There’s something satisfying about being able to take care of the little things around your own home. Hanging a shelf. Tightening a loose handle. Fixing something instead of replacing it. Maybe even tackling a project you wouldn’t have attempted a few years ago. You don’t need a workshop full of equipment to get started. A good collection of basic tools, a little patience, and the willingness to learn can take you surprisingly far. Start with what you’ll actually use, then let your toolbox grow right along with your skills.
START WITH THE TOOLS YOU’LL REACH FOR MOST
You can find a complete list of the recommended tools in this article at this link. But don’t feel as though you need to buy everything before your first project. A toolbox becomes much more useful when it’s filled with tools you’ve learned how to use rather than tools you thought you were supposed to own.
Tape Measure
A surprising number of home projects begin with one simple question: Will it fit? A reliable tape measure helps answer that before the new sofa gets stuck in the doorway or the shelf ends up an inch too long. A 25-foot model is enough for most household projects, and having both standard and metric measurements can be useful. A sturdy tape such as this FatMax tape measure can also make longer measurements easier.
Screwdrivers
Loose cabinet handles, stubborn battery compartments, furniture assembly—screwdrivers have a way of being needed everywhere. Start with several sizes and common head types, including Phillips, slotted or flathead, square, and Torx or star-shaped drivers. Magnetic precision screwdrivers are helpful for tiny screws and delicate jobs. If you’ve ever battled a stripped screw and lost, a screw extractor set may eventually earn a place in the toolbox too.
Hammer
A hammer may be the tool most people picture when they think about fixing something around the house—and with good reason. You’ll use one for hanging pictures, pulling nails, making small repairs, and countless projects you haven’t thought of yet. Specialized hammers have their place, but a comfortable medium-weight claw hammer is a practical choice for most homeowners. A 16-ounce claw hammer with a comfortable grip is a good place to begin.
Adjustable Wrenches
When something is loose, leaking, or just refusing to cooperate, an adjustable wrench is often worth trying. A couple of adjustable wrenches in different sizes will handle many ordinary nuts and bolts around the house. More complicated plumbing and mechanical projects may require specialized tools—and sometimes specialized knowledge—so there’s no need to prepare for every possible repair before it happens.
Utility Knife
Some tools spend most of their lives waiting for a particular project. A utility knife probably won’t. You’ll reach for it to open boxes, trim materials, cut cardboard, score drywall, and handle all kinds of small jobs. Choose one with a comfortable grip, a secure retractable or folding blade, and blades that are easy to replace, like this Craftsman model. Always cut away from your body and retract or cover the blade when you’re finished.
Level
There are few things more frustrating than finishing a project, stepping back to admire it, and realizing it’s crooked. A traditional spirit level with horizontal and vertical vials can prevent that little moment of disappointment when you’re hanging pictures, installing shelves, working with tile, or tackling other projects. You can read more about the different types of levels here.
As your projects grow, a laser level can make aligning several items across a larger area much easier. It can be especially helpful for shelving, cabinets, gallery walls, and other projects where everything needs to line up. This laser level is one example.
Pliers
Every toolbox needs a little extra grip. A basic set of pliers with needle-nose, slip-joint, diagonal-cutting, and groove-joint pliers will help with a wide variety of gripping, bending, turning, and cutting jobs.
Electrical Wire Stripper
A wire stripper can strip insulation, cut wire, and, depending on the tool, handle other electrical-related tasks. This combination tool strips, cuts, and crimps wire. But this is also a good place to remember that having the right tool and having the right knowledge aren’t the same thing. Electrical work should only be attempted when you understand how to perform it safely and when the work is appropriate for a homeowner to perform. Otherwise, this is one of those times when taking good care of your home means calling a qualified electrician.
ADD THESE AS YOUR CONFIDENCE GROWS
Socket Set
Once your projects move beyond the basics, a socket and ratchet set can make working with nuts and bolts considerably easier. Because household and automotive projects may use both SAE and metric fasteners, having both can save a return trip to the store. Lowe’s offers a helpful guide to sockets and ratchets, or consider this set for a variety of projects.
Allen Wrenches
If you’ve assembled furniture, you’ve probably been given one of those tiny Allen wrenches that you’re supposed to save forever—and somehow never can find when you need it again. A full set solves that problem. Also called hex keys, they’re useful for furniture, fixtures, bicycles, and plenty of other household items. This folding set keeps several sizes together so they’re much harder to lose.
Clamps
DIY projects occasionally make you wish you had an extra pair of hands. That’s essentially what clamps provide. They hold pieces together while glue sets, keep materials steady while you’re working, and help keep parts aligned while they’re fastened. Quick-release bar clamps work well for many general projects, spring clamps are useful for smaller jobs, and a corner clamp can hold pieces at a 90-degree angle.
