A first tool kit for a new home
The sixteen tools that cover most jobs in the first year of owning a home, what each one is for, and which to buy first.
- Updated
- Reading time
- 3 minutes
- Type
- Buying guide
You do not need a full workshop to look after a house. A small set of good hand tools and one cordless drill will handle most of what the first year brings: hanging pictures and shelves, assembling furniture, tightening what has come loose, and dealing with a clogged drain at a bad moment.
Buy the first eight before you move in or in the first week. Add the rest as jobs come up.
Buy these first
| Tool | What it is for | What to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Tape measure | Measuring rooms, furniture and everything else | 25 feet long, with a blade that stays rigid when extended |
| Claw hammer | Driving and pulling nails, tapping things into place | 16 ounces, with a grip that feels secure |
| Screwdriver set | Furniture, outlet covers, hinges, battery doors | Several sizes of Phillips and flat, or one handle with swappable bits |
| Cordless drill and driver | Drilling holes and driving screws quickly | A kit with two batteries, a charger and a basic bit set |
| Level | Hanging anything straight | A 24 inch level for shelves and pictures; a small one for tight spots |
| Adjustable wrench | Nuts and bolts on furniture, plumbing fittings | 8 or 10 inches, with jaws that do not wobble |
| Pliers | Gripping, bending, pulling and holding | A set with slip-joint, needle-nose and tongue-and-groove pliers |
| Utility knife | Opening boxes, trimming, scoring | A retractable blade and spare blades |
Add these as jobs come up
| Tool | What it is for | What to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Stud finder | Locating the framing behind a wall before hanging heavy items | One that also warns of live wires |
| Hex key set | Flat-pack furniture, towel bars, some faucets | Both metric and inch sizes |
| Flashlight or headlamp | Looking under sinks, in the attic and during an outage | LED; a headlamp keeps both hands free |
| Step ladder | Changing bulbs and filters, reaching high shelves | Tall enough that you never stand on the top step |
| Plungers | Clearing clogs | Two: a flange plunger for toilets and a cup plunger for sinks and tubs |
| Voltage tester | Confirming power is off before touching a switch or outlet | A non-contact tester that lights up and beeps. Try it on an outlet you know is live first, so you know it works |
| Putty knife | Filling nail holes, scraping | A flexible 2 inch blade, plus a small tub of spackle |
| Caulk gun | Sealing around tubs, sinks and windows | A smooth trigger and a built-in tip cutter |
Safety gear
Add safety glasses and a pair of work gloves to the kit. Wear the glasses whenever you drill, hammer or cut. They cost little and you only need to need them once.
Buying advice
- Spend more on what you will use most. The drill, the tape measure and the screwdrivers will be in your hands every week. This is where quality pays off.
- Choose one battery system. Cordless tools from the same brand and battery line share batteries. Pick a brand for the drill with that in mind, because later tools will run on the same packs.
- Avoid the giant kit. A 200-piece set looks like good value, but it is mostly small parts you will not use. A few well-made tools serve you better.
- Keep it together. A tool bag or a small box in a closet you can reach beats a tidy garage shelf you have to walk to.
What to leave for later
Saws, sanders and other power tools are worth buying when you have a specific project. Until then, they take up space and money.
Moving in soon? The new home move-in checklist covers what to do in the first week.
The list
- Tape measure, 25 feet
- Claw hammer, 16 ounces
- Screwdriver set
- Cordless drill and driver with bits
- Level, 24 inches
- Adjustable wrench
- Pliers set
- Utility knife
- Stud finder
- Hex key set
- Flashlight or headlamp
- Step ladder
- Two plungers
- Voltage tester
- Putty knife and spackle
- Caulk gun
- Safety glasses and work gloves