DeWalt Express Folding Workbench

I’m always chasing more flat space on a job site. Between assembly, sanding, and staging tools, portable surfaces save time and back strain. The DeWalt folding workbench promises quick setup, a clamping-friendly top, and real load capacity in a compact package. After hauling it to a few remodels and keeping it in my garage for a couple months, here’s how it actually works day to day.

Setup and portability

The folding workbench is built for fast deployment. On level ground, I can flip it open in roughly three seconds: press the release, grab the under-bar, and the legs swing into place together. Fold-down is just as straightforward. The metal legs lock positively with an audible click, and the whole unit is stable enough to trust right away without hunting for latches.

Folded, it’s compact at about 28 x 21 x 5.8 inches and roughly 23 pounds. The carry handle balances the weight well, and the flat profile slides behind a truck seat or leans in a garage without getting in the way. It will stand on edge against a wall without trying to roll off, which I appreciate when space is tight.

A small note on the mechanism: the sliding pins that coordinate the leg movement benefit from being kept clean. Grit can make the action feel sticky. A quick blast of air and a touch of dry lube keeps mine moving smoothly.

Work surface and clamping

The molded plastic top is the defining feature. It’s peppered with dog holes and clamping slots that make securing parts simple. I used bench dogs for edge planing small stock, and trigger clamps through the holes to hold down cabinet panels. It’s faster than improvising with sawhorses, and you can pull clamping pressure from above or below without contorting yourself.

The surface area—roughly 28 by 21 inches—is generous for a portable station. For larger glue-ups or door planing, I pair it with a second table or lay a sacrificial sheet of MDF across two stands to create a larger platform. The 33-inch working height feels natural for assembly, sanding, and jig work. It’s a bit tall for heavy hand-planing sessions, but perfect for most general tasks.

Being plastic, the top doesn’t love heat or sharp blows. Hot metal, a running router dropped face-down, or repeated mallet strikes will scuff or dent. I keep a sacrificial board handy for cutting and chiseling and use bench cookies or rubber pads to limit sliding on the relatively smooth surface.

Capacity and stability

DeWalt rates the bench at 1,000 pounds. In practical use, I treat that as an “evenly distributed, no dynamic loading” number. I stacked roughly 350 pounds of pavers across the top to pre-load it, and it took it without complaint: no audible creaks, no measurable sag in the center. The metal legs and cross structure are legitimately stout for the weight class.

Where you need to be careful is with concentrated loads near the corners and with side loads. Leaning hard into a pry operation at the edge or dropping a heavy tool on a corner puts stress into the plastic-to-metal interface. That’s the one area that feels like the limiting factor. For heavy vise work or pounding operations, this isn’t the platform I reach for.

Stability is good on flat surfaces—front-to-back and side-to-side wobble is controlled for a folding bench—but it’s still a light, tall table. On uneven ground, shim the feet or throw a contractor bag of sand on the lower frame to damp vibration. I would not mount a table saw to this and expect smooth, rattle-free cuts. As an outfeed or a staging surface beside a miter saw, it’s fine. As the primary base for a heavy benchtop tool, it’s not the right match.

Build quality and durability

The recipe here is metal legs with a molded top and reinforced underside webs. The legs lock up tight and feel robust. The plastic is thick and has some give—not a brittle feeling in normal use—but it is still plastic. Treat it like a tool, not a sawhorse you toss off the truck. Mine survived bumps, rides in the bed, and a few scuffs. I did have one tip-over in a gust when it was empty, and it left a small chip in an underside web at a corner. Functionally fine, but a reminder that the corners are the stress points. If you work in windy, uneven conditions, store it folded or weigh it down when not in use.

I also had one instance where a leg didn’t fully unlock because a sliding pin hung up. It wasn’t catastrophic—lifting the table slightly and cycling the release freed it—but it’s something to be aware of. Keeping the mechanism clean and operating it on level ground minimizes this.

Long-term, I’d expect the metal to outlast the plastic if you’re rough on your gear. The limited lifetime warranty is nice to have, but as always, abuse and drops won’t be covered. If your work involves repeated impact loads, look for a steel- or plywood-topped solution.

Everyday usability

What I like most is how often I reach for it. Need a quick assembly station? Up in seconds. Need a clamp-friendly surface in a client’s living room? The feet don’t mar floors, and the height is comfortable. Need a quick outfeed by the bandsaw? It’s easy to position and adjust.

A few tips from use:
- Protect the top with a thin MDF sheet for cutting, chiseling, or when using hot tools.
- Use bench dogs and through-clamps to prevent racking when sanding or routing.
- For larger tasks, run two benches with a sheet across them; the holes still allow clamping from above.
- Keep the leg pins clean; a touch of dry silicone lube makes a noticeable difference.
- Don’t leave it open and empty in the wind—fold it or weigh it down.

Value

Price will vary, but this sits in the middle of the portable bench category. You’re paying for the quick-deploy mechanism and the clamping-friendly top. There are cheaper plastic tables with fewer clamping options and heavier steel platforms that are tougher but nowhere near as portable. This one splits the difference: fast, light, reasonably sturdy, and undeniably convenient—provided you respect its limits.

Who it’s for

• Great for: carpenters, remodelers, and DIYers who need a fast, portable, clampable surface for assembly, sanding, light routing, and general staging.
• Acceptable for: supporting benchtop tools temporarily (sanders, small planers, benchtop drill press) if you spread the load and accept some vibration.
• Not ideal for: heavy metalwork, mounting a full-size table saw, repeated impact operations, or anyone who needs a bombproof surface that shrugs off drops and corner hits.

The bottom line

As a portable work surface, the DeWalt folding bench delivers on speed, versatility, and convenience. The clamping grid is genuinely useful, the legs feel robust, and the compact fold makes it a no-brainer to keep in the truck. Its limitations are clear: the molded top doesn’t love abuse, the corner interfaces are the weak link under concentrated or impact loads, and the folding mechanism appreciates a little maintenance to stay slick.

Recommendation: I recommend this bench for light-to-medium-duty job-site and garage work where portability and clamping options matter. If you need a quick, reliable surface that sets up in seconds and handles most everyday tasks, it’s an easy yes. If your work involves heavy pounding, concentrated loads at the edges, or serving as a primary base for big stationary tools, look to a heavier-duty steel or plywood-topped solution instead.