These Are The Best Gifts for Tool Lovers - Picks from Bob Vila

Oct 21, 2024

By Timothy Dale

Posted on Oct 21, 2024 9:21 AM EDT

Reviewed By Stephanie Cronk

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The holiday season is the best time of year to show those you care about how much they mean to you by getting together, celebrating, and exchanging gifts. However, it’s not always easy to find the right gift, especially with so many online and in-store brands, retailers, and products to choose from. For that reason, we put together this holiday gift guide for tool lovers.

Whether you’re looking for one of the best power tool sets to surprise a significant other or trying to find the best tool box for a beginner DIYer, this guide has a wide variety of the best tool gifts available. Find flashlights, pocket knives, socket sets, and more in this holiday guide to the top tool gifts and satisfy the tool aficionado in your life this holiday season.

Screwdrivers are one of the most common hand tools used by DIYers and pros, so when the holidays roll around, consider this seven-piece set of slotted and Phillips screwdrivers. These screwdrivers have nonslip cushioned grips designed for ease of use and comfort. Each screwdriver features heat-treated blades that have been chrome plated to improve durability and increase corrosion resistance, ensuring the screwdrivers last as long as possible with proper use and maintenance.

What our tester says: “The Klein Tools set offered the best fit into most screw heads and the most comfortable grip of all the models I tested.”—Glenda Taylor, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the Klein Tools Screwdriver Set at Amazon for $49.97.

Accuracy is key when working on projects around the home, so for the tool lover on your list, this self-leveling laser level by Bosch is one of the top hand tools you can find. The laser level produces a single bright line that can be projected up to 30 feet. Set the laser level to cross-line mode to project two lines that are perfectly level and plumb for a range of alignment applications.

What our tester says: “The laser level was easy to assemble and use and priced comparably to a high-quality spirit level.”—Glenda Taylor, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the Bosch Self-Leveling Laser Level at Amazon for $41.31.

DIYers often find that having a pocket knife on hand quickly cuts down on the project difficulty, whether it’s slicing through plastic straps or dealing with tricky packaging. This reverse tanto blade knife, with its slim, lightweight design, is perfect for an EDC (everyday carry) knife, camping, and use in emergency kits. DIYers will come to rely on the durable, corrosion-resistant steel blade for a host of household jobs.

What our tester says: “I really liked the reverse tanto point because it places more strength behind the blade tip for piercing, even though the point is broader than many of the others we tested. It also leaves a nice amount of upward curve in the edge for efficient slicing action.”—Mark Wolfe, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the Benchmade Reverse Tanto Blade Knife at Amazon for $204.

Beginner DIYers may be enthusiastic about tackling projects around the home, but without a reliable set of power tools, many projects can be impossible to handle. Give the tool enthusiast in your household this six-tool set, which includes a drill, impact driver, flashlight, circular saw, grinder, and reciprocating saw. This set of power tools also comes with a battery charger and two rechargeable batteries, so it’s convenient to charge one battery while working with the other.

What our tester says: “In my tests, the DeWalt six-tool set proved its worth for heavy-duty projects and extended use. With the included 5-amp-hour batteries and their efficient brushless motors, these tools consistently outworked the competition in terms of operating power, and often runtime as well.”—Mark Wolfe, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the DeWalt 20V Cordless Drill Combo Kit at Amazon for $921.27.

Illuminate the yard, shed, garage, basement, cellar, or any other dark locations with the impressive 750-lumen output of this Streamlight ProTac flashlight. As the top pick in our best tested flashlights guide, this quality flashlight comes equipped with a pocket clip to make it easier to carry, while the anti-roll head design prevents the flashlight from rolling onto the floor when you set it down. It’s rated as IPX7 waterproof, ensuring that it won’t fail in the middle of a downpour.

What our tester says: “Right off the bat, I was impressed with the quality and solid feel of this flashlight, despite its small size: less than 6 inches long and weighing about 6 ounces. It’s made of durable impact-resistant aircraft aluminum and features rear one-button operation, which gives it a tactical feel.”—Glenda Taylor, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the Streamlight ProTac 750-Lumen Flashlight at Amazon for $81.29.

Loaded with a variety of the most commonly used tools for DIYers, this 325-piece tool kit from KingTool is an excellent gift for new homeowners and beginner DIYers. With this collection of tools, including a hammer, hacksaw, utility cutting knife, screwdrivers, sockets, wrenches, pliers, scissors, wire cutters, and more, the tool lover on your list will be ready to tackle a range of household jobs. For easy transportation and storage, the entire tool kit is packed into a sturdy tool box with a built-in drawer and carrying handle.

