23 Hand Tools Everyone Should Own

Whether you’re a builder by trade or enjoy doing the odd handyman job, there’s nothing more valuable than your toolkit. While power tools might spring to mind when you first think about fixing something, hand tools are just as valuable and will help to finish any job to perfection.

Within this guide, we will take you through 23 hand tools that everyone should own. Granted, they might not all fit in your tool kit, but every tool has its own amazing purpose!

What Are The Function Of Hand Tools?

Hand tools are a must-have for many projects; to put it simply, they help to fix or modify something with the utmost precision and skill.

A hand tool is a tool powered by hand, rather than a motor. From screwdrivers and hammers to wrenches and pliers, there are many types of hand tools, all with their own purpose.

What Hand Tools Do I Need?

Read on to discover 23 hand tools that everyone should own. While you don’t need to go out and purchase every single hand tool mentioned in an instant, keep this list in mind when you next plan to carry out a project.

1. Wire Cutters

Wire cutters are used to cut the likes of steel, aluminium, copper, brass and iron wires. If you are working with power, wire cutters will keep your job both safe and stress-free.

Unlike standard cutting tools, wire cutters usually contain insulated handles, preventing you from receiving shocks. Combine these protective handles with super sharp blades and you’ll never have to struggle with cutting wires again!

2. Hand Saw

When it comes to cutting material, it’s only normal to think that a chainsaw will provide the best solution. However, this isn’t always the case. In many situations, especially with smaller projects, a hand saw will give you more than enough sharpness to get the job done. You just need to ensure that you have the strength to control it!

Hand saws are commonly used to cut materials like wood, metal and plastic. You can even use them when cutting drywall to get precise measurements. While a chainsaw may get the job done more quickly, using a hand saw allows you to have full control over your actions, getting as clean of a cut as possible.

3. Pointing Trowel

A pointing trowel, also known as a fine trowel, is a tool used when filling the gaps between bricks, stones, and other similar structures with mortar. The pointed tip of the trowel helps to ensure that no gap is left behind, creating a smooth and neat finish.

4. Finishing Trowel

Another type of trowel is a finishing trowel. As the name suggests, a finishing trowel helps to smooth out materials like plastic, mortar and concrete. To make your job even easier, finishing trowels have a straight blade so that you can reach every single corner without any extra hassle.

5. Screwdriver

No matter what job you’re carrying out, a screwdriver will forever be a staple item in your toolbox. Traditional screwdrivers will consist of a handle and a shaft; simply line the shaft up with a screw to install (or uninstall) it. Considering even the most basic of furniture builds contain screws, it’s safe to say that you’ll 100% be needing to use a screwdriver at some point throughout your handyman work.

6. Hammer

Another staple item to have in your toolbox is a hammer.  A hammer has a weighted head which, when swung, delivers the right amount of impact to an object. Whether you’re driving nails, crushing material or shaping metal, a hammer will provide just the right amount of strength that your hands can’t reach alone.

7. Axe

Axes are commonly used outdoors when splitting or cutting wood. They feature a long wooden handle and sharp metal head, allowing you to get great momentum with each swing. Very few hand tools can split wood like an axe can, so consider this tool a must-have if you’re working with timber. For an axe with full support and grip, check out Felling Axes.

8. Shovel

Shovels are the perfect tool to use in the majority of situations where digging is required. Whether you’re doing landscaping work or finding a leak, a shovel will help you to dig up dirt or gravel with ease. Just remember that shovels are not tools for precision - you’re likely to make a mess, but when digging a hole is the goal, precision can never be expected!

9. Stanley Knife

A stanley knife is a small knife with a replaceable blade. From slicing thin materials to opening packages, stanley knives provide quick solutions to otherwise tedious tasks. Unlike scissors, stanley knives allow you to get instant results with one quick motion. You don’t need to worry about damaging surrounding objects, either, as stanley knives are small and precise.

