Best basic tool kit

How to choose

Count the real tools, not the pieces

Stanley's own list for the 94-248 shows 30 bits, 8 sockets and 16 hex keys, which leaves 11 other items.^{1 3} Bob Vila notes that the 322 pieces in one set include cable ties and blades, and some of its handles felt undersized.¹ Ignore the number on the box and look for the core tools: a claw hammer, a tape measure, Phillips and flathead screwdrivers, hex keys, a level, needle-nose pliers and a utility knife.¹

Judge the handles in your hand

A NIOSH and Cal/OSHA booklet gives sizes for tools used with force: a handle 1 1/4 to 2 inches across, and plier handles at least 2 inches apart closed and no more than 3 1/2 inches apart open. It also favors spring-loaded plier handles and a soft, non-slip coating.¹³ Those numbers were written for people who use tools all day, so treat them as a comfort check.

Buy safety glasses with any kit

A 20-year study of US emergency department records looked at 2,967 hammer injuries to the head, face, eye, mouth or ear, and 63.6 percent happened at the patient's home. Debris from hammer strikes was the most dangerous cause: those patients were admitted 7.6 percent of the time, against 2.5 percent for the rest.¹⁴ A better hammer won't stop flying debris.

More than 78 percent of people hurt in eye injuries weren't wearing eyewear. The American Academy of Ophthalmology estimates that protective eyewear could prevent 90 percent of these injuries, and it urges every household to own at least one ANSI-approved pair.^{4 15}

Know what to add next

If your kit has no adjustable wrench, add an 8-inch one, a size Bob Vila says handles most jobs.¹ A drill is the next purchase, and our cordless drill guide covers that. If you measure often, buy a 25-foot tape. Stanley's 25-foot PowerLock reached nearly 10 feet before bending in Bob Vila's test.¹⁶

Decide between a kit and single tools

Owners on Reddit split on this. Several say to buy a basic set and replace each tool with a better one when it wears out, and one argues against any kit unless you'll use all of it soon.^{17 18} One YouTube reviewer builds a 10-tool starter set from single tools, at several times the cost of the Stanley. His rule for tight budgets is to buy cheap and upgrade what you use a lot or break.⁷

If you work on cars or a mower, none of these picks fit. Look at a socket set such as the Crescent or DeWalt below, and add a hammer and a tape.¹

Choose the case for your storage

Molded plastic cases hold up to abuse better but can be bulkier. Fabric cases are harder to clean, though they compress to fit into tight spaces.¹

Check any Stanley hammer you already own

In November 2019, CPSC and Stanley Black & Decker recalled about 211,000 Stanley 16 oz wooden handle nailing hammers, model STHT51454, sold only at Walmart, because the molded grip can come loose. Stanley had one report and no injuries. If you own that model, stop using it and return it to Walmart for a refund as a gift card.¹⁹

In April 2023, about 2.2 million fiberglass sledgehammers were recalled because the head can detach, including Stanley FATMAX models of 3 to 10 pounds. The Stanley model number, starting FMHT, is on a sticker on the handle. Check it against CPSC's list, stop using a listed hammer and contact Stanley Black & Decker for a refund.²⁰ Nothing ties either recall to the 94-248 kit.