Of all the Gladiator stuff in my garage, the things I love most are my two workbenches.
You can build your own workbench pretty cheaply, but I wanted something heavy-duty that looked amazing.
Even if you don’t have other Gladiator products like GearTrack or GearWall for wall storage, a few Premier and RTA cabinets for storage, or their GearLoft overhead storage, their workbenches will still look great in your garage.
Even though my garage is full of Gladiator stuff, they haven’t sponsored me in any way.
Everything I’ve reviewed and put on this site is something that I’ve researched and decided to purchase on my own with my hard-earned money.
Here’s a spoiler for this review: I liked my first Gladiator workbench so much that I bought a second one.
So with that disclaimer out of the way, let’s dig into my reviews of the 6′ and 8′ Gladiator hardwood workbenches.
Gladiator Workbench Specs
The Gladiator workbenches come in three lengths: 4 foot, 6 foot, and 8 foot. Each supports a maximum weight of 3,000 pounds and has a solid hardwood top that is 1.75 inches thick.
4′ Adjustable Height Hardwood Workbench
- Model: GAWB04HWEG
- 48″ wide x 27.5″–40.8″ high x 25″ deep
- Weight: 127 lbs
6′ Adjustable Height Hardwood Workbench
- Model: GAWB06HWEG
- 72″ wide x 27.5″–40.8″ high x 25″ deep
- Weight: 149 lbs
8′ Adjustable Height Hardwood Workbench
- Model: GAWB08HWEG
- 96″ wide x 27.5″–40.8″ high x 25″ deep
- Weight: 166 lbs
Each Gladiator workbench has a one-year warranty covering the hardwood top and a limited lifetime warranty covering the welded steel legs and other metal sections.
- Adjusts to meet ADA height requirements
- 3,000-lb max distributed weight capacity
- 96" wide x 27.5"–40.8" high x 25" deep
- Lifetime limited warranty on adjustable legs and One-year warranty on hardwood top
Gladiator Wood Tops: Bamboo vs Maple vs Hardwood
First, let’s talk about the woods.
The original Gladiator workbench came in your choice of two kinds of wood: maple or bamboo.
You’ll still find a lot of information discussing the merits of maple vs. bamboo or vice versa when looking at this workbench.
That’s all outdated now.
Gladiator did away with both options around the beginning of 2017. The only wood available at the moment is described as “hardwood.”
Digging a little deeper, I discovered that the solid hardwood top is made of birch, according to representatives at Gladiator.
Maple costs more and is more scratch resistant than birch. However, birch will hide scratches better because of its more complicated patterns.
One of the big gripes about the original Gladiator workbenches was the cost.
Changing from maple and bamboo to a birch solid hardwood top allowed them to lower the price by almost $100.
The bottom line for us as consumers is that this is a cost savings measure without losing much in terms of quality.
That’s not a bad thing. Everything is a trade-off, and I can’t really fault Gladiator for going in this direction.
Shipping & Customer Service Experience
I bought both of my Gladiator workbenches through Best Buy, oddly enough. One 6′ (Model GAWB06HWEG) and one 8′ (Model GAWB08HWEG) about six months later.
My shipping experience was a mixed bag. In my experience, when ordering from a third party, you never really know what you’ll get.
One of my first jobs was working for the company that eventually became FedEx Ground. It opened my eyes to what happens between when it leaves the manufacturer’s warehouse and when it gets to your front door.
Basically…stuff happens, and you can’t necessarily blame the manufacturer for it.
With that vague explanation in mind, I didn’t freak out when my 8′ Gladiator workbench arrived without any hardware or instructions. It was annoying, sure. But, as I said, stuff happens.
This allowed me to test out Gladiator’s customer service department. I have to say, they’re pretty top-notch. They quickly took down my information, and FedEx’d replacement hardware to me – no questions asked.
I’ve had the need to reach out to Gladiator on a few occasions and have always been really impressed. Questions were answered quickly. Replacement parts were sent out as fast as possible, so I could get up and running.
They didn’t HAVE to take care of me. They could have sent me back to Best Buy since they were at fault.
But they didn’t. Gladiator took care of me quickly.
You really can’t ask for more than that.
Packaging
The packaging is sturdy enough overall, but it will not protect the contents from everything.
Hard plastic caps are on each corner of the workbench to keep them safe during shipping. However, there isn’t any foam padding between the wood top and the steel legs. Only a thin layer of cardboard.
At least the steel legs were held fast by a ridiculous amount of Styrofoam, so they couldn’t shuffle around.
I read a few reviews complaining that their workbench was damaged during shipping. Thankfully, except for the missing hardware on my 8′ workbench, both of my units arrived in perfect condition.
