Should I go with a toolbox or a tool chest? Are there any significant differences between them? Do they have anything in common?
Well, these are the most common questions that still baffle many people. But, in short, their functions are the same. They store your tools and make sure you don’t lose them or damage them in any way.
However, there do exist some differences between them that could sway your mind either way.
In this article, we’ll address those questions and try to reach a conclusive end. And by the end, hopefully, you’ll have a rounded toolbox vs. tool chest comparison to go on.
What is a Tool Box?
To be honest, both the toolbox and the tool chest are ambiguous terms. They could mean a lot of things. But primarily, a tool box refers to a smaller portable box that you can use to carry your tools from one place to another.
On the other hand, it could also refer to big boxes that one can move around with the help of wheels.
Besides those two polar characteristics, tool boxes could be of different materials. Although almost all manufacturers use aluminum as the primary material, there are tool boxes made of solid steel, plastic, and wood. It all depends on your job preferences.
What is a Tool Chest?
Tool chests are “Endgame” stuff. They are called ‘chests’ for a reason. When you have a big workshop or a garage to maintain, you can consider having one of these. Tool chests are large in scale compared to tool boxes. The former’s general anatomy consists of multiple stacked cabinets or doors.
These compartments help the user organize the tools more efficiently. For example, you can store the lightweight tools and the ones you use the most in one cabinet. Similarly, you can store your heavier tools, which you rarely use on other cabinets.
And yes, a tool chest has plenty of drawers and cabinets for you to utilize.
So, tool chests are bigger and can store more tools than a tool box. You can fit a workshop’s entire arsenal in a single tool chest. The tool box offers users more flexibility and ease of use in moving around and transportation.
They come in various shapes and sizes to match their users’ needs.
Things Tool Chests and Tool Boxes Have Common
There are some features that both of these storage solutions share. Regarding building materials, functionality, and ease of categorizing the tools… there are some common grounds between a toolbox and a tool chest.
First, the building blocks of tool boxes and chests share the same materials. The manufacturers see to it that you will be happy with the build quality, no matter what option you intend to go with.
There are tool boxes made of solid steel and aluminum for people working in a challenging environment. In the same way, to keep the tools safe and secure, there are tool chests made entirely of steel and aluminum. There is no place for mediocrity here.
Another thing you’ll find common between these two is that they are both quite durable. There’s no grey area here. If taken care of and handled properly, both tool boxes and tool chests tend to stick around their users for a long time.
This statement applies to both of them regardless of the materials they are built with.
Naturally, their functions are also the same as you’d imagine. They store your tools and keep them safe. Toolboxes, on the one hand, are available in a wide variety. So, naturally, they’ll have more bells and whistles than a tool chest.
However, a tool chest’s ability to store and organize your tools is almost parallel to the likes of a tool box. They tend to have several stacked drawers and multiple doors to organize the tools according to your preference.
The most important similarity between these two is that both can be moved quickly. This is kind of a feature in itself. There are tool chests that you can’t move, and there are some that you can. But, generally, tool chests are enormous in shape and size. So, people don’t want to move them around that much.
However, some models come with casters. Despite their massive weight, you can easily place them or drag them all over your workplace. But normally, people use this as the cornerstone of their workshop. They know where the chest is, so getting the tools doesn’t involve looking all around the workshop.
As for the tool boxes, from small to large, almost all have wheels underneath. So the perfect combo is having a decently sized tool chest to store all your tools and a small-portable tool box for the ones you’ll need for the task.
So, we can find several common threads between tool chests and boxes:
- They share the same building material in most cases.
- Both of them are quite durable and function-wise.
- They’re pretty formidable options.
Tool Chest vs. Tool Boxes: Counting Down the Differences
In the beginning, I’ve already mentioned that both terms, tool box and tool chest, are pretty ambiguous. They overlap with each other, share each other features and sometimes even names. So, to differentiate between these two could be a bit of overkill. But there’s no shame in trying, right?
