WEN WB4723T 48-Inch Workbench with Power Outlets and Light, Black

Why I picked this bench

I wanted a compact, all-in-one station for light woodworking, electronics tinkering, and general household repairs—something that combined a decent work surface with storage, power, and lighting without eating up the whole shop. The WEN workbench checked those boxes on paper: a 25-by-48-inch enamel-coated top rated for 220 pounds, two drawers, upper and lower shelves, a pegboard, three built-in 13-amp outlets, and an overhead fluorescent light, all in a 62-inch-tall footprint. After living with it, I’m convinced it’s a smart budget bench for hobbyists and light-duty shop tasks, provided you understand its limits and set it up thoughtfully.

Setup and assembly

Assembly is straightforward but time-consuming. I built it solo in an evening. A small metric socket set and a nut driver sped things up considerably; a rubber mallet helped seat the work surface and pegboard cleanly. The best approach is to follow the sequence in the manual and keep all the frame bolts finger-tight until you square everything up. That lets you nudge the uprights into plane so the pegboard and shelves drop into place without fighting tolerances. Once it’s square and level on the floor, go back and snug everything down.

A few practical tips that made a difference:
- Work on a flat surface and check for square as you go. This bench gets noticeably stiffer once everything is aligned.
- Don’t overtighten fasteners into the wood components; let the frame do the structural work.
- Load the bottom shelf with some weight (organized bins, a tool case, or spare hardware). The added ballast noticeably reduces racking.

Expect a couple of hours if you’re working at a methodical pace. Nothing about the build is difficult, but there are enough fasteners and subassemblies that patience pays off.

Build and ergonomics

The frame is light-gauge steel, powder coated in black. It isn’t industrial-thick, but once assembled it’s adequately rigid for its intended duties. The work surface is a particleboard/MDF-style core with an enamel-coated face. The coating is smooth and non-marring, which is great for assembly and finishing tasks and prevents snagging fabric or scratching plastics. The published 220-pound capacity is realistic: it’s fine for benchtop tools, small vises, and assembly work, but it’s not a table you should be pounding on with a sledge or using as an anvil stand.

At 48 inches wide and 25 inches deep, the footprint is just right for a single-bay garage or a corner of a basement. The overhead shelf and light bring the overall height to 62 inches, which gives enough clearance for most ceilings while keeping the light close enough to be useful. I wouldn’t load that top shelf with anything heavy; light bins, abrasives, and spray cans are a better fit.

If you plan to mount a vise or a press, position it near a leg so the loads transfer into the frame, and consider reinforcing the underside of the top with a plywood backer. For frequent pounding or heavy hand-planing, I’d add a sacrificial 3/4-inch plywood skin over the existing top and through-bolt it.

Storage and organization

Storage is the reason to choose a bench like this over a plain table. The two drawers are spacious and slide smoothly once square, but they’re basic—more “shop cabinet” than “machinist chest.” They’ll happily store hand tools, measuring gear, and consumables, but they’re not intended for very heavy loads. Drawer organizers help a lot; the wide format otherwise invites chaos.

The pegboard accepts standard hooks and keeps commonly used tools visible and accessible. I hung drivers, pliers, and a speed square up top, reserving the lower third for frequently swapped hooks. The lower shelf is genuinely useful for bulk storage; filling it with bins not only increases your storage capacity but, as mentioned, improves stability.

Taken together, the drawers, shelves, and pegboard let you keep daily-use tools on the bench and the rest tucked away. It’s a tidy, modular system that encourages putting tools back where they belong.

Power and lighting

The built-in power strip offers three 13-amp outlets right where you need them. For corded sanders, soldering irons, chargers, and a laptop or labeler, it’s a small convenience that quickly becomes indispensable. I routed my benchtop tools to those outlets and left the wall receptacles for larger loads. As always, be mindful of the total current draw; treat the built-in strip as a convenience outlet, not a dedicated circuit. If you’re in a garage or basement, make sure the upstream supply is GFCI-protected.

The overhead fluorescent light is a thoughtful inclusion. It throws an even wash across the surface, which beats the shadows you get from a single shop light behind you. That said, output is modest compared to a modern LED shop light. I ultimately retrofitted a plug-in LED strip under the shelf for a brighter, cooler, hum-free beam. If you stick with the stock lamp, it’s perfectly serviceable for general assembly and layout work.

In use

I set this bench up as a generalist station: small woodworking corrections, soldering, 3D-print prep, and household repairs. The non-marring top has been kind to finished parts and electronics. Glues and finishes wipe off readily; I use a silicone mat for truly messy jobs.

Rigidity is good for light planing, drilling, and assembling drawer boxes. For heavy chiseling or dead-blow hammering, you’ll feel the frame flex a bit. Loading the bottom shelf and cinching every fastener helps, and bracing the back to a wall stud with a couple of discreet L-brackets makes the station feel notably more planted without making it permanent.

The drawers have held up fine for hand tools, driver bit sets, and layout tools, though I wouldn’t store dense metal offcuts there. The pegboard keeps my rotation of tools in sight; standard 1/4-inch hooks fit without drama. The work surface is flat and stays that way; I haven’t seen any obvious sag under normal use.

The power strip has been a daily quality-of-life upgrade. No more draping cords across the shop to reach a wall outlet. I keep a small surge protector tucked on the lower shelf for sensitive electronics and plug that into the bench’s outlets when needed.

What I’d change

• Brighter, modern lighting. The included fluorescent is fine, but an LED bar would be quieter, cooler, and brighter.
• Beefier drawers or ball-bearing slides. The current drawers work, but they’re not made for heavy hardware or dense tooling.
• Thicker top option. An upgrade path to a laminated hardwood or thicker MDF top would expand the bench’s usable range into heavier woodworking.

None of these are deal breakers at this price point, and all have straightforward DIY upgrades if you want to tinker.

Durability and maintenance

Keep the top clean and avoid soaking it with solvents. A light coat of paste wax keeps the enamel-coated surface slippery for layout work and helps glue pop off. Retorque the frame fasteners after a week of use; thin-wall frames relax a bit, and a quick once-over tightens things back up. If you add a plywood skin to the top, consider edge-banding it to prevent chipping.

The black finish hides scuffs well. I’ve bumped it with a vise and a drill press base without chipping to bare metal. If you do scratch it, a dab of black enamel touch-up paint blends right in.

Who it’s for

• Hobbyists, DIYers, and renters who need a compact workstation with integrated storage, power, and lighting.
• Makers setting up a 3D printing or electronics bench where a smooth, non-marring surface and nearby outlets matter.
• Home shops that want an organized, tidy station for light woodworking and repairs without committing to a permanent built-in.

Who should look elsewhere:
- Heavy-duty woodworkers and metalworkers who routinely hammer, chisel aggressively, or mount large vises. You’ll want a thicker top and heavier-gauge frame.
- Users needing high-capacity drawers for dense tooling; a dedicated tool chest pairs better with a beefier bench.

Recommendation

I recommend the WEN workbench for anyone building a budget-friendly, space-efficient workstation for light to moderate tasks. It offers a thoughtfully packaged mix of storage, a clean work surface, outlets, and lighting that genuinely improves day-to-day workflow. Assembly takes some patience, the drawers are basic, and the top isn’t meant for abuse, but within those bounds it’s a stable, useful bench that keeps tools organized and power at hand. If you add a few simple upgrades—drawer organizers, some ballast on the bottom shelf, and an LED light bar—you’ll have a tidy, capable bench that punches above its price.