Best Tool Sets
Best Home/Garage Tool Set
Best Tool Storage/Box
Best Portable Truck & Car Tool Set
Best Electric Tool Set
Best Gardening Tool Set
What you should know about tool sets
A good tool set can carry you through DIY projects and repairs for decades. Whether you rent or own, a home tool kit is a must-have for assembling furniture, hanging wall decor, home renovations, and more.
The best tool kits don’t necessarily have the most tools or the highest price tag. While investing in quality-made tools is worthwhile in the long run, just a few essential tools can accomplish most household tasks.
Of course, the best tool set for you depends on what kinds of projects you have planned. If you’re a renter or just dipping your toe into the world of DIY, it might make sense to start with a basic set and grow your inventory gradually over the years.
In this guide, we detail our favorite tool sets and break down the most critical tools to look for, as well as some nice-to-haves for adventurous folks.
How to evaluate tool sets
When evaluating tool sets, you should keep quality at the forefront of your mind. The tools you buy should be durable, reliable, and user-friendly enough to keep around for years. You can determine quality by a few factors.
- Material — You want something made of a durable metal, like steel or steel alloy. Steel is often plated in chrome to help prevent rusting. If you’re planning to use the tools for gardening or in other damp conditions, stainless steel will prevent rusting.
- Hand grips — Using tools often requires a little elbow grease, and the last thing you want is hand blisters. Hand grips may seem like a small detail, but your palms will thank you for them.
- Size/portability — If you plan to keep your tool kit in one space, you probably don’t need to worry about its mobility, but it is important to consider where you plan to store it. If you’re limited on space, a briefcase-shaped set may be a compact solution.
The most useful tools
- Claw hammer — If you ever plan to hang a picture or remove nails from a wall, a claw hammer is essential.
- Screwdriver — The two main types of screwdrivers are phillips head and flat head. Each type comes in a variety of sizes for different-sized screws. If you’re space-constrained, look for a screwdriver that comes with changeable tips. Screwdrivers are handy for adjusting anything with a screw, from door hinges to furniture.
- Pliers — Depending on the shape, pliers can be used for a variety of tasks that are too tough for hands. Needle-nose pliers are good for tiny tasks, like bending small wires. Larger pliers are built to grip round objects, like pipes.
- Level — There’s nothing worse than a crooked picture frame. Levels can help ensure your wall decor, shelving and appliances are sitting straight.
- Measuring tape — You’ll have many uses for measuring tape over the years, from mapping out where to place a photo frame to measuring a room’s square footage.
- Hex key (Allen wrench) — If you order a piece of furniture, you might receive a small, L-shaped piece of metal called a hex key. It’s good to have your own to adjust bolts and other types of fasteners.
- Utility knife — When you need to cut through some cardboard or slice open thick plastic, a utility knife will save you from dulling down your kitchen knives.
- Adjustable wrench — A wrench can tighten or loosen nuts and bolts. Like screwdrivers, some wrenches are adjustable, enabling you to purchase one instead of a set.
Best Home/Garage Tool Set
If you’re looking for a tool set that checks all the basic boxes and fits in a compact case, this one is worth your consideration. The carrying case is barely longer than one foot on its longest side, yet it houses 148 essential (and pink) tools, including a hammer, screwdrivers, wrenches, hex keys, a utility knife, needle-nose pliers, measuring tape, screws, nails, and more.
The tools get kudos for quality, as they’re made of durable, high-quality steel and finished in corrosion-resistant chrome. The handles are covered in a soft, rubber-like material, making for a comfortable grip.
We love that the set is enclosed in a hard-shell carrying case, and that each tool fits snugly into a designated space. Instead of rifling through a bag of tools, you’ll be able to easily find what you need in this neatly-organized case. And because it’s so small, it can be slid under a bed or neatly tucked away just about anywhere.
Best Tool Storage/Box
When you’re taking tools on the go, it pays to be organized. This tool box is deep enough to house a power drill and plenty of other large tools, but it’s even better because it makes it easy to stay organized. Rather than dumping your tools in the box and having to dig for them every time, you can use the dividers that come with it to organize your drill, drill bits and more.
Heavy-duty, rust-resistant metal latches keep your goods safe and secure, and the long, bi-material handle makes transportation easier. If you’re a Dewalt loyalist, it’s compatible with all TSTAK modules for added convenience.
Best Portable Truck & Car Tool Set
From the tool selection to the compact size, this set is specially curated for car, bike and engine repairs. To start, it’s less than a foot in length, so it easily fits in the trunk of a car or under a motorcycle seat. Each piece has a snug storage compartment within the case for maximum tidiness.
The kit comes with 17 SAE sockets and plenty of accessories to make repairs easier, even in space-constrained conditions. For example, the kit comes with an extension bar to help reach deeper areas, and a sliding T-bar to help you turn more efficiently at awkward angles. The set also includes many standard tool kit items that come in handy for automotive maintenance, like screwdrivers, hex keys, pliers and an adjustable wrench.
All-in, this is a comprehensive set of tools for an automotive enthusiast looking for the essentials.
Best Electric Tool Set
A good drill can take the unnecessary elbow grease and time out of a project, and this drill is great for nearly all types of undertakings. To start, it’s great for home and on-the-go use because it weighs under three pounds and it’s cordless. Powered by large-capacity lithium-ion batteries, it charges quickly and also protects itself from overcharging.
The kit comes with 165 total pieces, including drill bits, screwdriver bits, a hammer, measuring tape, pliers, a utility knife, and more. For most people, this set includes everything you could need and more. When you’re done, everything packs away into a neat, portable handbag.
Best Gardening Tool Set
Anyone who gardens knows it’s a labor of love. Why not make the labor a bit easier with a good tool set? Whether you grow vegetables, flowers, herbs, succulents, or anything else, this 82-piece set can make the job easier.
It comes with six metal hand tools, including a hand rake, a trowel, a pruner, a weeder, a transplanter, and a hand fork. All of the hand tools are ergonomically-shaped, covered in silicone for grip comfort, and made of corrosion-resistant carbon steel that can stand up to the dirtiest jobs. In addition to the tools, the set comes with nifty extras like a spray bottle, gloves, plant labels, stakes, and a washable carrying tote. As a bonus, the kit also includes a 10-piece mini succulent tool kit.