus 6 which is the best rolling tool chest. Goplus is a well-known brand for its quality and this very tool chest tells the same story. Durability, Good accessibility, and good design, this item offers all of them. We will get into all of them one by one. Let’s get started.

Coming to durability, it is made of top-quality cold rolled steel, which is a top-notch material and makes the tool chest extremely durable. It got glossy anti-rust and corrosion paint that makes this item suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. The glossy paint makes the tool chest look good and it makes cleaning easier as well.

If we talk about storage, you get a total of 6 drawers, 2 trays, and 1 bottom cabinet which is big. Among 6 drawers, two are large and the four are small. You can put big tools in the cabinet and big two drawers, and let tiny items rest in the trays and other small drawers. The best part of this tool chest is, you can use this as two different boxes. The cabinet is detachable into two parts.

When it comes down to security, you can lock the top drawers, there is an external locking system that will keep your items safe inside. And lastly, this cabinet comes with four swivel caster wheels that enable you to move the entire cabinet smoothly and quickly. There are brakes as well that will help you to stop the cabinet properly when it is filled with all your tools. Plus, the handle is designed to be extremely comfortable.

4. Goplus 5-Drawer Rolling Tool Chest.

Another one from the Goplus and this one are the younger one of our top picks. It comes with 5 drawers, 2 trays, and a big bottom cabinet. And like the previous one, you can detach this into two parts, the top compartment can be removed very easily. This detaching thing is actually helpful, if you need to carry only the bottom cabinet, you can just leave the top compartment. It will get lightweight and you would be able to roll it pretty easily as well.

The manufacturer has used steel material in the construction, top-quality steel! It was constructed heavily so that it can take a lot of beating and last beyond expectation. The drawers feature side rolls, so you come out and go in very smoothly.

One issue that most people face with smooth-moving drawers is, sometimes the drawer doesn’t close properly, with the tools inside is heavy, the drawer slightly comes out on its own, you will not face anything like that with this very model. It comes with a drawer lock rod that keeps the drawer closed.

In order to keep the insider items safe and sound, the drawers feature EVA padding which delivers good cushioning, proper heat insulation, in other words, it protects the tools. It also features 4 universal wheels that are extremely flexible and two wheels even come with the braking function. So moving the entire cabinet here and there is a matter of slight push.

5. Seville Classics UltraHD 6-Drawer Rolling Tool Cabinet

With 300-pounds holding capacity, the Seville Classics Ultra HD tool cabinet will satisfy most professional craftsman who plays with a lot of tools. This very tool cabinet is 24-inches deep, 35-inches tall, and 28-inches long. It features a wooden top that can be used as a small workbench. As the name suggests, it features 6 drawers. And 5 are small drawers and 1 big drawer which is basically for storing power tools.

The outer shell of this cabinet is made of stainless steel so it can withstand good wear and tear. And it has a powder coating as well which makes the entire cabinet long-lasting. If we talk about the overall build quality, it is good to go. It will serve you for a satisfying period of time. The way the cabinet is designed, it suits well in both garage, basement, or room.

All your tools inside the cabinet will safe, thanks to all drawers. It doesn’t have a lock on every drawer, only one lock which secures all the drawers. The entire cabinet itself weighs around 135 pounds, that’s heavy? Don’t worry, it comes with large caster wheels which will allow you to move the entire cabinet from one corner to another very easily even when it is fully loaded.

People tend to love everything about this very tool cabinet except one thing which is assembling. Yes, this cabinet doesn’t come assembled, you will have to assemble it and it could be a little hard. However, a manual is there which will assist you all the way.

 

6. On Shine High Capacity 8-Drawer Rolling Tool Cabinet

The manufacturer has used top-grade steel in the construction in order to make this unit highly durable. And this On Shine High Capacity 8-Drawer Rolling Tool Cabinet is famous for its durability. It lasts very long regardless of how rough it has been used, thanks to its powder coating which protects the color from breaking, denting, scratching, and chipping.

