These Ryobi Essentials Are The Perfect Addition To Your First Toolbox

Whether you're purchasing a home for the first time or simply want to be certain you can handle any DIY type of repair or project, you should own a toolbox. Although it's fun to find ways to decorate or transform a toolbox with upgrades to give it your personal flavor, what you decide to put in your first toolbox is more important.

If you're a frequent shopper at Home Depot, you've probably seen the yellow-green tools that are part of the Ryobi brand. The unusual color scheme seems to grab your attention on the store shelves. Because Ryobi tools represent the Home Depot house brand, you may be able to find them at a lower price than more well-known standalone brands at the big box hardware store. Ryobi offers both battery-powered and hand tools.

Even though they're less expensive, Ryobi is a good power tool brand for home improvement projects and for occasional use. They don't quite have the power and feature sets found with more expensive standalone brands, so pros and busy DIYers may want to look elsewhere. Still, if you're looking to fill your toolbox for the first time and you want to save some money, Ryobi will do a decent job for you. So which Ryobi-branded products should you have in your first toolbox? Learn more about the essential Ryobi tools to carry.

The Ryobi 18V 1/2-inch power drill is a must-have first tool for novice and experienced DIYers alike. Whether you need power tools to remodel a kitchen, hang a picture, or assemble some furniture, a power drill is essential. Add a boring bit to the power drill, and you can make a hole in drywall, wood, or masonry. Even this small, beginner-level Ryobi power drill can make holes in a range of diameters from 1/16th of an inch up to an inch or more. Place a screwdriver bit in the power drill, and you can drive screws to make repairs. You can also remove screws by using the reverse setting.

The Ryobi power drill kit includes the tool, two 18-volt batteries, and a charger for only $99 at Home Depot. When using battery power, you can work anywhere without needing a nearby electrical outlet. You can be using one battery while the other charges during a long day of work. It has an on-board LED to illuminate the area where you're drilling. The keyless chuck makes it easy to change bits anytime. On the Ryobi website, this tool has a 4.9-star rating out of 5 stars from more than 500 customer reviewers.

Cutting wood by hand can be a difficult chore. Instead, the battery-powered Ryobi 18V 6-1/2-inch circular saw lets you handle basic wood-cutting projects with ease. The circular saw runs from the same 18V batteries that power the Ryobi drill, which is a significant advantage of sticking with Ryobi power tools. You don't have to purchase separate battery systems for each tool. By using batteries instead of a corded circular saw, you can make your cuts anywhere, even if you don't have an outlet nearby. The circular saw costs $159 at Home Depot for the tool, battery, and charger. It costs $129 for the tool alone.

With a 6-1/2-inch diameter blade, it's a little smaller than some other battery-powered circular saws, but it will handle your basic jobs around the house adequately. It includes an on-board LED so you can closely watch the cut line in low-light situations. You can also tilt the blade up to 50 degrees for a beveled cut when needed. You can adjust the depth of the cut in the blade to a maximum depth of 2-1/4 inches. This saw has a 4.7-star rating on the Ryobi website with almost 200 customer reviews.

For another handy Ryobi power tool you should add to your first toolbox, the Ryobi 18V rotary cutter is worth considering. It ships with a variety of blade bits that you can use to cut drywall, plywood, and thin boards. You can make odd-shaped cuts with excellent precision. It has a depth setting measurement to help you control the blade. It accepts both 1/4- and 1/8-inch bit blades. You can use the built-in LED to illuminate the area where you're making the cuts.

This tool costs $91 at Home Depot for the tool, battery, and charger and $59 for the rotary cutter alone. It uses the same 18V battery system that fits other Ryobi power tools, so you can save some money by sharing the battery among all your Ryobi tools. At the Ryobi website, it has a 4.7-star rating with about 350 customer reviews.

When doing DIY projects at home like hanging pictures or a shelf, you want to make sure the item is level and straight. The Ryobi AirGrip Laser Level can project a laser line along the wall, floor, or ceiling in any room, ensuring you can easily line up your items before you start attaching them. It uses a vacuum sealing technology that lets you attach it to many different surfaces without making holes. The laser line is accurate over a distance of up to 20 feet. You can set up angle stops to change the orientation of the red laser line up to 45 degrees.

Purchase the AirGrip level for $39.97 at Home Depot. It runs from two AAA batteries to generate the laser line. The tool contains two physical bubble level vials along the front for horizontal and vertical alignments, so you can use it like a traditional level if desired. Importantly, the bubble levels let you ensure the laser line is straight. This tool has a 4.7-star rating on the Ryobi website. With dimensions of 3-1/4-by-4-1/2 inches, it's small enough to fit easily in your toolbox.

When doing any kind of project, measure twice and cut once is an old saying that always applies. Having a tape measure in your toolbox lets you follow this old saying by making accurate measurements before you do any other work on your project. Ryobi makes a 25-foot compact tape measure that will fit easily in almost any size of toolbox without adding a bunch of unwanted weight.

It contains a belt clip, so you can carry it anywhere. You can lock the blade in place while you take your measurements. The reinforced rubber case gives you a sure grip while you're using it. And it features the signature yellow-green color that makes all Ryobi tools immediately recognizable. The tape blade is steady over up to 13 feet of distance without collapsing, making it easier to take long measurements accurately. You can purchase it for $12.97 at Home Depot. This Ryobi compact tape measure has a 4.8-star rating on the Ryobi website.