10. Sander

When it comes to smoothing and finishing dry surfaces, a sander will become your best friend. Whether it be wood, metal or plastic, using a sander will help to remove any rough patches, creating a smooth and polished finish. Alternatively, you can also use sanders to rough up surfaces to prepare for a different type of finish technique.

12. Spanner

Also commonly referred to as a wrench, a spanner helps to provide grip when turning objects such as nuts and bolts. Using your hands alone when turning small objects like nuts and bolts is near impossible; the job is far too fiddly! With help from a spanner, you can turn, fasten or loosen small objects immediately.

12. Pliers

Pliers are commonly used when working with electrics or working in the garden. They are ‘industrial tongs’ that help to grip and/or compress a wide range of materials. Pliers are the hand tool of choice when working with hot metals, as they maintain a strong grip without causing injury.

13. Crowbar

Crowbars are great for situations that require a strong force to move objects apart. They are also commonly used when removing nails. Simply use the shaped head of the crowbar to get a grip on your object, and then tug the bar to apply pressure.

It’s worth noting that crowbars are also used to destroy things, confirming that they are not suitable for jobs which require precision. You may make a mess!

14. Mallet

Similarly to a hammer, a mallet is used to apply great force to a surface. Unlike a hammer, mallets have barrel-shaped heads with a larger surface area, making this hand tool perfect for bigger projects. Mallets are often used when you don’t wish to damage an object, as the special shaped head will prevent any punctures.

15. Metal File

When working with metal, a file is near enough always needed to finish off the job. A metal file successfully smooths a surface, which especially comes in handy when your metalwork has sharp edges. Metal files can also double up as tool sharpeners, but if you choose to use it as a sharpener, do so with great care.

16. Chisel

A chisel is a type of cutting tool that consists of a sharpened knife blade and long handle. Rather than cutting an object in half, chisels are used alongside mallets and hammers to ‘chip’ away at the surface. Particularly useful when woodworking, a chisel helps you to create precise cuts and shapes, allowing you to get super creative.

17. Measuring Tape

Measuring tape is an absolute staple to have for any handyman job. Near enough all jobs require some form of measuring; having measuring tape to hand cuts out the guessing work and ensures everything is as accurate as possible. It’s worth getting measuring tape that sits in a protective case, so that it doesn't get damaged while you work. Some measuring tapes even have a self-locking feature so that you can get the job done solo - we highly recommend Stanley Tapes if this is what you’re after.

18. Spirit Level

Similarly to measuring tapes, spirit levels help to ensure that your job has been finished to perfection. With help from a spirit level, you can establish whether a surface is parallel to the ground or not. If the bubble in the spirit level doesn’t centre, you will immediately know that the surface you are working with is lopsided.

19. Staple Gun

Staple guns make mounting insulation, pinning objects to the wall, or hanging wiring super fun. While staples won’t always provide the best amount of support, they are great for temporary projects that require some stability. Staple guns hold a lot more force over traditional staplers, and they make it possible to staple walls without needing access to the other side.

20. Stud Finder

Stud finders make it easy to locate framing studs located behind a wall surface. When you want to hang heavy objects, particularly on drywall, it’s important to find the studs so that you can anchor your fastener to it. If you hang a heavy object on drywall alone, it is likely to damage and create a nasty hole.

21. Hex Socket

A hexagonal socket - commonly referred to as a hex socket - helps to drive bolts and screws. This special type of socket is only to be used with bolts and screws that have hexagonal sockets in their heads. Hex sockets are essential to have in your tool box, as you never know when you’ll come across a hexagonal fastener.

22. Tape

While fixing something with tape might be a temporary solution, you’ll be surprised to learn just how strong that stuff truly is. Whether you need to quickly cover a leak or need to join two objects together, a simple strip of strong tape will be sure to get the job done. Just remember to be careful when peeling the tape off, as it may damage the surface it has been stuck to.

23. Construction Marker

Last, but by no means least, we highly recommend adding a construction marker to your list of hand tools. Construction markers make writing on materials like wood and metal a piece of cake. Whether you need markers for measurement purposes or to help out team members, there’s no better way to get the job done efficiently without any hassle.