12 Essential DIY Tools for Beginners

I hear from a lot of people who tell me they’d love to get into DIY but don’t know where to start. I’ve known people who have hired out super simple projects because they didn’t have the tools on hand, and it always makes me sad. Especially when it’s someone who wants to try to tackle it on their own but just doesn’t have the confidence! It’s one of the reasons I love what I do. I get so passionate about teaching people how to tackle DIY projects on their own. So today I’m going to give you a quick rundown of 12 essential DIY tools I think everyone should own.

Do you need all of the DIY tools on this list before you try a single DIY project? Of course not! But, once you do have everything on this list in your workshop, you can easily take on almost any DIY project you can think of. They’re all incredibly versatile, and they’re perfect tools for a beginner to have on hand.

It’s also worth noting, I generally recommend beginners start off with Ryobi brand tools! I love how easy they are to use, and they’re very beginner friendly. They are truly perfect for the average DIYer! Many of the tools I link below won’t come with a battery, though. So, if you don’t have one, be sure to grab a battery (or two) and charger!

I promise, DIY doesn’t have to be intimidating. I’m here to hold your hand and help you out. This post has all of the DIY tools you need plus links to tons of tutorials for how to use the tools. Hopefully, but the time you finish reading you’ll feel empowered to tackle something new!

12 Essential DIY Tools

1. Drill + Driver

A drill + driver set is an absolutely essential tool for every adult. Forget DIY or woodworking – everyone needs one! It’s basically like a powered screwdriver, and can also drill holes. You’ll use it to hang pictures or shelves on the wall, assemble IKEA furniture, and just about any other woodworking project you do. It’s easily the first tool you should buy, and if you don’t have one you should stop reading this post and order one right now.

Here’s the drill I have and love. I also recommend grabbing a drill bit set while you’re at it!

2. Miter Saw

A miter saw (also known as a chop saw) is the fastest and easiest way to cut wood boards down. It can make straight or angled cuts. It’s the tool you’ll need if you want to take on any simple building project that uses standard sizes of lumber. I pull mine out for almost every project, from building furniture to installing trim, and more. It’s easily one of my very favorite tools.

I have a Dewalt compound miter saw, and this is the stand I highly recommend using to save some space!

3. Jigsaw

Our jigsaw is a tool that we don’t pull out quite as often as all of the others on this list. However, when we need it, it’s absolutely invaluable. Jigsaws are tools that you use to cut non-linear lines in wood or to cut a piece out of the middle of wood. For example, it’s the tool I grab to cut holes for outlets when I’m installing shiplap. Or, to cut around trim when I’m installing paneling. It’s really nice to have on hand!

Here’s the jigsaw that I have and love.

4. Tape Measure

Okay, okay. Are you rolling your eyes at me? I know it’s basic but we’re talking about the basic essentials every DIYer needs. It would be ridiculous to not include a tape measure! It’s also worth talking about because I’m a firm believer that not all tape measures are created equal. The one I love has really detailed measurement markings and is way easier to understand than most. Trust me, it’s worth the purchase.

Here’s your new favorite tape measure.

5. Orbital Sander

Have you ever tried to sand down a piece of furniture by hand? It’s not fun. Don’t even do it. A random orbital sander will be your new best friend. This baby can sand any surface completely smooth in a fraction of the time it would take you to do it on your own. We use our sander constantly, but a few examples include sanding wood before building anything, sanding down wood filler when installing trim, or sanding furniture before painting it!

Here’s the orbital sander I love. Having a small corner cat sander is nice too, but not totally necessary.

6. Kreg Jig

If you’re even kind of considering getting into building furniture at any point, a Kreg Jig is so great to have around. It helps you attach two pieces of wood together without any visible screws happening. You know those cam lock screws you’re always using when you build IKEA furniture? This is the DIY version of that! Pocket holes make intimidating building projects feel so much more manageable, and it’s a perfect tool for beginners.

Here’s a link to my favorite version of the Kreg Jig!

7. Circular Saw

A circular saw is great for cutting large or unwieldy pieces of wood. A miter saw might be a powerhouse, but it can’t cut wider pieces of wood – for that, a circular saw is a beginner’s best friend! We use ours to cut plywood, trim down trim boards, and more. It’s great when you need to cut something that isn’t easy to move or pick up! We even got rid of our table saw a while back and use our circular saw as a replacement. It’s not a perfect replacement (some projects just need a table saw), but for most of what we do it works great!

This is the circular saw I use.

8. Nail Gun

Put simply, a nail gun is the tool that takes on the job of a hammer. Rather than having to pound each nail in individually, a nail gun allows you to insert nails with just the pull of a trigger. This tool is absolutely invaluable when you’re doing something like adding shiplap or trim to a room. I use it for building furniture or small projects a lot, too! It won’t replace your hammer completely, of course. If you’re just hanging a picture on a wall with a single nail, you don’t usually need to bust out the power tools! But it is an important tool to have in your arsenal. I’d recommend ever begginer DIYer grab one!

Here’s my most used cordless brad nailer (I love how lightweight it is!).

9. Spirit Level

You have to have a level. If you’re ever going to hang anything on your walls, ever, a level is a must. They come in tons of different sizes from just a few inches long to several feet long. I have three different sizes and I use them all. A LOT. This helps you make sure anything you’re hanging is straight, level, and looks good. Just trust me on this and grab one.

Here’s a small level perfect for hanging pictures, and here’s a larger level that is really versatile!

10. Speed Square

A speed square is really handy for a lot of things. A speed square helps you draw really quick straight lines on wood before cutting. It helps make sure your projects are square and not wonky. It can help you draw angles on your wood, too! You’ll bust this guy out even more than you’d expect, and it’s only a few dollars so it’s definitely worth having it on hand.

Here’s a basic speed square for you!

11. Clamps

Clamps are so useful to have around. They can basically act as an extra hand for you when you need to hold two pieces of wood together. Or, if you’re gluing something they will help hold it in place while the glue dries! There are a million different types of clamps, but I’ll link a few below and you can see what you think might be the best fit.

• These corner clamps are SO SO helpful for so many things.
• Basic spring clamps are great for smaller jobs.
• And my most-used clamps are bar clamps! I recommend a variety of sizes.

12. Safety Equipment

And finally, we can’t really talk about DIY essentials without addressing the safety equipment. You should always take proper precautions when you’re tackling DIY projects to make sure to protect yourself. Here are some must-haves:

• Safety goggles
• Face masks to prevent inhaling sawdust.
• Ear protection, when you’ll be using really loud tools!
• Gloves – I love to wear some when staining or painting!

Other Basic Must-Have DIY Tools

You may have noticed I mostly talked about power tools on this list. You might be wondering about hand tools or other basics. I won’t get into a ton of detail here, but there are a few other things that can be really handy to have.

• Utility knives
• A stud finder
• A high quality paint brush
• Paint sprayer
• A good screwdriver set
• A multi-tool

And there you have it. All of the best tools to have on hand if you’re looking to get into DIY. Many of these are things that most homeowners will already have on hand, so hopefully it doesn’t feel too overwhelming to add some to your shopping list! With these basic tools in your arsenal, you can easily take on most DIY projects. I can’t wait to hear what you create first!