First Home Tool Kit — Every Tool a New Homeowner Actually Needs

Here's a guarantee: within the first hour of moving into your new home, you will need a screwdriver. Maybe to tighten a loose door handle, remove a curtain rod, adjust a hinge, or open a battery compartment. Within the first day, you'll need a hammer (to hang a picture or tap furniture together), a tape measure (to check if the couch fits), and an Allen key (for flat-pack furniture assembly).

If you don't have these tools, you'll be making a panicked trip to Bunnings on day one. Don't be that person. Here's every tool a new homeowner actually needs, how to build a toolkit that covers everything without buying things you'll never use, and the best options at every budget.

The "First Hour" Tools

These three tools need to be accessible immediately — not packed in a box on the moving truck. Keep them in your car or your first-night bag:

• Phillips head screwdriver: The most common screw type in Australian homes. You'll use this for light switches, door handles, hinges, curtain brackets, and furniture assembly. $5-$10.
• Flat head screwdriver: Less common but still essential — used for some older fittings, paint can lids, and as a general pry tool. $5-$10.
• Tape measure (5m): You'll measure doorways (will the couch fit?), rooms (where does the bed go?), and walls (how wide is this space for a bookshelf?). A 5-metre tape measure covers everything in a standard home. $5-$10. Browse tape measures →

The Complete Starter Toolkit — 15 Essentials

Beyond the first-hour tools, here's everything a new homeowner needs. This list covers basic repairs, furniture assembly, picture hanging, and minor home maintenance — everything you'll encounter in the first year of home ownership.

1. Hammer — $10-$25

For hanging pictures, tapping furniture together, removing old nails, and general "I need to hit something gently" tasks. A 16oz (450g) claw hammer is the standard — the claw end pulls nails out. Fibreglass or rubber-grip handles absorb shock better than bare wood. Browse hammers →

2-3. Screwdrivers (Phillips + Flat) — $10-$20 for a set

As mentioned above. A set with 2-3 sizes of each type covers everything. Alternatively, buy a multi-bit screwdriver ($10-$15) that holds interchangeable bits in the handle — one tool, multiple head types. Browse screwdriver sets →

4. Adjustable Wrench (250mm) — $10-$20

For tightening and loosening nuts and bolts — tap fittings, furniture bolts, bike maintenance, and plumbing connections. One 250mm (10-inch) adjustable wrench handles most household sizes. Browse adjustable wrenches →

5. Pliers (Combination) — $10-$15

For gripping, pulling, bending, and cutting wire. Combination pliers handle most tasks. Needle-nose pliers ($8-$12) are a useful addition for tight spaces and electrical work. Browse pliers →

6. Utility Knife (Box Cutter) — $5-$10

For opening boxes (you'll open hundreds on moving day), cutting packaging, trimming carpet edges, scoring plasterboard, and general cutting tasks. Retractable blade for safety. Keep spare blades on hand. Browse utility knives →

7. Spirit Level (300mm) — $8-$15

For hanging pictures, shelves, curtain rods, and TVs straight. A 300mm level is compact enough to store easily but long enough for accuracy. Your phone's built-in level works in a pinch, but a real level is more reliable. Browse spirit levels →

8. Allen Key Set — $8-$15

Flat-pack furniture (IKEA, Fantastic Furniture, Amazon) uses Allen bolts almost exclusively. A metric Allen key set (1.5mm to 10mm) in a folding holder covers everything. Most flat-pack furniture comes with a single Allen key, but it's tiny, slow to use, and you'll lose it immediately. A proper set makes assembly 5x faster. Browse Allen key sets →

9. Cordless Drill — $59-$250

The single most useful power tool for a homeowner. A cordless drill handles drilling holes (for wall plugs and anchors), driving screws (10x faster than a manual screwdriver), assembling furniture, mounting shelves, hanging curtain rods, and installing hooks. If you buy one power tool, make it a drill.

• Budget: Ozito 12V Compact Drill (~$59 from Bunnings). Lightweight, enough power for household tasks, comes with a battery and charger. Browse budget drills →
• Mid-range: Ryobi ONE+ 18V Drill Driver (~$129). More powerful, compatible with Ryobi's extensive 18V battery system (one battery powers 200+ tools), excellent value. Browse Ryobi drills →
• Premium: DeWalt 18V XR Brushless Drill (~$249). Professional-grade, brushless motor (lasts longer, more efficient), outstanding build quality. Overkill for most homeowners but built to last a lifetime. Browse DeWalt drills →

10. Torch/Flashlight — $10-$25

For checking under the house, looking in the roof cavity, finding things behind furniture in dark corners, and power outages. A compact LED torch with 200+ lumens is bright enough for all household tasks. Browse torches →

11. Duct Tape — $5-$10

The universal fix-it solution. Temporary repairs on anything from a leaking pipe (temporary!) to a torn fly screen to holding something together until you can do a proper repair. Every home needs a roll. Browse duct tape →

12. WD-40 — $8-$12

Silences squeaky hinges, loosens stuck bolts, displaces moisture from locks, and protects metal from rust. A small can lasts years and solves problems that would otherwise require a tradesperson. Browse WD-40 →

13. Picture Hanging Kit — $8-$15

A kit with various hooks, nails, wire, and adhesive strips for hanging pictures and mirrors. Different hooks support different weights — a kit gives you options for light frames through to heavy mirrors. Browse picture hanging kits →

14. Stud Finder — $15-$30

When hanging heavy items (shelves, TV mounts, large mirrors), you need to screw into a wall stud — not just plasterboard. A stud finder detects the timber framing behind your walls. Without one, you're guessing — and a shelf falling off the wall at 3am is not a fun experience. Browse stud finders →

