Updated on Jul. 29, 2024
Use this list of the best truck tool boxes to upgrade your vehicle's storage capability. They're strong, secure and come in a variety of types.
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The best truck tool boxes provide secure, stable storage for your tools and equipment when you’re on the road or at a remote site. By mounting directly to your truck bed, a truck tool box is a much more secure space for your tools than a portable toolbox that can slip and slide as you drive. Their locking lids and heavy-duty construction make them difficult for would-be thieves to break into as well.
A truck tool box allows users to store and access their equipment quickly and easily. With a variety of types and sizes to choose from, it’s easier than you might think to find the best one that works for your tools and truck.
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A single-lid crossover is the classic truck tool box, and this 70-inch Tractor Supply Aluminum Crossover Truck Tool Box delivers on all fronts. The self-rising lid makes it easy to access contents one-handed, and the low-profile shape results in minimal obstruction to the rear view.
The handrail-style lid topper really helped cement this model as one of the best truck tool boxes out there, providing plenty of spaces to latch on a tie-down and squeeze a little extra storage from the top of the box. This low-profile truck tool box comes with a five-year warranty.
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This Craftsman Full Slim Box boasts an impressive amount of features, and costs significantly less than most crossover options. A rubber weather seal keeps your tools and gear dry during inclement weather. Two auto-lift springs allow you to quickly and comfortably open the lid without much effort.
This best truck tool box is simple to install, and doesn’t require any extra tools or drilling into your truck bed. This small truck tool box probably won’t be durable enough for heavy-duty use by a professional tradesperson, but if you’re looking for a basic option that won’t break the bank, this is a solid choice.
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Just because a tool box has two lids doesn’t necessarily guarantee easy access. The gull-wing design of this 72-inch UWS Crossover Truck Tool Box prioritizes both accessibility and convenience, allowing access from the driver or passenger side. The wings self-close with a simple tug, so there’s no slamming them closed as you unload equipment. Available in black powder-coated diamond tread or bright aluminum, this box also has two built-in small parts trays. It’s covered by a one-year warranty.
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The Decked Crossover Tool Box has one of the most interesting features we’ve seen: an optional integrated ladder that folds out from the box over the side of your truck. This makes it easy to climb up and access the contents, which is especially useful when you’ve got a bed of materials blocking the tailgate.
This model also comes with a “snack tray” for small parts and one of Decked’s D-Boxes, a container for smaller tools that fits inside larger Decked truck boxes and truck bed drawer systems. Molded with impact-resistant, resin-encapsulating steel plates, this sturdy box resists denting. The drivers side-facing lock makes securing and opening the box simple. When closed, a synthetic rubber gasket seals it against the elements.
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The UnderCover SwingCase Truck Box, installed on a hinge, sits over your wheel well and swings out 180 degrees toward the tailgate. This provides quick access to the best tools and equipment inside, requiring less climbing and reaching than other types. This small truck tool box is also easy to remove, a nice feature if you need the full bed width to haul material, like drywall or plywood.
This best truck tool box’s design means it holds less weight (it maxes out at 75 pounds), but the convenience is worth it for many truck owners. It’s also useful when tailgating—it’s the only box on this list with cup holders on the lid. Since it sits completely below the sides of the bed, it eliminates any visual obstructions while driving. This USA.-made tool box locks with a key, and ships with an organizational tray and moisture seal.
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The Tractor Supply Side Mount Truck Tool Box runs vertically along the side of your truck bed, allowing for easy access to the length of the box at all times. Its 48-inch length is well-suited for long, narrow items, like bubble levels or light tripods, and the rust-resistant aluminum body keeps valuable tools protected no matter the weather. This low-profile truck tool box won’t obstruct your view as much as other options.
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If you prefer to keep as much space available in your truck bed as possible, the UWS Topside Truck Tool Box is a strong choice. Built with heavy-gauge alloy aluminum, the 60-inch box rides on the bed rail and opens to the outside of the vehicle.
Stainless steel aircraft cables support the lid when open, and the 90-degree lid position acts as an impromptu work surface that can support up to 1,000 pounds. It’s available in bright aluminum or powder-coat black diamond tread, and comes with a one-year warranty.
