8 Handy Mini Tools From Harbor Freight To Use Around The House

It's easy to walk around your local Harbor Freight and fill up a shopping cart to the brim. The 45-year-old hardware store sells over 7,000 tools, ranging from drill kits to top-rated toolboxes. But what if you're working on a small project? Or in an extremely small space? There are times when having a miniature version of your favorite tools is essential for getting the job done. Although they represent only a fraction of what's sold at Harbor Freight, the company's mini tools, like a compact flashlight, utility knife, and moisture meter, are inexpensive and handy to have around the house.

Harbor Freight sells 62 "mini" items. Some, like a cutoff saw, die grinder, or precision lathe, can be ideal for experienced DIYers. But our list focuses on basic tools that anyone can easily use on a wide variety of projects. To narrow down our picks, we looked specifically at items with a four star rating or higher. Any item that didn't have at least 100 reviews didn't make the cut. Then, we read through thousands of reviews to eliminate any product that had a pattern of one or two star ratings that left users dissatisfied with the durability or practicality of an item. Finally, we picked eight handy mini tools every homeowner should have, including a small-scale toolbox that's ideal for storing them.

With a cumulative rating of 4.9 stars, and over 700 five star reviews, the One Stop Gardens 27 Inch Round Nose Mini Shovel is one of the top-rated mini tools sold at Harbor Freight. Ideal for digging in tight spaces, it's heavy duty enough to be efficient even in hard soil, yet small enough for a younger or shorter person to use comfortably. Users say it's ideal for everything from digging fence post holes to planting mums. Many bring it on camping trips, calling the small size perfect for campfires, prospecting, and leveling the ground.

Over 300 reviewers have given the Bauer 20V Cordless Compact Flashlight a five star rating, calling it "super handy" and "impressive for the price." At $10, the flashlight weighs under a pound. Despite the small size, it can provide over 14 hours of high output light when used with a fully charged 5Ah battery (sold separately). Designed with a multi-position head that pivots, you can either use the light in a standing position or hang it from the swivel hook that users say works great in dark sheds or corners.

There are endless types of screwdrivers that are good for any DIY project, and you probably already have some on hand around the house. But over 100 users who gave the Icon Professional Mini Screwdriver Set a five star rating say that these tiny tools are high-quality, comfortable to use, and fill a gap in most screwdriver collections. Each magnetic tip is precision-machined for a nonslip fit in your screws. And, the tip type is printed on each handle to make it easier to find what you need.

The Pittsburgh Mini Folding Lock-Back Utility Knife is one of the most frequently reviewed mini tools from Harbor Freight, and for good reason. With nearly 600 five star ratings, the lightweight design easily fits into a pocket or on a keychain. Many users say the utility knife is perfect when it's time to break down boxes, while others use it daily as a multitool or pocket knife substitute. A push button makes it quick to swap out blades, which fold into the handle for safety.

If you're a crafter who does sewing, stained glass, 3D printing, jewelry making, or general repairs, reviewers say the Pittsburgh Precision Pliers Set is a quality buy for the price. The six piece set includes diagonal cutters, needle nose pliers, and other drop-forged and machined mini tools with PVC safety grips. Over 200 users gave them a five star rating, calling the tools lightweight but high-quality. The spring return design on each pair of pliers keeps them open after you've applied pressure, making them easier to use.

With extreme weather events becoming all too common, it can be helpful to have a tiny tool on hand to help you identify water leaks and rot around your house. The Pittsburgh Digital Mini Moisture Meter has almost 300 five star ratings. Reviewers say it's perfect for measuring moisture levels in firewood, pressure treated lumber, even drywall and concrete. The small device is also capable of giving you an ambient temperature reading on its backlit LCD screen. It's easy to use by just sticking two pin probes into the surface you want to measure.

Designed to remove small parts from tight places, like O-rings and gaskets, the Pittsburgh Mini Pick and Hook Set can also be used in many other ways. Close to 5,000 users have given the mini tools a five star rating, using them for everything from etching to gun cleaning. Made of carbon steel, each of the four tools has a plastic handle that reviewers call comfortable. They may not be the first tools to cross your mind when DIYing a basic household tool kit, but thousands agree the $2 set is well worth it.

Sure, you could toss all your new mini tools into a standard size toolbox. But despite the fact that a toolbox isn't actually a mini tool itself, we had to include the U.S. General Mini Steel Toolbox on our list of tiny Harbor Freight items that are great to have around the house. Over 600 reviewers give the compact design a five star rating. They love its easy opening ball bearing drawer slides, scratch-resistant powder coating in red, grey, or blue, and simple magnetic locking mechanism.