This DIYer gift guide has you covered – whether you’re looking for something for a new homeowner, for an intermediate DIYer, or a DIY expert, there are gifts on this list for everyone. As a passionate DIYer, I’ve pulled together this list based on my own personal experiences, but also at the recommendations of my friends and family.
Putting together a toolbox for a newbie? Check out this post. In it, I list my top ten most important tools for any DIYer to own!
Table of Contents
- DIYer Gift Guide: Beginner DIYers
- DIYer Gift Guide: Intermediate DIYers
- DIYer Gift Guide: Advanced DIYers
DIYer Gift Guide: Beginner DIYers
Beginner Hand Tools
Apollo Tools DT9706 | 39 Piece Hand Tool Set
One of my favorite things about this particular set is that it comes in a molded carrying case – you’ll always know which tool is missing, and it’s easy to transport the whole thing from project to project.
It has everything needed for minor tasks around the house, including hex (easier IKEA assembly, anyone?), a hammer, a wrench, or a knife.
A ton of DIY projects require caulk, and you can’t apply caulk without a caulk gun. I’ve bought both the expensive ones and the cheap ones, and while I love the ergonomics of the more molded handles on the expensive kind, for 90% of projects, this basic one will do just fine.
This exact speed square is one of my favorite tools of all time. I use it in nearly every project, and I honestly don’t know what I would do without it. Seriously – your DIY loved one will cherish this.
I think I have three of these now – and they’re all worth it. I actually built the headboard in our master bedroom with this exact staple gun!
Beginner Power Tools
The large digital display on this tape measure makes it incredibly easy to use and get an accurate result. You can even save up to 3 measurements with just the tap of a button.
Milwaukee Installation Drill/Driver Kit
Weighing just under 2 pounds with the battery attached, this ultra-compact drill is perfect for use in those tight areas like under sinks, in cabinets and drawers, and so much more.
Most beginning DIYers aren’t going to be ready to have 10,000 different tools that can cut things. So if you can only have one, go with the jigsaw. It might not be the most elegant or accurate, but it can do pretty much anything you ask it to.
Franklin ProSensor Stud Finder
With time, the beginning DIYer in your life will learn how to find studs without a stud finder, but in the meantime you can save them a ton of frustration by gifting them a great one (the cheap ones aren’t really worth it, in my opinion)
Beginner Safety and Organization
These gloves have touch-screen fingertips, as well as padded foam inside, and breathable, flexible material. Now my hands can be protected and comfortable and I don’t have to take them off until I’m finished working!
PS: Gloves seem to wear out SO quickly, so grab them a few pairs – they’ll thank you!
I recently saw a video of why safety goggles are important – someone was working on a project, the blade came loose and shot towards their face, BUT the safety goggles stopped it. Seriously…get good safety gear. I like goggles in particular because they keep dust out.
Beginner Accessories and Small Gifts
Craftsman 100 Piece Drilling And Driving Kit
I can’t tell you how happy I was when I got my first big pack of drill bits. There is nothing like knowing that whatever you need, it’s right there in your shop.
THESE ARE SO COOL. I’d use them on every project if I could. Pretty much any home product comes with cheap plastic wall anchors, and these are a serious upgrade – an especially wonderful gift for new homeowners. Plus, they’re seriously strong.
DIYer Gift Guide: Intermediate DIYers
Intermediate Hand Tools
Bosch Laser Self-Leveling Laser Level
After about 36″ to 48″, levels get really cumbersome. Either you need two people, or things shift exactly when you need them not to. Thankfully, a laser level can fix all of that – and this one is a great affordable option!
Kreg jigs have become a HUGE thing in DIY over the last decade or so – and there’s good reason for it! They’re incredibly useful. That being said, you don’t really need more than one jig…I’d say go for the nicer model so you aren’t left wanting later on.
I seriously love these things – I use them in nearly every project, and they’re SO strong. I much prefer these to the crank style of clamp because they’re so quick and easy to use. PS: Even if your DIYer already has some, gift them some more – you can never have too many clamps.
Matching Screwdriver Set – Craftsman Slotted Phillips Screwdriver Set
Almost all of us have a hodge-podge of screwdrivers given to us by friends and family…but that makes them pretty hard to store. Your intermediate DIYer friend/family member will love having a matching set they can easily store and proudly display. (I have a few of these Craftsman ones, and they’re wonderful)
A short level is okay for super small projects, but once you start hanging long shelves or working on larger-scale DIYs, a long level is a must. Your intermediate DIY friend/family member will thank you!
On a whim in my early days of DIY, I picked up these folding sawhorses…and they are some of the most used items in my shop of all time. They’re deceptively strong, lightweight, and fold up for easy storage.
There are only a few ways to make a flush cut…and this style of Japanese hand saws do the job perfectly (and are a DIYer favorite). I’d bet if they don’t already have one of these, they’ve been pining over them for years.
