10 Best Portable Tool Boxes

Are you in desperate need of a new portable tool box? We scoured the internet in search of the top worksite tool solutions. We looked for tool boxes with durable exteriors and a diverse assortment of internal compartments. These containers made it easier to organize and move a wide range of power and hand tools. Now, we are excited to share five of our favorites with you!

DeWalt Portable Tool Box (DWST08203H) – Best Plastic Organizer – Editor’s Choice

This over-the-top DeWalt tool box features lots of storage space. The large interior compartment is split up by a removable hand tool tray. A robust structural foam surface gives this tool box exceptional durability without attaching extra weight.

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Each box weighs approximately 9.5 pounds. The walls are several millimeters thick and impervious to water.

The tool box also features a waterproof seal. You can be sure that the contents are always protected from the elements. This tool box is also compatible with ToughSystem metal trolleys. You can lock the DeWalt tool boxes onto these unique transportation systems. In doing so, you’ll save yourself a whole lot of back pain. If you are looking for a solid worksite storage solution, DeWalt is an excellent option.

Craftsman Three-Drawer Metal Tool Box – Best Metal Tool Box

This three-drawer metal Craftsman tool box is one of our favorite portable storage solutions. The metal drawer slides extend fully, offering 25 pounds of support at all angles. The deep under-the-lid storage area is also designed to hold bulky tools.

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What’s more, the box’s steel frame can withstand years of abuse. It even comes with a padlock hasp and staple. As such, you’ll have no problem safeguarding your precious tool collection. The handle on the lid enables users to comfortably lift the box regardless of the contents. The handle’s soft grip make this one of our preferred tool box options.

Keter 241008 Masterloader Plastic Portable Rolling Organizer – Best Portable Rolling Tool Box

This Keter tool box will have you working smarter rather than harder. It has a durable two-wheeled base. The chunky wheels are capable of traversing a wide range of surfaces. An extendable handle enables users to push or pull the tool box from any height.

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The box contains several compartmentalized bins. Some of the bins even have clear plastic covers. The covers prevent small parts from spilling out. A central locking mechanism safeguards the contents. Overall, you will have no trouble fitting your large and small tools into this incredible Keter tool box.

Stanley 028001L 28-Inch Structural Foam Tool Box – Best Compact Tool Box

Bigger isn’t always better. This compact structural foam tool box offers ample storage and unmatched durability. Yet, it is only 28 inches long. We love the comfort offered by the soft-touch handle.

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What’s more, the tool box’s water-tight structural foam and metal latches provide excellent safeguarding. This tool box is equipped with a very generous lifetime warranty. However, we cannot see users experiencing many issues.

It’s an excellent option for job site storage. The removal half tray will help you keep track of your smallest hand tools. Meanwhile, the large basin at the base of the tool box serves as the perfect spot for bulky items, like handsaws and drills. Overall, the manufacture really covered their bases. We can see this tool box in the hands of both professionals and DIYers. It is just that reliable!

Goplus 20-Inch Portable Five-Tray Cantilever Metal Tool Box – Best Upgrade Option

If you are looking for a solid investment piece, check out Goplus’s five-tray cantilever metal tool box. This bright red steel tool container features five internal cabinets. The bottom area also serves as storage for bulky items.

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Two full-length steel handles make for more comfortable carrying sessions. The storage trays expand naturally when the lids are peeled back. There’s also an option to lock the lids in place.

This is one of the most efficient storage options we tested. It also has a very distinct and enjoyable aesthetic. Not to mention, the powder coating is resistant to scratches and discoloration.

The Ultimate Buyer’s Guide To The Best Portable Tool Boxes

Size

Choose a tool box that provides an ample amount of storage space without being too bulky. A tool box may be square or rectangular. It may have removable trays, cantilever trays, or layers of drawers. Make sure that the dimensions do not obstruct your ability to move freely at a work site.

Storage Options

Make sure that your tool box selection is a good fit for its intended contents. In most cases, we preferred tool boxes that offered a mix of small and large compartments. Deep, undivided compartments can hold large tools, such as drills and saws. Meanwhile, large divided compartments provide the perfect space for hand tools and small parts. Check your tool box’s weight capacity to ensure it won’t bulk under the weight of your tools.

Portability

Soft-grip handles, rolling bases, and lockable latches all make for safer, more comfortable tool transportation. Save your energy for the job at hand. Opt for a tool box that will not inhibit your movements or organization. What’s more, make sure that your tool box has a space-saving design. Bulky tool boxes can limit your access to constricted areas.

