From Husky to Yukon: 5 durable toolboxes that won't break the bank

A decent toolbox for your garage or shop certainly won't come cheap, but that doesn't mean you have to spend thousands on one, either.At first, a little tool bag or some bins will suffice, but as you start to stock up on power tools, batteries, wrenches, screwdriver sets, sockets, bits, and more, you'll eventually want something bigger.Here are some choices.

I'm using the term "affordable" pretty casually here because I wouldn't really consider something at $400 affordable.That said, most big-name toolboxes can easily cost $2,000 or more.Luckily for you, there are several excellent options for DIYers, homeowners, or new mechanics that won't completely break the bank.

Keep your garage clean, organized, and ready for any project with one of these excellent toolboxes.Yukon 46-inch Mobile Tool Cabinet 1,200 lb capacity and 5 color options Close The size of your garage and your tool collection will determine the type of toolbox you'll want to buy.Something with a few drawers for odds and ends, along with larger, deep drawers at the bottom for power tools, is the ideal combination for many homeowners.

If you're looking for a well-rounded toolbox that's affordable, not too big, but not too small, or cheaply built, you'll want to wander down to your nearby Harbor Freight and check out the Yukon line.They're extremely well-regarded by DIYers and have a huge following on Reddit.One of the best options is the Yukon 46-inch 9-drawer mobile toolbox for $359, featuring durable casters and a wood top.

It can support nearly 1,200 lbs, and is made with heavy-gauge steel.You'll enjoy smooth ball-bearing drawer slides, and two of the drawers are rated for 200 lb, perfect for endless wrenches or all those Ryobi or Milwaukee drills and impact drivers.Related Ryobi finally made the 18V/40V dual charger fans have been asking for And it's fast, too.

Posts By  Cory Gunther Better yet, this toolbox is often on sale for $300, making it one of the best value-for-money options on the market.If you don't need all those drawers, get the single drawer model with more open storage for only $329.Husky 46-inch 9 Drawer Workbench A durable option readily available at Home Depot Another option that's extremely similar to the Yukon above, only from Home Depot, is the popular Husky 46-inch wide 18-inch deep mobile toolbox and workbench.

I love the bright Snap-on inspired red powder coat color here, but it also comes in an awesome desert tan, army green, or four other variations to fit your style.It's a little more than the Yukon, but it has a few additional features you'll love.For starters, it has a 21-gauge all-welded steel construction with a solid wood top, multiple 100 lb capacity drawers, durable caster wheels, and ball-bearing slides with soft-close.

I love my soft-close drawers.Where it steps things up is with a slightly thicker wood top and an integrated power strip with 6 outlets and 2 USB ports to power all your gear or recharge your power tool battery packs.The deeper drawers have a higher weight capacity for all your gear, and the entire unit can support up to 1,500 lbs.

It's solid! Kobalt 27-inch Steel Rolling Cabinet Small, affordable, and expandable If you prefer Lowe's over Home Depot, or you don't need a huge toolbox taking up space in your garage, consider the smaller 27-inch Kobalt toolbox for $299.This toolbox might not be as long, but it's nearly twice as deep as the others, coming in at 33 inches, meaning those drawers have a ton of space for all your gear.It's built from steel, and the drawers can only handle about 50 lb each, while the entire toolbox can drag around 600 lb of gear with its caster wheels.

It also has pre-cut drawer liners and a lock and key (as most do), but there's no wood on top for a work surface.Related 6 things you can do with Milwaukee batteries (aside from powering tools) Power all the things.Posts 3 By  Cory Gunther Still, it's affordable, and you can always head back to Lowe's and get add-on components and build it out as your tool collection grows.

Basically, it can become bigger over time.For what it's worth, the Husky from Home Depot has the same benefit.U.S.

General 56-inch Roll Cab Series 3 Professional-grade Close Next up, I wanted to highlight another excellent Harbor Freight brand, one that's constantly mentioned online as the best toolbox for its price.I'm talking about the U.S.General line, which comes in all sorts of sizes.

And while this bigger 56-inch model does ring in at $900, which certainly isn't affordable, you'll spend $3000-$8,000 for something like this from Snap-on.So, in comparison, this is pretty darn cheap.The US General toolbox line often goes on sale, and last year, this 56-inch model was briefly down to $750, making it quite the steal.

It's industrial-grade without the typical price tag.You're getting 8 different drawers with durable bearings and soft-close technology, a total capacity of 4,400 lb, and so much more.There's also an in-drawer power strip that'll double as your charging system, offering five 120V outlets plus USB-A and USB-C outlets to charge your batteries and tools.

It comes with large 6-inch wheels built to handle the heaviest tool collections.Husky 37-inch Rolling Toolbox with Handle Something truly affordable If you're not ready to fork out the kind of cash mentioned above for a place to store your tools, I totally understand.Things are expensive these days.

But don't worry, we have you covered.Another solid option is this Husky 37-inch rolling toolbox for $99.It's a bit bigger than a cooler, has a similar wheel-and-handle design, and includes a lock-and-key system to keep those pricey tools safe.

The Husky rolling box at Home Depot is a solid alternative to full-size units, especially if you're occasionally taking your tools to other locations.You get a bunch of storage and organization without the Milwaukee PACKOUT price tag.It features large, durable wheels, a stackable design, weather-resistant gaskets, and an interior storage tray for organization.

It might not be what you think of when it comes to a garage toolbox like your grandfather's, but it'll do.Get organized, and get to work In closing, keep in mind that most of the models above are full toolbox systems for professionals, DIYers, or homeowners who want the perfect garage setup.You can easily get by with more affordable alternatives.

Still, there's something to be said about a solid toolbox lined with screwdrivers, sockets, wrenches, power tools, and the all-important junk drawer.For example, I have the excellent Milwaukee 52-inch High Capacity 12-drawer toolbox in my garage, which I luckily got for $599 a few years back.It's a solid middle ground between casual and pro-grade, delivering 12 soft-close drawers good for 150 lbs, a total weight limit of 3,000 lbs, and built-in AC and USB outlets for all my battery packs.

Funny enough, it's full of Ryobi tools, but it's an excellent toolbox that I absolutely love.Find what's right for you, fill it up, then get to work.

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