Let’s see how much capacity it offers. It comes with a total of 8 different sized drawers and a bottom big cabinet. Among 8 there are 3 small drawers, 2 trays, and 3 large drawers. The bottom cabinet is big and is designed to store heavy items like power tools, hammers, etc.

All the drawers come with ball bearing sliding which makes opening and closing the drawer extremely smooth. That being said, the smoothness doesn’t cause the drawer to slam hard, it closes slowly and smoothly.

All the drawers come with non-slip paddings inside so the tools inside the drawer are less like to move even when the entire cabinet is moving. Taking about cabinet moving, it features 4 caster wheels that enable you to move the loaded cabinet easily from one corner to another.

One more thing, the wheels have a locking system so if you want stability, lock the wheels up and the cabinet won’t move. Not only do the wheels, the top small cabinet, and the bottom cabinet has a locking system as well, you can keep all your important items there.

If you are someone who needs high portability, this cabinet suits in there as well. The top compartment is detachable, you can use that as a toolbox. The top handle enables you to carry that pretty easily.

 

7. Husky 26 in. 5-Drawer Tool Chest

If you are a hobbyist who owns little amount of tools and looking for a top-notch storage option, then this Husky 26-inch drawer tool chest is your thing. Husky is one of the popular brands for tool chests and this very model is one of the top-rated models. Though it doesn’t much storage capacity but should work fine for hobbyists or anyone who owns a little number of tools.

Features 5 different sized drawers, they slide in and out very smoothly thanks to the ball bearing glides. That being said, the smoothness doesn’t cause the drawers to slam hard when closing, it closes with ease. On top of that, there is a latch retention system as well which ensures all the drawers are closed.

Speaking of the build quality, it is constructed with top-grade steel and has powder coating as well which makes it stain chip or rust-resistant. All together ensures that it serves the user for a long period. Since this is a toolbox kind of tool chest, it doesn’t come with any base wheel. But there are aluminum handles on both sides which makes moving it a little easier.

Before we forget, along with the smooth sliding of the drawers, the manufacturer has ensured a smooth opening and closing of the lid as well. It features gas struts which makes the process very smooth. Lastly, we would say, with this Husky model worrying about the quality is a waste of time. It will serve you long.

 

8. Stackable Toolbox Rolling Mobile Organizer

Here comes one of the most versatile rolling toolboxes, the Stackable Toolbox Rolling mobile organizer. It is a super comfortable and great looking toolbox cabinet, it will attract every eye for sure. It comes with two wheels that roll extremely smoothly and also features a highly comfortable fold-down handle. Both of these two things make the entire tool cabinet a suitcase, you grab the handle and walk, the cabinet will follow.

Having that said, since it is a two-wheeler and when you grab the handle and push it forward or backward, it leans a bit backward, so the small tools such as nuts, bolts, screwdrivers, wrenches, etc. won’t remain organized. In other words, things won’t be stable in their place. But still, this cabinet is worth using because of its features. Learn more!

With this cabinet, you will get a pair of slide-out drawers, a storage tray, a tilt drawer, 4 removable bungee cords, and cable hooks. The bungee cords are attached at the sides, and you can store a lot of stuff there as well. And they are easily accessible. Such as pliers, screwdrivers, scissors, etc.

If we come to the construction, it is constructed with polypropylene, PVC, and Metal material. All of these together make the entire unit highly durable. It can take a lot of beating since it is designed for use both indoor and outdoor. It can take up to 100 lbs of weight. Overall, this is a nice trolley tool chest, users enjoy this.

 

9. Seville Classics UltraHD Rolling Storage Cabinet with Drawers

If you want a little workbench along with the cabinet, then you might love this Seville Classics UltraHD two in one cabinet. This one features 4 drawers, 3 small and 1 big with a door cabinet. All the drawers come with a side rail so they move extremely smoothly. There is key lock security that locks all the drawers together, so if you need security with this cabinet you get that as well.

The drawer doors are made of stainless steel, they are durable and look good as well. The entire cabinet got a steel body along with powder coating. The powder coating ensures that it won’t get rusty, and that enables you to clean the cabinet without any worry as well.

