You just closed on a house. The inspector left a three-page list of minor things to address. Your dad says you need "a good set of tools." Your apartment toolkit — a butter knife, one hammer, and a IKEA Allen wrench collection — isn't going to cut it anymore.
Here's the thing about tool sets marketed to new homeowners: most of them include a lot of things you'll rarely use and skip the things you'll use constantly. We looked at four options and broke down exactly what you get and what you'll still need to buy.
What You Actually Need as a New Homeowner
Before we get to sets, here's the minimum inventory for real homeowner tasks (hanging pictures, tightening hinges, assembling furniture, basic plumbing fixes, patching drywall, mounting curtain rods):
- Claw hammer (16 oz)
- Tape measure (25 ft)
- Phillips and flathead screwdrivers, multiple sizes
- Adjustable wrench (8" or 10")
- Needle-nose pliers
- Combination pliers (slip-joint)
- Utility knife
- Level (24" minimum)
- Drill/driver (not always in hand tool sets — important gap)
- Stud finder
Use this list to evaluate every set below. The gaps tell you what to add to cart alongside it.
The Tool Sets
1. Stanley 210-Piece Mechanics Tool Set (STMT73795) — Discontinued
Best for sheer variety on a tight budget — with a big asterisk.
Note: This set is out of stock and discontinued at major retailers. No direct replacement has been identified. The set may appear on secondary marketplaces; verify availability before purchasing.
Stanley's 210-piece set was widely available, and for good reason: 210 tools for was hard to argue with. You get a comprehensive socket set (both SAE and metric, 3/8" and 1/4" drive), combination wrenches, hex keys, ratchets, extensions, screwdrivers, bits, and pliers — all in a hard plastic case that actually keeps things organized. The full 210-piece count includes more hand tools than a typical mechanics set.
Here's the asterisk: this is a mechanics set, meaning it's optimized for working on cars and machinery, not houses. The socket-heavy inventory is great for tightening bolts on a lawnmower. It is not what you'll grab when you're hanging curtain rods or tightening a loose toilet seat. There's no hammer, no tape measure, no utility knife, and no level.
That said, the socket set is genuinely useful, and you'll eventually need it. If you can find this set, budget another for the missing pieces: a hammer, tape measure, and a level.
What's included: Ratchets, sockets (SAE and metric, 1/4" and 3/8" drive), combination wrenches, hex keys, extensions, pliers, screwdrivers, bits; chrome vanadium; hard plastic blow-molded case
What's missing: Hammer, tape measure, level, utility knife
Case: Hard plastic, blow-molded tray
Price: Discontinued — check secondary listings
Where to buy: Home Depot — Out of stock | Amazon price history (CamelCamelCamel)
2. DEWALT 168-Piece Home Tool Kit (DWMT45168)~
Best overall for genuine homeowner tasks. This is the one to buy.
Note: The DWMT45168 has been discontinued. The current replacement is the DWMT73803, a 168-piece mechanics tool set with 3 Pear Head ratchets (1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" drive), SAE and metric sockets (shallow and deep), extensions, U-joints, combination wrenches, hex keys, nut driver bits, and a multi-driver. It uses DeWalt's DirectTorque technology on polished chrome vanadium steel and includes a hard case. Current lowest price: atBomgaars.
Important spec correction: The DWMT45168 was a mechanics-focused socket and wrench set, not a homeowner hand tool kit. The description below of included hand tools (hammer, tape measure, pliers, wrench, utility knife, torpedo level) applied to a different DeWalt product line. The DWMT73803 replacement is likewise a mechanics set. If you need a full homeowner hand-tool kit from DeWalt, look at the DCHH28C1 or similar combo kits.
DeWalt's quality is well above the typical "homeowner kit" level. The DirectTorque ratchets are among the best in class at this price point. Reviewers on Home Depot rate this set 4.9/5. The one gap noted across reviews: limited large socket sizes for heavy automotive work.
The one gap: no stud finder. Add a basic stud finder(~) and you're fully kitted out for 95% of new homeowner tasks.
What's included (DWMT73803): 3 Pear Head ratchets (1/4", 3/8", 1/2" drive), SAE and metric sockets (shallow and deep), extensions, U-joints, combination wrenches, hex keys, nut driver bits, multi-driver, hard case; DirectTorque tech, polished chrome vanadium
What's missing: Hammer, tape measure, level, pliers, utility knife, stud finder, drill/driver
Case: Hard case
Price: ~ (DWMT73803 replacement)
Where to buy: Home Depot (DWMT73803) — check current price | Bomgaars | DeWalt official
3. Crescent CTK170CMP2 170-Piece Mechanics Tool Set — Discontinued
Buy this if you want to prioritize socket/wrench quality over hand tools.
Note: The CTK170CMP2 appears discontinued with no current listings at major retailers. A similar alternative is the Crescent CTK180 (180-piece set). Check secondary marketplaces for remaining stock. No current price available.
