12 Must-Have Tools for Every DIY Homeowner

If you’re starting from scratch, don’t buy the 200-piece "homeowner kit" from the big-box store. Buy these instead.

The Power Players

1. Impact Driver: Better than a standard drill for driving screws without stripping the heads.

   
   

2. 10-inch Miter Saw: For 90% of home projects (trim, 2x4s, decking), this is your bread and butter.

   
   

3. Random Orbit Sander: Because nobody actually likes sanding by hand.

   
   

4. Shop Vacuum: Get one with a 2.5-inch hose; the small ones clog too easily on wood chips.

   
   

The Accuracy Essentials

5. Speed Square: Use it as a guide, a saw fence, or to check for square. It’s indestructible.

   
   

6. 25-foot Tape Measure: Get one with a "stand-out" of at least 11 feet so you can measure long boards solo.

   

   
   

7. 9-inch Torpedo Level: Essential for hanging pictures, shelves, and TVs straight.

   
   

8. Stud Finder: A good one (one that actually works) saves you from a wall full of "test holes."

   
   

The "Save Your Butt" Tools

9. Multi-Bit Screwdriver: Keeps 10 tools in one pocket when you’re up on a ladder.

   
   

10. Cat’s Paw (Nail Puller): Because you will make mistakes, and a standard hammer claw can’t always reach them.

    
    

11. Adjustable Wrench (Crescent Wrench): For the leaky sink or the loose bolt on the lawnmower.

    

    
    

12. LED Headlamp: Hands-free light is a game-changer when you’re working under a sink or in a dark attic.