Description

Key Features

Stack, Lock, Go

The T-LOC latch lets you open, close, and connect this Systainer in one motion. That means less time messing with cases and more time getting tools and supplies where they need to be.

Easy to Carry

The front handle is built for close-to-body carrying, which matters when you are moving between the shop, van, and jobsite with a loaded case.

Festool System Fit

The Festool 204842 Systainer3 M 187 works with previous Systainer generations, mobile dust extractors, and transport setups, so it fits into an existing Festool workflow instead of creating another standalone box.

Overview

The Festool 204842 Systainer3 M 187 is a modular storage case built to organize, protect, and transport tools, accessories, and jobsite supplies. This is a tool storage case designed for organized transport between the workshop, vehicle, and construction site. Model Number: 204842. If you already work out of the Festool system, this case matters because it keeps your gear protected, stackable, and easy to move without turning the back of your van into a pile of loose equipment.

What makes this Systainer useful is not just the box itself, but how it works in the real world. Festool’s T-LOC design lets you close, open, and connect the case in a single turn, so you can stack multiple units together and still get to what you need without wasting time. For contractors, installers, remodelers, and serious DIY users, that means faster setup, faster cleanup, and less hunting around for bits, fittings, or small tools.

The SYS3 M 187 size gives you a practical middle-height storage option. At 15.59 in. long, 11.65 in. wide, and 7.36 in. high, it is compact enough to carry easily but still gives you 4.20 gallons of storage volume. The inner dimensions of 15.31 in. x 10.83 in. x 5.75 in. tell the real story here: you have usable interior space for hand tools, layout gear, accessories, consumables, and small cordless tool setups, but you are not paying for oversized empty space.

Festool built the Systainer3 platform around mobility. This case was developed as part of a broader transport system that ties the workshop and the construction site together, including integration with bott vehicle equipment and compatibility across the Systainer lineup. That system angle is the reason a lot of pros buy into it. Instead of a random stack of cases that do not lock together, you get repeatable organization from shelf to van to floor.

On the durability side, the case is meant to protect contents from dust, spray water, and changing temperatures during transport and storage. It also has real carrying and stacking numbers behind it. The case itself weighs only 3.75 lbs, but it is rated for a 44.09 lb load capacity, 88.18 lbs when connected, and a 220.46 lb lid load. That matters if your cases get stacked in a trailer, van, or shop corner and still need to hold up.

This version comes without a tool insert, which is worth knowing up front. That gives you flexibility if you want to set it up for your own layout rather than being locked into a molded insert. It is a better fit for users who want custom storage for mixed accessories, fittings, measuring tools, sanding supplies, fasteners, or small hand tools rather than a dedicated home for one exact machine.

Compatibility is a big part of the value here. The Festool 204842 Systainer3 M 187 can be connected with other Systainer3 units, previous Systainer generations, mobile dust extractors, and other system accessories. If you are already using Festool cases, that means this one drops into the stack cleanly. If you are building a more organized transport system from scratch, this is one of those pieces that helps keep the whole setup consistent.

Who should buy it? This is a smart pick for woodworkers, finish carpenters, installers, electricians, service techs, and general contractors who carry tools and parts from place to place and want a cleaner, more repeatable storage setup. If you just need the cheapest plastic box, this is not that. If you want organized transport that works as part of a larger Festool storage system, the Festool 204842 Systainer3 M 187 is exactly the kind of case that earns its keep over time.

Organized Storage That Moves With You

This Festool Systainer is built to keep gear protected and easy to move, whether it lives in the shop, in the van, or on the job. The size is practical for everyday storage, and the latch system is the reason so many pros stick with the platform once they start using it.

• T-LOC design opens, closes, and connects in a single turn
• Front carry handle keeps the case close to the body during transport
• 4.20-gallon capacity with no insert, so you can set it up your way

What’s in the Box

• (1) Festool SYS3 M 187 Systainer
• (1) Cover for label field

No tool insert is included.

Key Specifications

Weight	3.75 lbs (1.7 kg)
Overall Dimensions	15.59 in. x 11.65 in. x 7.36 in. (396 x 296 x 187 mm)
Inner Dimensions	15.31 in. x 10.83 in. x 5.75 in. (389 x 275 x 146 mm)
Volume	4.20 gal (15.9 L)
Load Capacity	44.09 lbs (20 kg)
Connected Load Capacity	88.18 lbs (40 kg)
Lid Load	220.46 lbs (100 kg)
Made In	Germany

Compatibility

Systainer Platform

Connects with other Systainer3 units and previous Systainer generations.

Dust Extractor Integration

Compatible with Festool mobile dust extractors as part of a broader transport and storage setup.

Transport Systems

Works with transport systems and is designed for integration with bott vario3 vehicle equipment.

Built For

ConstructionGeneral ContractingRemodelingCarpentryElectricalWoodworkingJobsite OrganizationVehicle Storage Systems

Warranty & Support

3 Years Limited warranty.

Tool Nut’s Take

Tool Nut’s Take

One of the smartest ways to clean up your workflow

The Festool 204842 Systainer3 M 187 is the kind of storage case that seems simple until you use a full stack of them on real jobs and realize how much time it saves.

• Who it’s for: Pros and organized DIY users who move tools, hardware, and accessories between the shop, truck, and jobsite.
• Why it stands out: The T-LOC system, solid load ratings, and cross-compatibility with the broader Festool storage and transport platform make it more than just another plastic box.
• Worth knowing: This version does not include a tool insert, which is great if you want flexible storage, but not ideal if you expected a custom fitted interior right out of the box.

Common Questions

• What is the Festool 204842 Systainer3 M 187 used for? It is a modular storage and transport case for tools, accessories, consumables, and other jobsite gear.
• Does it connect with other Festool Systainers? Yes. It is designed to connect with other Systainer3 units and previous Systainer generations.
• Will it work with Festool mobile dust extractors? Yes. Festool lists it as compatible with mobile dust extractors as part of the Systainer system.
• Does this case include an internal insert? No. This model is supplied without a tool insert.