As mentioned at the beginning, you get a hardwood work surface on the top of this cabinet which is 0.75-inches thick. You get some of your job done on that. It features 4 caster wheels which are 5-inches and they roll very smoothly. And a side handle makes moving the cabinet convenient.

The weight holding capacity of this cabinet is 300 lbs, if you are looking for a decent size cabinet to organize all your tools, this one can turn out to be extremely beneficial for you.

 

10. High Capacity 8-Drawer Rolling Tool Cabinet

If you need a little more space to store all your tiny to big tools, take a look at the High Capacity 8 drawer tool cabinet. As the name implies, it comes with 8 drawers. There are 3 small and large drawers, 2 trays drawer, and a cabinet. The bottom cabinet is big and you can store power tools like drills, heat guns, hand sanders, etc. there.

The entire cabinet is constructed with stainless steel which makes the tool chest highly durable. And on top of that, it has a powder coating as well that will prevent it from getting rusty. The powder coating allows you to use this tool chest both indoor and outdoor. There wouldn’t be any scratching, breaking, or denting, thanks to the powder coating. That makes the cleaning easy as well.

All of the drawers have ball-bearing slides that make them slide in and out smoothly as a liquid. A lot of smooth-moving drawer often slams while closing, but that is not the case in this cabinet. It will close smoothly but with ease. Inside all the drawers, there are non-slip liners, so that all your items will remain in place, completely organized.

If you are worried about the security, don’t be, this cabinet offers that as well. There are two locks, one at the top and at the bottom. When your items are locked inside, no unwanted hands will be able to reach there. It comes with 4 swivel caster wheels, allowing you to move the entire cabinet very smoothly whenever you want.

The wheels come with a locking mechanism as well, so if you see the cabinet isn’t stable, moving slightly, locking the cabinet will stable it. It isn’t hard to say at all, that it is a great tool chest for both professionals and DIYers. The workshop or home will suit nicely in both. And one more thing about this cabinet is, you get the top space as well, you can use that a small workbench.

 

11. Thor Group 15 Drawer Stainless Steel Anti-Fingerprint Tool Chest

Well, this is a big one. The Thor Group 15 Drawer Stainless Steel Anti-Fingerprint Tool Chest will be suitable for any professional who owns a lot of tools. As the name suggests, it is 72-inch to the chest, you can guess its capacity. Features 15 different sized drawers. 3 big drawers at the bottom, 3 medium-sized drawers at the middle, 9 small drawers. In the small drawers, you can easily store different sizes of wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers, etc.

All the drawer has ball bearing glider which makes opening and closing the drawers extremely smooth. Moving on to the construction. It is heavily constructed with top-quality steel that makes it long-lasting. Plus, it has an anti-fingerprint coating that prevents stains on the chest, keeping its natural look alive.

It features wood topping and since it is a 72-inch tool cabinet, you can use that as a workbench as well. Actually, it would be very convenient to work on this workbench since you will get access to all your tools right under that. Features 4 base wheels that roll pretty smoothly, enabling you to move it easily.

 

12. CRAFTSMAN Tool Cabinet & Socket Organizer

This is constructed with an 18-20 gauge double wall I-frame and according to the manufacturer, this construction makes this organizer extremely durable. They have confidence in their product and that is why they offer a 10-years limited warranty for this organizer. Features 5 different sized drawers, big drawers to small. The bottom drawer is bigger and that is for storing power tools like drill machines, etc.

Every drawer has ball bearing glides that make open and closing extremely smooth. Having that said, the drawer doesn’t slam when closing, it closes with ease.

It features a central locking system that locks all the drawers together, so the safety of your tools is ensured. Features caster wheels that enable the user to move the loaded organizer move from one corner to another pretty smoothly. Base wheels have a locking system, you can lock it to stabilize the entire organizer.

 

13. June Win 8-Drawer Rolling Tool Chest

Last but not least, we have the June Win 8-Drawer Rolling Tool Chest, another top-quality tool chest model that serves the user pretty well. The manufacturer has used top-notch cold-rolled steel in the construction and that makes it a durable tool chest capable of withstanding a lot of beating.

