The 11 Best Affordable Harbor Freight Tools For Your Home (And 2 To Avoid Buying)

While Harbor Freight might not be as well-known as some of the larger home improvement chains, there are more than 1,500 storefront locations across nearly every state in the country. Plus, the retailer also sells many of its products online, so even if there isn't a physical location close to you, you'll still be able to check out all of the tool brands that are owned by Harbor Freight — many of which are highly acclaimed by customers.

Overall, Harbor Freight tools are an affordable choice when compared to similar models from other outlets. And if the high customer ratings are anything to go by, you could secure a significant deal when you stock up your toolbox or pony up for that new power tool you've been contemplating. To help you find the absolute best buys, we've compiled a list of some of the Harbor Freight tools that offer the most value for money. We conducted price-checking on similar options from other brands and researched feedback from customers to help us select these featured products. We also cover a couple of Harbor Freight tools that you might want to think twice about buying — these options either failed to receive glowing reviews, or don't offer the same value for money.

A cordless drill is one of the tools every homeowner should have and can help you with everything from routine household maintenance tasks to undertaking major DIY projects. While many cordless drills cost $50, $75, or even over $100, the Warrior 12V Cordless Drill Kit with Battery and Charger is a steal at just $19.99. While this Warrior cordless drill won't be suited to hefty projects like drilling large holes in masonry — it's definitely a standout pick for general household use, coming in at almost half the price of the Black+Decker 12V MAX Cordless Drill (which has comparative specs). 

The drill offers variable speeds ranging from 0 to 550 RPM, an LED light, and a ⅜-inch keyless chuck for convenient bit changes, which is especially handy if you're still learning how to choose the right drill bit for each project you're taking on. 

The Warrior 12V Cordless Drill Kit holds an impressive 4.6-star rating from more than 2,500 reviews and 95% of customers indicated that they would recommend it to others. Here is what one customer had to say about the drill. "Far better than expected for the price. I tend to use this drill more often than my far more expensive DeWalt because of its size and weight. Battery life is also excellent. Can't remember the last time I charged it. I store the battery separate from the drill when not in use and no matter how long it's been between uses, the battery power remains high." 

Whether you're planning a woodworking project or just looking to repair broken items, you'll want to have a bar clamp or two ready to use. The Pittsburgh 24-inch Quick Release Bar Clamp available from Harbor Freight should be right at the top of your list to consider. It retails for only $5.99, which is significantly less expensive than several other products, such as the Bessey Clutch Style Bar Clamp which costs $19.97 at The Home Depot. The clamp features a carbon steel bar and powder coating for added durability and longevity. With the quick-release bar, you can easily position and remove the clamp when you've finished working. 

A whopping 98% of Harbor Freight customers who reviewed the clamp said that they would recommend it to someone else. One user wrote, "Used to make new cabinet doors. Held together nice and tight for 24 hours while the glue dried. Comparable ones at the hardware store were way more money. Bought four of these for the price of one from the big box store. Definitely recommend." With its 4.7-star rating, it seems pretty clear that other customers echo these sentiments as well.

No toolbox is complete without a Phillips-head screwdriver and a flathead screwdriver (or slotted screwdriver). These handheld tools are needed for everything from changing batteries on children's toys to securing screws when DIYing a bookshelf. Consider adding Harbor Freight's Quinn Premium 2-Piece Screwdriver Set to your cart. It's one of the basic Harbor Freight hand tools that'll help with any task around your home, and at $3.99, the price for this set just can't be beat. A similar set from Craftsman retails for $8.98 at Lowes, while a Milwaukee set costs $13.97 at The Home Depot. 

The screwdrivers are made from chrome vanadium steel and feature magnetic tips to help you accurately line up screws and prevent them from dropping as you're trying to work. Nearly every customer who has reviewed this set from Harbor Freight has said that they would recommend it to others (99%) and it holds a 4.8-star rating. "These have a nice grip. The bit stays on target and preserves the screw head. They seem like they will last a long time. The price was great. I would definitely recommend this set to others," shared one customer.

With their serrated jaws, tongue and groove pliers can help you grip nuts, bolts, and more when working on a task. Most sets of three or four pliers cost at least $25, and some even more (such as this Craftsman set for about $20 that only includes two pliers). But, at Harbor Freight, you can buy a set of four Pittsburgh Tongue and Groove Joint Pliers for only $16.99. The set contains pliers with jaw openings running from 2 ⅞ inches to 5 ½ inches. Each is constructed from heat-treated chrome vanadium steel and feature a comfort grip.

