Home Tools & Toolboxes

The Ryobi 90-Piece Drill and Drive Kit is the best drill bit set we’ve found in years of testing.

The Leatherman Skeletool CX multi-tool delivers the essentials with no filler, lasts a long time, and is easy to carry daily.

The right tool makes DIY work easier and more likely to get professional-looking results.

The best flashlights, such as the ThruNite Archer 2A V3, offer unmatched illumination, versatility, and durability.

The Milwaukee 48-22-1502 Fastback Utility Knife with Blade Storage is an ideal utility knife.

The U.S. Wire & Cable 50 FT. Extreme All-Weather Extension Cord is the most flexible, durable cord we found, and should last years even in harsh environments.

After testing 10 soldering irons, we found that the X-Tronic 3020-XTS LED Soldering Station is the best for beginners and hobbyists.

After enlisting three veteran carpenters to test 16 different pairs of needle-nose pliers, we found that the Klein J203-8 Heavy Duty Journeyman Pliers are the best.

These are the best precision screwdrivers for most people. Here’s what we recommend.

The MegaPro 13-in-1 (or the identical Channellock 131CB) is the best screwdriver.

A great home toolbox needs a solid pair of adjustable pliers. After considering over 50 models, the $14 Irwin GV10 10-inch Groovelock Pliers came out on top due to easy jaw-size adjustment and comfortable handles.

Few cleaning projects are more gratifying than blasting years of dust and dirt off anything and everything on your property.

After 45 hours of research and durability tests on 17 tape measures, we think that the Stanley 25-foot PowerLock Tape Measure is the best option for most people.

The Anvil Homeowner’s Tool Set from Home Depot is the best basic pre-assembled home toolkit we’ve found.

It took hundreds of cuts and years of reader requests for us to finally post the best wire cutter: The Channellock E337CB is a truly superior snipper.

Safety glasses offer protection against surprise objects flying into your beautiful eyes, and these picks fit a wide range of head sizes and facial structures.

We like the Gorilla GLF-5X Fiberglass Hybrid Ladder for common tasks and the Werner D6228-2 28 ft Type IA Fiberglass D-Rung Extension Ladder for bigger jobs.

Our favorite things for building your own toolkit for minor home repairs.

After more than 350 hours of research and tests of more than 250 tools, we’ve assembled the the best toolkit for your home.

Duck Max Strength is the best all-purpose duct tape.

After spending months filling nail holes, repairing cracked plaster, and talking to a painting contractor with 30 years of experience, we found the Craftsman 1½-inch Flex Stainless Putty Knife is the best putty knife for most people.

For hanging pictures, installing shelves, or adjusting the legs on the washer/dryer, we recommend a torpedo level called the Sola PH 22 Flooring Level.

Everything we recommend for mounting heavy stuff on a wall or ceiling.

After 30 hours of research and testing, we think the C.H. Hanson 03040 Magnetic Stud Finder is the best magnetic stud finder for most people.

After interviewing electricians and testing seven non-contact voltage testers, we think the Klein NCVT-3 is the safest tool for checking electrical currents.

Here’s what you need to get your walls looking new again—and to get your security deposit back.

Good paint tools make your work look better with less effort—here's what it takes to improve what you can do.

Better tools can do better work. Here’s what to get when you’re ready to handle routine home problems.

The Estwing E3-16C, a 16-ounce, curved claw, steel-handled hammer, is the best among 21 we’ve tested in the past four years.

The Milwaukee 13″ Jobsite Work Box is the most efficient, portable, and organized toolbox we’ve found.

The Kai 5210 8-Inch Dressmaking Shears are the best all-around household scissors, and for the kitchen, the OXO Good Grips Kitchen and Herb Scissors are the best for most people.

After testing 15 wrenches over the past three years, we’ve determined that the Channellock 8WCB WideAzz 8-Inch Adjustable Wrench, with its comfortable handle and wide jaws, is still the best for all-around home use.

A small pry bar isn’t exactly a home-toolbox essential, but it is quite handy, whether you need it to open a stuck window, lift a corner of a bookcase for shimming, remove a piece of baseboard, or pry up a floor register. After three veteran carpenters pulled nails and separated boards with five leading pry bars, they chose the Stanley 55-116 8-inch Nail Puller (about $9).

After testing four Painter’s multitools, we believe that the Hyde 17-in-1, the most versatile, is the best for most people.