The Most Important Things to Keep in Your Tool Kit in 2020

As you take time at the start of the New Year to regroup and reset around the house, take a peak inside your toolbox to see what supplies need replacing and what items you might be missing entirely. And if you don’t have a tool kit yet, now’s a great time to make one! Keep reading to see what tools and gadgets always come in handy for projects and repairs. 

No DIY-er’s tool kit is complete without a cordless drill. The Black+Decker 20V MAX is an excellent entry level model that will keep you on top of your home maintenance tasks in the New Year. Available on Amazon; $46.40.

Related: The Best Cordless Drills, According to DIYers

A convertible screwdriver like this 6-way Stanley All-In-One should be in the tool kit of every homeowner. Swapping quickly from flathead to Phillips head, in two different sizes, it’s got what you need for a zillion quick fixes. Available on Amazon; $7.31.

Related: 5 Types of Screwdrivers Every DIYer Should Get to Know

Buy this Dewalt 22 oz. hammer, and you’ll likely be able to pass it to the next generation of homeowners in your family. Built to stand up to the day-to-day demands of professional contractors, it’s forged from a single piece of steel, and is designed for optimal weight distribution. Available from The Home Depot; $25.97.

Related: Buyer’s Guide: Hammers

Just as important as the tools in a tool kit are the supplies. Wood filler is something no homeowner should be without. FamoWood’s latex wood filler is a DIY staple, drying in 15 minutes, without shrinking or cracking. Sandable, stainable, and paintable, it is solvent free and can be used both indoors and outdoors. Available on Amazon; $11.61.

Related: 50 Products for Quick Fixes Around the House

Sugru Moldable Glue can mend a broken charging cord as easily as it can seal a cracked shoe upper. Every tool kit should have a pack at the ready for quick fixes. Durable, waterproof and heat/cold resistant, it can mold to glass, wood, plastic, metal, ceramics and more. Available on Amazon; $15.99.

Related: Chalk and 19 Other Things You Don’t Keep in Your Toolbox—But Should

Gorilla Glue is a DIY standby. Its Super Glue Gel formula will not run, it and helps you get glue where you need it to fix things fast. Bonds to plastic, wood, metal, ceramic, rubber, and more—in 10 to 30 seconds. Available on Amazon; $5.97.

Related: 10 Things Always to Keep in Your Junk Drawer

Everything you need to fix minor dings, nicks and nail holes in your walls is in the 3M Patch Plus Primer 4-in-1 package. Squeeze a bit of the spackle with primer out of the tube, and spread it with the built-in putty knife. Once it’s dried, the sanding pad on the cap will finish the job, so you’re ready to paint. Available on Amazon; $6.97.

Related: 9 Problem-Solvers to Snag on Amazon for Under $20

No tool kit is complete without a tape measure. The Stanley 25 ft. PowerLock is durable, easy to use, and with its corrosion resistant full tape blade coating, it will stand up to the test of time. Available from The Home Depot; $9.88.

Related: 15 Handy Things to Get at Home Depot for Under $15

The Irwin metal-body Combination Square is perfect for marking 90 and 45 degree angles, as well as transferring measurements. It has a durable cast zinc body, and a built in level. Available on Amazon; $12.99.

Related: 5 Favorite Toolboxes for Weekend DIYers

Dewalt’s Trigger Clamps are strong enough to meet the demands of professional tradespeople, but easy enough for a DIYer to use. They can be closed using one hand, and even though they can produce 300 lbs. of clamping force, the removable jaw pads ensure your work is never marred. Available from The Home Depot; $34.97.

Related: 7 Tools That Contractors Swear By

An orbital sander is handy for so many jobs, and every homeowner should have one. The 5-inch Black+Decker Random Orbit Sander easily fits in the palm of your hand. It has an attached dust bag, and paper changes are a cinch with its hook and loop system. Available on Amazon; $29.00.

Related: The 12 Best Tools Powered by Batteries

You’ll be able to fix anything in a pinch when you have these toolbox supplies readily available.