Tools · Hand tools and quick fixes
Your starter toolkit
About ten tools handle most first-apartment jobs: Phillips and flathead screwdrivers (or one multi-bit driver), a claw hammer, a 25-foot locking tape measure, pliers, an adjustable wrench, a utility knife, a small level, hex keys, a flashlight, and safety glasses marked ANSI Z87.1. Add a plunger, tape and a few screws and wall anchors. Buy decent basics, keep them in one box, and add tools only when a job calls for one.
What to know
- Start with screwdrivers. Consumer Reports calls them the one must-have set above all other hand tools. Get Phillips (cross-shaped tip) and flathead in a few sizes, or one multi-bit screwdriver if space is tight. Source: Consumer Reports
- Add a claw hammer. The curved claw pulls out nails you put in the wrong place. Source: Consumer Reports
- Get a 25-foot tape measure with a lock, for curtains, furniture and anything you hang. Source: Consumer Reports
- Get pliers: needle-nose for tight spots and slip-joint for gripping and turning. Locking (vise-grip) pliers clamp things so your hands are free. Source: Consumer Reports Add an adjustable wrench for nuts and bolts of different sizes. Source: Consumer Reports
- Add a retractable utility knife with spare blades, a small torpedo level, a set of hex (Allen) keys for flat-pack furniture, an LED flashlight, duct tape and painter's tape, and a small stash of nails, screws and wall anchors. Source: Consumer Reports
- Get safety glasses. Every household should have at least one pair of ANSI-approved protective eyewear. Look for "ANSI Z87.1" on the lens or frame. Source: American Academy of Ophthalmology Regular eyeglasses don't protect you from impact or debris. Source: American Academy of Ophthalmology
- Keep it all in one place: a small portable toolbox with compartments, or a soft-sided tool bag or drawer organizer if space is tight. Source: Consumer Reports
If it doesn't work
- Tight budget? Start with a starter kit from a reputable brand or a multitool, then upgrade one tool at a time. Source: Consumer Reports
- Hanging something heavy, like a TV or shelf? Add a stud finder. Source: Consumer Reports See Hanging things on walls.
- Can't reach the ceiling light? A two- or three-step stepstool is tall enough for most light fixtures and high cabinets. Source: Consumer Reports Don't stand on a chair.
- Got something in your eye? Don't rub it. Blink, let tears flush it, or rinse with saline or tap water. Metal or glass, or it still feels like something's there? See a doctor or go to the ER. Source: American Academy of Ophthalmology
- Anything involving wiring? ESFI strongly recommends a qualified, licensed electrician, and if you rent, it's your landlord's job. Source: ESFI
Good to know
The checklist
Screwdrivers (Phillips and flathead) or a multi-bit driver. Claw hammer. 25-foot locking tape measure. Needle-nose and slip-joint pliers. Adjustable wrench. Retractable utility knife and spare blades. Torpedo level. Hex keys. LED flashlight. Duct tape and painter's tape. Assorted nails, screws and wall anchors. ANSI Z87.1 safety glasses. A plunger. Box or bag to keep it in.
Nice to have later
Safety gear like gloves, goggles and dust masks, a stud finder, a wet/dry vacuum, a stepstool, and a needle and thread for loose buttons and hems. Source: Consumer Reports
What these fix
Common first-apartment jobs include tightening loose screws on cabinets and door handles, assembling furniture, hanging pictures and shelves, and small plumbing problems like running toilets. Source: Consumer Reports See Fixing a running toilet.
A first shopping list (made-up example)
Week one: multi-bit screwdriver, hammer, tape measure, slip-joint pliers, safety glasses, flashlight, plunger. Month two, when the bookshelf arrives: hex keys and a level. When it's time to mount the TV: a stud finder.
Renting?
Small fixes like tightening a loose cabinet hinge are usually yours. Anything with wiring, gas, leaks or structural damage goes to your landlord, in writing. Check your lease for what it says about repairs and holes in the walls.
Sources
- Consumer Reports How to build your own basic toolkit
- American Academy of Ophthalmology Eye safety at home
- American Academy of Ophthalmology Protective eyewear
- American Academy of Ophthalmology Recognizing and treating eye injuries
- Electrical Safety Foundation International Do-it-yourself electrical safety
Lesson T1.1 · Last checked October 2, 2026 against the sources listed.
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