Get the KingTool 325-Piece Tool Kit at Amazon for $87.96.

Milwaukee is known for making quality tools and tool accessories, and its 56-piece socket set doesn’t disappoint. The kit includes both SAE and metric socket fasteners in a variety of sizes and comes in a sturdy, lightweight plastic case. It features a ratchet, a joint socket, extension bars, and a range of standard sockets made of durable alloy steel with a powder-coated finish to help protect against rusting and corrosion.

What our tester says: “I liked the fact that these sockets have a four-sided shape versus a round shape, which prevents them from rolling away and allows use with a transitional monkey wrench or crescent wrench to create more torque.”—Tony Carrick, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the Milwaukee 56-Piece Socket Set at Amazon for $158.55.

Make it easy to navigate around the house or a busy jobsite with this rolling tool box by Keter. The tool box features a broad base to store larger power tools, like a drill, circular saw, or impact driver, as well as six removable bins that are designed for storing small parts, tools, and hardware. The tool box sits on a pair of heavy-duty wheels and has a telescoping handle for improved mobility.

What our tester says: “I found the Masterloader very easy to open with one hand, and the sliding storage provided all the access I could ask for. I also liked the smaller compartment for hand tools that’s separate from power tools and parts (each of which has its own section).”—Tom Scalisi, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the Keter Masterloader Rolling Tool Box at Amazon for $86.98.

From plumbing to electrical and everything in between, pliers are a reliable tool to help tackle a range of household projects. This seven-piece set of pliers includes plumber’s pliers for gripping wet fittings, linesman pliers for twisting wires, slip joint pliers to work on the car, needle-nose pliers to access fasteners in tight locations, and a set of diagonal pliers to cut through wire and lightweight metal with ease. Consider this set of heat-treated pliers for the DIYer on your list.

Get the WorkPro 7-Piece Pliers Set at Amazon for $19.99.

The attractive appearance of the Opinel No.08 pocket knife is only further enhanced by the high-quality durability and cutting power of the carbon-steel blade. This pocket knife features a hard, durable beechwood handle that looks and feels great, as well as a 3.28-inch flat blade with a gentle curve toward the tip. Additionally, the pocket knife has a built-in locking mechanism that keeps the blade in place no matter whether it’s open or closed.

What our tester says: “The hard carbon-steel blade is sturdy enough to cut through hardwoods and softwoods when carving or whittling.”—Mark Wolfe, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the Opinel No.08 Folding Pocket Knife at Amazon for $18.89.

Constantly twisting a screwdriver in an attempt to drive screws through drywall, pine, and other common materials can quickly get tiring. It also puts strain on the user’s hand, wrist, and forearm. Consider getting this DeWalt cordless screwdriver kit, which was our top pick in the best tested cordless screwdrivers guide. It will make it easier and less taxing for the avid DIYer on your gift list to fasten screws into wood, plastic, and light-gauge metal. The cordless screwdriver operates at up to 430 revolutions per minute (RPM), and it comes with two batteries for convenient recharging.

What our tester says: “The 8V MAX cordless screwdriver aced all my tests, including quickly driving screws into drywall, pine, and even denser birch wood without bogging down.”—Glenda Taylor, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the DeWalt 8V MAX Cordless Screwdriver Kit at Amazon for $119.

Not every tool storage option needs to have a host of drawers, shelves, and compartments to keep the tools organized. This simple yet effective tool organizer by Bucket Boss fits on most 5-gallon buckets to provide DIYers with tool hooks for hammers, drills, pry bars, and other larger tools. In addition, the tool organizer is made with tough, durable fabric so DIYers don’t need to worry about the pockets and pouches being cut or torn by sharp knives, screwdrivers, or other common tools.

Get the Bucket Boss Bucket Tool Organizer at Amazon for $14.99.

It’s important to be able to see when working on projects around the home, so for times when your DIYer gift recipient needs a light with a base for working under the stairs, feeding a wire through the ceiling, or searching the shed at night, give them the right light for the job. This cordless work light from Milwaukee was a favorite in our tested flashlights guide. The work light features a 90-degree rotating head and an integrated hook for hands-free operation, as well as an impact-resistant lens, just in case the work light gets knocked over or dropped on the ground.

What our tester says: “A flip-out hook allows users to hang the Milwaukee rather than put it on a flat surface—a true convenience—and there’s a single on/off switch on the front. My favorite part of the flashlight is the adjustable head that allowed me to direct the beam higher or lower as necessary.”—Glenda Taylor, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the Milwaukee 2735-20 M18 Work Light at Amazon for $36.