Crescent is a brand that doesn't get enough credit in the budget tool category. The 170-piece CTK170CMP2 is a mechanics-focused set, but the quality of the ratchets and sockets is noticeably better than Stanley's at the same price tier. The 72-tooth ratchets have a 5-degree swing arc — useful in tight spots. The chrome vanadium sockets feel more substantial than Stanley's comparable pieces.
Like the Stanley, this is mostly sockets and wrenches — not a homeowner hand-tool setup. You'll need to add a hammer, level, tape measure, and screwdrivers. But if your home has a lot of mechanical work (older house with lots of hardware, HVAC maintenance, working on a car in the garage), the Crescent's socket quality is worth the premium over the Stanley.
The two-drawer blow-mold case is excellent. Everything has a spot. The trays are color-coded and clearly labeled. After 10 minutes with this set, you'll know where everything lives. Some unboxings have noted loose sockets and ratchets rattling in the case trays — minor quality control variance that doesn't affect tool performance.
What's included: Ratchets (72-tooth, 1/4" and 3/8" drive), sockets (SAE and metric), combination wrenches (SAE and metric), hex keys, extensions; chrome vanadium; lifetime warranty
What's missing: Hammer, tape measure, level, pliers, screwdrivers (standard), utility knife
Case: Two-drawer blow-mold hard case
Price: Discontinued — check secondary listings
Where to buy: Pete's Tools (may have stock) | Howard Supply (may have stock)
4. Black+Decker 20V MAX Drill/Driver + Hand Tool Kit (BDCDMT120IA)~
Best if you need a drill and don't have one — a crucial gap in every other set here.
Every other set in this guide leaves out a drill. The Black+Decker BDCDMT120IA combo kit fixes that. You get a 20V MAX lithium-ion drill/driver with a battery and charger, plus a hand tool and accessory kit that includes a tape measure, levels, screwdrivers, pliers, and a basic bit set.
The drill itself is a basic homeowner-grade brushed motor drill — 3/8" keyless chuck, 800 RPM max, 1.5Ah lithium-ion battery. It's not a DeWalt Pro or a Milwaukee M18, and it won't drill through concrete — but for assembling furniture, hanging shelves, and driving screws into wood, it does exactly what you need. The 20V MAX battery is compatible with other Black+Decker 20V tools, though the platform is smaller than Ryobi ONE+ or DeWalt 20V MAX. Note that the brushed motor (rather than brushless) means higher long-term wear; some users report battery and trigger contact issues over time.
The hand tool portion is competent but not exceptional. The tape measure is a 16-footer (shorter than ideal — you'll want a 25-footer for measuring rooms), and the sockets are basic. The real value is the drill + charger + battery in the same box.
If you already have a drill, skip this and buy a dedicated hand tool kit. If you don't have a drill and you're starting from zero, this gets you operational faster than anything else on this list.
What's included: 20V MAX brushed drill/driver (800 RPM, 3/8" chuck), 1.5Ah battery, charger, tape measure (16 ft), screwdrivers, pliers, level, bit set, limited socket set
What's missing: Stud finder, 25 ft tape measure (the 16 ft is too short), hammer (check your kit — some versions include one)
Notable issues: Brushed motor wears faster than brushless alternatives; some reports of battery contact and trigger issues with extended use
Case: Soft bag + drill case
Price: ~
Where to buy: Black+Decker official
Side-by-Side: What You Get vs. What You Need
| Item Needed | Stanley 210-pc | DeWalt 168-pc | Crescent 170-pc | B+D Drill Kit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hammer | No | Yes | No | Sometimes |
| Tape measure | No | 25 ft | No | 16 ft |
| Screwdrivers | No | 6-in-1 | No | Yes |
| Adjustable wrench | No | 8" | No | No |
| Pliers | No | 2 types | No | Yes |
| Utility knife | No | Yes | No | No |
| Level | No | Torpedo | No | Yes |
| Sockets/ratchets | Yes | Yes | Yes | Basic |
| Drill/driver | No | No | No | Yes |
| Price | Discontinued | ~ (DWMT73803) | Discontinued | ~ |
The Recommendation
Most new homeowners: DeWalt 168-piece (DWMT73803, the replacement for the discontinued DWMT45168). It's a solid mechanics and home tool set with DirectTorque ratchets. Note that both it and its predecessor are mechanics-focused; supplement with a dedicated hand tool kit for hammers, tape measure, and levels. Add a stud finder and you're done.
If you don't have a drill: Black+Decker BDCDMT120IA.Yes, the hand tools are less complete — supplement with a adjustable wrench and a 25-foot tape measure and you're in good shape. Current price is ~ down from the previously listed.
If you're a car person too: The DeWalt DWMT73803 covers both house and garage needs well. The Stanley STMT73795 is discontinued; look for it secondhand or consider a current Stanley mechanics set as an alternative.
What to Buy Separately No Matter What
No kit ships with these, and you'll wish you had them:
- A stud finder(~) — you'll use this the first week you're in the house
- A good utility knifewith extra blades (~)
- A 48" level(~) — the torpedo level in kits is too short for hanging pictures in a straight line
- A Milwaukee Tape Measure (25 ft)(~) — the best tape measure at any price