The First Difference Comes in Size
Okay, so the first thing that draws the line between the ‘tool box vs tool chest’ debate is the size. Tool chests are generally bigger and have more storage than average-sized tool boxes. Having only one tool chest in your workshop will probably solve all your storage issues.
But again, some tool boxes can also claim to be enormous. However, as I said before, the perfect way to approach this is to have a big tool chest and a small-portable tool box. One would store everything, and the other will only bear the things you need often.
Portability Can Be a Concern
The next big thing is the portability issue. In most cases, this is where the people make up their minds. They either choose to go with a tool box or a tool chest. So, what is it? Well, tool boxes are more so easily portable.
Given their relatively smaller size, almost all of them, except for the hand-carry ones, have casters underneath. And this goes for everything. From trolley-type boxes to workbench-type models, they all have wheels.
People who own a smaller shop and still like to have their tools by their side all the time normally go with a tool box that can be moved around easily. Also, those who have to drive to their work with their tools generally weigh in towards tool boxes.
Conversely, tool chests are not meant to be moved around. There are, however, a good number of models that have wheels and can be moved.
The Space You Get in both Is Different
Now, let’s see in which case a tool chest presides over a tool box. Well, a tool box doesn’t even come close to the amount of space a tool chest has. You can fit pretty much anything in a chest. Since they are quite spacious, your tools won’t be cramped. They will not come in close contact with each other.
It reflects that the tools will be safe and sound. Not to mention, there are plenty of metal drawers and cabinets for you to organize your tools. You can organize them the way you see fit. It wouldn’t be an overstatement if I said that this flexibility is absent in a tool box. Why so?
Well, since they are not as spacious as tool chests, you have to do a lot of planning to make the best out of them. And this includes listing your tools and mapping out the available space so that the tools don’t damage each other.
What should you go with? Tool box or Tool Chest?
There isn’t any bad blood between a toolbox and a tool chest. However, when the word ‘versus’ is placed among two things, our subconscious automatically assumes that there are some polar characteristics in them.
This ‘tool box vs. tool chest’ topic it’s not as dramatic as it sounds. They both share the same genes and purposes.
So, which one should you choose?
The answer to that question is easy. All you have to do is ask yourself some basic questions. The answer will drive you toward your best option. What are they? Let’s find out. But remember, this is a matter of personal preferences, and the points aren’t absolute. What works for you may not work for others.
The first thing is the nature of your work and workplace. For example, if you have a workshop or garage, then it eliminates the need to transport your tools from one place to another. It means a right tool chest will be perfect for you.
But if your workplace is small and you need every bit of space to work, you can either go for a smaller tool chest or, even better, a tool box with casters. You can drag and bring your device to any place you’d like. You’ll constantly have access to all the tools and can keep them there after you’re done with your task.
On the contrary, having a durable tool box will do you good if you’re always on the move. It’ll withstand all the pressure of your worksite and keep your tools safe and secure. You can also opt for a truck-mounted tool box and carry an additional hand-carry or trolley-type box.
That way, you’ll be prepared for any task you might face on your worksite. In addition, this combination will let you carry more tools and keep your mind at ease, knowing that you have come fully prepared to work.
Let’s Wrap This Up
Ultimately, it all depends on you and your work preference only. There’s no wrong choice here. If you’re happy with your current tool storage solution, may that be a toolbox or tool chest, stick with it.
But even after a lot of consideration, if your choice isn’t working out for you, then maybe you haven’t thought it through. In that case, it’d be wise to alter your existing options.
Just remember, whichever you choose to go with, make sure it’ll improve your workflow. After all, an organized workshop will boost your morale and save you a lot of time and irritation. So take some time and plan wisely. Prioritize your needs and act accordingly.
Do you think a tool box will solve your storage problems? Please do your homework correctly and get it… no worries. And if you think that you’ll need something more stationary that has lots of space to store all kinds of tools, then opt for a decent tool chest.
Hopefully, this article has managed to shed some light on the ‘tool box vs tool chest’ debate and answer your questions that you might have had.
