My Favorite DIY Tools You Need As A Beginner!

Whether you are a crafty DIY’er like me or just trying to save costs on minor house improvements and repairs, having these DIY tools is essential for every beginner DIY’er.

Best DIY Tools for Beginners

Tools for DIY projects are more than just the basic homeowner tools. They are big, powerful, and sexy. And they make DIY projects easier and faster.

Think of these tools as an investment, because they will last you a long time and be used over and over the more DIY projects you decide to do. Take a look at the DIY tools list I think every beginner DIYer should have:

a power drill as one of the best diy tools to have

1// Cordless Power Drill

A cordless power drill is one of the most important must have tools needed for DIY. I use a power drill on just about every project I do because it beats using a screwdriver anyday. Any power drill will do, but I recommend buying one with a brand name, and not an “off-brand” so it lasts you a long time. A power drill makes the project go so much faster and easier whether you are drilling holes, screwing something together, or using it to mix mortar.

a nail gun as one of the best diy tools to have

2// Nail Gun

Anytime you want to attach trim or wood on a simple project, you can use a nail gun. Nail guns are also used to add baseboards and trim to your home, should you decide you want to add that or change the look of what you currently have.

a circular saw as one of the best diy tools to have

3// Circular Saw

One of the best tools for DIY is a power saw so you can make cuts without using a hand saw. I recommend getting a circular saw, however if you have a miter saw, that is good as well. A circular saw can make a wide range of cuts and is perfect for cutting down wood boards into different sizes for a project.

a kreg jig as one of the best diy tools to have

4// Kreg Jig

Whenever I create something like a piece of furniture, where I want the screws to be hidden, I use a Kreg Jig. This is an apparatus that you use with your drill so you can drill pocket holes into your boards for a project.

a power sander as one of the best diy tools to have

5/// Electric Sander

As many times as I have had to sand things, I can tell you an electric sander is one of the best tools for DIYers. A sander is going to come in handy anytime you want your wood to have a smooth finish. This may be because you are going to paint or stain it, or maybe just so nobody gets splinters. It will save you loads of time and keep you from exhausting yourself by sanding manually.

a spade bit as one of the best diy tools to have

6// Spade Bit

I use a spade bit anytime I attach lights to one of my projects. Take my DIY Movie Concession Stand for instance. I attached movie lights all around, and my spade bit was essential for this job.

a glue gun as one of the best diy tools to have

7// Hot glue gun

Whether you plan to build things with wood or other materials, a hot glue gun is an essential diy tool for so many projects! When making party props, a hot glue gun is one of the easiest tools to use. Since the projects are fun, but temporary, sometimes just using a glue gun to attach things like fringe is the easiest way to do it.

an electric knife as one of the best diy tools to have

8// Electric Knife

I put an electric knife on this “tools needed for making things” list because it is not something most people have laying around their homes. But if you ever decide you want to DIY upholstery something or build anything that uses foam, an electric knife is so much easier to use than a pair of scissors (they get stuck and it is just messy). You can check out how I used it in my upholstery project.

a staple gun as one of the best diy tools to have

9// Staple Gun

Another upholstery essential is a staple gun. It makes attaching the fabric to the wood frame quick and easy. And it beats hammering in loads of tacks by hand.

a sewing machine as one of the best diy tools to have

10// Sewing Machine

If you plan to make drapes do some upholstering, you may need a sewing machine. A good sewing machine can make hemming curtains or creating corners for upholstering much easier than doing it by hand. Plus the stitches will be tighter, making the projects longer lasting.

a cricut as one of the best diy tools to have

11// Cricut

I just used my Cricut on one of my favorite party projects I have done yet. It was a large Sephora photobooth for a birthday party. I used the Cricut to cut out the letters, and they turned out absolutely perfect!

Safety Essentials for DIYers

If you plan to be a DIYer, then it is a good idea to keep yourself protected. Here are some PPE items you should consider purchasing:

Eye Protection: Eye protection is essential anytime you are doing something where objects could fly into your eyes. This could be painting a ceiling, drilling holes, or even working in the yard.
Hearing Protection: One of the downsides of power tools can often be the loudness of them. I recommend using some sort of hearing protection. This can come as ear plugs or ear muffs. As long as they protect your hearing.
Work Gloves: Work gloves will help protect your hands from splinters, cuts, calluses, and well…broken nails! Investing in a good pair can really help keep your hands looking good even though you are a tough DIYer!
Protective Clothing: Oftentimes you may want to protect your skin and clothing. This could mean wearing long pants and long sleeves instead of shorts and a tee shirt while doing a project, or wearing paint clothes instead of your normal everyday clothes. Shoe covers also may come in handy if you are sanding or painting.
Respirators: When using chemicals that have a strong odor, consider wearing a respirator. This is good when using things like turpentine and polyurethane.
Knee Pads: As a DIYer, you will often find that you need to kneel on the ground. I recommend investing in some knee pads or kneeling pads to help protect your knees.