The starter toolkit, and what each tool is for
No brands, no prices and no product links: just the tool, and the jobs that will make you glad you own it.
- 25-foot tape measure. every job starts with a measurement; the highlighted marks every 16 inches line up with common stud spacing.
- 16-ounce claw hammer. nails, picture hooks, tapping flat-pack dowels home, and pulling out the nail you put in the wrong place.
- Multi-bit screwdriver. one handle with flat, cross-head and square bits covers most screws in a home.
- Adjustable wrench. nuts on faucets, toilet supply lines, bed frames and bikes, sized with a thumb wheel.
- Slip-joint and needle-nose pliers. gripping, bending and pulling, and reaching into tight spaces such as a toilet tank.
- Utility knife with spare blades. opening boxes, cutting drywall and caulk, and trimming; a sharp blade is safer than a dull one.
- Torpedo level. shelves, pictures and TV mounts that are actually level.
- Stud finder. locating the wood behind drywall so heavy things hang from something solid; some also warn of live wires.
- Cordless drill with a bit set. pilot holes, driving screws faster than any screwdriver, and masonry holes with the right bit.
- Hex keys. flat-pack furniture, bike parts and many fixtures use hex screws.
- Flange plunger. toilet clogs; the fold-out sleeve is what seals in a toilet drain.
- Flashlight or headlamp. under sinks, in the breaker panel and at the roadside; a headlamp keeps both hands free.
- Safety glasses and ear protection. drilling, hammering, cutting and mowing; eyes and hearing do not grow back.
What order to buy them in
If you are starting from nothing, buy in the order jobs usually arrive. Moving in brings measuring, hanging and flat-pack assembly, so the tape measure, level, stud finder, drill and screwdriver come first. The plunger should be in the bathroom before you need it, not after. Pliers, the wrench and the utility knife follow with the first leaky faucet or clogged trap. Safety glasses and ear protection go in the toolbox the day the drill does, because the first job is when accidents happen.
A worked example: one Saturday, one toolkit
Picture a Saturday in a new apartment. In the morning you assemble a bookcase with the hex key, the screwdriver and the drill on its lowest clutch setting, then find a stud to fit its anti-tip strap. After lunch you hang three frames and a shelf, measuring with the tape, marking with a pencil, checking with the level, and picking the right wall anchor for each weight. Before dinner the bathroom sink drains slowly, so the pliers loosen the trap and the plunger clears the kitchen sink. Almost every tool in the starter kit got used, and nothing needed a specialist.
Learn the tools, not just own them
A few tools have a skill of their own. The drill's clutch and bit choice decide whether screws strip and holes wander; the guide to using a drill covers both. The tape measure's fractions trip people up, which is why reading a tape measure has its own page. A socket set and torque wrench are the next step up for bikes, furniture and wheel nuts, and a sharp kitchen knife is a tool too.
The first power saw
When you are ready for a power saw, it is usually a circular saw, and it is one of the most injury-prone tools in a home workshop. Read how to use a circular saw safely, never remove or pin back the blade guard, and take a hands-on class at a community workshop or store before your first project.
Protection is part of the kit
Impact-rated safety glasses, ear plugs or muffs and a fitted dust mask cost less than any tool here and protect things you cannot replace. The protection guide covers when to wear each, why gloves come off near spinning tools, and why old paint gets tested for lead before you sand it.
Common mistakes
- Buying a huge set padded with pieces you will never use.
- Using a screwdriver as a chisel or pry bar and ruining its tip.
- Driving screws with the drill on its drill setting instead of the clutch.
- Storing tools loose in a damp garage where they rust.
- Leaving the glasses in the box because the job is only a minute long.
For the jobs these tools do, the handy around the house guide lists the first fifteen fixes in order.
Sources
Last checked September 28, 2026. Everything here is in our own words. Where a professional who can see your situation, or current official guidance, says something different, follow them.
- Tool makers' instruction manuals. the authority on safe use of each power tool; read the one for your model.