By Debbie Wolfe and Tony Carrick | Updated Jun 24, 2021 11:49 AM

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Whether you own or rent, a home repair tool kit is an essential investment for inevitable fixes and projects around the house, from hanging curtains to assembling a raised garden bed. The best home tool kit should be able to tackle most household jobs—a list that varies depending on the home’s age and your comfort level with DIY improvements.

If your preference leans more toward small jobs, such as assembling furniture and swapping out doorknobs, a somewhat basic tool kit will be appropriate. As your DIY skills grow, a tool kit with more advanced tools and power will likely make the most sense.

Follow this guide to learn about the important factors to consider when shopping for the best home tool kit, and find out why these products are among the most reliable and useful kits on the market.

Before deciding on a home tool kit, it is essential to consider which tools will likely receive the most frequent use, along with a few other factors to ensure you choose the best home tool kit for repairs and projects around the house.

Whether you choose a basic or advanced tool kit, the best products feature the following essential tools.

Many manufacturers of lower-cost tool sets compensate for poor-quality tools with an abundance of items. In other words, it’s quantity over quality. Luckily, most well-known tool manufacturers have price points to match all budgets. Start with a small tool set from a reputable tool manufacturer and add on as needed.

Home tool kits use durable metals—like steel or a steel alloy—and plastics that vary depending on the specific kit type. Wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, Allen wrenches, and socket wrenches in home tool, auto, and bicycle kits are commonly made of cobalt or chromoly steel. These alloys are harder and can withstand metal-on-metal contact without stripping or breaking.

Gardening tools that must endure damp and wet environments typically consist of polished stainless steel, which is very hard and resists rust and corrosion from water and moisture. Most hand tools have molded plastic handles with rubberized grips that make them comfortable to hold, whether digging a hole for a tomato plant or tightening a bolt on a brake caliper.

As mentioned earlier, it’s important to consider the jobs you are most likely to tackle before investing in a home tool kit. Many kits include both metric and imperial sizes. And it’s handy to have both since many furniture kits are made overseas. Most home tool kits contain the most common sizes of screwdrivers, socket wrenches, and pliers.

Since automobiles have various sizes of bolts and screws, a mechanics tool set typically provides a host of bolts and screw bits. Gardening kits feature small handheld tools ideal for working in and around delicate vegetables, plants, and flowers.

Home tool kits include a case that helps the owner keep all components organized for compact storage or easy transport. Manufacturers make some storage cases from rigid plastic with dedicated spots for each tool, eliminating the need for a tool box. Other carrying cases consist of soft-sided fabric duffle bags or zippered fabric cases with elastic loops that hold each tool in place.

While fabric cases are more difficult to clean, it’s easier to compress them to fit into tight spaces. Molded plastic cases hold up to abuse better but can be bulkier. Consider the storage space available for the kit before purchasing.

The best home tool kit will include every tool required for basic projects and repairs but won’t clutter a space with needless extras. Users can tackle the most common household projects with the kits recommended below.

Assembling your first home repair tool kit can quickly become expensive. Don’t fret, BLACK+DECKER has produced quality tools at modest prices since 1910. This 57-piece kit contains all the basic hand tool kit necessities, including a hammer, crescent wrench, pliers, tape measure, and ratcheting screwdriver, plus an 8-volt lithium-ion drill.

While an 8-volt drill isn’t the most powerful drill on the market, it’s ideal for assembling furniture, hanging curtain rods, and even replacing cabinet doors. A set of drill bits, screwdriver bits, and sockets complements the cordless drill. The handy storage bag keeps all the tools organized and easy to carry.

Buying a home tool kit doesn’t have to be an expensive proposition. This economical kit from Apollo Tools contains the most useful tools for basic DIY household repairs, such as hanging a picture, tightening a loose screw or doorknob, or opening the battery compartment on a child’s toy. The 39-piece kit includes a hammer, pliers, tape measure, and Allen wrenches, plus precision screwdrivers and scissors.

Each tool is made from durable carbon steel or heat-treated chrome steel and conveniently packaged in a sturdy case. This kit is ideal for college graduates in their first apartment or as an extra tool kit to keep in a car or RV.