"Excellent workmanship. Changing positions is smooth and easy. The tool feels solid and tight when you are using it. These pliers are definitely a great value," shared one satisfied customer. The set has a 4.5-star rating on the site and is recommended by over 90% of those who reviewed it.

When you need precise measurements for the distance between two objects or sides of an object, a trustworthy digital caliper is a must. If you shop at Harbor Freight, you can pick up the Pittsburgh 6-inch Composite Digital Caliper for only $9.99. This price offers great savings compared to what you can find at Lowe's or The Home Depot. For instance, the Johnson Level Calipers at Lowe's cost $35.98.

This useful tool delivers measurements that are accurate within 0.01 inches (or 0.2 millimeters). This lower than Johnson or Husky calipers, but should be fine for less precise DIY applications. The calipers can take measurements of up to 6 inches, and these are also easy to read thanks to the digital, high-resolution LCD screen. 

With a 4.4-star overall rating from more than 1,400 reviewers, this caliper appears to hold up well to various tasks and users. Of those who reviewed the product, 90% said that they would recommend it to others. One customer shared, "I used this around the house and working on projects in the garage. This is the second unit purchased to keep one on a boat. It is easy to use and moves from inches to millimeters with the flick of a switch."

Whether you're in a profession where you regularly use bolt cutters, or just want to have a good pair on hand should the need arise, take a look at the Doyle 8-inch Bolt and Wire Cutter available from Harbor Freight. This compact tool features ergonomic grips with rolled carbon steel handles. At only $6.99, this pair of bolt cutters is a great deal. Many other models on the market retail for at least two times more. For example, the same size bolt cutter from Ace Hardware costs $15.99, and only 50% of customers say they'd recommend it. 

In contrast, the Harbor Freight bolt cutters are highly rated by customers, with nearly 90% saying that they would recommend them to others. The cutters hold a 4.4-star rating on the website. One customer shared, "This little thing is a beast, so long as the item you're trying to cut fits in the jaw. But definitely great for smaller diameter jobs where you don't need a heavier pair."

If you're a new homeowner or simply looking for a number of cordless power tools, you can save a lot of money with the Bauer 20V Cordless 6-Tool Combo Kit. The kit includes a ½-inch drill/driver, a ¼-inch impact driver, a 6 ½-inch circular saw, a jet fan blower, a brushless oscillating multi-tool, and a compact LED light. A charger and a 1.5 Ah and 3Ah battery are also included with the kit. The set retails for only $199 at Harbor Freight, but would cost $324.93 if you bought them all separately. That means that you're saving more than $120, or nearly 40%. Buying just a 20V cordless drill, circular saw, and leaf blower from Black+Decker would add up to more than this entire set, costing over $220.

What's more, 100% of those who reviewed the tool set said that they would recommend it to someone else, and it an average rating of 4.8 stars. "I was shopping the major (high-end) brands and thought that I would take a look at these. After holding them in my hand and watching a ton of reviews, I decided to give it a try. Wow, am I glad that I did. So far I am very impressed with the quality and value. They do everything that my retired set of 20V tools could do and for a fraction of the price," wrote one customer in his review.

A wet/dry vacuum can certainly come in handy when cleaning up after DIY projects and household upgrades. If you don't need a full-size model (or have the space to store one), then the Bauer 3-Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum may be just right for you. At peak operation, the unit provides 3 horsepower of suction to help you quickly and effectively clean up messes. It has a 4-foot hose, an accessory holder, a crevice nozzle, gulper nozzle, foam filter, and a reusable dry filter and clamp ring. You can also convert the vacuum suction to a blower if you need to move leaves or other small debris out of the way. The icing on the cake is the low retail price of just $39.99, which clocks in at $50 less than the suggested retail price of the 3-gallon Black+Decker Shop Vacuum. 

"Needed a smaller vacuum than the normal-sized one. Perfect for projects around the house, compact and easy to store without taking up much room, and best of all it's powerful and inexpensive! I highly recommend this unit," shared one buyer about their experiences using the wet/dry vacuum, and others agree that it is a great tool to have. The Bauer shop vac holds a 4.6 average star rating and is recommended by 97% of Harbor Freight customers who purchased it.

If you're looking for powerful tools that make it easy to clean up fallen leaves, you can't go wrong with a leaf blower, vacuum, and mulcher. And, when you're looking for an affordable blower, vacuum, and mulcher, you can't go wrong with the Portland 12 Amp, 3-In-1 Harbor Freight model. Its $47.99 retail price is incredibly budget-friendly — $46 less expensive than the suggested retail price of $94 for a similar unit from Black+Decker. The blower offers two speeds and weighs only 10 pounds for easy control. You can easily switch between the blowing and vacuuming/mulching modes using the on-device controls. Then, just attach the collection bag and you're ready to start sucking up leaves and taking advantage of the unit's 12:1 mulch ratio.

