Top 20 Tools Every Handy Homeowner Should Own (And How to Actually Use Them)

Every homeowner should have a basic tool kit. Not just for the odd repair, but because there’s something deeply satisfying about grabbing the right tool for the job and getting it done yourself — without phoning a friend, Googling "how to fix a door frame," or using duct tape as a permanent solution (again).

Here’s our no-nonsense list of essential tools for anyone who wants to get serious about home projects — or at least look good pretending.

You don't need to max out your credit card either there Bob Villa, affordable options are more then enough for most DIY Tasks! Save your money for booze and cigarettes like a true handyman!

🔨 1. A Solid Hammer

12-18 Oz Hammers are plenty for most household tasks, Try to get one with a straight claw, not curved. Use it for: Hanging pictures, framing walls, minor demolition. Avoid: Smashing your thumb. (Keep your eye on the nail — not your playlist.)

🪛 2. Screwdriver Set

A 20 Piece kit should be all you need, 5 Sets of Phillips, 5 Robinson, 5 Flatheads, 5 Torx should handle most tasks. Use it for: Pretty much everything with a screw. Why: Because butter knives are not screwdrivers — and they never will be.

🔩 3. Small Socket Set

100 Piece set with a 3/8 inch drive a 1/4 drive will tackle most around the house tasks, take all the included 10mm sockets and throw them in the garbage, you're gonna lose them anyway. Use it for: Assembling furniture, tightening bolts, and fixing that wobbly bike. Pro tip: Don’t cheap out on these — nothing’s worse than stripping a cheap socket/bolt and your ego.

🪚 4. Small Handsaw

A small crosscut saw will suffice for most around the house tasks. Use it for: Quick wood cuts, trimming lumber, or slicing through that one annoying board. Bonus: It’s quieter than a power saw and gives your forearms a free workout.

🛠 5. Cordless Drill & Bit Set

The cheap no name and knock off brands work just fine, just remember to keep batteries charged/topped up. They will die completely and become unusable if stored too long. Use it for: Drilling holes, driving screws, and making life easier in general. Why you need it: Because using a hand screwdriver for a 50-screw project is a cry for help.

📏 6. Tape Measure

If you dropped out of school in grade 5 like me you can even get tape measures that have the fractions written on them, dummy proof! Use it for: Everything from measuring lumber to checking if the new couch will actually fit. Bonus: It also settles arguments during renovations. ("No, it's definitely 4 inches!")

✏️ 7. Carpenter’s Pencil & Sharpener

Use it for: Marking cuts, quick measurements, and sketching genius ideas on scrap wood. Avoid: Using regular pencils — they snap like your patience during IKEA assembly.

📐 8. Speed Square

Use it for: Marking perfect angles, guiding cuts, and checking squareness. Also known as: That triangle thing you didn’t know you needed until now.

🟦 9. Chalk Line

Use it for: Snapping straight lines over long distances — floors, siding, decks, you name it. Tip: Don’t get wild with it unless you love cleaning up blue powder.

🔧 10. Adjustable Wrench

Use it for: Plumbing fixes, tightening nuts, and pretending you’re in a tool commercial. Remember: Lefty loosey, righty tighty — unless it’s upside down. Then just panic.

🧲 11. Levels

A small torpedo level and 3 foot level. Use it for: Hanging anything straight — from shelves to mirrors to your pride. Bonus if it's Magnetic = it sticks where you need it. No excuses for crooked towel bars.

🤏 12. Clamps (At Least 2)

Suddenly when you need an extra set of hands everyone's busy. Use it for: Holding things in place while glue sets, while you're fastening something or while you grab a snack. Truth: You can never have too many clamps.

🧱 13. Pry Bar

Preferably something 12-18 inches long. Use it for: Removing trim, pulling nails, gentle demolition (or not-so-gentle).Also great for: Feeling like a total beast.

🧼 14. Caulking Gun

They all suck, get the cheapest one you can find. Use it for: Sealing windows, tubs, trim, and anything else that leaks or looks sloppy. Bonus: Great forearm workout. Even better if you don’t caulk like a toddler.

✂️ 15. Tin Snips

Use it for: Cutting through metal flashing, siding, or that one sharp piece of dryer vent. Cuts like scissors, looks way cooler.

🧤 16. Safety Gear: Gloves, Glasses, and Knee Pads

Take it from me who has been seen inside multiple hospital rooms...Buy it, use it! Use it for: Keeping your hands, eyes, and knees intact. Look tough, stay protected — your future self will thank you.

🔦 17. Work Light or Headlamp

Use it for: Seeing what you’re doing when the job takes you into the dark corners of your crawlspace. Bonus: Headlamps = hands-free awesomeness.

📦 18. Sturdy Toolbox or Organizer

Use it for: Keeping your tools in one place instead of all over the garage. Pro move: Label everything. Saves time and sanity.

🔌 19. Extension Cord (Heavy Duty)

Use it for: Powering tools where the outlets don't reach. Tip: Go for outdoor-rated cords. Indoor ones melt under pressure (literally).

🔧 20. Multi-Bit Screwdriver or Ratcheting Driver

Use it for: Swapping bits quickly and making your life 10x easier. Less time digging through your kit = more time pretending you’re on HGTV.

💪 Final Word From the Pros

Having the right tools doesn’t just make you a handier homeowner — it makes you more efficient, more confident, and a whole lot less likely to curse on a Saturday afternoon. Start with this list, learn to use them properly, and remember: when the job gets too big, East Coast Handy Man is one call away. (902) 817-3037