It comes with 6 drawers and two cabinets. The cabinets are lockable, you can keep the important items there. Among these 6 drawers, 3 are for small items like screws, nuts, bolts, etc. And the rest 3 are a little bigger than those. All drawers are padded from inside so that the items you keep remain organized. The pads are slip-resistant so everything stays in place.

There are four caster wheels that are very smooth. And two wheels have locking features. So if the tool chest moves on its own, which it might, you can lock the wheels and the entire cabinet wouldn’t move an inch. The smooth wheels make it easier for the user to carry the cabinet to different distances. And there is a comfortable handle as well that makes carrying the cabinet more convenient.

 

Best Tool Chest For The Money Buying Guide

There isn’t any complex thing that you need to check before purchasing a tool chest but if you want to ensure that you end up with an ideal one, then you will have to check few factors which are pretty common. For example, the tool chest you are buying should be able to hold all your items securely, the tool chest should last for a decent time at least, factors like these. However, we have discussed all the factors that one should consider right before purchasing. Professionals will know what to look for and what. But this guide could be a money-saver for beginners.

Capacity

This is the very first thing you are going to look for when buying a tool chest. Obviously, you would want to choose a model where all your tools we are stored, so make sure it has the capacity to hold all your items. A wise decision would be to pick a little bigger capacity if you will add more tools in the future.

Material

Tool chests cost a good amount of money, so the model you are picking needs to last for a decent amount of time at least. In other words, your tool chest needs to be durable. And how durable the product is depends on the materials used in the construction. When it comes down to tool chests go for metal or steel constructed models, they can withstand heavy wear and tear and lasts for a long period. There are few tool chests that are made of plastic material, there are not going to last long so avoid those. Plus, plastic tool chests are not stable as well.

Mobility 

You need the best rolling tool chest so that you can move the cabinet wherever you want. And that needs to be smooth so that you don’t have to give much effort. Wheels work great on flat floors, they move very smoothly. Doesn’t matter how heavy or light they are, you will be able to move them easily. The best part is, the heavier the cabinet gets, the smoother and the easier it is to move.

Having that said, wheels are suitable for all terrains. Every wheel moves smoothly on a flat surface but when it comes to dirty, and grassy or slightly rocky floors, they become useless. If your floor is a bit rocky, if there are small dips, or you want a cabinet that you can carry through grass, then you have to choose wheels according to that.

One solution for all these is bigger wheels. Most of the cabinets come with small wheels that work well on the flat smooth floor, but they are not going to work on grassy, rocky floors. The bigger the wheels, the better they will roll on such surfaces. You will find cabinets that come with two big wheels, they will work well in this case.

Drawer

Make sure the tool chest comes with a bunch of big and small-sized drawers. Small tray drawers are suitable for placing tiny items like sockets, nuts, bolts, etc. If the small drawers come with an organizer that will be a bonus. And the big drawers are for big wrenches, pliers, power tools, screwdrivers, etc.

One more thing you would want to ensure is ball-bearing gliding. The drawer needs to be smooth while opening and closing, and drawers that feature ball bearing glides, are extremely smooth.

Security

You cannot just leave your expensive and important tools in the cabinet, if it is in the house then it might be okay but somewhere where other people work except you, security is needed there. So that is why you would want to pick a tool chest that comes with a locking mechanism.

There is a tool chest that features a central locking system. Only one lock secures all the drawers in the central locking system. And some come separated on different drawers. Both are good, but you will need to find the ideal one for you. However, make sure the lock is durable, otherwise no point.

It is not necessary to pick one that has a lock on every cabinet and door. But make sure to at least one cabinet comes with a locking mechanism. Cabinets come with big space, so you can leave the important items there and lock them. Another thing is, small, cheap tool chests can be penetrated easily, thieves can access that with their tools. But bigger tool chests are extremely durable and the lock is pretty hard as well. So breaking into a large tool chest will be pretty hard and surely is time-consuming.

