The Ultimate Guide to Workbenches, Worktables, and More

Whether you are in a manufacturing plant, industrial shop, home garage, there are a TON of workbenches, worktables, and desks to choose from. Our ultimate guide will showcase the differences among the many options and help you decide which workbench is right for you.

How to Choose a Workbench, Worktable, Workstation, or Workstand

1. First, ask yourself where you’ll be using it:

Manufacturing Facility
Industrial Shop
Home Garage

2. Next, figure out how you’ll use the workbench:

What work will you do on it?
Will it stay in one place or need to be moved around?
Will you store tools, equipment, and/or hardware in or on it?

3. Then determine how big it should be:

Is the place you’ll put it large, small, or in between?
Do you need a lot of workspace?
Do you need space to attach tools such as a vise or grinder?
How much storage do you need for tools and hardware?

Once you’ve determined where you’ll put it, how you’ll use it, and what size you need, start comparing your options.

Workbenches

A well-organized workbench is the key to a successful project, available in a variety of styles, construction, and capabilities, depending on the need.

Though a common height is between 33" and 36", your workbench should be the proper height for comfort and safety. Workbenches come in many different fixed or adjustable heights, so find one that fits you.

How to find your optimal workbench height:

1. Stand with your arms hanging comfortably at your sides.

2. Measure the distance from the floor to your thumb’s first knuckle. This will be your optimal height.

3. If most of your time is spent using hand tools, lower the workbench 1". If you typically use power tools, moving it up a couple inches may be beneficial.

Types of Workbenches

Workbenches are typically made of wood, metal, or a combination of the two, with shelves and drawers for organizing all sorts of hardware, tools, and equipment. Though a sturdy workbench is often stationary, some have rollers for moving around the workshop. Workbench tops and other components and accessories are available to customize your workspace for optimal efficiency.

Adjustable-Height Workbench	Particleboard Top Workbench	Heavy-Duty Workbench	Solid Wood Workbench	Workbench/ Cabinet Combo

Adjustable workbenches quickly and easily move up or down to match you and/or your project’s height. It can provide ergonomic relief and let you work more easily, adapting to different users and different needs.	Holds nails and screws better than MDF, and can be painted, glued, drilled, cut, and milled. Steel frames support massive amounts of weight, and the top is easily cleaned and replaced.	Designed for industrial settings and able to handle loads of 10,000 lbs. or more. The durable steel body holds heavy tools and machinery and has higher heat resistance than other materials.	Wood is a poor conductor of heat and electricity, great if you’re working with electrical components or heat guns. Wood is naturally quieter than metal, and damage can often be sanded out.	Combines the benefits of a sturdy workbench with ample storage. Features a variety of drawers, shelves, and sliding or locking doors with room to organize tools and hardware.
Weight Capacity up to 2,000 lbs.	Weight Capacity 1,600–5,000 lbs.	Weight Capacity 10,000+ lbs.	Weight Capacity 100–500 lbs.	Weight Capacity 350–500 lbs.
Best suited for: Wide range of uses such as a garage, project area, or office	Best suited for: Light industrial facilities, medium-sized shops	Best suited for: Manufacturing facilities, auto shops, or other heavy-duty uses	Best suited for: Variety of woodworking and household projects	Best suited for: Craftspeople and woodworkers, small-to-medium shops

Worktables

Worktables are smaller and typically lighter-duty than workbenches, but offer flexibility. Some are portable, some have wheels, and most have a couple shelves. Like workbenches, some have adjustable heights and are constructed of wood, metal, or both, and have a variety of surface options.

Portable Worktable	Fixed Worktable	Stainless Steel Worktable	Wall-Mount Worktable

Compact and rolling or folding, these are ideal for taking work nearly anywhere. Their space-saving footprint fits neatly in smaller workshops or garages.	Steel construction provides long-lasting strength and durability. They are also easy to clean, and coatings often found on these resist corrosion, prolonging life.	Often able to be sanitized to food-grade levels, these are often found in commercial kitchens. They clean up nicely—useful in retail or any place where appearance is important.	Wall-mount units are very compact and fold to within a few inches of the mounting surface. Though not large, they make convenient shelves and workspaces.
Weight Capacity 500–1,200 lbs.	Weight Capacity 300–16,000 lbs.	Weight Capacity 100–1,800 lbs.	Weight Capacity 110–330 lbs.
Best suited for: Professional contractors and home users	Best suited for: Various shops or fabrication areas	Best suited for: Commercial kitchens, garages, shops, retail spaces	Best suited for: Manufacturing facilities, offices, garages, auto shops, machine shops

Cabinet Workbenches, Mobile Workbenches, and Workstations

Easily take your tools and equipment from one place to another with these handy rolling benches. With plenty of workspace, they also have a variety of shelves, drawers, lockable cabinets, and bins to keep your necessities organized and easy to find.

