What counts as a hand tool?
A hand tool is any tool powered by your own muscle rather than a motor, battery or compressed air. Hammers, screwdrivers, pliers, saws, chisels and tape measures all qualify. Power tools such as drills and sanders do many of the same jobs faster, but a small set of hand tools covers a surprising amount of everyday repair and assembly work, needs no charging, and is usually easier to learn on.
There is no single correct list. What you need depends on whether you mostly tighten, fix and assemble things around the house, or whether you want to build furniture and do woodwork. This guide starts with a general household set and then adds a short woodworking layer.
The essential hand tools for most homes
If you are starting from nothing, these are the tools most lists agree on. Buying roughly in this order tends to make sense, because the earlier items get used the most.
Striking and driving
- Claw hammer. Drives nails and pulls them out. A mid-weight hammer (many people choose around 16 ounces) is a common all-round choice, but pick one you can swing comfortably without strain.
- Screwdrivers. Get both slotted (flat) and Phillips heads in several sizes, or one handle with interchangeable bits. Using a tip that fits the screw properly is the main thing that prevents stripped heads.
- Hex keys (Allen keys). Small L-shaped keys used for flat-pack furniture and many bicycle and appliance fasteners.
Gripping and turning
- Pliers. Slip-joint pliers for general gripping, and needle-nose pliers for tight spaces, bending wire and retrieving small parts.
- Adjustable wrench. Covers a range of nut and bolt sizes in one tool. A small and a medium size are handy for plumbing fittings and general assembly.
- Locking pliers. Useful as a temporary clamp or for holding something stubborn. They should not replace a proper wrench on a good fastener, since they can mark or round the edges.
Measuring and marking
- Tape measure. A 16 to 25 foot (5 to 8 metre) tape handles most household jobs.
- Combination or speed square. Helps you mark and check right angles.
- Pencil and a marking knife or utility knife. Pencil lines are fine for rough work. A knife line is finer when accuracy matters.
- Level. A short level (around 24 inches) is enough for shelves and pictures.
Cutting
- Utility knife. For cardboard, packaging, trimming and scoring. The blade matters more than most people expect, so see our guide to utility blade types.
- General-purpose handsaw. A crosscut handsaw or a pull saw handles basic cutting of boards and trim.
- Scissors and snips. Handy for tape, cord, wire and thin sheet material.
Holding
- Clamps. Even two or three clamps make gluing, drilling and sawing safer and more accurate, because both of your hands are free.
- Workbench or a sturdy surface. A stable work surface improves almost every task. If you plan to do a lot of sawing or planing, the right workbench height is worth getting right.
Safety basics
Safety glasses, work gloves where appropriate, and hearing protection around loud work are inexpensive additions. A small first aid kit nearby is also sensible.
Adding woodworking hand tools
If your interest goes beyond household repair, a handful of traditional tools covers most basic woodworking. Woodworking instructors who teach hand-tool methods tend to keep the first list short, so you learn the fundamentals with a few tools rather than collecting specialty ones.
- Saws. One saw for ripping (cutting along the grain) and one for crosscutting, plus a finer back saw such as a tenon, carcass or dovetail saw for joinery. Saws are described by teeth per inch (tpi or ppi); fewer, larger teeth cut faster and rougher, and more teeth cut slower and smoother.
- Bench chisels. A set in common widths, for example 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4 inch, covers many tasks. Chisels need to be sharp to be useful or safe; see why sharpening your tools matters.
- Planes. A smoothing plane and a longer plane for flattening are the usual starting points, with a block plane being a popular small, general-purpose addition.
- Marking tools. A marking gauge, a try square and a sliding bevel help transfer measurements accurately.
- Mallet. For tapping chisels without damaging the handles.
- Drilling. A brace and bits or a hand drill is optional if you already own a cordless drill.
Choosing quality without overspending
You do not need the most expensive tools, but the very cheapest ones are often a false economy. Soft metal that deforms, loose handles and poorly fitting screwdriver tips tend to cause frustration and sometimes injury. A sensible approach is to buy mid-range tools from a reputable brand for the items you will use constantly (screwdrivers, pliers, tape measure, hammer) and to save money on tools you will use rarely.
Secondhand tools from estate sales or online marketplaces can be good value, especially saws, planes and chisels, though they may need cleaning and sharpening.
Looking after your tools
Basic care extends the life of a toolkit considerably:
- Keep tools dry and wipe steel parts with a light coat of oil if you store them somewhere damp.
- Store cutting tools so their edges are protected.
- Look over each tool before you use it. Our guide on how to inspect hand tools lists what to check.
- Sharpen edged tools regularly rather than waiting until they are very dull.
Where to store and how to organise
A wall-mounted rack or a toolbox with a few compartments is enough. Keeping each tool in a consistent place saves time and makes it obvious when something is missing. Heavy tools are best stored low, and sharp tools out of reach of children.
Frequently asked questions
What are the 10 hand tools most people need?
There is no official list, but a common set is a claw hammer, screwdrivers, pliers, an adjustable wrench, hex keys, a tape measure, a utility knife, a handsaw, a level and a few clamps.
What are general hand tools?
General hand tools are the all-purpose tools used across many trades and household jobs, such as hammers, screwdrivers, pliers, wrenches and measuring tools, as opposed to specialised tools made for a single task.
Do I need 50 tools to get started?
No. Lists that run to 50 items are a useful reference, but most people can handle the majority of household tasks with the 10 to 15 tools above and add others only when a specific project calls for them.
Should I buy a tool set or individual tools?
Sets can be good value for screwdrivers, hex keys and sockets, where you will use many sizes. For saws, chisels and planes, buying individual tools you have chosen tends to work better than a bundled set.