Building a home tool kit, tool by tool
Most first tool kits are 60 pieces of filler. Sixteen tools do 95 percent of household work, and half of them are the ones nobody photographs.
The core sixteen
| Tool | What it is for |
|---|---|
| Claw hammer, 16 oz | Picture hooks, small nails, tapping joints together |
| Tape measure, 25 ft | Everything starts here |
| Spirit level, 24 in | Shelves, pictures, anything that must be straight |
| Utility knife | Boxes, cardboard, caulk lines |
| Screwdriver set (Phillips & flat, plus #2 square) | Furniture, appliances, toys |
| Adjustable spanner | Faucet nuts, bike bolts, furniture legs |
| Pliers set: slip joint, needle nose, cutters | Gripping, bending, cutting wire |
| Allen key set | Flat-pack furniture, bikes |
| Torch or headlamp | Under sinks, in closets |
| Duct tape and painter's tape | Temporary fixes, labelling, clean lines |
| Wood glue and super glue | Chair joints, ceramics |
| Assorted screws, anchors and picture hooks | The actual job |
| Wire strippers or a simple crimper | Lamps and small repairs |
| Nitrile gloves and safety glasses | Cheaper than an emergency room |
| Pencil and a small notebook | Measurements you will forget |
| A sturdy bag or a plain box with dividers | If you cannot find it, you do not own it |
What to skip at first
Power drill: borrow one until you need two holes a month. Socket sets with 90 sizes: buy the four sizes your furniture uses. Screwdriver bit sets with 30 driver types: you need four. Every "complete kit" selling plastic brilliance is filler you will lose.
Organisation that survives a move
- Keep the box small enough to carry with one hand; a tool you have to unpack is a tool you avoid.
- Group by task, not by type: hanging, plumbing, electronics.
- Restock screws and anchors the week you use them, not the day you move out.
When to call someone
Gas, mains electricity, anything load-bearing, and anything you would have to stand on a chair for. A tool kit is for the jobs a careful person can finish in an afternoon.
Quick answers
What should a basic home tool kit cost?
A sensible first kit costs $40-$80 and covers hanging, furniture and simple plumbing. Spend the money on a decent hammer, tape and pliers rather than a large piece count.
Do I need a drill?
Not immediately. Buy one when you have a specific job; a cordless drill with two batteries is far more useful than a huge bit set.