Essential hand tools everyone should own

Hand tools are the backbone to any DIYer’s arsenal. Almost all everyday tasks around the home and garden can be completed with trusty hand tools, and even the most advanced building and renovation projects are helped along by them.

Your collection of tools is likely to grow over the years as you collect new bits of kit, but here are the essentials that you should always keep close at hand.

Screwdrivers

It’s hard to think of a more useful hand tool than a screwdriver. From building flat-pack furniture to all sorts of other odd jobs, a good set of screwdrivers is a must-have in any home.

Screwdrivers are available in a variety of shapes, but most basic jobs will require a Phillips screwdriver for screws with a cross-shaped recess, or a flathead (also known as a ‘slot’) screwdriver for screws with a single line.

If you’re just starting out, we’d recommend buying a set of screwdrivers in various sizes. Using the right size screwdriver will make your building and repairing jobs much easier, as well as reduce the risk of ‘stripping’ the screw. This can be caused by using a screwdriver that’s too small, misshaping the recess in the screw and making it more difficult to turn.

Ratchet screwdrivers are also a popular choice as you can switch between various bits with one handle. The clever ratchet mechanism also means you can keep a firm grip on the handle while screwing or unscrewing – it’s an arm-saver when it comes to bigger projects!

Hammers

When it comes to hammering in nails, the clue is in the name – you’ll need a hammer! Whether you’re hanging a photo frame, putting up a shelf, or removing nails, a solid hammer is a must-have.

For beginners, a metal claw hammer is the most versatile choice. Their heads include a flat end for driving nails into wood, as well as a useful claw end to help you lever nails out.

A mallet, on the other hand, is made from softer rubber. These are far less likely to cause damage, making them ideal for carpentry as well as driving tent pegs into the ground on camping trips with the family.

Spanners & wrenches

Spanners are your go-to for tightening and removing nuts and bolts. There are a few different styles to choose from, but the most common are:

• Open-ended spanners which grip 2 opposite sides of a nut or bolt
• Ring spanners which slot over the whole nut or bolt for more stability
• Box spanners, small metal tubes which slot over the top of nuts and bolts and are turned like a tap with the use of a metal bar

You’ll often find sets of combination spanners, with an open end and a ring end.

Spanners are usually fixed sizes, whereas wrenches have an adjustable jaw. Both are used largely for the same things.

If you’re pushed for space, an adjustable wrench is perfect for beginners. But bolstering your toolkit with a set of spanners will provide you with more choice and a better fit – especially useful if you’re dealing with a nut or bolt which is refusing to budge!

Pliers

Pliers are a very useful hand tool, and another essential in your toolkit. They help you grab onto things, using the two handles to achieve a firm grip so you can pull, twist, or bend whatever it is you’re working with.

There’s flat nose or parallel pliers for gripping, long nose pliers for hard-to-reach places, and combination pliers which usually include built-in side cutters – very useful for cutting through metal garden mesh used for protecting plants.

Saws

DIY isn’t just about putting things together – you’ll often need to cut things down to size, which is where a saw comes in particularly handy.

Hand saws are primarily used when you’re working with wood, whether that’s dabbling in a bit of carpentry, sawing off branches in your garden, or taking the bottom off your Christmas tree.

Hacksaws are better for smaller cutting jobs and can cut through wood, plastic, or even metal – perfect for curtain rails or cutting a new clothes rail down to size for your wardrobe.

Tape measure

As the old saying goes: ‘measure twice, cut once’. Keep your building projects accurate with the help of a tape measure, another essential toolkit accessory!

You really can’t go wrong with a retractable tape measure, ideally with a locking mechanism. These are useful for loads of DIY and building projects, but have so many other uses too – they come in handy when you’re measuring a room to see if your new sofa will fit before you buy it, or measuring walls to work out how much wallpaper you need.

Spirit level

If you’re planning on undertaking some home improvement, spirit levels are indispensable bits of kit which quickly and easily tell you if a surface is level.

From putting up shelves to mounting TV brackets, avoid wonky DIY jobs with these simple, inexpensive and incredible useful hand tools.

Safety first

You may not need goggles and a high-vis if you’re simply hanging a picture, but having some safety gear with your tools is an important step for safety.

A good pair of gloves will protect your hands from splinters if you’re working with wood, but they can also help with grip if you’re dealing with a stubborn screw!

Keep all your tools together

No matter the size of your collection of hand tools, you should find somewhere safe to keep them.

From tool bags for DIY on-the-go to tool boxes of various sizes, and even tool cabinets for larger collections, having somewhere safe to store your hand tools means you’ll always find what you want, when you want it – no more frantic searches for the spanner!

Looking for the easy way to start some DIY? Check out our tool kits which are stocked with all the essential hand tools to get you going!