Whether you're a homeowner or you live in a rented flat, having a handy tool kit or tool set is crucial for any repairs or renovations you may need to do at home, or even on your car or bike. Rather than calling up your friend to lend you that hammer, it’s a lot easier to already have a toolbox waiting for you in the shed or garage.
But if you’re in the market for one, it can be overwhelming as there are so many to look at – just how many screwdrivers does one kit need? Do you need a beginners 30 piece set or a 300 piece set with a drill and power tools? Our buyer’s guide will help you decide, and our product comparison will give you options from Amazon to Argos so you can find the perfect kit.
There are so many options for tool kits all with varying contents, so where do you start? Our buying guide will help you with what you need to look for in a tool set, such as the contents, the size, and how easy it is to store.
Before anything else, it’s important to establish the essential tools within a tool kit. There are many different opinions on this but we all have to start from somewhere. The general consensus seems to agree that your toolkit must contain these 5 tools:
You now know what essential tools you need, but what else is there? One vital thing is to think about what you need your tool kit for – different sets might contain different tools that may suit your needs better.
If you only plan on doing small repairs around the home or putting up a shelf every so often, you only really need a smaller tool kit of around 20 to 40 pieces. This may sound like a lot, but a large portion of this total will actually come from various screwdriver bits and attachments!
There are plenty of concise tool kits that include the basic essentials as well as a few extra tools such as Allen keys and scissors, many of which won't break the bank.
After all, there’s no point in splashing out on a 200-piece tool kit if you're only going to tighten a loose screw once a year whilst everything else gathers dust in the box, so try not to get more than you need.
Avid fans of DIY will want to step up to something more comprehensive, such as a set with around 50 pieces or more. Additionally, if you’re planning larger projects such as renovating the kitchen, you might need to consider a tool kit that suits your specific needs.
For example, some tool kits are specialised for mechanics and contain tools such as wrenches, whereas some are made for woodworking and contain tools such as saws and sanders, so check the contents if there's something your project requires.
Even if you have bigger requirements, it’s important to remember that not every tool kit will cover everything you need. It’s more cost-effective to buy a mid-sized kit and then buy extra tools as and when you need them, even renting them in some cases!
One final thing to take into consideration is the type of storage your tools come in.
If you plan to only keep your tools in a cupboard at home, a plastic case would be fine for you. These also work if you're low on space and need something as compact as possible. However, one thing to note is that plastic cases usually have moulded sections for each tool, which doesn't allow for any extras you may purchase.
But what if you need something with more storage allowance, or you'd like something easier to transport? In that case, consider a tool kit with a lightweight fabric storage bag for easier movement. The downside, of course, is that their shape is much bulkier, and they may be less protective of your tools.
With all of these things considered, let's take a look at our recommendations of the top 10 best tool kits!
£14.75
Essentials Included | Hammer, screwdriver set, pliers |
---|---|
Additional Tools | Wrench |
Total Pieces | 17 |
Storage Type | Plastic box |
Item Dimensions | 28 x 19 x 4 cm |
Item Weight | 1.1 kg |
£20.00
Essentials Included | All |
---|---|
Additional Tools | Scissors, Allen keys, wrench |
Total Pieces | 25 |
Storage Type | Plastic box |
Item Dimensions | - |
Item Weight | - |
£24.99
Essentials Included | All |
