Get Any Project Done with the Best Workbench
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CRAFTSMAN 2000 Series Workbench -
Olympia Tools Multipurpose Workbench With Light -
Seville Classics UltraHD 12-Drawer Lockable Rolling Cabinet Workbench -
2x4basics Workbench -
Husky Extra Deep 46 in. 9-Drawer Mobile Workbench -
Buyer's Guide
Every workshop needs a workbench... or two or three. While some people like to build their own, it’s a lot faster and easier to buy a kit or one that’s ready to go. This also ensures that you’ll have a workbench that’s going to hold up under heavy-duty use, as sometimes DIY projects don’t go as planned.
The workbench is the center of the workshop, providing a place to work on projects, set your parts when you’re not working with them, store tools, and whatever else needs to be done. Without a workbench, you’re stuck with trying to find somewhere else to work, and often that somewhere is someplace that’s going to upset your partner!
Picking a workbench can be tricky, especially for those of us engaged in a variety of different projects. Check out our list of the best workbenches in 2022 and the buyer's guide below for some things to look for in your ideal workbench before making a selection.
Here Are the Best Workbenches of 2022
CRAFTSMAN 2000 Series Workbench - Best Workbench Overall
This Craftsman workbench is made to last. It is constructed in the USA and is made of strong steel with a durable one-inch-thick butcher block top. While it doesn’t have any drawers or a pegboard, it offers a great surface to work on and you can stow plenty of items underneath. Each of the legs has adjustable feet to slightly alter the height if placed on an uneven surface, and there is a small metal backsplash to prevent any of your items from falling off the back of the bench. The workbench has a load capacity of nearly 1500 pounds, making it the strongest workbench on our list.
Olympia Tools Multipurpose Workbench With Light - Runner Up
This workbench has amazing features. It has a built-in power strip and a fluorescent cabinet light, perfect for if you work in dim conditions or at night. You can even store items on the shelf above the light for additional storage space. Although the workbench has a power strip and light, you can still plug it in far away from the nearest outlet as it has an 80-foot power cord. The workbench has ample space to hang tools on the pegboard and has two fully-extendable drawers. The top of the workbench itself has a 220-pound load capacity, which should be plenty for most DIY projects.
Seville Classics UltraHD 12-Drawer Lockable Rolling Cabinet Workbench - Honorable Mention
This workbench is truly impressive; it is hard to find one with this much storage in it. Each of the 12 steel drawers can hold up to 30 pounds of tools and parts, plus they have rubber pads to keep things in place and prevent scratching. It also has a lockable cabinet to store larger, valuable tools, such as power tools. The hardwood top is nice and thick for mounting things to or just to work on. Not only that, but the whole thing is movable, mounted on 5-inch heavy-duty casters. This workbench is useful in practically any scenario.
2x4basics Workbench - Consider
This is just a kit, not a complete workbench— you’ll have to buy the lumber yourself and assemble it. Nevertheless, you can make an 8-foot long, 4-foot wide workbench, with two shelves underneath and two riser shelves above. That provides lots of space for storing anything you need. It’s easy to build, as the kit comes with legs and shelf risers. All you have to do is cut the lumber and assemble it. Another nice detail about this kit is that you can customize the workbench’s size to meet your personal needs. While it can be up to 8 feet long, it certainly doesn’t have to be. Plus, building your own workbench is a fun project.
Husky Extra Deep 46 in. 9-Drawer Mobile Workbench - Consider
Do you use a lot of power tools? If so, we’ve found the workbench for you. It’s mobile, has loads of storage, and has a built-in power strip with 2 USB ports and 4 outlets. This workbench is deeper than other options, providing you with even more space inside the 9 fully-extending drawers. The drawers can support up to 100 pounds each and have a protective rubber liner inside to keep your tools— and the drawers— in good condition. This heavy-duty workbench will certainly provide you with enough room to work.
Buyer's Guide
Anyone who does any amount of work with tools ends up needing a workbench. While most types of work can be done on pretty much any workbench, some types of work have specific requirements. Jewelry makers, for example, have their own special workbenches, as well as welders and woodworkers. These specialty workbenches have evolved over the years to provide for the exact needs of that trade. Welding requires a heavy-duty metal workbench that can ground the part being welded and won’t be damaged by the high temperatures. Likewise, auto mechanics usually use a steel-topped workbench so that oil and grease can be cleaned off easily. So, always make sure the workbench you choose is appropriate for the work you're going to do.
Workbenches come in all shapes and sizes. For most do-it-yourselfers, the deciding factor for their selection ends up being a combination of available space and price. However, the configuration of the workbench itself is actually a much more important consideration. A properly made workbench can actually help you do the work much better than a simple tabletop can.
While we've listed our top picks for the best workbenches, you may still be looking for that perfect one. To guide you through your search, read on to learn more about what you should keep in mind before making a purchase.
What Kind of Workbench Do You Need?
Woodworking Workbench
This is a workbench with a hardwood top normally made of laminated maple. It's extremely flat as the bench needs to be able to help align the pieces being put together and ensure they're flat as well. It also has a sophisticated clamping system which allows for the clamping of large projects such as tabletops and doors which can't be clamped effectively any other way.
General-Purpose Workbench
For those that don't do large complex woodworking projects, a simple workbench might do the trick. You still need a flat surface which is essential for aligning parts when gluing and clamping. But a simple workbench won't have the clamping system that a true woodworking bench will.
A general-purpose workbench is usually made with a wood top and metal legs. This provides a good combination of strength along with a smooth work surface. The better ones will have a hardwood top while lower priced ones will have plywood or particleboard. Workbenches for woodworking will always have a laminated hardwood top that is extremely flat and smooth.
Portable Workbench
Another type of workbench to consider is a portable workbench. Even if you have a regular workbench in your shop, having a portable gives you more work area and flexibility. A portable unit can be used for quick repairs and tasks when your main workbench is filled with a project. Or, it can be taken to a remote location to provide you with a workspace when you need it.
Portable workbenches were originally developed for use on construction job sites. However, they are just as useful in the garage workshop, especially for those who don't have a lot of room. Having something that you can set up to do the work and then fold or roll away when you are done helps maintain the functionality of your garage space.
The major difference between most portable workbenches and sawhorses is that these benches usually have some sort of clamping system built in so that you can use them to hold whatever you're working on.
To start, you want to make sure that the workbench you choose is actually going to help you do the type of work that you are planning on doing on it. If you do lots of different types of work, you may want to consider having more than one workbench with each one set up for a different type of task. You might also want to consider something like a standard workbench, with a portable for working on larger projects.
What to Look for in a Workbench
Strength
The strength of a workbench is of utmost importance. You’ll subject it to pounding, clamping, pushing, and stacking heavy materials on top of it. If the workbench isn’t strong enough, it will start wobbling and eventually break after a while.
A sturdy top is also critical for most types of work. Most manufacturers offer a plywood, particleboard, or MDF work surface. Of these, the MDF is the smoothest but plywood is stronger. You need to consider if you are going to be pounding on the top and if so, you want to make sure you buy one that will offer solid support without the top breaking.
Clamping
Woodworkers need to think of clamping capability more than anything else. Does the workbench have clamping built into it? Is it possible to use standard clamps with it? Is the top flat enough to ensure proper alignment of the workpieces when gluing them together?
Storage Space
For those who are doing other types of work on their workbench, storage space is often an important criterion. Being able to store your tools on or within the bench itself can be a convenient space saver.
