Moving into your first home comes with a long list of small jobs: curtain poles, shelves, flat-pack, a wobbly door handle. You can do nearly all of them with a small set of tools. Here's what earns its place, roughly in the order you'll need it.
1. The basics
Start with the hand tools you'll use every week: a tape measure, a spirit level, a pencil, a claw hammer, an adjustable spanner, pliers and a utility knife. None of these needs to be expensive.
2. A cordless screwdriver
Flat-pack furniture is where most people start, and a powered screwdriver turns an evening's work into an hour. The Bosch GO 3 is small enough for a kitchen drawer, charges by USB-C and has torque settings so you don't overtighten screws in chipboard.
3. A drill and a mixed bit set
To hang anything on a wall you'll need a drill with hammer action and the right bits. A mixed set covers wood, masonry and metal in one case. The Bosch X-Line 70-piece set is a good starter. If you expect bigger jobs, the 103-piece set adds holesaws and nut setters. Our guide to which drill bit to use explains the difference.
4. A wall detector
Before you drill, check for cables and metal pipes. A detector such as the Bosch Truvo takes seconds to use. It's worth reading how to check a wall before drilling too.
5. A sander, when you start decorating
Once you move on to painting doors, skirting boards or second-hand furniture, a small sander saves hours. The Bosch PSM 100 A gets into corners and collects its own dust.
6. Garden tools, if you have a garden
A garden adds its own jobs, and autumn leaves are usually the first. A combined blower and garden vacuum clears lawns and paths quickly. If you go cordless for other garden tools, sticking to one battery system means a single spare battery works across them.
What can wait
Circular saws, jigsaws and other specialist tools are worth buying only when a project needs them. For a one-off job, borrowing or hiring is often cheaper.
Don't forget safety kit
Safety glasses, a dust mask and a pair of work gloves cost very little and belong in every toolbox.
This guide is general information. Always read and follow the instructions that come with your tool, and wear suitable eye protection.