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To ensure the truck tool box you pick up for your pickup will work for your needs, here are some factors you should consider:
The most important factor to consider when purchasing a truck tool box is whether it fits your specific vehicle. After all, if it doesn’t fit in your truck, it won’t do you much good. Most models offer this information freely, so take the time to cross-check that your make and model is compatible with the truck tool box.
Ensure your potential truck tool box has the space and shape to store your tools and equipment. Larger tools need bigger spaces, but a single small tool in a big box will be thrown around every time your truck takes a turn. For maximum flexibility, look for a box with adjustable compartments. It’s also a good idea to consider if you will be adding to your tool collection. If so, you may want a larger tool box than you’d normally get.
Keep security in mind as well. Unfortunately, tools of all types are a hot commodity for thieves, and an easy-to-access truck tool box could be an easy target. If you’ve got expensive power tools, it could be worth shelling out more money for a box specifically designed to withstand break-ins. It might not be worth the investment if you mostly store inexpensive hand tools or supplies, but you could always check to see if your tool box is compatible with third-party locking mechanisms to keep them safer.
Just as security is important to keep your tools safe when you’re not using them, accessibility is important when you need them. A tool box that requires you to painstakingly dig through it or reach your arm deep into it whenever you want something will cause you more grief than necessary. Make sure the truck tool box you’re considering allows you to get the tools you want when you need them without too much trouble.
Nowadays, most materials used in making tool boxes are pretty sturdy and durable, but there are still benefits and drawbacks to each. Stainless steel is among the best materials for its toughness, durability, availability and cost, but it can be quite heavy. Composites (AKA plastics) tend to be cheaper and lighter, but they can’t take as much beating. Similarly, aluminum is cheap and lightweight but could be damaged more easily. Regular steel is very tough but susceptible to the environment (it rusts easily).
Truck tool boxes come in several different types, each with pros and cons.
As shopping experts, our only job is to help you find a winning product. We started with the research and reporting basics—tracking down tool boxes from reputable brands made from a variety of durable, reliable materials and considering what they look like and how much they cost—to ensure that we’re only recommending the truck tool boxes that are worth your time and money. Then, we researched the features that speak to the truck tool boxes’ quality—like their formats, capacities, internal organization and more—utilizing both our personal experience as well as the opinions of experts. Finally, we combed through user reviews to see how real people interact with the remaining truck tool boxes to compile this final list.
Before his career as a freelance writer, Dan Stout worked as a residential remodeler, commercial site supervisor and maintenance manager. He’s had a hand in project planning and permitting, plumbing, basic electric, drywall, carpentry, tiling and painting and has years of experience in home improvement and DIY.
Similarly, Alex Rennie spent more than five years as a residential and commercial carpenter, specializing in custom furniture construction and installation—and parsing that experience and expertise into a successful freelance writing career focused on home improvement and DIY.
Securing your truck tool box to your vehicle correctly is obviously very important, so make sure you read the installation instructions carefully. If your truck already has pre-drilled holes for tool box mounting (many newer models do), simply use the recommended nuts and bolts to secure it in place. If it doesn’t have holes, you’ll need to drill them yourself with a power drill and metal drill bit. Then, thread the bolts through the holes and tighten them in place.
Full-size trucks, like F-150s, Rams and Silverados, have larger beds than mid-size trucks, so you must ensure your truck tool box is wide enough to fit properly. The best truck tool boxes provide this information clearly, a useful way to ensure that you’re dealing with a reputable company. Use a tape measure to gather the distance between the bed rails, the wheel wells and the cab and the height of the bed walls. Then, cross-check those measurements with the tool box you’re considering.
It should be snug. You want the sides of the tool box to sit atop your truck’s bed rails, but you don’t want it to be able to shift back and forth too far and come off. You also need to ensure it’s not too snug, as a too-tight fit could damage your truck or cause the tool box to pop out of place during transit—both of which are bad options. A good rule of thumb is having about 1.5″ of the tool box sitting atop the bed rails.
Stainless steel is among the best materials for truck tool boxes, as it is extremely durable and easy to maintain—it won’t ding quite as easily as aluminum and won’t rust like standard steel. However, some brands use composites that are also extremely durable and benefit from being a lot more lightweight. Ultimately, it comes down to your personal preferences, needs and budget,
If you’re constantly transporting your tools from place to place, I’d say it’s absolutely worth it, as it makes frequent traveling a lot simpler, more secure, better organized and more—all without the need for modifications to your existing vehicle.
