← Back to the vault

For first-time homeowners

Your new homeowner tool kit

You just got the keys, and every store wants to sell you a garage full of tools. You don't need it. Here's what to buy first, what can wait, and the budget pick that does the same job as the pro brand.

The day-one kit costs about $90 with budget picks, versus $282 for the pro brands.

ShareFacebookX

Is this you?

  • · You just bought your first house or condo, and your toolbox is a junk drawer.
  • · You'll fix small things yourself and hire out the big jobs.
  • · You'd rather not pay contractor prices for tools you'll use a few times a month.

Have a specific project already? Describe it to the Tool advisor and it will suggest the pro tool and budget pick for that job.

Stage 1 · Before you unpack

Day one

Hanging curtains, tightening loose hinges, assembling furniture and measuring for a sofa. These cover most of the small jobs in a new home, and budget versions do them just as well.

Stage 2 · Once you start fixing things

First month

A cordless drill is the one power tool almost every homeowner uses. A drain auger saves a plumber call the first time a sink clogs, and a multimeter tells you whether an outlet or a battery is the problem.

Choosing your first drill? Ryobi vs DeWalt, compared with real prices.

Stage 3 · Don't buy these up front

When a project calls for it

Wait until you have the job. Yard tools depend on the size of your lot; saws and sanders on whether you build or refinish things. Your battery system matters here, so check the Ryobi vs DeWalt guide before you add cordless tools.

First-time buyer mistakes

Buying a giant all-in-one kit

Big boxed kits pad the count with bits and tools you won't use. Buy the few you need, and add the rest when a job shows up.

Paying contractor prices for weekend jobs

Pro brands are built for daily jobsite use. If you'll use a tool a few times a month, the budget pick usually does the same job.

Mixing battery systems

Batteries from different brands don't swap. Pick one cordless platform for your first drill and stay with it.

Skipping safety gear

Gloves and hearing protection are cheap, and you'll want them the first time you run a saw, blower or trimmer.

More questions about buying tools? Read the tool buying FAQ.

Next step

Browse every comparison side by side, or tell the advisor about your first project.

Ask the tool advisorBrowse the catalogTool buying FAQ