Drills are frequently paired with screwdriver bits to loosen or secure fasteners for a variety of household jobs, but the main purpose of a drill is to create uniform holes. This set of high-speed steel (HSS) DeWalt drill bits ranges in size from 1/16 inch to ½ inch, giving DIYers a range of sizing options to choose from. The split-point tip design reduces the risk of the drill bit jumping or walking during use, while the tapered web construction helps improve durability and resist breakage.

Get the DeWalt 14-Piece Drill Bit Set at Amazon for $14.97.

Hacksaws are a go-to hand tool for both plumbers and electricians because of the durability, precision, and cutting power of the fine-toothed blade. This hacksaw by Klein Tools features grips on the front and back of the tool, making it easier to hold and control the saw for fast, precise cuts. DIYers can adjust the position of the blade between 90 and 45 degrees, depending on the project, while additional blades (not included) can be safely kept in the built-in storage compartment until they are needed.

What our tester says: “On PVC and steel alike, the tight blade moved very smoothly and with little vibration. This hacksaw was definitely built to tackle harder jobs with ease.”—Glenda Taylor, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the Klein Tools 12-Inch Hacksaw at Amazon for $28.99.

A well-known saying in woodworking and for DIY projects in general is “measure twice, cut once.” For the most accurate outcome, it’s important to have a quality measuring tape—like this one from Stanley. The measuring tape has large, easy-to-read lettering and markings, including both imperial and metric measurements, eliminating the need to convert plan measurements from one system to another. It can stretch up to 26 feet in length and features a built-in nail hook to make long measurements easier to tackle with only one person.

What our tester says: “In addition to accuracy, this tape measure felt good while working. Visually, the tape’s uncluttered appearance, large block markings, and matte finish made it easy to read.”—Glenda Taylor, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the Stanley 26-Foot Measuring Tape at Amazon for $18.90.

Cut or split wood, plastic, and steel with this 16-piece punch and chisel set, which includes a chisel gauge, five pin punches, two center punches, five tape punches, and three cold chisels. This set is made of chrome-vanadium steel that has been heat-treated to increase the hardness and durability of the tools. DIYers can use the punches to remove pins and bushings, as well as drive fasteners such as nails or dowels. Then when the project is finished, the tools can be packed away into the included pouch for easy storage.

Get the Horusdy 16-Piece Punch and Chisel Set at Amazon for $20.99.

Carrying an entire tool box around isn’t always possible or practical, but with the Leatherman 18-in-1 multi-tool, DIYers have access to a variety of tools in one versatile product. This multi-tool features a set of pliers, a pocket knife, a saw, a bottle-opener, scissors, screwdrivers, and many more built-in tools that come in a tough fabric carrying case. Your tool lover can keep it in the car or around the house to deal with a host of simple tasks instead of having to dig through the tool box every time a screw needs to be tightened or a wire needs to be cut.

What our tester says: “Durable construction quality and practical functionality make this one of the most popular multi-tools around for a host of chores at work, in the shop, at home, and in the outdoors.”—Mark Wolfe, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the Leatherman 18-in-1 Multi-Tool at Amazon for $119.95.

Designed with a unique pink color palette, this tool set by Dekopro collects the most commonly used tools for home maintenance, including a cordless drill and drill bits, a hacksaw, a hammer, a tape measure, a level, a utility knife, pliers, and screwdrivers. The tool set comes in a durable blown-plastic carrying case that makes it easy to organize and store the assorted tools and accessories. It also includes a battery and charger to ensure the cordless drill is ready to go for the next DIY job.

Get the Dekopro 20V Cordless Drill Tool Set at Amazon for $73.99.

Give the gift of easy tool storage and organization with this blue enamel Trusco tool box. It opens in two directions to reveal a large open base for hammers, screwdrivers, and other medium-size tools. The top tier of the tool box features 10 small storage compartments to keep screws, bolts, washers, and any other fasteners or accessories contained. Additionally, this tool box boasts a tough alloy steel construction and includes a hole that goes through both sides of the lid, allowing the user to add a lock for enhanced security.

What our tester says: “It isn’t often that a product surprises us enough to take the top spot during a hands-on review, but I very much liked the Trusco tool box. Compared with other boxes of its size, it’s made with much higher-quality metal, and the fit and finish were spot on.”—Tom Scalisi, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the Trusco 2-Level Tool Box at Amazon for $66.80.

Contributing Writer

Timothy Dale is a home improvement writer who has been in the industry for several years. In his work for BobVila.com, he has written a number of how-to articles related to yard maintenance, vehicle repair, and home renovation, not to mention a wide variety of buying guides and articles on DIY projects. He always ensures readers get the information they need to tackle their next project.

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