Jobsite Mobile Workbench	Mobile Workbench with Drawers	Tear-Down Tray	Butcher Block Mobile Cabinet/ Workbench	Steel Cart with Shelves	Workstation with Pegboard Panel

These mobile workbenches are mostly if not completely enclosed, and many have locking doors to protect valuable tools and equipment as you move between jobsites on heavy-duty casters.	Loaded with drawers for the safekeeping of tools and hardware, these mighty organizers also have durable work surfaces made of steel, stainless steel, or wood.	A tear-down tray is used in auto shops. Mechanics can organize tools and hardware in EVA foam liners and roll them around. The height adjusts for work either under the car or under the hood.	A combination of lockable drawers and cabinets with a sturdy, attractive butcher block top, which is quieter than metal and able to be easily resurfaced for a lifetime of use.	Sturdy steel mobile carts are durable and are very heavy-duty, able to carry and store heavy tools and equipment.	Mobile stations with a pegboard panel provide simple organization of tools and hardware via hooks and bins. A flat, sturdy top gives plenty of workspace.
Weight Capacity 100–3,600 lbs.	Weight Capacity 50–2,500 lbs.	Weight Capacity 165 lbs.	Weight Capacity 2,500 lbs.	Weight Capacity 1,200–5,000 lbs.	Weight Capacity 1,200 lbs.
Best suited for: Jobsites, auto shops, and other heavy-duty uses	Best suited for: Manufacturing facilities, auto shops, or other light industrial uses	Best suited for: Auto shops	Best suited for: Manufacturing facilities, shops, and other heavy-duty uses	Best suited for: Manufacturing facilities, auto shops, and other heavy-duty uses	Best suited for: Manufacturing facilities, auto shops, woodworking shops, and other light industrial uses

Workstands

Grab a workstand when you need a portable worktable or desk on-the-go. No matter whether you need a mobile workbench, tool mount, or a spot to clip important notes or paperwork, there’s a workstand for you.

Miter Saw Workstation	Roller Support Stand	Fixed Worktable	Tilting Workstand	Adjustable Serrated Workstand

A portable saw stand lets you take tools to the jobsite, adjust their height, and mount them in place for more reliable results.	Roller stands hold materials steady as they are fed into machines, such as saws. V-shaped stands are ideal for preventing pipes and irregular-shaped objects from moving around.	Sometimes a small, solid, sturdy work surface is all that’s needed. They fit almost anywhere, and the particleboard surface can easily be replaced.	These adjustable stands place material at an ergonomically correct height and angle, reducing muscle stress and fatigue.	Gives workers a skid-resistant, ergonomic raised platform so they can easily and ergonomically operate equipment, even in wet environments.
Weight Capacity varies	Weight Capacity 150–2,000 lbs.	Weight Capacity 400–1,500 lbs.	Weight Capacity 150–330 lbs.	Weight Capacity 500 lbs.
Best suited for: Jobsites	Best suited for: Jobsites, manufacturing facilities, machine shops, and woodshops	Best suited for: Manufacturing facilities, auto shops, and machine shops	Best suited for: Manufacturing facilities, auto shops, and machine shops	Best suited for: Manufacturing facilities, auto shops, and machine shops

Wall-Mount Desks and Shop Desks

For work that doesn’t involve power tools, sit down at a sturdy shop desk. Or, if you need a space-saving spot to get work done, you can put a wall-mounted desk nearly anywhere. Either way, you’ll have a dedicated place to stash your supplies and fill out your TPS reports.

Wall-Mounted Desk	Laptop Floating Wall Workstation	Pedestal/Panel Shop Desk	Shop Desk

Wall-mounted desks are compact places to store small items, and many are lockable for safekeeping. When closed, they stick out mere inches from a wall, and open to reveal a convenient writing space.	A secure laptop desk that can be mounted nearly anywhere, these compact work areas have storage for office supplies, openings for power and cables, and vents that allow laptop heat to escape.	A strong workstation with secure storage space for files and office equipment. These are perfect for anyone with extra space needs, such as managers and supervisors.	Many workplaces call for a basic, no-frills desk. Cubbies for organization, plenty of working space, and a locking storage drawer are the hallmarks of a reliable shop desk.
Best suited for: Manufacturing facilities, auto shops, machine shops, warehouses	Best suited for: Manufacturing facilities, auto shops, machine shops, warehouses	Best suited for: Manufacturing facilities, auto shops, machine shops	Best suited for: Manufacturing facilities, auto shops, machine shops

Machine shop, industrial manufacturing, or warehouse—no matter the facility, you’ll find the rugged and versatile workbench, worktable, or workstation you need at Zoro.

Product Compliance and Suitability

The product statements contained in this guide are intended for general informational purposes only. Such product statements do not constitute a product recommendation or representation as to the appropriateness, accuracy, completeness, correctness, or currentness of the information provided. Information provided in this guide does not replace the use by you of any manufacturer instructions, technical product manual, or other professional resource or adviser available to you. Always read, understand, and follow all manufacturer instructions.