With over 10 years of home improvement and DIY projects under our (tool) belts, we’ve inevitably built up a bit of a collection of tools. We always get asked for tool recommendations, especially when it comes to tools for beginner DIYers.
You’ll probably be surprised at how few tools you need to tackle most projects and we’ve put together a list of our favourite must-have DIY tools including the very basic ones that we think everyone should own and a few more advanced tools.
These are the actual tools we own (we’ve had some of ours for a long time so the models shown may be more current than the ones we have). To give you a better overview we’ve included a rating based on how useful we think the tool is and how often we use it.
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The Basic Kit
Cordless Drill
5 out of 5
Out of all of the tools that we own, this is easily the one we use most. It’s great for drilling holes and, of course, all kind of screwing. We’ve had various cordless drills over the years and we’re happy with them all but this is our new favourite cordless drill.
It’s not the cheapest of drills but as we use it so much we figured it was worth the investment. Our other cordless drill is this one by Ryobi which we also love.
If you’re prepared to splurge a bit more, you can get the full set including two batteries and a very sturdy case which is what we have.
Spirit Level
5 out of 5
Whether it’s hanging up pictures, building shelves or installing window sills – a spirit level is a must to get things level and looking good.
We have a couple of spirit levels, but this Stanley Fatmax spirit level is by far our favourite which we bought when we were replacing our garage roof. It’s really sturdy and has practical holes for gripping it.
Ladder
5 out of 5
One of the very first things we bought when we first started our renovation was a ladder. We looked at loads of different options before we made a decision and in the end opted for a ladder that includes a platform.
It’s slightly more expensive than a normal ladder but is a very worthwhile investment. You can use it as a normal ladder without the platform, but it’s super practical if you use it with the platform, especially when working higher up, as it saves you having to run up and down the ladder.
Sealant Gun
4 out of 5
Caulk is your friend! It doesn’t matter if you’re attaching skirting boards, picture rails or tidying the edge around where new windows have been fitted – caulk is what will finish off the job and give it a clean and tidy edge.
We skimped on our caulk gun when we bought ours and definitely lived to regret it. We had a cheap plastic one and yes, it worked, but it just didn’t have the strength to comfortably push caulk or silicone through. We eventually switched to a metal caulk gun which is still very basic but so much better. If you have a lot of DIY to do, we’d definitely recommend investing in a sturdy caulk gun!
Selection Of Screwdrivers
5 out of 5
Really you can’t do much DIY without the help of a screwdriver. We’d suggest getting a basic set that should include both Philips head and slotted drivers in different sizes.
Mitre Saw
5 out of 5
Although we managed for a few years just using a fine saw and a mitre block we love our mitre saw and can’t believe how much we use it. Looking back, it should have been one of the first purchases we ever made and we highly recommend investing in one.
A basic one like the mitre saw we have isn’t expensive and we’ve been using ours for almost 10 years without any problems. It’s easily our most used tool after our cordless drill.
It saves so much time compared to sawing by hand and is a lot more exact, too. We used it to cut all timber for almost every project we do like building an outdoor daybed with a canopy, building a modern reeded side table, or attaching gorgeous panelling on our walls or cutting floorboards,
Paint Brushes
4 out of 5
There are lots of painting tools and gadgets you can buy but the most important thing you’ll need is a great set of high-quality paintbrushes. Painting is such a quick cheap and easy way to transform your home and having the right tools just makes things so much easier!
It’s a good idea to choose brushes that are suitable for all paints. This is the set of paintbrushes we bought when we moved into our first house and they’re the same ones we still use for every painting project now.
Hammer
4 out of 5
Whether it’s putting up a picture or even replacing a roof, you’ll not get around owning a hammer.
A claw hammer would be good, as it’s great for removing nails, too. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, but buy a decent one – we used to have one where the head sometimes flew off!
Pliers
3 out of 5
It’s almost inevitable that you’ll need some pliers sooner or later. There’s probably no need for anything fancy, but a small selection will definitely come in handy.
Tape Measure
4 out of 5
It really goes without saying that you’re not going to be able to tackle many projects without the help of a tape measure. We’d recommend getting one that’s at least 5 m long.
Sandpaper
4 out of 5
For almost any surface preparation and any tidying of cuts, you’ll need some sandpaper. We’d recommend purchasing some good quality sandpaper as the cheap paper tends to disintegrate almost as soon as you use it.
The better quality paper lasts much longer, actually making it a better investment in the long run. A basic selection should include 80 grit, 120 grit and 240 grit paper.
The Advanced Tool Kit
Depending on what kind of projects you’re tackling and on how much DIY you’re doing, you’ll probably end up needing a few more tools at some point. Because tools can be expensive, we purchased most of our tools as and when we needed them for a project but they will all make DIYing much easier!
Hammer Drill
5 out of 5
If you’re doing a lot of drilling or, if like us, you can’t help knocking down walls, you’ll need a hammer drill.
It’s much more powerful than a small cordless drill and comes with a chisel attachment which is great for taking up tiles, loosening bricks and most other destructive work. Our walls are also really solid, which is why we often use our hammer drill when doing any drilling for hanging curtain rails, attaching shelves, etc.
Extension Cable Reel
5 out of 5
As soon as you have a couple of power tools, you’ll inevitably find, that you never have a socket where you need one!
