The core toolkit
You don't need a workshop. You need a box of tools that covers 90% of domestic repairs. Buy quality once rather than cheap twice. A good drill will last 20 years.
Cordless drill/driver (18V)
£80–140 (kit with batteries)The single most useful tool in the box. A mid-range Bosch or Makita drives screws, drills walls, and doesn't strip heads. Get one with two batteries.
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Screwdriver set (Pozidriv + flathead)
£15–25 for a quality setDon't use your drill for every screw. A good screwdriver gives more control in tight spaces. Pozidriv (not Phillips!) is the UK standard.
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Spirit level (60cm)
£10–15A cheap plastic level is just as accurate as an expensive one. 60cm covers most wall hanging jobs.
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Claw hammer (450g)
£12–18Tapping things in, pulling nails, persuading things into position. The 450g weight is versatile for most household jobs.
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Adjustable wrench + pliers
£20–30 for bothFor plumbing work (nuts, isolation valves). Get a 250mm adjustable wrench and a pair of slip-joint pliers.
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Tape measure (5m)
£10–14Get a Stanley Fat Max or equivalent. The blade lockoff is critical when you're measuring alone.
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Filling knife + fine filler
£15–20Polycell Fine Surface Filler for small holes and cracks. A 100mm and 150mm filling knife cover everything.
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PTFE tape
£2–3Wraps around thread fittings to seal them. Costs £2. Fixes leaking connections that would otherwise require a plumber.
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Rawlplugs + screws assortment
£12–18A mixed box of yellow (light) and red (heavy) rawlplugs plus assorted screws covers most wall-fixing jobs.
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Where to buy tools (UK)
- Screwfix — Best prices on tools and fixings, trade quality, click & collect in an hour
- B&Q — Good for project materials, paint, filler, and awkward-hour purchases
- Toolstation — Competes with Screwfix on price; worth price-checking both
- eBay (used tools) — Brand-name used tools are perfectly good. Avoid no-brand power tools.
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UK Law: what you must NOT DIY
In England and Wales: electrical work beyond like-for-like replacements requires a Part P certified electrician. All gas work requires a Gas Safe registered engineer. Structural changes require building regulations approval. These are legal requirements, not suggestions. Insurance won't pay out if unlicensed work causes damage.
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