Durability

Steel and structural foam are our top choices when it comes to tool box materials. That’s because these materials do not warp or damage easily. When you’re looking for a storage solution for sharp, blunt objects, durability is key.

FAQ Portable Toolboxes

A good craftsman doesn’t waste precious time looking for the right tool, fixture, parts, or fasteners. He stores or transports instruments using appropriate toolboxes, where each thing has its place. If you belong to the category of such craftsmen, it will be useful for you to know what toolboxes are available on today’s market.

What is the best portable toolbox?

Modern portable toolboxes can be classified according to several parameters: by purpose, by design features, by the material of manufacture.

The types of toolboxes, depending on the purpose, are as follows:

• boxes for hand tools;
• boxes for power tools;
• boxes for tools and small items;

Structurally, containers for storing and transporting tools are divided into:

• traditional boxes;
• cases;
• organizers;
• trays;
• carts.

Speaking about the difference between boxes depending on the material used, it can be noted that metal and plastic are most often used for the manufacture of the above tool storages, however, in rare cases, you can also find wood from which trays or separate sections of the organizer can be made.

Among other things, modern manufacturers customize toolboxes and give them a unique shape. In particular, cases and organizers can also be found in the installation equipment market.

• Case

A compact suitcase that opens wide. An obligatory element of the case is the handle of the side end. It will not be possible to place powerful volumetric equipment in it.

• Organizer

Low height container, separated by compartments. Execution options – a case with a handle or a cabinet with pull-out trays. Small compartments are designed for storing small fasteners and accessories.

By adjusting the space, the organizer accommodates larger screwdrivers and pliers.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using a portable toolbox?

The main benefits of a portable box:

• Very robust construction;
• Optimal use of storage capacity and space;
• Compact size;
• Sturdy handle for safe transport;
• Sturdy aluminum clamps or plastic.

A portable box allows you to organize your workspace. Due to this fact,  you can easily find what you need at the moment. For professionals, this is a guarantee that they will not forget anything they’re using during daily work. Most importantly, the performance of high-quality materials ensures durability and use in all weather conditions. The offered boxes for sale will meet the expectations of all buyers, exceptionally professionals.

Key aspects of choosing a toolbox:

• Handle. Transportation becomes comfortable. Opening the drawer is also much easier;
• Purpose. If only the equipment is to be transported, a plastic container will work as it is lighter in weight;
• The number of separate spaces. The more compartments, the more convenient it is to fold and sort the parts, but each compartment makes less space;
• Sections. The design includes pull-out compartments, divided into several parts. The sections guarantee the compactness of the product, accessibility to the contents when opened.

How much does a portable toolbox cost?

Depending on the main material used to make the toolbox, its cost can vary significantly. By equipping products with additional features and components such as combination locks, pull-out handles, and other accessories.

When choosing a toolbox for storing your work accessories, pay attention, first of all, to the reliability of the specimen. Considering the wide assortment available to the modern buyer, one can be confused before the whole breadth of choice of storage for your favorite tools. Today, most of the models are made of high-quality plastic, while the percentage of metal boxes is decreasing due to their high weight. Manufacturers are gradually reducing the weight of the structure by adding alloying components and using high-strength aircraft-grade aluminum, as well as other metallic compounds characterized by superior reliability and durability.

The cost of production directly depends on the number of useful functions and additional components. The average cost of a toolbox, in the optimal configuration, is from $ 50.

How to organize a portable toolbox?

Proper organization of storage space for tools is a key step on the path to careful and long-term maintenance of order among your favorite tools. First, after choosing a toolbox, pinpoint the storage location for each tool — you can use colored markers, mini-stickers, or multi-colored tape for this. Also, be sure to inspect the tools before putting them in the box — their surfaces must be thoroughly cleaned of traces of work, lubricants, dust, and dirt.

Manage space efficiently in the toolbox. Regardless of the volume of modern models of toolboxes, space needs to be allocated as ergonomically as possible. To store more tools, you need to arrange compact and bulky tools so they do not mix with fasteners and other items that might be stored in toolboxes. Due to the increased attention of manufacturers to the safety of storage of personal belongings of owners, happy owners of high-quality products sometimes store valuables, cash, and even weapons inside.

Are Craftsman tool boxes worth it?