15. Drill Bit Set — $15-$25

Your drill needs bits. A mixed set with HSS (metal) bits, masonry bits (for brick and concrete), and wood bits covers every material you'll encounter. Pair with a set of wall plugs ($5) for hanging things on masonry walls. Browse drill bit sets →

Pre-Made Kits vs Building Your Own

You can buy pre-made tool kits that include many of these items in one box:

• Stanley 65-Piece Tool Kit (~$120): Includes hammer, screwdrivers, pliers, ratchet, sockets, and a case. Good quality basics that'll last years. Check price →
• Ozito Tool Kit + 12V Drill Combo (~$99): Basic tool set plus a cordless drill. Available at Bunnings. Excellent starter value.
• Amazon Basics Home Tool Kit (~$45): Budget option with decent quality. Covers the basics at a low price. Browse tool kits →

Pre-made kits are great value but often include items you don't need (random socket sizes, hex keys you'll never use) while missing essentials (stud finder, picture hanging kit, WD-40). Our recommendation: buy a basic pre-made kit for the core tools, then add the extras individually.

What NOT to Buy (Yet)

These tools are useful but unnecessary for a first home. Buy them when a specific project requires them:

• Circular saw: Unless you're doing renovation work, you don't need one.
• Angle grinder: A professional tool for cutting metal and masonry. Not a household essential.
• Full socket set: Useful for car maintenance, not needed for general home tasks. The adjustable wrench covers your needs.
• Laser level: A spirit level is fine for household picture hanging. Laser levels are for builders.
• Multimeter: Unless you're comfortable doing your own electrical testing (and you shouldn't be — use a licensed electrician), you don't need one.

Storage

Keep your tools organised and accessible:

• Toolbox (~$20-$40): A simple carry toolbox keeps everything in one place. Look for one with a removable tray for small items. Browse toolboxes →
• Wall-mounted tool rack (~$15-$25): If you have garage space, a pegboard or wall-mounted rack keeps tools visible and accessible. Browse tool racks →

Budget Breakdown

• Bare minimum (5 tools): $30-$50 — screwdrivers, hammer, tape measure, Allen keys. Enough for the first week.
• Starter toolkit (15 tools): $100-$200 — all hand tools listed above, plus utility knife, level, WD-40, duct tape, picture hanging kit, stud finder. Or buy a pre-made kit ($45-$60) and add the extras.
• Complete with drill: $160-$450 — add a cordless drill ($59-$250) to the starter toolkit. This is the setup we recommend for every first home buyer.

Common First-Home Repairs You Can Do Yourself

With your new toolkit, you can handle these common tasks without calling a tradesperson:

• Tightening loose door handles: Phillips screwdriver. 2 minutes. Loose handles are one of the most common issues in new and established homes.
• Fixing a squeaky door hinge: Apply WD-40 to the hinge pin. Open and close the door a few times. Done in 30 seconds.
• Hanging pictures and shelves: Drill, wall plugs, screws, spirit level, and stud finder. The stud finder tells you where the timber frame is behind the plasterboard — screw into a stud and your shelf can hold 20kg+. Screw into plasterboard alone and it'll hold 3-5kg at best.
• Assembling flat-pack furniture: Allen keys, Phillips screwdriver, and patience. Read the instructions (yes, really) and lay all pieces out before starting. Budget 45-90 minutes per piece of furniture.
• Replacing a tap washer: Adjustable wrench, flat screwdriver, new washer ($2 from Bunnings). Turn off the water at the isolating valve first. This fixes most dripping taps and saves a $150+ plumber callout.
• Patching small holes in plasterboard: A tub of wall filler ($8), a putty knife ($5), and sandpaper ($3). Fill the hole, let it dry, sand smooth, paint over. Perfect for filling picture hook holes or small dents.

Knowing how to do these basic tasks saves you hundreds of dollars in tradesperson callouts over the first year of home ownership. YouTube tutorials (search the specific task + "Australia") provide step-by-step video guides for anything you're unsure about.

Frequently Asked Questions

What tools do I need for a new home?

At minimum: a Phillips screwdriver, flat screwdriver, hammer, tape measure, and Allen key set. These 5 tools handle 80% of first-week tasks (furniture assembly, hanging pictures, basic adjustments). Add a cordless drill ($59-$129), adjustable wrench, pliers, utility knife, spirit level, and stud finder and you have a complete toolkit that handles everything a homeowner encounters in the first year. Total cost: $100-$250 for hand tools plus $59-$250 for a cordless drill.

What's the best budget cordless drill in Australia?

The Ozito 12V Compact Drill (~$59 from Bunnings) is the best budget cordless drill in Australia. It has enough power for drilling into plasterboard, timber, and light masonry, it drives screws efficiently, and it comes with a battery and charger. For a first homeowner doing occasional jobs, it's all you need. If you plan to tackle more ambitious projects (decking, shelving, renovations), step up to the Ryobi ONE+ 18V (~$129) — its battery system is compatible with 200+ Ryobi tools, so it grows with you.

Do I need a toolbox or a tool bag?

For a first home, a hard-shell toolbox ($20-$40) is the better choice. It protects tools, stacks neatly in a cupboard or garage, and the removable tray keeps small items (screws, nails, wall plugs) separate from larger tools. Tool bags ($30-$60) are better for tradespeople who carry tools to different sites — they're lighter and have more pockets, but they offer less protection and don't stack. If you have garage space, a wall-mounted pegboard ($15-$25) is the most accessible storage option — you can see every tool at a glance and grab what you need in seconds.