How to put together a basic toolkit
A basic toolkit for new homeowners starts with a small hand tool set, a cordless drill and a stud finder. A basic set runs about $25 to $40 and a two-tool drill combo about $99, based on prices This Old House listed. That covers most first-month jobs, like hanging rods and tightening hinges.
What's in a basic toolkit for new homeowners
Buy for the jobs you'll do in the first month. This table ties each tool to a real task.
| Tool | First job it does |
|---|---|
| Phillips and straight-slot screwdrivers | Tightening hinges, swapping switch plates, opening battery doors |
| Hammer | Picture hooks, tapping flat-pack furniture together |
| Tape measure and level | Curtain rods, shelves, measuring for furniture |
| Adjustable wrench | Loose nuts on fixtures and appliance hoses |
| Pliers: slip-joint, needle-nose and locking | Gripping, bending and holding stuck parts |
| Allen wrenches | Flat-pack furniture |
| Utility knife | Opening boxes, trimming shelf liner |
| Cordless drill/driver | Pilot holes, anti-tip brackets, long screws in door strikes |
| Stud finder | TV mounts, shelves, furniture straps |
When you shop for a drill, This Old House suggests at least 450 inch-pounds of torque and a battery of at least 1.5 Ah. A drill around 3.4 pounds is less tiring to hold overhead. For hand tools, look for chrome vanadium steel on wrenches and sockets, which holds up better.
Ignore the piece count on the box. A 148-piece set and a 39-piece set can cover much the same jobs, because the extra count is often small bits and sockets. Open the listing and check that it includes the tools above.
Where to keep a basic tool set
Pick a spot you can reach in the dark during a small emergency, such as a hall closet or a shelf near the garage door. A rugged case makes it easy to carry a kit to the job and keeps parts from scattering. Avoid a damp basement floor or an unheated shed, where steel tools can rust.
Keep a flashlight, spare batteries for your alarms, a pencil and a small tub of assorted screws and wall anchors with it. Put the drill charger on a shelf nearby so the battery is ready when you need it.
How to build a basic tool set, one job at a time
- Take stock of what you own
Gather every tool from drawers and moving boxes into one place, so you only buy the gaps.
- List your first-month jobs
Think about curtain rods, flat-pack furniture, alarm batteries and furniture anchors. Your list shows what you need.
- Buy a small hand tool set
Check it has both screwdriver types, a hammer, pliers, an adjustable wrench and a tape measure.
- Add a cordless drill/driver
Aim for at least 450 inch-pounds of torque and a 1.5 Ah battery or larger.
- Fill the gaps
Add a level, a utility knife and a stud finder if the set doesn't include them.
- Set up one home for it all
Use a sturdy case or box, and store a flashlight and spare batteries with it.
What a basic toolkit for new homeowners costs
| What you buy | About what it costs | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| 39-piece hand tool set | $25 | Basic hand tools for small repairs |
| 65-piece home repair kit | $40 | A wider spread of hand tools |
| 2-tool cordless drill combo | $99 | Drill plus a second tool on a shared battery |
| 192-piece mechanics set | $160 | Far more sockets than most homes need |
These are prices This Old House listed in its review, so check current ones. A stud finder is a separate buy, and prices vary.
Mistakes to avoid with a first home tool kit
- Buying a mechanics set for house jobs. Most of its value is in sockets, and you'll rarely use them on a home.
- Forgetting the level and stud finder, which many cheap sets leave out.
- Buying a drill with no second battery option, then finding it flat on the day you need it.
- Treating a full toolbox as permission to do anything. Stop and hire a licensed pro for gas lines, work inside the electrical panel, or anything structural.
What homeowners say about a first home tool kit
A rule with about 150 upvotes: buy the cheap version of a tool first and use it until it breaks. By then you'll know what you want in a good one, and if it never breaks you saved money. Owners say cheap hand tools are fine. Be careful with cheap power saws and with sockets or adjustable wrenches you'll lean hard on. (Reddit)
Pick one cordless battery platform early and add bare tools to it as projects come up. Owners like a drill plus an impact driver, so you aren't swapping bits between pilot holes and screws. Several waited for Labor Day or Black Friday combo deals. (Reddit)
Check that you own a driver or wrench for every panel you might need to open in a hurry: the electrical panel cover, the access panel behind the tub, the water heater and furnace covers. Also check that your adjustable wrench opens wide enough for the supply nuts under your sinks. (Reddit)
Take an experienced friend or parent through a hardware store and let them point out the tools you'll actually need. Buy them lunch. Owners with more than one floor keep a step stool and a screwdriver set on each level so they don't carry tools up and down. (Reddit)
For flat-pack furniture, use a hand screwdriver or a low-torque electric screwdriver. Drills easily strip particleboard. One owner adds wood glue to the dowels so drawers and dressers don't work loose. (Reddit)
Owners say to buy a good drill once and learn the real names of parts, like a P-trap or wax ring, so you can find the right how-to video. YouTube and library DIY books are where most first-time owners learn. (Hacker News)
Where owners disagree: The most upvoted view: buy the cheap version first and replace each tool with a good one when it wears out, because that shows what you actually use. Buy-it-for-life fans say you'll just buy twice. Both camps make the same exceptions: a good cordless drill (its battery locks you into a brand) and no bargain power saws, where a cheap blade guard can fail. For one-off jobs, owners borrow, rent or use a tool library. (Reddit)
Where owners disagree: The top answer in r/Tools, and several homeowners elsewhere, say to buy tools when a job calls for them, not just in case. The common exception is a small core: screwdrivers, hammer, utility knife, pliers, a wrench, tape measure, plunger and fire extinguishers. Others push back the other way: when a job does come up, don't hesitate to buy the specific tool, like a basin wrench for a faucet. (Reddit)
Where owners disagree: DIY regulars disagree about what's off-limits. Gas piping, garage door springs, major electrical, structural work and asbestos removal come up most as hire-it-out jobs. Others say almost anything is learnable with research and a second opinion. (DIY Stack Exchange)
What tools should every homeowner have? More answers
What tools should every homeowner have?
These cover most small jobs: a hammer, screwdrivers, pliers, an adjustable wrench, a tape measure, a level, a utility knife, a cordless drill and a stud finder. Add other tools when a real project calls for them.
Is a big tool set worth buying?
Usually not for a first home. Large mechanics sets are heavy on sockets, while most house jobs call for a few basics and a drill. Spend the difference on a better drill.
What size cordless drill does a homeowner need?
This Old House suggests at least 450 inch-pounds of torque and a 1.5 Ah battery. That's enough for pilot holes and most screws you'd drive around a house.
What you’ll need
Sources: This Old House, anchorit.gov
General guidance for U.S. homes, not professional advice. For gas, electrical and structural work, call a licensed pro.