Buying Guides5 tested3 min
The Best DIY Tool Kit for Beginners on a Budget (2026)
You don't need to spend a fortune to cover the basics. Here's a complete five-tool starter kit built from the best value picks in every category.
Cheryl Thompson
Latest reportBuying Guides
Essential DIY Tools: The Complete Starter Kit for 2026
4 min read5 tools tested
The five tools every DIYer should own first — and exactly which one to buy in each category. Your no-overwhelm guide to building a tool kit that lasts.
Our pickDEWALT DCD771C2 Drill
Reviews & Buying Guides
8 filedBuying Guides
Hand Tools8 tested8 min
The Best Ratchet Screwdrivers for Your DIY Projects (2026)
A ratcheting screwdriver drives screws faster, stores its bits in the handle, and replaces a whole drawer of single-purpose drivers. Here are the eight we rate best — from a premium Wera to a budget Amazon Basics set — and how to pick the right one.
Cheryl Thompson
Hand Tools5 tested7 min
Why You Need a Good Pair of Pliers: The 5 Best Sets for 2026
One pair of pliers is never enough. A good set covers slip-joint, long-nose, groove-joint and cutting pliers in one buy — here are the five we recommend, and how to pick the right one.
Cheryl Thompson
Hand Tools6 tested7 min
This One Screwdriver Can Replace a Whole Drawer (2026)
One good multi-bit ratcheting screwdriver — bits stored in the handle, a ratchet for speed — can replace an entire drawer of single screwdrivers. Here's the hero pick plus five more, and how to choose.
Cheryl Thompson
Hand Tools5 tested5 min
Hammers Are an Essential DIY Tool: The 5 Best for 2026
A good claw hammer is the first tool every DIYer should own. Here are the five we reach for most — from a do-everything 16 oz pick to a heavy framing hammer — plus how to choose the right one.
Cheryl Thompson
Measuring & Layout5 tested8 min
How to Use a Tape Measure Like a Pro (2026)
Read the markings, master the loose hook, and burn an inch like a carpenter — then see the five tape measures we'd actually buy, led by the Stanley FatMax 25 ft.
Cheryl Thompson
Power Tools5 tested8 min
The Top 5 Reasons You Need a Cordless Drill: Best Picks for 2026
A cordless drill is the one power tool that changes how you do everything around the house. Here are the five drill/driver kits we recommend for 2026 — plus a plain-English guide to voltage, brushed vs brushless, chuck size and clutch.
Cheryl Thompson
Power Tools5 tested7 min
The 5 Best DIY Tile Cutters for Your Home (2026)
A wet saw or a manual score-and-snap cutter? Here are the five tile-cutting tools we recommend for DIY tile jobs — two electric wet saws for porcelain and notches, three manual rail cutters for fast, cheap straight cuts — plus how to pick the right one.
Cheryl Thompson