25 Crucial Home Repair Tools You Should Have

Believe it or not, everyone has the ability to handle most household repair and installation tasks regardless of experience. While your first attempt is always a learning opportunity, tutorials on YouTube can guide you every step of the way. All that’s necessary to succeed is the right mindset, a willingness to be patient, and the proper tools.
 
As a homeowner, it’s important to have a good set of tools for basic home repairs. While you don’t need a fully stocked workshop, it’s helpful to have a few essential tools on hand to tackle most jobs. Here are 25 tools you should consider adding to your toolbox:

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A Versatile Screwdriver Set

Amartisan 10-Piece Magnetic Screwdrivers Set

This screwdriver set is an essential tool for any DIY enthusiast. It includes a range of different sized screwdrivers to suit a variety of jobs, from small electronic work to house hold furniture assembly. The handles are designed for comfort and grip, even when working in tight spaces. Whether you’re working on a small project at home or in a professional workshop, this screwdriver set is a must-have for any handy person.

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The Best Power Drill Set

DᴇWALT 20V Max Cordless Drill / Driver Kit

Power drills are the heart of every toolbox. Everything from self assembly furniture to outdoor woodworking is made easier with a drill. Make sure you have a hardy, long-lasting, cordless drill for all your homemaking projects. This drill set includes 2 batteries, the charger, the drill, and the bag to boot. DeWALT, while on the pricier side of things, will last for decades, just have to get new batteries every 3-7 years depending on use.

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Screwdriver Bit Set

DᴇWALT 45 Piece Screwdriver Bit Set with Tough Case

The DeWALT Screwdriver Bit Set is an essential addition to your drill. With a wide range of sizes, this set includes every kind of bit you could ever need and helps eliminate the need for a screwdriver set. The included case provides secure storage and organization, making it easy to find and access the right bit for the job. Also we all know you already lost half of your last set even while having the case, so you might as well get a new one.

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Drill Bit Set

DᴇWALT 14 Piece Drill Bit Set

Every homeowner drill needs the titanium nitride coated bits that refuse to wear out. Breaking these guys usually requires drilling into solid steel or taking on to big of a load in a drill press. Used primarily in drilling holes for bolts, these drill bits are all you need for simple projects. Also check HERE for my recommendation on the best center hole punch.

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The 16 Oz. Hammer

Irwin 16 oz. Hammer

A hammer is a basic tool that’s great for a variety of tasks. Used in tasks like driving nails, plying wood apart, or whacking your thumb randomly at full swing, a hammer is a helpful tool to have around the house. Furthermore, this hammer’s metal handle improves durability while the synthetic grip provides maximum comfort. 
DeWALT Retractable Knife

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Utility Knife

DᴇWALT Premium Retractable Knife

A utility knife is a versatile tool that can be used for everything from opening amazon boxes to cutting drywall. This is the must have knife for cutting zip ties and rope while building and is an essential in the tool bag. Actually, you should get one so you can cut the tape on all the other tool packages from Amazon.

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Tape Measure

Craftsman Tape Measure, 25 ft

The tape measure is a versatile and essential tool used to measure distance, length, and width. I was always told to measure twice, cut once when working on a project. This is the tool to do that and Craftsman tools never fail. Indeed, this tape measure is a must-have tool for any true craftsman.

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Adjustable Wrench

Craftsman Adjustable Wrench, 8-Inch

An adjustable wrench is an incredibly versatile tool that serves many purposes. It is standard for those who need to make quick fixes around the house. This type of wrench is designed to enable users to tighten bolts and nuts of varying sizes. Whether you’re working on a sink, shower, or toilet, your adjustable wrench is the perfect tool.

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Level

Craftsman 24-Inch Level Tool

It’s important to have a level in your household. When mounting pictures, shelves, and other décor items, ensuring that they are properly leveled makes them look and function correctly. When putting in a fence or other wooden structure, using a level is absolutely required to make it straight. Therefore, always keep a level tool on hand so that you can effortlessly carry out your DIY projects with ease.

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Stud Finder

DᴇWALT Stud Finder

A stud finder can help you locate the studs in your walls, making it easier to hang shelves, mirrors, and other heavy items. The DeWALT stud finder does not have a display screen but in my experience this one tends to be easier to use and less prone to failure, just remember to unplug electronics that are nearby! As for me, I could never get it to work, because my stud finder goes off even when its not against a wall.

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Heavy Duty Tool Bag

AWP 15 Inch Tool Bag with Apex Handle Design

The tool bag is the most useful solution for carrying your tools. It features multiple pockets and a center compartment to organize and store your tools. Whether you’re an electrician, carpenter, plumber or anyone in between, this tool bag is a reliable and essential accessory for keeping your tools organized and ready to use.

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Best Shop Vac for Dust Collection

Craftsman 2.5 Gallon Portable Shop Vacuum

Shop vacs are an absolute essential for any workshop or garage. They clean carpets, hardwood floors, tight corners, saw dust, metal dust, and hard-to-reach areas with all the cool attachments. You can’t take the household vacuum cleaner into the garage, so get a shop vac today.

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Safety Glasses with Side Shield

Magid Gemstone Anti-Fog Safety Glasses

To avoid accidents when working with tools, it’s crucial to protect your eyes. Safety glasses offer reliable eye protection for individuals working with tools or equipment, minimizing the chances of an accident. Safety glasses with side shields are standard protection in workshops. Therefore, investing in a good pair of safety glasses is essential for anyone working with tools or equipment.

