Essential Tools You’ll Need For Your DIY Home Projects

One of the biggest concerns with deciding to take on DIY home projects is, “Will I have all the materials and essential tools I need to complete the entire project?” 

Even though the raw materials for each home project may change, the tools you will use will relatively stay consistent. Some of these staple tools are power tools for more advanced projects, such as a circular saw, but most are basic tools. I believe everyone should own their own toolbox of everyday tools.  

Building up a collection of these essential tools will not only help as you embark on home projects but also in the general upkeep of your home. No one wants to spend unnecessarily on a handyperson when they could easily handle the fix themselves. 

To help you create your complete tool collection, I’ve put together a list of the 14 essential tools every person should have in their home. 

Let me know, how many do you have already?

This post contains affiliate links.
Click here to read my full disclosure policy

Safety first! Safety gear has to be one of the most important tool you should always have on hand in your collection. Precautions always need to be taken to protect yourself no matter how “simple” a task may seem.

Using protective gear, such as safety glasses, gloves, earplugs are essentials.  Always better safe than sorry!

A hammer is the classic essential tool for your toolbox. It is very versatile in its uses, from hammering nails to using them for demolition projects. This tool is going to serve you well so you should consider having a hammer first and possibly even a mallet.  

Next the hammer, the screwdriver is possibly the next most important tool to own. While there is only one use for the screwdriver, to put in and take out screws, there are so many variations. This includes electric screwdrivers. Screwdrivers have many different head types, like flatheads, Philips, and even those amazing little Allen (hex) keys we all get from our Ikea orders. 

Another version of the screwdriver is a ratchet screwdriver. Ratchet screwdrivers allow less manual labor, as you don’t have to loosen your grip and take the screwdriver out to continue turning. This specific type of screwdriver will normally be a single mechanism with multiple bit heads for the different nails. The screwdriver bits can either be stored in the handle of the screwdriver or in a separate toolkit box. 

Having a wrench set in your home tool collection is extremely useful. They can be used to tighten and loosen objects and come in various sizes. The most common wrench is the crescent wrench because it is adjustable. This means you don’t need as many wrenches to cover all your DIY needs.

Nothing can be worse than knowing you are ready to hang that picture but realize you don’t have any of the hardware required. Having the hammer and screwdriver are great…but the nails and screws are key! When creating your DIY toolbox always make sure you have screws and nails of varying lengths and widths.

A seriously underrated tool is the tape measure. It’s all fun and games until you realize you realize there is a big difference between ¼ inch and ¾ inch. Having a tape measure in your toolbox will help with your precision, whether you are cutting materials or making sure that the new big screen you want is actually going to fit on your old tv console. If you are looking for help with hard-to-measure objects, like high ceilings or walls, a laser tape measure would be better suited.

There comes a time when you have to see behind a large piece of furniture or into a dark corner. A bright light would really come in handy. Having a flashlight on hand is ideal in situations like this and also for working at night.

When most people think of sanding they think of the full-on power tool. However, keeping a few sheets of sandpaper or sanding sponges in your toolbox can assist in handling any quick projects. Sandpaper can be used to smooth out an area or remove old paint as you prime your surface for new paint. This is a small but mighty tool that can help in many DIY projects.

A putty knife, or spackle knife, can be extremely useful. This is especially true if you find yourself needing to patch up holes in your home.

A putty knife will not only help contain any mess but leave a smooth finish on the surface. It can look as if nothing ever happened in the first place. This is a great tool to have in your DIY toolbox. 

A paintbrush may not seem like the normal tool to keep in a toolbox, however, it is an essential tool to have in your home. The first time you paint your home everything looks great. Over time, however, things begin to get scuffed or chip off after some months or years. Having a paintbrush can mean a quick touch-up so that your cabinets or walls look just as good as they did on Day 1.

A utility knife is a good investment for a toolbox because of its wide range of uses. While the very similar box cutter is also a great tool, it can be limited in its precision. A utility knife can cut boxes but can also cut into drywall and wallpaper. Utility knives can be a much safer option and last longer through wear and tear.

A good level will make sure that your project stays straight on its surface. While manual levels have always been a tried and true way to measure, laser levels have become more popular. The accuracy of a laser level is unmatched. 

Having a quality stud finder is another essential tool kit for your toolbox. When mounting things on the wall it is important to know where you can safely and sturdily hang your decor. 

Last but not least, where are you going to fit all of these new tools you have?! Having sturdy storage for all your tools makes the entire experience complete. Keeping all your tools in a single area makes organization easy. It also makes it possible to keep all your tool options together no matter where you have to take them.  

There are so many types of toolboxes or tool bags you can get. There are the metal and plastic toolboxes and smaller less structured ones as well. Some toolboxes come on wheels and even toolbags that come in multiple colors or patterns. 

Consider the size and the quantity of the tools you have to find the perfect size storage for your tool collection. 

So how did you do? Is your essential toolbox complete? 

Let me know in the comments below if you have other essential tools and how you use them in your everyday life.