Red standing tool box

The box itself weighs 23 pounds when empty. The Packout is basically a big box; there are no included trays or organizers, so you can pack in even large or oddly shaped tools with ease.

Two 9-inch, all-terrain wheels and an industrial-strength extension handle make it a breeze to wheel the box wherever you want it, and the reinforced hinges keep the box from falling apart even under rigorous conditions. The chest has three drawers with smooth ball-bearing slides, plus a top storage compartment for a total of four compartments to organize your tools.

The weight capacity of the whole box is 75 pounds. The box itself weighs 20 pounds. The box measures 16 x 9. A lift-out tray and clear plastic organizer hold smaller items, such as nails, hooks, and screws. This is also a great choice if you want an organizer to hold craft or art supplies, or even fishing tackle. Obviously, the more tools you want to keep in the box, the larger it needs to be, but keep in mind that as size grows, so does weight.

Some portable tool boxes are just that—a basic box with a handle. Others have multiple inner compartments, drawers, dividers, or even pullout bins. Many small or inexpensive options have one larger compartment and a lift-out tray with small compartments for screws, nuts, and bolts. There are two basic materials for portable tool boxes: plastic and steel. Plastic is lightweight and inexpensive, but not always very durable.

Nor can plastic tool boxes hold as much weight as a steel box. If, however, you need a portable tool box for outdoor worksites, busy shops, a large and heavy collection of tools, or professional use, steel is your best bet.

The specifics depend on your particular collection of tools, the features of your tool box, and your preferences. But the following basic guidelines can help you turn a jumbled mess into a well-organized tool box that makes it easy to find what you need when you need it.

The weight range for portable tool boxes is a large one. As a very general rule, small and simple boxes usually weigh less than 5 pounds, large heavy-duty boxes can weigh between 10 and 20 pounds, and tool boxes on wheels and with multiple drawers top out the range at 30 to 40 pounds or more.

Tool boxes can get quite grungy—grease, dust, and grit are common culprits. Keep your tool box in good condition by cleaning it when necessary. This article is edited and updated by Michelle Ullman , the tool expert for The Spruce. She has extensive experience not only in writing about all things related to the home, but also in carrying out various DIY projects, including landscaping, painting, flooring, wallpapering, furniture makeovers, and simple repairs.

For this roundup, she considered dozens of portable tool boxes, evaluating each for basic features, extras, and customer feedback, as well as input from Eamon Lynch, Director of Warranty Service at Power Home Remodeling. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads.

Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. The 8 Best Portable Tool Boxes of Keep your tool collection organized and handy when you're on the go. By Michelle Ullman. Michelle Ullman. Michelle Ullman is a home decor expert and product reviewer for home and garden products. These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms.

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