Tool Cabinets & Chests

What size rolling tool chest do you need?

The single roller cabinets here are about 60–69 cm wide, 33 cm deep and 75–82.5 cm tall, putting the top at a handy work-surface height; two- and three-part stacks reach 102–131 cm. Allow about a metre of clear floor in front so drawers open fully and you can stand at them. Check drawer heights against your bulkiest tools: 3–4 cm drawers suit sockets and bits, while drills need 10 cm or more. Ratings run from 5 kg to 20 kg per drawer and 60–150 kg overall, so keep heavy kit low down.

Is a lockable tool cabinet secure enough for a garage?

A keyed lock keeps tools away from children and casual borrowers and stops drawers sliding open on the move, but it is not a safe. In a shared or detached garage, park the chest against a wall with the castors locked, keep the keys elsewhere, and treat it as one layer of security alongside a locked door. Look for braked castors too: the 7-drawer matte black cabinet has two.

Tool chests and cabinets: your questions answered

What is the difference between a tool chest and a tool cabinet?

A tool chest is usually the top box, with a lift-up lid and shallow drawers, while a tool cabinet or roller cabinet is the larger base unit on castors. Two- and three-part sets combine both, so you can lift the top chest off when you need to.

Are these tool chests lockable?

Most are. Lockable models say so in the title and use a keyed lock that secures the drawers, and where keys are listed, two are supplied. A few pegboard and multi-drawer chests do not mention a lock, so check the product details if security matters.

Can a rolling tool chest be used as a workbench?

For light jobs, yes. Several cabinets list a top rating of 100 kg, which suits laying out parts and light assembly. They sit lower than a typical workbench and can shift on their castors, so lock the wheels and save heavy hammering for a proper bench.