DeWalt 26" Wide 4-Drawer Tool Chest

Why I switched to this 26-inch DeWalt chest

I put the 26-inch DeWalt chest into service in my garage to replace a tired five-drawer cabinet, and within a week it felt like the right move. It’s compact enough to roll between benches and vehicles, but the build, drawer action, and included organization bits make it feel more like pro equipment than a starter box. It’s a simple four-drawer layout, yet with smart load ratings and thoughtful touches that kept me productive instead of wrestling sticky slides or wobbly wheels.

Build and finish

The cabinet uses 18/20 gauge steel and feels appropriately stout for its size. The case resists racking when I lean into the top or tug on fully extended drawers. Edges are cleanly finished, and the body panels don’t tin-can when you press on them. The chest is made in Sedalia, MO, USA with global materials, and the fitment reflects decent factory quality: consistent gaps, square drawers, and straight slides.

DeWalt includes a pre-cut, embossed top mat and liners for all four drawers. The top mat turns the flat surface into a workable mini-bench, keeping chargers and fasteners from skating around. The liners are a small but meaningful upgrade—tools stay put, drawer bottoms stay scratch-free, and you’re not forced to cut and trim your own.

At roughly 80 pounds shipped, it’s not featherweight. That heft helps. Loaded up, the cabinet feels planted and trustworthy, which matters when you’re yanking on stuck drawers or rolling it across seams in the floor.

Mobility and setup

Assembly is straightforward: bolt on the 6-by-2-inch over-toe locking casters and the full-grip tubular side handle, drop in the liners, and you’re ready to move tools. The large-diameter casters are the standout here. They roll smoothly over cords, expansion joints, and the lip of my garage threshold without the jolts I get from smaller wheels. With the locks engaged, the chest doesn’t creep while I’m reefing on fasteners at the top.

DeWalt rates the engineered caster load capacity at 2,000 pounds. I didn’t push anywhere near that, but I did load the drawers with hand tools, sockets, dead-blow hammers, and several cordless tools. Even at a few hundred pounds of total load, it rolled predictably and braked solidly. The handle spans the side of the case and gives plenty of leverage for steering and controlling momentum on small slopes.

Drawer performance

Drawer action is the reason to buy or skip a chest, and this is where the 26-inch DeWalt chest earns its keep. All four drawers ride on full-extension, soft-close ball-bearing slides. Full extension is critical; being able to see and reach the back row keeps you productive and prevents the rummaging that leads to reorganization entropy. The soft close is controlled but not sluggish—give the drawer a gentle push and it glides home with a small, reassuring catch at the end.

Load ratings are generous for this size: drawers with a single slide are rated to 100 pounds, and the heavier drawers with dual slides can handle up to 150 pounds. I dedicated the deeper drawer to heavier items—large sockets, pullers, a rotary hammer—and didn’t notice any sag or binding. Side-to-side play is minimal even fully extended. I also appreciate the quiet. There’s no metallic clatter when a loaded drawer closes; the damping takes the sting out of everyday use.

If you’re coming from chests with lesser slides, you’ll notice the difference immediately. It’s not just smoothness; it’s confidence that the box won’t protest when you put real weight in it.

Organization and accessories

Out of the box, DeWalt includes a metal rail, a power tool holster, and a two-pack of bins. I mounted the rail and used the holster to park my drill/driver and impact driver—handy when I’m swapping bits constantly and don’t want to chew up drawer space. The bins corral consumables like driver bits and wire nuts. None of this replaces a full wall panel, but it extends the cabinet’s utility and makes better use of the sides.

The modular storage angle is another plus. This chest is part of a broader metal storage system, so if you decide to stack or expand later, you’re not painted into a corner. The four-drawer layout is deliberately simple. I split the top two drawers for precision hand tools and layout gear, the third for sockets, ratchets, and wrenches, and the deep bottom drawer for bulkier power tools and striking tools. The included liners keep everything where I put it. After a few weeks, I didn’t need to re-sort—a sign the format matches the work.

On top, the embossed mat has become a small staging area for chargers and batteries. It resists sliding and collects the occasional oil drip or metal shavings. A quick wipe brings it back.

Security and durability

The internal keyed lock secures the contents when I’m away. The mechanism engages consistently and doesn’t tug drawers out of alignment. Two keys are included. It’s not going to stop a determined thief, but for jobsite or shared-space deterrence and keeping kids out of sharp things, it does the job.

Durability-wise, the case and drawers held up well to daily opening, the odd scrape from a crescent wrench, and rolling over gritty concrete. The paint remained intact and, importantly, the slides didn’t lose their smoothness after loading heavy. With a 10-year limited warranty backing it, I’m comfortable this isn’t a disposable purchase.

What I’d change

• Four drawers won’t suit everyone. If you like granular organization—separate drawers for hex keys, pliers, chisels, specialty sockets—this layout forces some grouping. A five- or six-drawer variant would be welcome at this width.
• Dual-slide strength on the deeper drawer(s) is excellent; I wouldn’t mind that beefier slide spec across all drawers, even if most users won’t need it.
• There’s no integrated power strip. It’s easy enough to add an external one, but having a built-in, fused strip with a cord wrap would tidy up charger management on the top.
• The side accessories are useful but basic. I’d like to see a few more rail-mounted options—paper towel holder, magnetic parts tray dock, or a small bottle rack—for those of us who work messy.

These are preferences more than problems. Nothing here undermines the core function of the chest.

Who it’s for

This 26-inch DeWalt chest suits the home mechanic, serious DIYer, and tradesperson who needs a mobile, mid-size cabinet that can handle real weight without drama. It fits under many benches, rolls through standard doorways, and can serve as a primary box in a small shop or a task-specific cart in a larger one. If you need towering storage or a bank of narrow drawers for specialty tools, look at wider or taller systems. If you want a stout, maneuverable chest with great slides and a sane footprint, this checks the boxes.

The bottom line

The 26-inch DeWalt chest balances build quality, smooth drawer mechanics, and meaningful accessories in a compact footprint. The slides are truly full-extension and soft-close, the casters make mobility an afterthought, and the included liners and top mat signal that someone thought about day-to-day use. Add the internal keyed lock, the made-in-USA-with-global-materials build, and a 10-year limited warranty, and you’ve got a cabinet that feels ready for real work rather than weekend-only duty.

Recommendation: I recommend this chest. It’s a reliable, mid-size workhorse with excellent drawer performance and mobility, ideal for users who value smooth, full-extension access and solid load capacity in a manageable form factor. The four-drawer layout won’t satisfy every organizer’s wish list, and I’d love an integrated power option, but those are minor trade-offs in an otherwise well-executed, durable package.