Base wheels

There is a type which is called the rolling tool chest. These models are moveable because they come with caster wheels which enables the user to move the loaded tool chest from one corner to another. If you work on a big garage where you will be needing tools in different areas, then a rolling tool chest would be the best for you.

Aluminum

This material is better than plastic but not as better as metal. It is not as long-lasting as metal and nor it can withstand high weight. It offers decent performance.

Plastic

This is the least durable material for tool chests. You cannot put all your heavy tools in this and nor they are long-lasting. And they don’t provide any security as well. Plastic tool chests can bend down very easily if the weight of the tools stored inside is beyond the capacity of the cabinet. They cannot withstand heavyweight and even if you put less weight, they wouldn’t last long.

People should go for plastic tool chest only when they need a temporary solution to keep a small number of tools organized at a very cheap price. Otherwise, plastic tool chests are of no use.

Metal

These tool chests are good. For people who looking for a long-lasting tool chest, metal made tool chests are for them. They are extremely durable and long-lasting. Metal tool chests can take a lot of weight and they provide great security as well. Once locked, no unwanted hands will be able to reach inside the cabinet. Having that said, metal tool chests are expensive and they are heavy, though heaviness isn’t an issue if that has wheels for easy movement.

Versatility 

Few tool chests can be broken into two parts. The top compartment is detachable and works as a small toolbox. It comes with a top handle so users can carry it very easily.

Best Tool Chest For Garage Brands

There are a lot of brands that manufacture tool chests but among them, there are few which are well-known for their top of the line quality. And in this very section, we are going to take a look at those brands.

Craftsman 

When it comes down to tool items, one name that always remains on the top bunch is the Craftsman. Their tool chests are designed for the professional, they ensure top-notch quality before launching a tool chest model and that is what took them to the top. Craftsman has a separate fan base for its build quality and designs.

Husky

This brand produces tool chests for all kinds of people. Whether you are a professional craftsman or hobbyist, you will find a suitable tool chest for you from Husky. They bring new designs which look pretty attractive and the quality is top-notch as well.

Kobalt 

Well, they make some of the long-lasting tool chests of the market. The way they construct and the material they use, makes the tool chest withstand heavy abuse. They never fail to amaze their fans.

Best Tool Chest For The Money FAQ

Why are tool chests so expensive?

Good tool chests come with top-quality materials. Drawers, wheels, build-quality, locking mechanism, everything is top-notch. Plus, when you buy from a well-known brand they will offer a good warranty as well. So it is pretty obvious, high-quality products will be expensive, they deliver proper value for the money.

Do I need a tool chest?

If you are someone who owns a lot of tools and works with them often, then you will need to go for a tool chest. It will keep all your items well-organized and will give you smooth access to them whenever you need them.

How do you secure a tool chest?

The method most people use in securing the tool chest is drilling it and attaching it to the floor. That being said, if the tool chest comes with caster wheels then for obvious reason you cannot drill or do anything like that. We don’t think the tool chest needs additional security as long as the model comes with a locking mechanism and the room you place the tool chest is secured.

How do you organize tools in a tool chest?

Different people organize the tool chest differently. Some sort by different types of tool, and some sort by different sizes. It comes down to your own preference, the one you are more comfortable with go with that.

Are Harbor Freight tool chests any good?

Harbor freight has earned a great reputation for its top-quality tool chests, and its service has been very consistent. And a lot of professionals even recommend their tool chests, so yes, they are good!

What should I look for in a tool chest?

There are a bunch of things that you need to look for if you want to end up with a good tool chest. Construction material, locking mechanism, storage, drawers slide out smoothness, wheels, inside liners, are the main things that everyone should look for.

Why are Snap-On tool chests so expensive?

The reason Snap-On tool chests are expensive is that they deliver the service that cheap tool chests cannot offer. They ensure top-quality and best performance.

Conclusion

These are the best tool chests for the money you will come across now in the market. All of the listed tool chests are providing what users expect from them, the feedback of the users says it all.

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