I’m especially impressed with the quantity and variety of screwdriving bits in this set, which fit into the ratcheting screwdriver handle. All 83 pieces fit into the soft-sided storage bag, and at just 7.9 pounds, it’s comfortable for just about anyone to transport.

As a former residential and commercial carpenter, and frequent home DIY-er, I have a strong grasp on the tools required for basic home repairs. I used this hands-on experience to assemble a collection of tool sets that I consider most useful for the average homeowner or renter. I then researched online reviews to ensure I wasn’t excluding any popular, top-performing options. Keeping trusted brand names in mind, as well as useful contents, storage, and organizational options, I landed on the seven tool sets below.

These sets provide the basic tools you need to handle a wide range of jobs, including screwdrivers, hammers, measuring tape, and more essentials. They often don’t have the quality or durability as high-end tools that are only sold individually, but these sets are still a great value, and a good foundation to build on as you continue your DIY or homeowner journey.

Pro Tool Reviews is a successful online publication that has been providing tool reviews and industry news since 2008. In today’s world of Internet news and online content, we found that more and more professionals researched a large majority of their major power tool purchases online. That piqued our interest.

If you’re starting completely from scratch, this Black+Decker set with a power drill is a great option. The 20-volt drill packs enough power to handle basic household drilling tasks like picture hanging and shelf mounting, and thanks to the set of 10 drill bits, you can get started right away.

This Amazon Basics set includes all the fundamentals at a fraction of the price of similar options. The soft-sided storage bag features a large main compartment for bulkier items, as well as several exterior pockets for easy access. The 16-foot tape measure is also much longer than the 10-foot options you see on other budget-friendly tool sets, and the extra footage really comes in handy for measuring floor space in larger rooms.

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It doesn’t have some of the basics found in more comprehensive tool sets, but if you’re looking for an option to tackle automotive projects, look no further than this 168-piece DeWalt set. The 72-tooth ratchet wrenches only require 5 degrees of swing to operate, and with three different sizes and a selection of adapters, they can fit into even the most cramped and tight spaces.

The step up from these basic sets may include multiple screwdriver sizes and types, or a handle that works with different driver bits, and socket sets for working on automotive projects. If you have a specific task in mind, look for a set with applicable tools, like a torpedo level for picture hanging or drill bits for mounting wall anchors. Keep in mind that specialty options—like mechanics tool sets—usually lack basic tools.

The two charts above should give you a fairly definitive list of how to configure your drill speed for the optimal hole saw cutting. This keeps your blades sharp and stops the metal from heating up so much that it deforms the blade tips on the material. Once you lose that edge, you might as well rub a flat piece of steel across it—you’re done.

Soft cloth bags are bulkier and don’t have the strict organizational elements of plastic, but are more convenient to open and close quickly. I’ve used soft-sided bags for years, and love how easy they are to quickly access and zip back up when I’m finished. Some come with shoulder straps, which are more comfortable to carry than the briefcase-style handle of plastic units.

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Boasting a whopping 322 pieces, including both metric and SAE socket sizes (the standard sizes for automotive use), this Workpro set has you covered. The fixed handle screwdrivers deliver the strength and torque needed for serious jobs, and four different wrenches provide a ton of grabbing and gripping functionality.

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.

It used to be that drills had one speed or gear. Now, they typically come with two—but some do better than that. If you happen to have a drill that has three or more speeds, get familiar with your settings. Manufacturers set those differing speeds at specific breakpoints. Knowing the top RPM for each mode will help you better understand how to feather the trigger to achieve the desired drilling speed.

Obviously, if you don’t have an electronic way to control speed or a 3- or 4-speed drill, go manual. If you know your drill’s top speed, then feathering the trigger can at least get you in the ballpark RPM range. In any case, it will certainly do better than pulling the trigger all the way in High speed and burning up your bi-metal saw during its first cut!

I’ve been using this set for a few months now, and have been impressed with both the quality of the polished chrome pieces, and just how easy it is to find what I’m looking for.

Tool sets vary in terms of contents, but a general-purpose option should at the very minimum include these fundamental tools: a hammer, a tape measure, a utility knife, a screwdriver, and adjustable pliers or a wrench.

If you’re primarily interested in tackling light-duty household projects, this Apollo Tools set is a great option. The 8-ounce hammer is smaller than those found in other kits, making it more comfortable for use on the smaller tacks and nails included in the 100-piece fastener set.

Despite the light-duty nature of the tools, this set still provides a robust hard-sided case to keep its contents safe and protected when not in use.

The 16-ounce hammer also has a fiberglass shaft and a textured handle, making for a comfortable, secure grip. It even includes a rachet and a set of 11 sockets for automotive maintenance. The hard-sided case measures less than 4.51 inches wide, so it’s perfect for those with limited storage space.

