Which tool box do I need? The best tool boxes of 2024
Whether you’re a professional contractor or a DIY enthusiast, having a reliable toolbox is essential for storing, organising, and transporting your tools. Toolboxes come in various shapes and sizes, from large chests holding hundreds of tools to small, portable boxes for easy transport.
Choosing the right toolbox can be overwhelming, with so many options available. It’s important to consider key features and invest in one that will last a lifetime. In this buying guide, we’ll cover the main types of toolboxes, their features, and our top recommendations to help you find the perfect fit for your needs.
What to look for in a toolbox
When looking for a toolbox, consider a few key factors to help ensure you get the most suitable one.
Ultimately, you want to get the best toolbox that meets your requirements. These are by no means the only key factors to consider, but they are some of the most important.
Size & Capacity
When choosing a toolbox, consider its size and storage capacity. With many shapes and sizes available, your choice should depend on how many tools you currently have and any future additions. It’s ideal to select a toolbox with extra space to accommodate new tools, so you won’t need to buy a new one every time you expand your collection.
Storage compartments can enhance organisation, especially if you store power tools and their accessories. A larger toolbox with designated compartments is ideal for this. A simpler storage box with various compartments for smaller items will suffice for basic tools.
Material & Durability
Toolboxes can be made from various materials, each offering strengths and weaknesses. When selecting a toolbox, choosing a material that keeps your tools safe while meeting your specific needs is important. Most toolboxes are either plastic or metal. Plastic toolboxes, typically made from resin, are popular due to their affordability, lightweight nature, durability, and complete rust resistance. On the other hand, metal toolboxes are known for their exceptional durability and ability to carry heavy loads. Stainless steel and aluminium options are rust-resistant and very durable, though they are more expensive. Regular steel is more budget-friendly but is susceptible to rust and scratches.
Portability
If you’re purchasing a tool box, you will undoubtedly be transporting your tools to different locations, so you’ll need to take into account its portability. The material and size of the tool box will factor heavily into its overall portability, so this shouldn’t be discounted.
Transporting toolboxes holding many heavy tools can be an issue. To help alleviate this, you should look for a set of wheels, which are often incorporated into the design of the toolbox, especially in workstations and tool trolleys. Rolling workstations will often have plastic wheels, while a heavy-duty tool chest will have more robust castors that use metal ball bearings to spin.
Organisation
Tool boxes can come in a wide variety of configurations and layouts. If you’re storing many different types of tools, you should determine whether you need any organization features within the tool box.
Many toolboxes come with removable trays, compartments, or dividers, which can be used to store smaller items like washers and bits. These toolboxes will usually have a larger space underneath these trays for the larger tools. Larger rolling workstations and tool trolleys will often have tool drawers for easy and convenient organization of your tools. Some toolboxes are also stackable, so you can remove storage modules as needed.
Why Branded Tool Boxes?
Branded tool boxes are essential due to their superior quality, reliability, and comprehensive support. Renowned brands invest in stringent quality control measures, ensuring their products meet high standards for performance and durability. This reliability is reinforced by warranties and access to customer support services, providing users with peace of mind and assistance in case of any issues. Additionally, branded tool boxes often feature compatibility with various accessories, organisational solutions, and innovative designs and materials that enhance their versatility and efficiency. While branded tool boxes may come with a higher initial cost, their long-term value, resilience, and ease of maintenance make them indispensable for both professionals and DIY enthusiasts.
Toolbox accessories
Toolboxes can come with many accessories to help organize and transport your toolbox more easily. The toolbox will often come with these as standard; however, they are sometimes optional extras.
As we’ve already covered, it’s common to find organising trays and sections within your new toolbox. You can also fit tool rolls into your organizing trays to protect your tools and prevent them from damaging each other as you move the toolbox around.
Drawer liners are a great idea for tool chests and trolleys to prevent your tools from sliding around whenever you open or close the drawers. If you want to take this even further, you can purchase custom foam inserts for your tools or even create your own! You can add functionality to your tool station by bolting on accessories like paper roll holders, can holders, trays, and waste bins.
Our Top Toolboxes
Best metal toolbox
Stanley 1-95-617 Metal Plastic Toolbox
The Stanley 1-95-617 toolbox combines sturdy metal with a hard protective plastic base and corners, making it perfect for carrying heavy loads. The portable tray allows you to store and organise small tools on the top portion while keeping larger tools below. With large metal rust-proof latches and a padlock eye for keeping tools safe, this is one of the most secure and durable toolboxes available.
Best stackable toolbox
Makita P-83842 Makpac Stackable Tool Box
One of our best sellers of 2021, the Makpac stackable tool box offers a robust and flexible tool storage solution. With the interlocking latches, you can easily stack different Makpac cases to create a larger tool storage station. Strong, collapsible handles allow you to easily transport and store the tools with rounded grips to easily remove the individual cases.
Best tool chest
Teng Tools TC806SV 6 Drawer 8 Series Top Box
The Teng Tools TC806SV is a high-quality steel plated tool chest, equipped with 6 tool drawers of different sizes. With a multi-level design and metal side handles for easy transportation, the TC806SV also features a lockable front cover for keeping your tools safe. The abrasion and corrosion resistant shell protects your tools from any knocks, bumps, and drops.
Best tool trolley
Sealey AP760MHV Heavy-Duty Mobile Tool & Parts Trolley
The Sealey AP760MHV is a large, heavy-duty garage or workshop tool trolley with two large shelves, a lockable gas sprung lid, and two 40kg capacity drawers for storing your tools safely. The drawers can be installed in either a base down or base up configuration, giving you flexibility over the organisation and security of your tools. 4 heavy-duty polyurethane tires allow for smooth movement of the unit.
Best tool bag
DeWalt DWST1-79210 Large Storage Bag With Wheels
To round off our list we’re including the DeWalt DWST1-79210 storage bag, a flexible yet comprehensive tool bag. For transportation you have the choice of the ergonomic handle, shoulder strap, or telescopic handle and wheels for bulkier loads. The wide-opening top provides quick and easy access, with large capacity pockets featuring holsters, dividers, and plastic rails.
FAQ
What size toolbox do I need?
The size of your toolbox should depend on the number and types of tools you have. Consider how many tools you need to store now and in the future. It’s advisable to choose a toolbox with extra space for future additions.
What features should I look for in a toolbox?
- Size and storage capacity
- Material durability
- Portability (wheels, handles)
- Storage compartments and organisation options
- Locking mechanisms for security
How do I organise my toolbox?
To organise your toolbox effectively:
- Sort tools by type and frequency of use.
- Use compartments or organisers for smaller tools and accessories.
- Regularly declutter and remove any unused tools.
Need help deciding which to choose? Need some help with your order? Our new help centre has a wide range of helpful articles and guides!
If you have any additional queries, please do not hesitate to contact us at 01358 726719 or by email at admin@toolden.co.uk