The unit has a 4.4-star rating from more than 5,500 reviews and 91% of customers recommend the product to others. One customer wrote, "Does a good job for fall leaf clean up. This is my second one purchased. The first one I bought lasted nearly 10 years. Good value and quality." Buyers report that the unit is powerful, and one reviewer noted that it's quieter than the Black+Decker model they had been using.

No toolbox is complete without a good hammer or two. The Pittsburgh Pro Steel Antishock Rip Hammer from Harbor Freight costs only $15.99, making it a more affordable option than the similar Craftsman Rip Claw Hammer which has a suggested retail price of $21, or the Estwing Rip Claw Framing Hammer for $31.98. Beyond its budget-friendly price, this hammer has plenty to offer. Its oil-resistant cushion grip is designed to help keep your hand and wrist from becoming fatigued, its solid steel construction promises to hold up under ongoing use, and the milled face means less annoying (and potentially dangerous) slips when hammering in nails, making it ideal for framing work. Note, milled face hammers can leave marks on wood, so avoid using one of these for finishing work, and instead opt for something like the PITTSBURGH 16-ounce Fiberglass Rip Hammer, which has equally impressive reviews and only costs $6.99.

"Feels just like the framing hammer I paid $60 for. I've beaten the hell out of it and still hasn't broken. If it does break, just buy another. You could buy three for the price of one with a better logo but works just as well. Even the nail set works the same," is what one customer had to share about this product. Others are similarly impressed, with over 400 reviewers giving it an average rating of 4.6 stars and 94% sharing that they would recommend it to others.

There are dozens of different types of wrenches homeowners might want to have on hand, and a good set of ratcheting combination wrenches, such as this six-piece Pittsburgh Color Metric set, can be a valuable addition to your toolbox. The set — which is available in metric or SAE units — is color-coded to help you quickly grab the right size wrench at a glance. One end of each wrench is open for quick adjustments, while the other is a 12-point ratcheting box end to help you more easily tighten or loosen bolts without constantly readjusting the tool. At $29.99, this set might not be the cheapest option out there. You can find a few that cost less, such as the DISEN 10-piece ratcheting wrench set, but it is also far from the most expensive. For instance, a 7-piece Craftsman ratchet set from Lowe's will run you $49.98.

When you take in the fact that 96% of customers have said that they would recommend this set to others and its 4.6-star rating, the case for giving it a try becomes even stronger. One satisfied customer wrote, "These tools don't only look great but they are reliable and of high quality. Handy and easy to use these tools fit the bill. Their bright color makes them easy to see and they fit good in your hand. Great value buy."

While Harbor Freight certainly has a lot of excellent tools, they can't all be winners. The Bauer 0.6 Amp Variable Speed Precision Crafting Rotary Tool Kit is one you might want to skip. It holds a sub-par rating of just 3.6 stars, with almost 30% of customers giving it only a single or 2-star rating. Many customers note that it lacks power or shuts down during the middle of a task. One customer wrote, "I would not recommend this product, does not have any power at all. Wouldn't buy again."

While the $39.99 it retails for isn't all that pricey, you can actually find other kits — with higher customer ratings — for less money on Amazon. For example, you could snag the Wen Variable Speed Steady Grip Rotary Tool for $33.26 which comes with a 190-piece accessory kit (as opposed to the 36-piece kit that comes with the Harbor Freight model). If accessories aren't a priority and you just want a highly trusted brand, you can also get a single-speed 12,000 RPM Dremel Cordless Rotary Tool Kit for $31.25.

While the Icon Color Coded L-Shape Ball End Hex Key Set is highly rated and recommended by customers (4.8 stars with 96% of reviewers recommending the set), you still might want to pass it up. If you're shopping on a tight budget, you'll find several other more affordable sets available on Amazon. The set retails for $24.99 and contains 13 hex keys. However, each set only includes SAE or metric tools. So, if you want a full set of metric and SAE wrenches, you'll have to spend $49.98.

Compare this to other options, such as the Efficere 30-piece Premium Hex Key Set. It retails for just $10.99 and includes both SAE and metric hex keys. That's almost one-fifth of the price — and you get four more tools. The ELEAD set on Amazon is another option with both SAE and metric hex keys, along with a torque handle to give you some additional force. It retails for just $14.99.