The world-famous Kraftsman company offers customers, unique models of toolboxes, at very reasonable prices. Manufacturers are trying very hard to give their products the most ergonomic design, not without attention to the aesthetic component. The excellent quality of products will definitely appeal to all lovers of order in their things, and thanks to the use of the highest quality materials and progressive technologies, it was possible to achieve an excellent combination of an eye-pleasing visual form, compactness, and comfort of use. The company pays a lot of attention to new ideas and innovations in the design of its products.

Craftsman has launched a line of very colorful Harley-Davidson style toolboxes. The boxes look amazing, the orange matches the black perfectly, and the Harley-Davidson logos make them even more beautiful and expressive.

Craftsman has released several lines of limited edition toolboxes and racks over the past few years. All of them were distinguished by the presence of ball runners. The brightest lines are blacked-out, white dry erase-finish, red Griplatch, burgundy, as well as black and platinum.

How to secure my portable toolbox?

Most modern manufacturers pay special attention to the safety of tools stored in toolboxes. Thanks to the integration of various advanced technologies and the use of the highest quality materials in production, extremely successful results are achieved. Modern models of toolboxes are equipped with innovative locking mechanisms that are ideally combined with the installation of excellent security locks. 

Focusing on safety characteristics, manufacturers are making more and more reliable and high-quality products — they are almost impossible to break, and the case is distinguished by excellent resistance to mechanical damage and attempts to break with the help of various assembly tools. To increase the safety of use, progressive combination locks with numeric panels for entering codes or with biometric sensor locking mechanisms are used to minimize the possibility of gaining access to content.

Are portable toolboxes safe?

The storage of household items and personal tools stipulates a certain framework for focusing attention on basic safety characteristics. In particular, buyers are interested, first of all, in those models of toolboxes equipped with the most modern security systems against intruders. Considering all aspects of security considerations and the skill of burglars, locks on boxes should be of the highest quality and unbreakable. For this, they are often equipped with a new generation of biometric locks, which are locked and opened with the owner’s fingerprint.

Also, digital locks created according to the latest technology are widely used — the locking technology guarantees individual access only to the owner of the product, while the use of high-quality materials at the base of the mechanisms guarantees minimization of the effects of aggressive chemical environments and corrosion. Given this fact, storing personal belongings in such models of toolboxes is advisable due to the unique level of protection of the user’s personal belongings.

Interesting Video: Comparing A New Lowe’s Craftsman Tool Box

Wrapping Things Up

After a long and grueling search, we’ve decided that the DeWalt Portable Toolbox is our top selection.

This box will help the most disorganized people get organized. It has ample storage space and a reliable exterior. You can lug this structural foam box to a work site without having to worry about dust and water seeping into your tool chest. Of course, any of the above picks will give you adequate access to your tools and parts. All of the picks are excellent options for remote work sites.

Being on the road for 2 weeks of almost every month, I just like most colleagues require a reliable portable tool case. That is why I made a bold decision on creating the full-fledged review of the best mobile cases good for transportation. Just like always, I use my criteria when picking up a portative box for my instruments. I’ve launched the project ToolBoxWiki to help other mechanics and craftsmen, both professionals and enthusiasts, who need to keep their working instruments organized. But portability is another important factor that I couldn’t skip.

At first, I want to debunk a few myths:

1. A good box in this category doesn’t have to be too expensive. In fact, I managed to find and test a few portative cases that are under $100. Though, the price wasn’t the main factor I looked for during this particular review;
2. Famous doesn’t mean quality. False – at least, as I see it. Popular brands still kick any new player in this niche. I don’t have any personal preferences but still, my guide once again includes the transportable boxes made by Excel, RIDGID, Jags, Keter, and other well-known U.S. brands;
3. Plastic cases won’t last than 2 months. Another common myth – there are plastic portable toolcases that can easily last for a few years. Besides, when it comes to the main parameter – portability – plastic products are still the best pick. Though, I’ve included to my review steel kits as well – so you could compare the durability features on your own;

Taking into account all these outcomes of the experiments, I managed to figure out one thing – portative cases must be lightweight (obviously), they can cost under $100 (not necessarily) and they ought to be made by reputable brands (personal unbiased opinion).

By the way, I’ve added a video tutorial to this review. Check it out. Thanks for reading my guides – I put a lot of effort into testing and writing about my honest impressions of the popular and new tool boxes in the market.