21 Essential Tools You Should Have at Home

“A service technican will be at your home between the hours of 8 am and 5 pm.” Ugh. How often have you heard those words when you’ve needed something repaired or installed at home? You’ve got better things to do than wait around all day and then pay a fortune in labor costs. 

You can save a ton of money and time if you’re willing to roll your sleeves up and get your hands a bit dirty. Many household jobs are well within your abilities. Instructions on how to construct things can be found in manuals and YouTube videos, but there are certain tools you inevitably need, whether you live in an apartment or a single-family home. We’ve rounded up all the best tools you should have to handle all common household tasks.

Be sure to check out our many other buying guides, including our favorite cold-weather gear under $100, all the gear you need to start climbing, and emergency gear to keep at home.

Updated June 2022: We added the Westcott KleenEarth Recycled Scissors and Leatherman Wingman multi-tool, and a page of handy tips.