Can You DIY A Basic Household Tool Kit For Less Than $100?

Having a basic household tool kit is useful for tackling minor repairs, assembling furniture, and handling other everyday tasks that occasionally pop up. But is it possible to put together a tool kit for less than $100? The short answer is yes, and we're going to show you how.

When your budget is small but your household needs are big, a little savvy shopping can help keep your home running smoothly. There are some tools you can buy from Dollar Tree to save a little cash, and then specialized ones you might only find at hardware stores. But just because your budget is under $100, that doesn't mean you can't balance cost with quality. While you likely won't need professional-grade products, it's still smart to invest in durable, well-made tools rather than a collection of cheap, ineffective ones that won't last after a few uses. 

To stay within the $100 budget, we compared the prices at different stores, choosing ones that offered both online and in-person shopping so you can decide how you prefer to make your purchase. Then, we went with the tools with the most value, like tool sets and multipurpose tools. We also factored in customer reviews and brand reputation. Although the tools we selected are useful for a range of different uses, your specific needs might look different. These are the essential tools we picked that can help you ditch the handyperson for those easy fixes around your home.

A hammer is just a hammer, so there's no reason to try and get fancy. It's a versatile hand tool and should be one of the first things you should look for. One side of a hammer can drive nails into walls and other surfaces, while the other side can help pry them out. We like the Stanley fiberglass hammer from Home Depot, because it fits the affordability bill at $9. Plus, it's made with a fiberglass core to help reduce vibrations, especially for longer jobs that require more hammering.

Right after you've selected the perfect hammer, it's time to pick out a wrench. It's another highly common tool you'll find in a toolbox. The Pittsburgh six-piece plier set from Harbor Freight is $14.99 and is a great place to start. The set comes with the most common types of pliers you'll ever likely need: needle nose pliers, linesman pliers, two diagonal cutters, groove joint pliers, and slip-joint pliers. They all have nonslip grips for holding, twisting, or turning pretty much anything. 

Sure, you can fashion a common bathroom item into a makeshift screwdriver. But why do that when there's one ready-made that you can swap 23 different bits with one handle? The Hyper Tough interchangeable screwdriver set from Walmart is $9.44, and dare we say a pretty darn good bargain. It comes with multiple bits that have magnetic tips for securing them to the handle, which customers have said takes up less space than having a bunch of different screwdrivers. Plus, it has a quick-release button for forward and reverse movements.

If you've ever put a piece of furniture together or tightened handles on a refrigerator using an Allen wrench, then you know the chances are good that you'll never be able to locate where you placed the specific one that came with them. That's where having a hex key set will come in handy. The Kobalt nine-piece folding set from Lowe's might be the best $10 you've ever spent, and according to reviews, it is a much harder gadget to lose. It has an assortment of flat-end sizes to fit a range of screws and bolts with hexagonal sockets.

Harbor Freight has must-have tools you can't look past, and one of our favorites — and the cheapest tool on the list at $2.99 — is a rubber mallet (via Harbor Freight). The 1-pound mallet offers a softer impact than a metal hammer, which can easily destroy what you're working on with just one miss. This super versatile tool works well on wood, metal, and plastic without leaving pesky marks or dents. It's also perfect for gently removing glued-on items with just a few taps onto a paint scraper.

The Husky 15-in-1 painter tool from Home Depot is just as versatile as it sounds and works for most jobs around the house. At $6.98, you get a spreader, chisel scraper, paint can opener, bottle opener, nail puller, roller cleaner, hammer end, and lots more in just one tool. Its long-lasting 3-inch stainless steel blade and cushion grip handle also make tough jobs easier. Whether you need to lift rug grippers from the floor or spread caulk, this is the tool you want to have for pretty much any situation.

If you buy nothing else, make sure you don't skip buying a level. It's a must-have tool when you're surrounded by walls. A leveler can save you heaps of time (and the headache) when you're hanging a shelf, picture, or anything else that goes on the wall. We like the Blue Ridge 24-inch level because of its well-defined edges, easy-to-read vials, and level bubbles. Thanks to the top-view window, you can see whether something is level even when it's below you. This level costs $7 at Target.

Customer reviews say this 6-inch $8 compact hacksaw from Ace Hardware is a super sturdy handy tool to have in your toolbox because you never know when you'll need it. A hacksaw offers more control and better precision thanks to its thin, flexible frame that enhances maneuvering. It works well in narrow spaces or for smaller jobs like cutting plastic piping, small tree branches, wood, and metal, although it doesn't work well on aluminum. You can also adjust the angle of the blade to cut in six configurations. 

At some point, you're going to need to replace at least one screw or nail somewhere in your home. And with the Hyper Tough 500-piece screw and anchor set from Walmart for $11.97, you'll have plenty of options that can last you a while. It comes with its own storage case with 14 easy-access compartments for holding 12 different screw sizes, washers, nails, and anchors. Plus, it has a handy carrying handle for taking it from room to room or wherever work needs to be done. Walmart customers share that it's a great starter kit for first-time homeowners. 

You can't have a bunch of tools without something to hold them in. Most metal toolboxes will break our $100 or less budget, so that's why we're going with a plastic one instead. Although metal options are tough, there are plenty of plastic toolbox alternatives that are just as durable. The heavy-duty Hyper Tough 22-inch toolbox from Walmart is pretty roomy for holding our basic tools. Even though this toolbox is the most expensive item on the list, it's still an affordable pick at $18.44. 

After all was said and done, we managed to stay under our $100 budget with a few dollars to spare. In our search for the perfect basic tool set, we ran across tool kits that were under $100 and came with a slew of tools. However, the majority of these kinds of kits often include tools we may never need or use. At least this way, we bought the specific tools we knew we needed, and that gave us the most bang for our buck. 

But there are some essential tools we couldn't purchase because it would mean sending us over the $100 limit. For example, we still need a measuring tape (Home Depot), a self-adjusting wire stripper (Harbor Freight), a spring clamp (Lowe's), an electric voltage tester (Home Depot), and an electric drill (Walmart), which is more of a want rather than a need because they're usually pretty pricey. But you can swap out these items — all for under $13 (except the electric drill) — for one of the tools picks, and you'll still likely stay close to the $100 budget. Tip: Look out for store sales, use coupons, or opt for secondhand tools to help you stay within your budget. 

Creating your own DIY tool kit not only helps you save money on professional services but also builds your confidence in handling everyday tasks independently, which can be incredibly valuable in the long run.