Stapler
A heavy-duty stapler becomes useful when you begin tackling upholstery, crafts, carpeting, and other projects that need more holding power than an office stapler can provide. Some models, such as this stapler, accept multiple staple types and may also handle small brads.
Toolbox
Eventually, all those tools need a home of their own. A sturdy toolbox or modular storage system keeps everything protected, organized, and—perhaps most importantly—where you can actually find it. Look for secure latches, useful compartments, and enough room for the collection to grow. This DeWalt toolbox is stackable and includes a removable tray.
WHEN YOU’RE READY FOR YOUR FIRST POWER TOOL
Cordless Drill/Driver
For many homeowners, a cordless drill/driver is the tool that opens the door to a whole new group of projects. It can drill holes, drive and remove screws, assemble furniture, install hardware, and handle dozens of other jobs around the house. Look for adjustable speed and torque settings, a comfortable grip, and a useful assortment of drill and driver bits. A cordless drill may quickly become one of those tools you wonder how you ever managed without.
TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF, TOO
The project matters. You matter more. Before using saws, sanders, and other power tools, make sure you have the safety equipment appropriate for the work you’re doing. Safety glasses or goggles should be standard when tools can create chips, dust, or flying debris. Depending on the tool and material, hearing protection, work gloves, and appropriate dust or respiratory protection may also be needed.
Read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions, use the correct blade, bit, or accessory, keep guards and other safety features in place, and secure the material you’re working on when appropriate. Inspect tools, batteries, cords, and accessories before use. Extension cords should be suitable for the tool, environment, and electrical load.
And give yourself permission to stop when a project gets beyond your experience. Calling someone who knows how to do the job safely isn’t admitting defeat. Sometimes it’s the smartest tool in the box.
POWER TOOLS TO ADD WHEN THE PROJECT CALLS FOR THEM
Miter Saw
Once your projects involve trim, molding, framing pieces, or repeated cuts across boards, a miter saw can make the work much easier. It’s designed for accurate crosscuts and angled cuts, and sliding models such as this DeWalt saw can handle wider material. It’s a wonderful tool when you have a reason to own one—but there’s no need to rush into buying it before the projects do.
Jigsaw
Not every project believes in straight lines. A jigsaw is especially helpful for cutting curves and irregular shapes. With the appropriate blade, it can work with a variety of materials. Always choose a blade suited to both the material and the cut you’re making.
Circular Saw
A circular saw is a portable option for making straight and angled cuts in lumber, sheet goods, and other suitable materials. Because the saw travels across the material, it’s particularly useful for longer cuts and larger pieces. A circular saw can be extremely versatile, but take the time to learn proper setup, support, blade selection, and safe cutting technique before putting it to work.
Random Orbital Sander
Some projects don’t need to be rebuilt. They just need a little attention. If you’re refinishing furniture, smoothing wood, or preparing a surface for a new finish, a random orbital sander can save considerable time and effort. Different sandpaper grits remove material at different rates, so choose the grit appropriate for the job and work progressively toward the finish you want.
Air Compressor
An air compressor is one of those tools that becomes valuable when your projects become more specialized. If you’re installing a lot of trim or flooring, using pneumatic nailers, or working with other air-powered equipment, an air compressor can make the work much faster. Until then, it’s perfectly fine to let someone else’s compressor take up the garage space.
SUPPLIES YOU’LL BE GLAD YOU HAVE
| SAFETY ITEMS Safety Glasses Work Gloves Appropriate Dust or Respiratory Protection Hearing Protection Knee Pads | PAINTING SUPPLIES Brushes & Rollers Paint Tray & Liners Painter’s Tape Drop Cloths or Plastic Sheeting | WALL REPAIR & WORK Putty Knife Spackle or Joint Compound Stud Finder Wall Anchors |
| WOOD & WATER TOOLS Caulk and Caulking Gun Wood Filler or Putty Wood Glue Plumber’s Tape | ADDITIONAL HAND TOOLS Handsaw Pry Bar Nail Puller Rubber Mallet | JOB HELPERS Ladder or Step Stool Appropriate Extension Cord Plumb Line Chalk Marking Line |
| FLOORING Trowel Tile Spacers | CLEAN-UP Lint-free Rags Cleaners or Solvents Appropriate for the Material | HARDWARE Variety of Nuts, Bolts, Washers, Screws, Hangers & Nails |
For a complete list of the recommended tools available on Amazon, click this link.
Being handy doesn’t mean knowing how to fix everything. It means learning a little at a time, knowing which tool to reach for, and recognizing when a project is one you can handle—and when it isn’t.
Over the years, your toolbox may fill with tools you bought for one project and ended up using for ten more. Some may even carry a few scratches from the things you’ve built, repaired, changed, and occasionally had to redo.
In the end, the best thing you build may not be the shelf, the cabinet, or the room you remodeled. It may simply be the confidence that comes from knowing you can take care of a little more of the place you call home.