You may think using a hole saw is simply a matter of chucking it up and drilling. While that may work in many cases, setting the best hole saw cutting speed with your drill—even if you only get close, will save you from burning out the blade and possibly even ruining the material. We thought it might be handy to create a guide for setting the best RPM for hole saws when cutting any material.

Renters and homeowners alike need a well-rounded tool set on hand for basic repair and maintenance tasks. Instead of assembling this collection piece by piece as DIY projects and quick-fix repairs pop up, which can get expensive, those starting from scratch are better off with a pre-assembled tool set.

As autumn gets into full swing, it’s time to start prepping your lawn for the colder weather. Proper lawn winterization […]

More doesn’t always mean better when it comes to tool sets. A set that boasts hundreds of pieces might sound like the most useful, but they’re often made up of expansive socket, wrench, or fastener sets. These sets are often good value if you plan on using the contents, but for folks who just need the basics covered, all these unnecessary pieces make it harder to find the tools you actually need. These larger sets are also bulkier and more expensive.

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Despite the compact size of this Craftsman set, it provides an impressive number of quality tools. The smaller version of our best overall pick, this 57-piece kit includes two full-size screwdrivers—flat and Phillips-head—as well as 21 bit heads that fit into the compatible handle.

The hard-sided storage case mounts all the pieces in molded compartments, and at less than 5 inches thick, it’s easy to store. We’ve always found Craftsman tools to have a valuable balance of quality and affordability, making this set just as useful as a home tool set as a backup you can keep in your RV, boat, or cabin.

When he's not playing with the latest power tool, Clint DeBoer enjoys life as a husband, father, and is an avid reader—especially the Bible. He loves Jesus, has a degree in recording engineering, and has been involved in multimedia and/or online publishing in one form or another since 1992.

Also, instead of a full-size drill, this set features a compact 3.6-volt electric screwdriver—perfect for driving and removing small screws. Thanks to its dual-position design, this electric driver easily converts to a straight-line tool for accessing those hard-to-reach fasteners.

It may very well be that you can’t achieve these speeds using the tools you have. In that case, just do your best. Be sure to use that variable trigger to lower speeds when cutting harder or more brittle materials. It takes patience, but these hole saws work best when used properly—and you may very well end up cutting through the material more quickly than if you run the tool at full speed. You will most certainly go through fewer blades!

Following is a table representing the best RPM speed for using carbide-tipped hole saws. It guides you through the optimal speeds for cutting through aluminum, stainless, fiberglass, ceramic tile, and even cast iron. As a general rule—the harder or more brittle the material, the slower you should cut.

Of course, we also had to include a table for setting the best RPM speed when using bi-metal hole saws. These hole saws seem much more prominent in the trades and cost less than their carbide-tipped brethren. Consider these the general speeds you want to use for optimal cutting through mild steel, stainless, cast iron, brass, and aluminum. You can use the highest speeds on aluminum and mild steel, while cast iron and stainless require a bit more patience.

Tools that use technology like Milwaukee One-Key or DeWalt Tool Connect can let you set different speed ranges for your drill. This lets you assign up to four different speed ranges—and more easily control your RPMs. While we don’t expect anyone will rush out to buy a smart tool just for use with hole saws, it may help if you already have one of these drills in your collection.

All tool sets include some kind of case for transportation and organization, made of either hard plastic or durable fabric. Hard-sided plastic cases have dedicated slots for each tool, which is great for quickly finding frequently used tools. Tool boxes usually have a long, narrow footprint for convenient storage on a shelf. Some extra-large sets even have pull-out drawers for additional organization.

Not too big, not too small, this Craftsman 102-piece tool set is just right. It provides everything you need to perform a wide range of basic household maintenance and repair projects, without becoming overwhelming or disorganized.

You’re also getting both a needle-nose and slip-joint pliers, and a torpedo level with rubber end caps—essential for hanging picture frames or mounting shelves.

Many of the best cordless drills operate on high and low speeds, and some have multiple modes or even software that controls the RPM (rotations per minute) of the keyless drill chuck. Even if you need to throttle the drill by hand, however, speed is crucial. Understanding your drill’s speeds helps you drill more quickly and without ruining your hole saws. With a little practice, you can save a lot of money in the long run.

There are slip-resistant grips on all the hand tools, including two hex key sets (one SAE and one metric). All these pieces fit inside of a heavy-duty storage bag made of 600-denier polyester, with multiple exterior pockets for easy access to your frequently used items.

Whether it’s the latest announcements from your favorite tool brands or the year’s Pro Tool Innovation Award winners and finalists, […]