---|---|
Additional Tools | Scissors, Allen keys |
Total Pieces | 39 |
Storage Type | Plastic carry case |
Item Dimensions | 32.3 x 19 x 9 cm |
Item Weight | 1.5 kg |
P-90532
£110.38
Essentials Included | Screwdriver, wrench |
---|---|
Additional Tools | Allen keys |
Total Pieces | 227 |
Storage Type | Metal and plastic carry case |
Item Dimensions | 9.3 kg |
Item Weight | 47.4 x 38.8 x 10.6 cm |
£25.00
Essentials Included | All |
---|---|
Additional Tools | Utility knife, scissors, Allen keys, racheting driver |
Total Pieces | 60 |
Storage Type | Plastic carry case |
Item Dimensions | - |
Item Weight | 3.4 kg |
DT9408
£25.96
Essentials Included | All |
---|---|
Additional Tools | Digital voltage tester, Allen keys |
Total Pieces | 53 |
Storage Type | Plastic carry case |
Item Dimensions | 32 x 27 x 9 cm |
Item Weight | 2.4 kg |
STMT0-74101
£34.75
Essentials Included | All |
---|---|
Additional Tools | Allen keys, nails and fixtures |
Total Pieces | 38 |
Storage Type | Fabric carry bag |
Item Dimensions | 33 x 20 x 16.5 cm |
Item Weight | 1.73 kg |
£29.99
Essentials Included | All |
---|---|
Additional Tools | Wrench, Allen keys, fastener set |
Total Pieces | 92 |
Storage Type | Fabric carry bag |
Item Dimensions | 23 x 12.5 x 38.5 cm |
Item Weight | 3 kg |
THTK01A
£79.99
Essentials Included | All |
---|---|
Additional Tools | Power drill, Allen keys, wrench, fixings, tape |
Total Pieces | 145 |
Storage Type | Plastic carry case |
Item Dimensions | 28.5 x 24.5 x 5.8 cm |
Item Weight | 6.7 kg |
Image | 1 ![]() Tacklife | 3 ![]() VonHaus | 4 ![]() Stanley | 5 ![]() Apollo Tools | 6 Guild | 7 ![]() Makita | 8 ![]() Hi-Spec | 9 Guild | 10 ![]() IKEA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | 145-Piece Home Tool Set With Hammer Drill | Tool Kit & Bag | Material Tool Set | Household Tool Kit | 60 Piece General Tool Kit | General Maintenance Tool Set | Precision Household Tool Kit | 25 Piece Hand Tool Kit | FIXA Tool Set |
Features | The Fully-Capable Tool Kit for Small and Large Jobs Alike | Top Pick for Budding DIY Enthusiasts | Reliable Tools in an Easy-to-Carry Bag | High-Quality Tools Without Sacrificing Style or Cost | Everything You Need for DIY in the Home, Office and Garage | The Complete Screwdriver and Wrench Repair Kit | Essential Starter DIY Tools | A Budget-Friendly Buy for Occasional Jobs | The Cheapest No-Nonsense Tool Kit |
Price | £79.99 | £29.99 | £34.75 | £25.96 | £25.00 | £110.38 | £24.99 | £20.00 | £14.75 |
Essentials Included | All | All | All | All | All | Screwdriver, wrench | All | All | Hammer, screwdriver set, pliers |
Additional Tools | Power drill, Allen keys, wrench, fixings, tape | Wrench, Allen keys, fastener set | Allen keys, nails and fixtures | Digital voltage tester, Allen keys | Utility knife, scissors, Allen keys, racheting driver | Allen keys | Scissors, Allen keys | Scissors, Allen keys, wrench | Wrench |
Total Pieces | 145 | 92 | 38 | 53 | 60 | 227 | 39 | 25 | 17 |
Storage Type | Plastic carry case | Fabric carry bag | Fabric carry bag | Plastic carry case | Plastic carry case | Metal and plastic carry case | Plastic carry case | Plastic box | Plastic box |
Item Dimensions | 28.5 x 24.5 x 5.8 cm | 23 x 12.5 x 38.5 cm | 33 x 20 x 16.5 cm | 32 x 27 x 9 cm | - | 9.3 kg | 32.3 x 19 x 9 cm | - | 28 x 19 x 4 cm |
Item Weight | 6.7 kg | 3 kg | 1.73 kg | 2.4 kg | 3.4 kg | 47.4 x 38.8 x 10.6 cm | 1.5 kg | - | 1.1 kg |
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If, like most of the nation, being in lockdown has afforded you a bit of extra time to finally start on those long-promised craft or DIY projects, let us help to inspire you! From taking up those annoyingly-long curtains to revamping some furniture or clothes, our guides can help.
So there we have our best 10 tool kits to buy online in the UK. Whether you needed your first essentials kit or you wanted to upgrade your tools, hopefully our article provided you with all the assistance necessary and helped you find a set for all your DIY needs.
Author: Dodo Wang
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