Assembly
It only takes a few minutes to assemble the 6′ or the 8′ Gladiator workbench. Still, I highly recommend getting a second pair of hands.
In both cases, my workbenches had to be delivered by two guys who were built like linebackers but still struggling with the weight.
Imagine trying to flip it over by yourself.
There are only four major components that you need to assemble, so I’ll describe the process briefly.
Lay the table face down on the floor – hopefully on something soft, so you don’t accidentally scratch it.
Attach the two welded steel legs, then attach the back panel to the legs.
That’s it.
The legs adjust easily to an overall height anywhere between 27.5″ and 40.8″, so they’ll fit the height of most garage workbench stools.
Because of the table’s weight, it’s a good idea to measure and adjust the legs BEFORE you flip the table over.
For minor adjustments, there are leveling feet on each leg.
Unfortunately, the Gladiator casters do not fit on these workbenches for those of you looking for a wheeled option.
Gladiator Workbench Build Quality
I’m very impressed with the overall build quality of both of my Gladiator workbenches.
These things are beasts!
The legs are made of very heavy-gauge steel and feel rock-solid.
Gladiator advertises that these workbenches can withstand 1.5 tons sitting on them, so it needs to have a sturdy foundation, right?
The workbench top is a light-colored hardwood (birch) that has a really nice feel to it.
I use it for the backgrounds in almost all of my close-up photos on this site, so there are plenty of places to see the intricate details.
The surface is covered in a coating that protects against spills from whatever chemical you’re using.
That also makes cleanup a breeze by using either a multipurpose cleaner or a quick spray of Pledge.
The wood polishes up nicely, which looks great if you have good lighting in your garage.
The hammered granite finish on the legs is a perfect complement to any other Gladiator accessories in your garage.
Gladiator Power Strip
Gladiator makes one and only one accessory for their hardwood workbenches: a six-foot long, nine-outlet power strip. (Model GAAC68PSDG)
I have to keep it real here. The list price for this power strip is $189, which is insane! I got it on sale (again at Best Buy) for $109, which still felt expensive.
I was OK with it because it integrates perfectly with both the 6′ and 8′ workbenches. It has the same hammered finish as the Gladiator Workbench legs.
However, aside from the build quality, there’s nothing overly special about the Gladiator power strip. It’s well-made and does the job.
It has a master On\Off switch to control all outlets simultaneously. However, the nine overload-protected outlets do not have an integrated surge protector. It’s just a power strip.
All-in-all, I recommend getting the power strip in only two cases:
- If you can find it on a VERY GOOD SALE. It’s just not worth almost $200 for a power strip. That’s just crazy.
- If you want a high-quality, integrated solution to your Gladiator workbench and are willing to pay a premium for it.
I don’t want to come across that the Gladiator power strip is a lousy accessory. I’m pleased with mine, but I knew what I was getting when I clicked the Buy button.
The Gladiator Power Strip provides nine overload-protected outlets right on your workbench. Includes two Tool Caddies that can be mounted next to the six-foot-long power strip or hung on Gladiator GearTrack Channels or Gladiator GearWall Panels for extra organization.
GAAC68PSDG
How Much Do Gladiator Workbenches Cost?
The Gladiator workbenches have come down in price since they switched from maple and bamboo to the birch solid hardwood top.
Still, they will never be called ‘cheap.’
The MSRP for the 4′ table starts at $449. Add another $70 to move up to the 6′ table ($529). The 8′ workbench tops out at $599.
That puts them at the same list price as the Seville Classics adjustable workbenches (link to Amazon), which was their main competition. The Gladiator workbench has three times the weight capacity and a slightly thicker wood top. However, Sam’s Club regularly has the Seville Classics on sale, which may tip the scales for you.
One thing I really like about the entire Gladiator lineup is that you can buy them almost anywhere.
I’ve purchased some of my Gladiator cabinets through Amazon, many of my accessories at Lowe’s, and both of my workbenches from Best Buy when they were still selling garage stuff.
Wrapping It Up: Is the Gladiator Workbench worth it?
Are the Gladiator workbenches worth the money?
I mean…
I liked my 6′ workbench so much that I bought an 8′ workbench for the opposite wall because I needed more space.
So….yeah.
I’m not going to sit here and spout off a bunch of cliches like, “you get what you pay for.”
I WILL say that Gladiator makes a rock-solid workbench that I firmly believe will stand up to any punishment I dish out.
It’s supported my weight while I’ve stood on top of it to mount cabinets on the wall. I’ve soldered electrical components on it (while making the more-than-occasional mistake) or done minor repairs on my lawn’s sprinkler systems.
After all that, I brushed off the dust and used it as a background for the photos on this website.
The Gladiator workbenches take a beating and still look amazing.
