Cracking The Case On IKEA Tools: Are They Worth The Price?

When you find yourself buying a tool in an unusual place — a dollar store, say, or an assemble-it-yourself furniture store — you're probably aware you're not buying the best possible version of that tool. However, the real question is: Is it the right tool for the job at hand? If so, and if your off-the-beaten-path tool purchase turns out to be more of a bargain than a highway robbery, you should score that as a win. IKEA wants you to win when you buy their tools.

The Swedish furniture giant describes its tool offerings as "stocked with the essentials for some of the most common home improvement and repair tasks." That may be overstating the case a bit; you're probably not going to be building an addition or installing a gazebo with an IKEA drill or their 15-piece tool set. What you might reasonably do is assemble furniture, perhaps Swedish flatpack furniture, or some other assembly-adjacent tasks.

We don't mean to imply that these tools will get your bookshelf put together and nothing else. A lot has gone into IKEA tools — they just may not have the same level of ruggedness and durability that one would expect from big-name toolmakers. Instead, the furniture giant focuses on functionality, affordability, and ergonomics, which is no small thing. IKEA's design firm, Above, noted on Instagram that it did "extensive user research to optimize balance, grip, weight, and durability." That sounds like the sort of work a real toolmaker would do.

It is, of course, the power tools that are most likely to get a sneer from tradespeople and hardcore DIYers. At the moment, IKEA's power tool line consists of only two items, including the lithium-ion-driven 12-volt TRIXIG Screwdriver/Drill. (TRIXIG is the brand for all of IKEA's tools, except a few stragglers from their old FIXA line.) At $34.99, the drill is priced competitively with Harbor Freight's Hercules cordless screwdriver, and it lands between Lowe's Project Source and Black & Decker offerings. The driver has more torque than the Project Source driver and a faster max RPM rating than any of these tools except the Hercules. 

A homeowner might find the drill sufficient for furniture assembly and other lightweight needs, but the decision may come down to battery platforms. No other IKEA tool uses the drill's battery, while Harbor Freight has an entire line of Hercules tools in its 12v ecosystem. On the other hand, the IKEA drill comes with a battery; for the Hercules to actually run, you'll have to buy a kit or pony up another $70 or so for a battery and charger. 

Reviewers seem to grudgingly like these tools. When notoriously tough-to-please YouTuber AvE reviewed an earlier IKEA drill, he was brutal as usual with his evaluation, pronouncing the driver good for taking things apart and driving screws but useless as a drill. However, he admitted that it has its place, concluding that some of the design and engineering choices weren't altogether bad and that it offered a decent value for the price. 

The other power tool in the TRIXIG line is the 3.6-volt Li-ion Screwdriver. Cordless screwdrivers boasting 3.6-volt batteries were once pretty common, but they appear to be somewhat rare these days. The only one we could track down in stock is the RYOBI USB Lithium Screwdriver Kit from Home Depot. With a USB-oriented battery platform that powers a few other tools, the $39.97 RYOBI product might seem to be at an advantage over the IKEA screwdriver. However, a closer look reveals that the $17.99 IKEA driver has the same max RPM rating, nearly as much torque, and ¾ of the battery capacity at 1.5Ah versus RYOBI's 2Ah. While the IKEA screwdriver doesn't sport replaceable batteries, the RYOBI does at $24.97 a pop.

It's not hard to see these two tools and conclude that IKEA has a better handle on furniture-focused DIYers (although the TRIXIG line does include a small Hole Saw Set that comes with three saws and will cost you a mere $7.99). Keep in mind, though, that there are tons of popular and lesser-known RYOBI products to help with home improvement projects. All competition aside, the IKEA driver features a low price, less focus on a battery ecosystem, and reasonable specs, making it decidedly worth the cost.

Of course, people can get pretty snobby about their hand tools, too. IKEA's offerings aren't exactly overwhelming: They offer a 15-piece tool kit, a carpenter's level, a precision screwdriver set, and possibly the world's cheapest tape measure. The $9.99 Carpenter's Level, certainly one of the tools every homeowner should have, is perhaps the only one of these offerings not worth considering; Lowe's alone offers a number of 9-inch torpedo levels that sport similar features and are less expensive.

YouTuber Wranglerstar reviewed IKEA's $15.99 15-piece Tool Set and described it as "a very well-put-together kit" with essentially the same tools he would have chosen for it. On Instagram, user toudi-basics concluded that the IKEA 20-piece Drill and Bit Set is "a perfect mix for your small home projects." Finally, YouTuber Inside Out Electronics pronounced the 25-piece Precision Screwdriver Set a "relatively okay precision set" that's suitable for lightweight electronics repair.