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Comfortable Work Gloves

Handlandy Men's Work Gloves

When you’re working, it’s important to protect your hands against cuts, scrapes, and blisters. Gloves are designed to provide the extra layer you need. Additionally, these gloves come with touch screen capability, so you can use your phone without having to remove them every time you need to make a call or send a message. With their comfortable fit and durable construction, these gloves are the perfect addition to any worker’s toolbox.

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Caulk Gun

Newborn Caulking Gun

As a homeowner, ensuring that your home is properly maintained is crucial, not only for the aesthetic value, but also to prevent damage. One of the areas that require regular attention is the sealing of cracks in your home. Gaps and cracks can not only lead to air leaks and water damage, but can also allow pests and insects to enter your home. This is where a caulk gun comes in handy; it is the best tool for sealing. So, whether you’re a seasoned homeowner or a new one, a caulk gun should be one of your go-to tools in your maintenance kit.

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Putty Knives

4 Pack Putty Knife Set

Whether you are dealing with drywall, plaster, or wood, a putty knife is perfect for filling in small holes and gaps that can detract from the beauty of your walls and surfaces. Frankly, these guys are just for spreading out caulk evenly after you use the caulk gun. So if you want to keep your walls and surfaces looking their best, make sure you have a putty knife in your toolbox.

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Wire Cutters

Igan-P6 Wire Cutters, 6-inch

Wire cutters are essential tools for any home or workshop. Their primary use is for cutting or stripping wires and cables, The sharp, durable blades of wire cutters can easily slice through tough materials like copper and aluminum with ease and precision. Whether you are a professional electrician or a casual handyman, wire cutters should be an essential part of your tool kit.

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Pipe Wrench

Heavy-Duty Adjustable Straight Pipe Wrench

If you’re doing plumbing work, a pipe wrench can be necessary for tightening and loosening pipes & fittings. Most typical sink pipes are plastic and shouldn’t require a pipe wrench, but any kind of water piping is typically metal and will require it. Honestly, due to the nature of pipe work, pipe wrenches are one of those things that you either need two of them or none of them, but it never hurts to have a pipe wrench to kill zombies with. 

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Hex Key Allen Wrench Set

Efficere 30-Piece Allen Wrench Set, SAE & Metric

A hex-key, Allen wrench is a tool used to tighten or loosen hexagonal screws or bolts. This set includes a full array of both SAE & Metric Allen Keys.  Allen key sets are crucial for DIY projects, as they are useful for disassembling furniture, bicycles, and other household items. 

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1/4 & 3/8 Socket Set with Metric

DᴇWALT 34 Piece Socket Set, SAE/Metric

A socket set is useful for tightening and loosening bolts and nuts in hard-to-reach areas. This set has both SAE and Metric sockets which will work for the majority of bolts you’ll find in a car, boat, or under your sink. Trying to fish one of these around an engine to remove a radiator, a spark plug, etc. is the greatest joy in life…

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Standard Carpenter's Square

Swanson 7 Inch Speed Square

A carpenter’s square can be extremely useful when it comes to marking lines and angles during construction or repair work. Always keep a carpenter’s square near the chop or circular saw as it is the perfect instrument for ensuring that your project is precise and perfectly aligned.  So, if you are even thinking about touching wood for your project, be sure to add a carpenter’s square to your toolbox.

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Multitool

14-In-1 Multitool with Pliers, Pocket Knife, Bottle Opener, & More

Multitools are useful in places where you don’t want to lug your tool box around. For home use, this is best kept in the kitchen for opening bottles and the occasional package. In reality, every man needs one in their fishing tackle box. Not only can it open your beer bottles, but it can also cut your line, twist a hook out a fish, saw through the detestable catfish barb stuck in your net, and more. Additionally, if you prefer a knife based multitool, THIS ONE is the best.

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Plier Set

WorkPro 7-Piece Pliers Set

A set of pliers is great for gripping, twisting, and cutting wires. I always reach for one of these when there is a stubborn, small nail that the claw of my hammer can’t quite hook on to or I need to strip wires for my new household gadgets like the new USB Phone Charging Outlets. The sets for the pliers are better because you always end up losing half of these before they end up in your tool bag where they belong.

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Starter Tool Set

DekoPro 228-Piece Auto Repair Tool Set

This is a starter tool set to buy for your son’s first kit or as a complete home repair set. It has all the basics; hammer, socket wrench set, screw driver sets, tape measure, pliers, etc. I selected all the tools for this article & then found this bad boy that has it all & more. This is the perfect starter set, I looked at way too many of them…

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Ultimate Complete Mixed Monster Mega Master Hand Tool Kit

Teng Tools 1100 Piece Complete Hand Tool Kit

Last but not least, is the ultimate tool kit for every real man out there. I feel like we have all seen one of these in your mechanic friend’s garage and thought man now THAT is overkill for a tool set. It is, that’s the point. Obviously, the more adjectives a product has on Amazon, the better. This set has several different varieties and setups depending on your needs so feel free to check it out.

Closing

Having a good set of tools can make all the difference when it comes to making repairs around your home. While this list isn’t exhaustive, it’s a good starting point for anyone looking to build a basic toolbox. This is my first blog so feel free to give me some suggestions for edits or some ideas for future blogs!

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