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My top pick
WEN WB6020 60-Inch Hardwood Workbench
A 60" rubberwood top with a built-in 7-1/2" vise, bench dogs and four drawers.
A good workbench is flat, heavy enough not to move when you push on it, and able to hold the work so both hands are free for the tool. For most woodworkers, the best workbench to buy is the WEN WB6020: a 60″ rubberwood top with a built-in 7-1/2″ vise, bench dogs and four drawers. For a garage that also sees car parts and repairs, an adjustable steel-frame bench like the WORKPRO 48″ makes more sense.
Below are four benches for different shops, a comparison table, short reviews, and a guide to choosing one: the top, the vise, the size and the height. I’ve written it from the point of view of someone who sands and finishes a lot, because that is where a bad bench shows first.
Best Workbenches: Comparison
| Product | ⭐ WEN WB6020 🏆 EDITOR’S CHOICE |
WORKPRO 48″ Adjustable | WEN WB4723T | Sjobergs Elite 1500 + cabinet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Image | |
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| Top | Rubberwood | Rubberwood, 1-3/16″ | Enamel-coated | European beech, 3-11/32″ |
| Size | 60″ x 20″ | 48″ x 20″ | 48″ x 25″ footprint | 54″ x 23-5/8″ |
| Rated load | 300 lb top, 600 lb total | 2,000 lb | 220 lb | Not clearly listed (bench weighs 229 lb) |
| Workholding | 7-1/2″ vise, bench dogs | Bring your own clamps | Bring your own clamps | Two vises, dog holes |
| Storage / extras | 4 drawers, shelf | 5 heights, power strip | Pegboard, outlets, light | Storage cabinet included |
| Tier | $$$$ | $$$ | $$$ | $$$$ |
| Availability | Check price on Amazon | Check price on Amazon | Check price on Amazon | Check price on Amazon |
Best Workbenches: Reviews
Editor's Choice60" hardwood workbench
WEN WB6020
WEN WB6020 60-Inch Hardwood Workbench
A real woodworking bench: a 60" rubberwood top with a 7-1/2" vise and bench dogs, plus four drawers.
Check price on AmazonSpecs: WEN
Best for
A home woodworking shop that needs one bench for sanding, planing and assembly.
- Vise and bench dogs hold the work
- Four drawers and a shelf
- 60" length for most furniture parts
Skip it if
You want a bench height you can adjust, or a top rated for heavy loads.
- Rubberwood is softer than beech or maple
Read full review
Best Workbench for Woodworking
The WEN WB6020 is a woodworking bench in the traditional sense: a 60″ x 20″ rubberwood top with a built-in vise that opens to 7-1/2″ and bench dogs to pin boards against it. That combination is what lets you sand or plane a board without it walking across the bench. WEN rates the top for 300 lb and the whole bench for 600 lb, and adds four drawers and a lower shelf for sandpaper, discs and hand tools. It carries a 2-year warranty.
Adjustable workbench
WORKPRO 48" Adjustable
WORKPRO 48″ Adjustable Workbench
A rubberwood top on a 2,000 lb steel frame with five heights and a built-in power strip.
Check price on AmazonSpecs: WORKPRO
Best for
Garages that mix woodworking, repairs and hobby work, at a height that fits you.
- Five working heights
- 2,000 lb steel frame
- Power strip with USB
Skip it if
You want built-in workholding: you will need to add your own clamps.
- No vise or dogs: add clamps
- No drawers
Read full review
Best Adjustable-Height Workbench
The WORKPRO 48″ puts a 1-3/16″ thick FSC-certified rubberwood top (48″ x 20″) on a 1.3 mm steel frame rated for 2,000 lb. Its most useful feature for sanding is height: five positions from 31-1/2″ to 39-3/8″, so you can drop it low for sanding and raise it for detail work or assembly. An ETL-certified power strip with four AC outlets and two USB-A ports is built in, which keeps a sander and a vacuum plugged in at the bench. WORKPRO says it assembles in about 10 minutes.
Storage workstation
WEN WB4723T
WEN WB4723T 48″ Workbench with Power Outlets and Light
A storage station as much as a bench: pegboard, shelves, drawers, three outlets and a light.
Check price on AmazonSpecs: WEN
Best for
A tidy garage wall station for small projects, repairs and finishing.
- Pegboard, shelves and drawers in one unit
- Outlets and a light over the work
Skip it if
You plane, chop or pound on the bench: the top is rated for 220 lb.
- 220 lb top rating, the lowest here
- Not for heavy woodworking
Read full review
Best Storage Workbench on a Budget
The WEN WB4723T is a storage station as much as a bench: an enamel-coated, non-marring top rated for 220 lb, two drawers, upper and lower shelves, a pegboard, three built-in 13 A outlets and an overhead fluorescent light. It stands 62″ tall on a 25″ x 48″ footprint. The load rating is the lowest here, so it is the bench for repairs, electronics, finishing small parts and keeping sanding supplies organized, not for pounding on.
Premium pickBeech workbench
Sjobergs Elite 1500
Sjobergs Elite 1500 Workbench with Storage Cabinet
A traditional oiled-beech bench with two vises and dog holes, heavy enough not to move.