We also tend to do as much sawing, cutting and sanding outside so that we reduce the amount of dirt and dusk in the house. Either way, you’ll probably need a cable reel at some point, even if you just want to mow the lawn.
Workbench
4 out of 5
If you’re planning on doing a lot of DIY, a workbench is a great investment and it’ll probably save you sawing into your garden table (okay, so that might just be me).
We have this workbench which we use for almost everything we make. We love that it folds down and can easily be stored away without taking up too much space.
Nailer
4 out of 5
Our nailer is one of our all-time favourite tools – ever! It’s one of those tools where we now can’t believe we ever did any DIY without it. Yes, it’s expensive and definitely a tool that’s for the more avid DIYer, but we love it.
We used to build hundreds of projects like our hallway bench and log store and it wouldn’t have been possible to build our slatted garden fence without it.
Jigsaw
1 out of 5
We’ve had our Jigsaw for a long time and have used it on projects like our bedroom mirror and hello word art. Overall it is useful but definitely, a tool for the optional list as it’s not as versatile as some of the others.
Heat Gun
2 out of 5
A basic and fairly inexpensive tool is a heat gun that’s great for stripping paint. We’ve had our heat gun for almost 10 years and have stripped a lot of paint with it!
This list has definitely turned out to be longer than we’d expected (and shockingly we own a lot more tools than listed here), but we did build up our collection over time.
Looking back, we’ve often been too stingy to buy more tools, but ended up making our life much harder and often weren’t able to achieve a finish we were happy with. Obviously, your must have DIY tools may vary but the basic kit will already help you achieve a lot of amazing DIY results.
Having the right tools for the job definitely makes things much easier and more doable. Having said that, in general, we’d always suggest buying new tools as and when you need them. Whilst you’re saving a load of money through doing things yourself, DIY can still be expensive, especially if you have to go out and buy a load of things for it.
What are your must-have DIY tools? What do you have in your toolbox? Do you have a favourite tool – what is it?
Tim says
Can I suggest a first aid kit too !? You just never know when the nail gun will get personal !
Christine says
I think you’d need more than a first aid box if you had a disagreement with the nail gun! :) A first aid box is a great idea, though! The odd splinter or cut is probably inevitable.
Cx
Pete says
I think that a hacksaw should be on your list! The amount of times that I have been working on a project and have a bit of metal or plastic piping that I need to get through quickly from an awkward angle is unbelievable. They’re such a cheap handy little tool as well, I’ve got this saw which has been a trusty DIY servant to me. I was making a meal out of moving a shed at the weekend and ended up splitting some wood that was stuck to a nail, it didn’t matter what I tried I couldn’t get it off!! Luckily I had my hacksaw on hand to cut straight through it in the end, such a good little tool.
Christine says
I honestly don’t think I’ve ever used one! It just goes to show that a tool box is never complete! ;)
CX
Derek Saxty says
I just love your website, thanks for taking the time and the trouble.
My tips for buying tools are to buy the best you can afford, but only if you really do need them and will use them. Sounds obvious I know, but over the years I’ve built up a collection of tools and gadgets that I don’t use. My biggest mistake was to buy a really nice ladder to enable me to get up to the guttering without realising that I was scared of heights! I sold it to a friend who eventually lost it! He lent it to someone who didn’t return it and by then he couldn’t remember who he’d lent it to.
Christine says
I totally agree with you, Derek! It’s always annoying to spend money on things you realise you didn’t really need. Can’t believe you didn’t realise you were afraid of height before spending money on a long ladder ;). I’m a big fan of borrowing tools whenever I can and we’re always happy to lend people ours. There’s really no point in spending a lot of money on something you may only end up using once – although I’d be very annoyed if I didn’t get my tools back!
Cx
Chris says
Fantastic article! It’s great to read what works well for people and the thought process behind it.
You inspired me to buy a nail gun (although not as fancy as your one!) and finally put my bath panel together.
Thanks for the inspiration!
Christine says
Thank you for the compliment Chris! We love our nail gun so much and are still surprised at how much we use it (although it’s probably for the more avid DIYer). Essentially it’s always about finding what works for you. We’ve built up our tool box overtime (and are still adding to it) and if we think we’ll only use something once or twice, we’ll still always try to borrow or hire it from somewhere. The more we can save on tools, the more we can spend on actually finishing projects! :)
Cx
George says
The best DIY trick I’ve learned in the last 20+ years is to buy CHEAP tools. I know that sounds crazy, but if you’re like me where you’re prone to losing stuff or have lots of friends that like to “borrow” stuff, this is the way to go. I lose tools LONG before even a cheap tool would break. Yes, I know I should be more organized, hold people accountable for returning stuff, etc, etc, etc, but I’ve accepted that I’m not that kind of human… so my punishment is Black and Decker. :)
Christine says
I’m not sure that we’ve ever lost a tool, but I do think that borrowing and lending tools is a great way to go about things. There’s really not much point in spending a lot of money on something you’re only ever going to use once!
Cx
Kayleigh says
How do you clean your paintbrushes to make them last so long? Thanks!
Christine says
The only thing we do (or at least try to) is wash our brushes straight away. We don’t use anything fancy just water for water based paint and white spirit for oil based paints.
If we’re having a break while painting, we’ll stick the brush in a plastic bag or wrap it in some cling film to stop it drying.
Cx