DEWALT has long been in the business of power tools, and this 10-tool combo kit provides some of its best offerings at a price well below the cost to purchase each one individually. This kit includes all the essentials for someone looking to outfit their home workshop with high-end tools, including a power drill, hammer drills, circular saw, and Sawzall. It also features some nice extras, such as an oscillating multi-tool, blower, wet-dry vac, flashlight, and grinder.

A Bluetooth speaker for adding tunes to the workshop or job site is a nice added touch. Two 20-volt batteries are compatible with all the cordless tools in the set, and a cordless quick charger is also included. Two large bags with convenient handles hold all 10 pieces.

The WORKPRO kitchen drawer tool kit will provide users with just about everything they need for minor home repairs in a compact size. Yes, this kit does include 100 pieces, but that doesn’t mean it’s big and bulky. The kit features a lightweight but durable soft-sided storage pouch that tucks neatly away into a drawer with ease. The pouch includes straps to hold each tool firmly in place, so they’re all easy to access when needed.

This kit features all the basics, including a claw hammer, needle-nose pliers, standard pliers, wrench, 9-inch magnetic level, multiple screwdriver bits, four precision screwdrivers, and an adjustable wrench. Ergonomic rubberized handles on the hammer, pliers, wrenches, and screwdrivers make each tool comfortable to use and easy to grip.

A well-organized and comprehensive set of sockets, drivers, and wrenches is an absolute must for home auto mechanics, and this kit from DEWALT delivers the goods. The 142 pieces consist of deep drive metric and Imperial sockets, ranging in size from 5/32-inch to 1/2-inch and 4 millimeter to 16 millimeter, along with 1/2-inch and 3/8-inch sockets that fit into a cordless drill or impact driver.

Other pieces include a variety of extensions, adapters, and joints that allow the mechanic to get into tight spaces. This kit also features a full contingent of Allen wrenches and screwdriver bits. A molded carry case conveniently holds all the pieces in place for organization and transport.

Full tool kits for bikes can be surprisingly expensive. With a collection of some of the most commonly used tools, this bike project kit from YBEKI can handle most bike repairs while still being affordable. The ratchet tools can handle repairs including bottom bracket installation, pedal replacement, chain repair, tire tube changes, and other common bicycle maintenance, eliminating the need for a costly trip to the bicycle repair shop.

The kit also conveniently includes three multifunctional tools compact enough to fit into a bike bag for issues that come up on the road. Each tool is made of carbon steel, which is harder and more durable than other steel alloys.

This gardening tools kit from UKOKE includes all the essentials and conveniently stores them for easy transport to the garden. A trowel, hand rake, cultivator, weeder, pruner, and transplanter make up the core of this gardening set. A spray bottle and set of gardening gloves are helpful add-ons.

All of the included tools fit into pockets on a durable gardening apron, ensuring that each is at the ready as the user is gardening. The tools are ergonomically designed with soft-grip handles that are easy to grasp while wearing gloves.

This 84-piece Crescent kit contains a solid assortment of hand tools, enabling users to work on engines, bikes, furniture, vehicles, and more. It also offers a mix of metric and imperial tools.

Keep in mind that this kit is not ideal for first-time DIYers as it lacks basic hand tools, such as a hammer and tape measure. Instead, this advanced hand tool kit is designed for seasoned DIYers who want to expand their tool collection. It’s a relatively pricey kit, but the manufacturer makes the tools from chrome vanadium steel for long-lasting durability.

Wondering which tools you need in a home tool kit or the best brand of tools? Read on for answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about home tool kits.

A home repair tool kit should have the essential tools for completing basic repairs and other tasks around the house. These tools include a hammer, tape measure, pliers, Phillips head and flat head screwdrivers, socket wrench and sockets, and a level.

The best brand of tool set depends on the type of tools. DEWALT is widely considered the best brand for power tools, while Stanley is highly regarded for hand tools, such as ratchets, sockets, screwdrivers, and other essential parts of a mechanics tool set.

With its affordable price and large number of pieces, the BLACK+DECKER 8V Drill & Home Tool Kit is one of the best starter tool sets available.

A home repair tool kit is an excellent way to purchase essential tools as it’s typically more affordable than buying them individually. These kits also keep tools well organized in a handy carrying case. And, since they’re small, home tool kits are a great solution for those who lack the storage space for a vast assortment of tools. In addition to general home tool kits, some tool kits offer specialty tools for home carpenters, auto and bike mechanics, and gardeners.

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