Best for
Serious hand-tool and furniture work, where a heavy flat top and two vises matter most.
- Solid beech, thick and very heavy
- Two vises, double row of dog holes
- Storage cabinet in this combo
Skip it if
Your budget is limited or you need a top longer than 54".
- Highest price tier by far
- Shorter top than the 60" bench
Read full review
Best Premium Woodworking Bench
The Sjobergs Elite 1500 is a traditional cabinetmaker’s bench in oiled European beech, sold here as a combo with its storage cabinet. The top is 54″ x 23-5/8″ and 3-11/32″ thick in the center, and it has two vises that open 5-3/4″ and clamp across 23-1/2″, with a double row of 1″ round dog holes so you can work from both vises. Sjobergs says the front vise can be moved to either side in under two minutes, for right- or left-handed users. At 229 lb for the bench, 286 lb with the cabinet, and 35-1/2″ high, it doesn’t move when you plane or sand.
How I Chose These Workbenches
I looked at workbenches from established brands on sale on Amazon today and compared what each maker publishes: top material and size, load rating, workholding and storage. I picked one bench for each common kind of shop: woodworking, mixed-use garage, storage and premium. I left out unbranded benches and a listing that was down to its last unit. I don’t show star ratings or prices: prices change daily, so each pick carries a price tier and the Amazon button shows the live price.
How to Choose a Workbench
The Top
For woodworking, a thick hardwood top is best: it is flat, heavy and takes a hammer blow or a slipped chisel without drama. Beech and maple are the traditional choices; rubberwood is a more affordable hardwood used on many mid-priced benches. For a garage, a steel frame with a wood top is a good compromise, and an enamel or laminate top is easy to clean after oil and finish spills.
Workholding: Vises and Dogs
A bench that holds the work lets you use both hands on the sander or plane. A woodworking vise has wide, smooth jaws for boards; bench dogs, pegs set in holes along the top, pin a board against the vise so you can sand its face. If your bench has neither, plan on a few bar clamps and a non-slip mat.
Size
Length decides what you can work on: 48″ handles most boards and small furniture, 60″ to 72″ handles doors, tabletops and long parts. Depth of 20″ to 24″ is comfortable to reach across. Leave room to walk around the bench, because sanding a big panel means working from more than one side.
Height
A common rule of thumb for a woodworking bench is about the height of your wrist with your arm hanging at your side. Lower is better for sanding and planing, where you lean over the work; higher is better for detail and assembly. An adjustable bench like the WORKPRO lets you change it with the job.
Storage and Power
Drawers keep sandpaper, discs and hand tools within reach, and built-in outlets let a sander and a vacuum run from the bench. A pegboard is great for tools you grab often, but keep it away from where the dust flies.
Fixed or on Casters
A heavy fixed bench is the most stable. Rolling benches are easier in a shared garage, but make sure the casters lock firmly, or the bench will creep when you sand. If you need to move your bench out to the driveway, a folding model is the better tool: see my guide to the best portable workbench.
Buy or Build Your Workbench?
A simple bench of framing lumber and a plywood or MDF top usually costs less in materials than buying one, and many woodworkers build their first bench as a first project. What a bought bench gives you is time and parts that are hard to make well: a flat laminated hardwood top, a working vise, drawers that slide. A good middle path is to buy a sturdy base or a hardwood top and build the rest. Whichever you choose, the top will need flattening and sanding at some point; my guide on how to sand wood covers the grit sequence, and the best sanders guide covers the tools.
💡 Pro Tip
Finish a new wooden bench top with a few coats of a simple oil or wipe-on finish, not a thick film finish. It resists glue and stain but stays grippy, so work doesn’t slide around while you sand.
Setting Up Your Bench for Sanding
- Hold the work with dogs or a mat, not your free hand.
- Plug the sander into a vacuum or extractor at the bench, so collection starts with the tool. See the best dust extractors.
- Light from the side, low across the surface, shows scratches and swirl marks before the finish does.
- Keep abrasives in a drawer by grit, so you never skip one. Choosing the sander itself? Start with the best random orbital sanders, and for bench-mounted machines, the best benchtop sanders.
🏆 The Verdict
For a woodworking shop, the WEN WB6020 gives you a hardwood top, a vise and bench dogs in one bench. For a garage that does a bit of everything, the WORKPRO 48″ Adjustable adapts its height to the job. And if you want the bench you’ll never replace, the Sjobergs Elite 1500 with cabinet is the traditional choice.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good brand of workbench?+
Is it cheaper to buy or build a workbench?+
What makes the best workbench top?+
What is a good size workbench for a garage?+
What is the best workbench for woodworking?+
Which workbench has the most storage?+
Conclusion
The best workbench is the one that stays put, stays flat and holds your work while you use both hands. Pick the top for the work you do, make sure it has a way to clamp, and set it at a height that suits sanding and planing. With that in place, every project from refinishing a table to building one gets easier.
Refinishing furniture on your new bench? Start with my guide on how to sand and refinish a table. Questions about which bench fits your shop? Ask in the comments.
