Nothing kills your momentum when you’re in the midst of a DIY job than having to stop and run to the store for a tool you don’t have. It can adds hours to an otherwise simple job. Don’t make it harder than you need to, and don’t shell out good money for a contractor to do easy jobs you can perform with a screwdriver and a pair of pliers. Instructions on how to construct things can be found in manuals and YouTube videos, but there are certain tools you inevitably need, whether you live in an apartment or a single-family home. We’ve rounded up all the best tools you should have to handle all but the biggest DIY jobs.
Be sure to check out our many other buying guides, including our favorite cold-weather gear under $100, all the gear you need to start climbing, and emergency gear to keep at home.
Updated March 2021: We’ve updated pricing and added the Wiss titanium shears.