The 35 Best Gifts for a Handyman in 2024 - Gifts for DIYers

Nov 11, 2024

These tools, accessories, and organizers are sure to be welcome additions to their toolkit or workshop.

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Why Trust Us?

Having a reliable handyman a quick text or phone call away sets your mind at ease. That’s why when the holidays roll around, a present to show your appreciation is in order.

If you’re not familiar with your recipient’s personal preferences, or the tool and accessory space in general, finding the best gift for your handyman may not be easy. To narrow down your search—and hopefully make the task less intimidating—we’ve put together this list of useful and practical gift ideas to choose from.

With experience as a residential and commercial carpenter in New York City, as well as a home repair and maintenance aficionado, Alex Rennie provides insight on the type of products that a handyman, maintenance person, or DIYer would find the most useful. We've filled the list with products that we've used personally or have been manufactured by brands we trust, like Milwaukee and DeWalt. We also included products with varying prices, from an $8 tape measure to a $210 heated jacket, so whatever your budget is, there’s something for your handyman (and you) on the list.

Looking for more gift ideas? Check out our guides to the best tool gifts, gifts for woodworkers, and outdoor gifts.

It’s not the cheapest option on our list, but if the handyman in your life regularly works outside in frigid weather, this heated jacket is worth the price. It features a tough polyester exterior shell, and the included M12 battery packs an impressive eight-hour runtime. An LED controller will give him control over preferred heat settings and what heating zones are activated.

The super-strong attraction of these rare earth magnets makes them perfect for locating studs behind drywall and wrangling screws that he doesn't want rolling away. Also, he can try gluing them to his hand tools and attaching the tools to his metal work cart for super easy access.

If the handyman in your life manages landscaping, consider this 10-inch pruning saw. Its razor-sharp, taper-ground teeth chew through branches up to six inches in diameter, and the long, ergonomic handle provides a tight, comfortable grip. When he's finished, the blade folds into the handle for safe storage.

If he works outdoors, or at any site where power outlets are scarce, this Ridgid extension cord is a valuable tool to have on hand. It provides three AC outlets (protected by spring covers) and two USB outlets for charging his phone, tablet, or radio simultaneously.

This multifunctional work table also doubles as a sawhorse, making it an ideal gift for anyone tackling a wide range of home repairs or maintenance tasks. It also weighs just 30 pounds, which is heavy enough to provide a sturdy foundation and still lightweight enough to easily carry around a workspace.

This specific Bosch laser will save him time and energy on countless construction projects, thanks to its accurate readings and straightforward design. It's small enough to carry around in his pocket until he needs it, and the backlit display is easy to read in poorly lit work spaces.

Few things are more frustrating than encountering a broken bolt or a stripped screw head on a project, both of which can take valuable time to remove effectively. We’re big fans of this Alden kit, which provides clear instructions on how to correctly use their double-sided extractors.

Know a carpenter? This mechanical pencil comes with a pocket clip and has a built-in sharpener that makes hard-to-reach places much easier to mark. The lead works on both wet and dry surfaces, and it even comes with lead refills.

This cordless screwdriver is USB-rechargeable and a real godsend for those who hate breaking out their bulky electric drill. Packaged with nine drill bits, a charging cable, and an LED light, this device is compact enough to tuck in a tool belt pocket or small toolbox compartment for both safekeeping and easy access on the go.

Small fasteners have a tendency to get lost or misplaced during assembly projects, and these storage trays keep those valuable screws, nuts, and washers in one place and neatly organized. This set comes with three different-sized trays, and thanks to their magnetic construction, they even stick on the side of a metal workbench or tool cabinet.

Handyman projects frequently require kneeling and crouching, so quality knee protection like this prevents mobility issues down the road. These pads use high-density foam and a gel-filled zone for maximum comfort, and they feature velcro straps to maintain a snug fit throughout the day. They’re also light and compact enough to carry around in a tool bag until needed.

This ultra-compact headlamp is small enough to fit into a jacket pocket but still packs enough power to generate a 400 lumen beam. It uses an internal rechargeable battery and comes with a USB-C charging cord.

This infrared thermometer pinpoints areas with potential air leaks or inadequate insulation in the home, giving him valuable information to save on heating and cooling bills after resolving the issue. The controls are easy to use: Just point the laser dot at the surface being measured, pull the trigger, and the digital readout displays the temperature.

Like ice skates for a hockey player, this gives your handyman a way to effortlessly and comfortably glide all around their workspace. It features a padded cushion for comfort that lasts hours, and the built-in tool tray cuts down on those annoying trips back and forth to the tool chest or cabinet. Its tubular steel frame supports up to 250 pounds of weight and is covered by a one-year warranty.

This extendable magnetic pickup tool retrieves dropped screws, nuts, and bolts just by hovering over the item. Equipped with a three-bulb LED flashlight, it extends up to 22 inches and even adjusts 360 degrees. It also has a magnetic base for hands-free use on metal surfaces.

Whether he's mounting cabinetry, hanging wall art, or installing shelving, his workpieces must be level. This SKIL laser level projects easy-to-see green lines in both horizontal and vertical directions. This gift ensures all parts of his project are straight and true the first time, saving him the time and trouble associated with an askew shelf or frame.

This handy organizer is easy to transport and fits inside any five-gallon bucket. It keeps his tools and gear accessible and features 30 pockets and three interior loops to keep longer tools secure. The durable polyester material resists rips and tears.

Most handymen are known for being prepared in any situation, and that includes a dead car battery. Aside from being able to jump-start a car, its coolest feature is a USB charging cable that allows him to ensure it's always juiced up and ready to go.

Cordless, rechargeable, and tough, these electric scissors get the job done as well or better than the pair of manual scissors he bought at the craft store a decade ago. This device holds a charge for months and weighs less than a pound.

Raised nail heads are inevitable during finishing tasks, and this clever little tool punches them in quickly and easily. Instead of using a bulky hammer that might dent his finished surface, simply place the tip of this tool against the nail, pull back the spring, and release to tap it in.

Alex Rennie is a freelance writer who specializes in the Home Improvement, DIY, and Tool space. As a former residential and commercial carpenter, Alex uses his hands-on experience to write practical buying guides, how-to articles, and product reviews. His work has also appeared in Business Insider's Insider Picks, and before his writing career, he was a full-time carpenter living in New York City. There, he worked as part of a team designing, building, and installing large furniture pieces, as well as performing a variety of home repair and maintenance projects. Alex currently lives in Los Angeles, CA, and spends his free time exploring the beaches and mountains with his fiancé and their dog Louie.

The 30 Best Stocking Stuffers for Men

The 60 Best Christmas Gifts for Men

The 6 Best Drones for Kids Who Want to Fly

The Best Advent Calendars for Men

The 6 Best Computer Monitors

The 9 Best Robotics Kits for Kids

The 45 Best Gifts for Gamers

The 41 Best Tool Gifts

The 29 Best Gifts for Woodworkers and Carpenters

The Best Tech Gifts of 2024

33 Space Gifts That Are Out of This World

Lego’s New Advent Calendars Are Already Here