Intermediate Power Tools
CRAFTSMAN CMXEVBE17590 | 9 Gallon Wet/Dry Portable Shop Vacuum
Where would I be without my shop vac? Buried deep under piles, and piles, and PILES of sawdust, that’s where. While this isn’t necessary for a beginner DIYer, it’s a staple of any intermediate or advanced DIYer’s shop.
This 9 gallon wet/dry portable shop vacuum is perfect for home renovations, general cleaning, and emergency clean-up as well.
I absolutely love my Ryobi tools – I actually wrote a post all about the company and why I chose them for my tools, which you can read here. Every DIYer will end up with at least a power drill, and likely many other power tools. This particular bundle saves a TON of money when compared to purchasing the tools separately, and it’s the exact one I started with. I can highly recommend it.
When my Dremel needs to be replaced, I’ll be buying this one – it’s powerful, can accept all kinds of accessories, and is a great multi-tool. It’s kind of amazing all that a Dremel can do. (PS: I wrote a HUGE post about Dremels and other rotary tools, which you can check out here)
If your DIY enthusiast friend or family member is doing ANY electrical work at all, gift them a multimeter- it’s a great way to diagnose a ton of electrical problems and can reliably help them identify if there’s a live wire or not. I used my first one so much it fell apart!
Routers can do things that other tools just can’t – but buying one can feel more like a luxury than an essential for an intermediate DIYer. Gift them one! They’ll be thrilled and will love the extra layer of finish it adds to their projects.
Intermediate Safety and Organization
I’ve definitely been bad about wearing a mask or respirator in the past (mostly because I didn’t feel they were worth it due to poor fit), but once I purchased this respirator, it’s become a habit. Seriously – even mundane projects like drywall repair can kick up some nasty particles…protect your lungs.
Intermediate Accessories and Small Gifts
Waxed Canvas Tool Bucket Organizer
DIY is inherently messy – and that’s why I love this waxed canvas organizer. It’s easy to clean, durable, and sturdy! Plus, it makes staying organized during a project so much easier.
If the DIYer in your life has done any kind of furniture painting, they’ve probably used chalk paint. And the ‘correct way of using the paint and finishes involve these brushes…which they’ve likely bypassed because ‘a regular brush will do’. Believe me…they’ll be thrilled to have these.
There’s nothing quite like the frustration of being knee-deep in a project and realizing that screw you need is nowhere to be found. This gift will solve that problem and make all of your projects so much easier. 10 super-strong magnets make up the wristband, allowing it to hold a TON of equipment, whether it’s screws, nails, washers, drill bits, or whatever else.
You’ve probably noticed that your friends who love DIY and home repair have a tendency to collect tools. A LOT of tools. This organizer offers a flexible storage solution, with deep units that can be stacked and connected in a ton of ways. This tool organizer is sturdy and convenient and can make the perfect gift for that special someone in your life.
When it comes to electrical work, this tool seriously streamlined things for me – it can cut, strip, twist, and everything else you could possibly need during a wiring or electrical project.
DIYer Gift Guide: Advanced DIYers
Advanced Hand Tools
For complicated cuts or hard to measure areas, this contour gauge can seriously come in handy – it even locks to keep the exact profile of what you were measuring. I really could have used this when we were installing our engineered hardwood floors.
Magnetic Rubberized Tiny Screwdrivers
I’m amazed at how often I use these – and how easily I lose them. I’ve bought so many sets of tiny/mini screwdrivers over the years, and the rubberized and magnetic versions are the best. They’re not something most DIYers think they need…until they own them!
Centipede Support for Sheet Goods
4’x8′ sheets of plywood are heavy, unwieldy, and just not that much fun to work with. Plus, DIYers are usually working on the ground, which isn’t great for your back. This centipede support lets DIYers lift up their sheet goods up off the floor!
Advanced Power Tools
This is by far the most expensive thing on this list, but for good reason. Nearly all miter saws work on a slide system, but not this one. If your DIYer has a narrow shop like mine, this miter saw will be invaluable since it can sit flush against the wall. It’s exactly the same one I have and I would buy it again 10x over.
Bigger Batteries For Their Favorite Brand of Power Tool
Most DIYers start with a power tool kit…which includes pretty small batteries. I bought a higher capacity battery a few years ago and it’s pretty much lived on my drill ever since.
Advanced Safety and Organization
Tools are heavy and hard to store…and if your DIYer has a particularly dusty shop, it’s best to store them out of sight. Tool carts and chests can do exactly that!
Advanced Accessories and Small Gifts
Wagner Spraytech HT400 | Dual Temperature Hot Air Tool
A hairdryer CAN be substituted for a heat gun, but the right tool always makes the job easier – the advanced DIYer in your life has probably thought about buying one of these in the past, but never pulled the trigger. Gift them one this year!
Nothing says “I love you” like a new hammer… right?
This classic 16-ounce hammer can be customized with your personal word or phrase and is sure to become their new favorite tool.
This book has been a great resource for teaching myself how to wire and how to do electrical work in general – it’s one of the best out there. My genius grandmother (the go-to electrical DIYer in our family) recommended it to me. If your DIYer is at all entertaining the idea of taking on an electrical project, consider gifting them this book…it’s worth it.
