The 5 best basic toolkits for simple home repairs

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Whether you're looking for the perfect housewarming gift for the new homeowner in your life, or you're a first-time home buyer looking for a starter toolkit, there's no easier way to begin DIY-ing basic repairs than with a simple all-in-one kit.

You could piece together screwdrivers, wrenches, hammers, and more as you go along. But we recommend saving yourself some trips to the store, and start by buying one of the picks below. You can always add on specialty tools later as the need arises, but these kits will save you from realizing mid-project that you forgot something key.

 

Best seller on Amazon

Amazon

More than 1,100 Amazon buyers have rated the Stanley 65-Piece Toolkit tops for a reason.

Ringing in well within budget for most new homeowners, it packs a powerful pick of basic tools and accessories. It covers your basic needs, including comfortably sized Phillips and flat-head screwdrivers, a hammer, tape measure and magnetic level. But it also includes a good variety of tools you'll need eventually, including pliers, hex keys, and ratchet and socket handles and bits.

Stanley 65-Piece Toolkit, $39.99, available at Amazon.

Best for your budget

The Home Depot

The Sweethome picks this well-rounded HDX toolkit as their best basic home toolkit overall. At a mere $20, and available online or at Home Depot stores nationwide, it's a great place to begin.

The 76-piece HDX Homeowner's Tool Set comes with a bevy of carbon steel tools, including a hammer, level, tape measure, and adjustable wrench. It also includes clamps, pliers, a utility knife and more. All of these pack snugly in a rugged case that condenses to about one square foot by two inches for easy travel and storage.

HDX 76 Piece Homeowner's Tool Set, $19.97, available at Home Depot.

Best for going beyond the basics

Amazon

This toolkit by Black & Decker is anything but basic. It includes high-quality versions of just about all the standard tools you'll actually need. While it doesn't come with the variety of sockets and screw drivers that some kits do to inflate the piece count, the included drivers, pliers, wrenches and more come with one big bonus that most homeowners will need eventually: a cordless drill and drill bits.

It's hard to find a good drill for this price, let alone a whole toolkit.

Black & Decker LDX120PK 20-Volt MAX Lithium-Ion Drill and Project Kit, $79.99, available at Amazon.

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