To help you find the best tools to own for homeowners and mechanics alike, we have tried out a multitude of essential products, making sure they excelled at their intended use and that they were made from ultra-durable and high quality components. We also made sure to populate the below list with a nice mix of different types of tools, from drills to nail guns and beyond, to ensure you’ll have what you need for your next DIY project.

The best product we tried was easily the Black+Decker 20V MAX Drill & Home Tool Kit, which is a fantastic multipack that includes 68 various tools, including a high quality cordless drill, a hammer and a series of screwdrivers, among many others. Each item performed excellently and we found the build quality to be superior to any of the other multipacks we tested out. Keep reading to learn more about the BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX Drill & Home Tool Kit and the other models on this list.

Top 7 Best Tools

#1 Black+Decker 20V MAX Drill & Home Tool Kit

Award: TOP PICK

WHY WE LIKE IT: Fantastic multipack that contains 68 useful and essential tools, including a 20 volt cordless drill, which contains a lithium ion battery that gets 18 months of use on a single charge, and a series of screwdrivers, hammers and related gadgets.



Pros

Essential set of tools for homeowners

Essential set of tools for homeowners Battery for drill lasts 18 months

Battery for drill lasts 18 months 2 year warranty Cons There are more powerful single use drills to buy

There are more powerful single use drills to buy No concrete attachment



The Black+Decker 20V MAX Drill & Home Tool Kit is a multipack that contains 68 essential tools for homeowners, including a 20 volt cordless drill with a lithium ion battery that gets 18 months of use out of a single charge. The kit also includes a hammer, a series of screwdrivers and everything you need to install fans or complete simple DIY projects around the home, including a tape measure. We also loved the build quality on these tools and the nice two year warranty.

Though the included drill is great for simple projects, the torque on offer is much lower than what can be found with dedicated drills, though those products are often much more expensive. Additionally, the included tape measure is only ten feet long, whereas some tape measures often go to twenty feet long or beyond. Compare this to the best hammer drill to determine if this is the kit for you.

#2 Stanley TRE550Z Electric Staple/Brad Nail Gun Tools

Award: HONORABLE MENTION

WHY WE LIKE IT: Features dual power settings, each for use with either soft or hard materials, and the ability to function with both heavy duty staples or brads, with outstanding driving power and a budget-friendly price tag.



Pros

Best tool to own

Best tool to own Lifetime warranty

Lifetime warranty 2 power settings for hard or soft materials Cons Does not come with staples

Does not come with staples Does not excel with really hard wood

Does not excel with really hard wood Can be hard to squeeze with one hand



This Stanley TRE550Z Electric Staple/Brad Nail Gun is simply one of the best tools to own, thanks to dual power settings that are intended for use with hard or soft materials. We also loved the fact that it functions nicely with both heavy duty staples or brads, upping its usefulness, and that it boasts outstanding drive power, thanks to its quick-jam clear mechanism. The lifetime limited warranty is also a fantastic addition.

Though this item does work with a wide variety of staples and brads, it does not ship with any staples, which is something of an oversight. Also, we found that this product was occasionally tough to squeeze with one hand in certain use instances. With a nail gun this nice, you’ll want the best tool box liner set to show it off.

#3 Black+Decker PHS550B 3.4 Amp Powered Handsaw

Award: BEST HANDSAW

WHY WE LIKE IT: Features an extremely powerful 3.4 amp, 4,600 SPM motor, which makes short work of metal and other sturdy materials, shipping a pair of high quality blades and the ability to swap out between blades without the use of additional tools.



Pros

Powerful 3.4 amp, 4,600 SPM motor

Powerful 3.4 amp, 4,600 SPM motor Comes with multiple blades

Comes with multiple blades Change out blades without need for additional tools Cons Somewhat heavy, at nearly 6 lb

Somewhat heavy, at nearly 6 lb Not cordless, though cable is 6 feet long

Not cordless, though cable is 6 feet long 2 year warranty is decent, though there are longer on list



The Black+Decker PHS550B 3.4 Amp Powered Handsaw can easily cut through wood and metal, thanks to an extremely powerful 3.4 amp, 4,600 SPM motor, making this among the best tools for mechanics and those performing DIY home repairs. We loved that it shipped with multiple blades, including a large capacity blade and a metal blade, and a handy storage bag. The design also allows for the easy swapping of blades, without the need for additional tools.

This is somewhat heavy, compared to related products, weighing nearly six pounds, which could feel heavier with prolonged use. Additionally, the two year warranty is decent, but some products on this list ship with lifetime warranties. If your finished project needs a new paint job, pick up the best acrylic paint set too.

#4 Black+Decker BDEJS600C Jigsaw Tools

Award: BEST JIGSAW

WHY WE LIKE IT: Offers extremely precise cuts, thanks to a well designed wire guard and a multitude of customizable curve settings, with 3,000 SPM of cutting power and a design that allows consumers to change out blades without additional tools.



