Practical basics worth having around the house.
You don’t need a garage full of tools to take care of a home. Start with a few versatile essentials that can help with everyday repairs, maintenance, installations and cleanup. As your projects get bigger, your tool collection can grow with you.
Useful picks. No filler. These recommendations are intended to help homeowners understand what may be worth having and why.
A versatile cordless starting point for common homeowner projects, repairs and installations.
New homeowners + general DIY
A drill/driver and impact driver together cover most everyday homeowner tasks—and it's a starting point in the RYOBI ONE+ battery platform.
A practical collection of basic hand tools for everyday household jobs.
First-time homeowners
Many small jobs don't need power tools, and a basic kit keeps the tools you reach for most together and ready.
A useful tool for locating studs before mounting or installing items on a wall.
Shelving + wall-mounted projects
Knowing where the framing is makes mounting shelves, televisions and other wall items easier and more deliberate.
Portable lighting for repairs, maintenance and projects where normal room lighting isn't enough.
Repairs + poorly lit spaces
Repairs often happen under sinks, in garages and utility areas—a rechargeable work light makes it much easier to see what you're doing.
A wet/dry vacuum built for the messes a normal household vacuum isn't designed to handle.
Garages + workshops
Useful for garage cleanup, DIY projects, heavier debris and wet messes a household vacuum isn't built for.
Some tools aren’t essential for every homeowner—but they can become extremely useful as you take on larger DIY, remodeling or woodworking projects.
A more advanced cutting tool for homeowners taking on larger DIY and woodworking projects.
Frequent DIYers + woodworking
A sliding compound miter saw makes accurate crosscuts and angled cuts easier on trim, molding and lumber projects.
When buying cordless tools, the battery platform matters. Once you own compatible batteries and chargers, adding tools from the same system can become simpler and more economical. Before choosing a cordless tool, think about the other tools you may eventually want to own.
Homeowner Tip: You don’t need every tool at once. Start with what solves the problems you actually have, then build your collection as your projects and skills grow.
Some links on this site may be affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, Before You Buy the House may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Recommendations are based on usefulness and relevance, not compensation.
AFFILIATE DISCLOSUREDon't wait until something breaks to learn you should have been checking it.
Get a practical homeowner checklist designed to help you stay ahead of routine maintenance and potentially expensive problems.