Pros

Offers precise cuts

Offers precise cuts 3,000 SPM of cutting power

3,000 SPM of cutting power Tool free blade change Cons Only ships with 1 blade

Only ships with 1 blade Not cordless

Not cordless Heavier than some models, at nearly 5 lb



The Black+Decker BDEJS600C Jigsaw gives ultra-precise cuts, excelling with both curves and 45 degree bevel cuts, thanks to a high quality wire guard and four customizable curve settings. The product offers 3,000 SPM of cutting power, which we found more than enough for the types of DIY projects we tried it with, and allows for simple swap outs to different blades without the need for additional tools.

Though this item functions with a wide variety of blade types, including t-shank and u-shank blades, it only ships with one t-shank blade, though you can purchase a multipack along with the unit itself. Also, this is not a cordless model, making it less portable than some products available. If your wood cutting needs are a little more intense, take a look at the best chainsaw instead.

#5 Bernzomatic TS8000 Propane Torch

Award: BEST PROPANE TORCH

WHY WE LIKE IT: High quality product, featuring cast aluminum construction, with a lock-on button for finger free use and an adjustable knob for the fine tuning of flame height and temperature.



Pros

Lifetime warranty

Lifetime warranty Lock-on button for finger free use

Lock-on button for finger free use Adjustable knob for fine tuning Cons Costly MAP fuel is recommended

Costly MAP fuel is recommended Not the cheapest propane torch available

Not the cheapest propane torch available Need an adapter for use with many propane tanks



The Bernzomatic TS8000 Propane Torch is an extremely durable product, having been manufactured almost entirely out of cast aluminum, and features a design that creates ultra-hot flames of up to 3,000 degrees fahrenheit. This product has a lock-on button, for finger free use, and an adjustable knob for fine tuning both flame height and temperature. We also loved the lifetime warranty, which could come in handy down the line.

The company recommends the use of MAP-Pro fuel with this product, which can be somewhat more expensive than other types of LPG or gas burner fuels, though is generally considered to be of a superior quality. Additionally, you’ll likely need to purchase an adapter in order to use this with a wide variety of propane tanks.

#6 Sun Joe SWJ800E 8-inch 6.5-Amp Pole Saw

Award: BEST POLE SAW

WHY WE LIKE IT: Features a powerful 6.5 amp motor, which can easily cut branches up to 7.5” in diameter, and a max pole length of nearly 9 feet, with a self oiling bar and chain.



Pros

Powerful 6.5 amp motor

Powerful 6.5 amp motor Self oiling bar and chain

Self oiling bar and chain 8.8’ max pole length Cons Not cordless

Not cordless Difficult to adjust angle

Difficult to adjust angle On the heavy side, at more than 7 lb



The Sun Joe SWJ800E 8-inch 6.5-Amp Pole Saw makes short work out of branches up to 7.5 inches in diameter, thanks to the inclusion of a powerful 6.5 amp motor. We also liked that this product features a maximum extension length of 8.8 feet, which can be useful to reach the higher parts of trees, and we found that the self oiling bar and chain came in particularly handy as we went about long-lasting jobs.

This item is on the heavy side, however, at more than seven pounds, which can feel significantly heavier as you extend to extreme heights. Also, this is not a cordless design and could require multiple extension plugs in order to reach a particular tree or branch. While you’re at it grab one of the best chisels to take care of all of your wood cutting needs.

#7 WORX Semi-Automatic Power Screw Driver with Screw Holder

Award: BEST SCREW GUN

WHY WE LIKE IT: Equipped with a screw holder and a 6-bit “slide action” reloadable cartridge, making it extremely difficult to drop screws and bits during use, with an LED light, for increased visibility, and a convenient one-hand design.



Pros

Rapid reload cartridge

Rapid reload cartridge Easy release-and-hold- screw holder

Easy release-and-hold- screw holder LED light for increased visibility Cons Charges slowly, though battery lasts a long time

Charges slowly, though battery lasts a long time Not wide enough for some screws

Not wide enough for some screws Only one speed



This WORX Semi-Automatic Power Screw Driver with Screw Holder comes equipped with a screw holder and a 6-bit “slide action” reloadable cartridge, which offers a rapid reload without any fear of dropping any errant screws or bits. We also loved the included LED light, which increases maximum visibility, and the one-hand design, which allows users to work on the ceiling or other difficult-to-reach areas.

Though the battery does last a long time, up to 18 months of continuous use, we did find that it took a while to reach maximum charge, around five or six hours. Additionally, there is only one speed option available, which may not suit the tastes of every consumer.

How We Decided

To help narrow down to the above list, we took a long look at the types of tools homeowners and DIY enthusiasts would likely go searching for before taking on various projects. To that end, we started with a multipack, our to pick, that contains over 60 tools, including a powerful cordless drill.

The rest of the list was filled with all manner of useful and essential tools, including staple guns, screw guns, propane torches and pole saws, among others. We made sure each and every product on the above list absolutely excelled at its intended use and that each item was made with high quality and ultra-durable components, including cast aluminum and steel.

We also wanted to make sure these tools were relatively budget-friendly and that they offered long-lasting warranties, with many items on our list shipping with lifetime warranties. Finally, we made sure that each product we picked was safe to use for both the average homeowner and the professional mechanic and repair person.

Best Tools Buyer’s Guide

The Most Important Features to Consider