Dads can do anything. Got some toys that need new batteries? Dad can do that. Your daughter got a trampoline for her birthday? Dad can put it together! You don’t need to pay the extra $50 for Lowe’s to assemble your grill. You are a grown man with a wife, kids, and a home of your own. No other man is going to come in and put your grill together. But if you are just starting out on the journey of becoming The Ultimate Dad, here are the basic tools you need.
Disclaimer: None of the products below are from a paid promotion. The Ultimate Dad is not an affiliate of any of the products or the companies the products are found.
1. Hammer
A hammer is a no-brainer. It is so versatile and efficient. You will use it for tasks like hanging pictures and decorations around the house, but you will find the claw of the hammer to be useful as a lever, pry bar, or, most fun of all, an extraordinary tool for demolition. Hammers come in all shapes and sizes depending on their applications. For everyday homeowner use, we recommend a solid one-piece forged head and handle. Claw hammers with the head and handle constructed of different materials tend to become loose over time and simply do not hold up as well. It is worth spending a few extra dollars and getting something that will last. You literally will only ever have to purchase one hammer in your life if you get a good one.
Ultimate Dad Hammer Recommendation
The Estwing 16-oz Smooth Face Steel Head Steel Claw Hammer. This claw hammer is commonly used by carpenters and is light enough for everyday tasks around the house, but durable enough for any large-scale project you may have.
2. Tape Measure
Another one of the more obvious tools you must have around the house is the tape measure. Honestly, tape measures are pretty similar. There are some features that separate themselves from other products such as how far it can be extended before collapsing. I like those that list the fractions of an inch down to the 1/8th. The main reason I like this is not that I can’t read fractions, I mean, I’m a man of course I can read fractions. In truth, my vision is not as good as it used to be and astigmatism makes it harder to differentiate the tick marks, so having those listed on the tape measure helps me quickly read the dimension I am seeing.
Ultimate Dad Tape Measure Recommendation
Overall, we recommend the FastCap Lefty/Righty Tape Measure. The feature that sets this tape measure apart is the built in erasable notepad on the side. If you are forgetful like me, this is incredibly handy. You can take measurements, then write them on the side of the tape measure and not have to worry about forgetting them before you get to the saw. Once you are done, just use your thumb to wipe them away. Also included is a built-in pencil sharpener which is handy when you drop your pencil and break the lead.
3. Pry bar
A pry bar is useful for construction or demolition. A little used hack with a pry bar is to use it to help lift heavy objects. Just put a 2×4 block under it as a fulcrum to utilize the power of this simple machine. A pry bar may not be used as often as other basic tools, but when you need it there is no replacement.
Ultimate Dad Pry Bar Recommendation
I like my Crescent Pry Bar. Crescent is known for their wrenches, but this pry bar is a good choice for an all-around tool useful for the average Ultimate Dad homeowner. At 7” long, it can be used for any common household tasks such as removing baseboard or carpet nail strips. It also has a groove for a nail puller. Overall, this is a solid and cost-effective choice.
4. Utility Knife
A utility knife is just a glorified razor blade. These are useful for many of the obvious reasons such as cutting plastic for painting, cutting rope, and opening boxes. But they are useful for many more tasks. Utility knives are also taking the place of miter saws and table saws in the process of installing luxury vinyl plank and tile flooring as it is becoming more popular in homes. Using a utility knife, these vinyl planks can be scored and snapped to cut it to length rather than having to spend hundreds on a miter saw.
Ultimate Dad Utility Knife Recommendation
Our pick for the best utility knife is the Milwaukee Fastback Folding Utility Knife. This knife is durable with its all metal body, and fits your hand well with its contoured shape. I personally like the wire stripper feature for those times when you can’t find your wire strippers but you have your knife already in your pocket that is capable of performing the task.
Milwaukee Fastback Folding Utility Knife
5. Stud finder
If you are ever installing heavy objects from the wall, this is an absolute must. Good luck keeping your tv mounted to the wall with drywall anchors. Since not all of us have the skill of a contractor and can locate a stud by knocking on the wall and listening for the change in the sound, a stud finder is the best way to locate studs. Once you locate one, then you can locate others by measuring 16” in each direction. Hanging objects from studs gives you the most structurally sound results.
Ultimate Dad Stud Finder Recommendation
In our opinion, the best bang for your buck is from the Zircon StudSensor HD55 Stud Finder. It is cheap and it has always worked for me. I have had one for a few years now and have not had a single issue where it gave me an incorrect location of a stud. Simply hold it up to the wall and move along until it lights up. This will indicate one side of the stud. Keep scanning until the light goes off to locate the other side of the stud. This will then allow you to locate the center of the stud and all the subsequent studs on that same wall.
6. Level
A bubble level is also necessary for hanging anything on your walls. If you are hanging several pictures on a gallery wall, a level will help you properly align your frames in the vertical and horizontal directions. You will also need a level when hanging shelves or cabinets. A level can even be beneficial for task such as stacking landscaping stone for a more aesthetic appearance. Any time you need to draw straight lines, this is your go to tool in your tool collection.
Ultimate Dad Level Recommendation
Your everyday homeowner will be served just fine with a basic 4’ level like the Stanley 48” Non-Magnetic High Impact ABS Level. There is no need in getting a more expensive digital smart level or even a more durable box beam level. This level also has a measuring scale on top making it even more beneficial when trying to measure and mark your holes for drilling into the wall.
Stanley 48″ Non-Magnetic Level
7. Impact Driver
If my impact driver broke today, I would immediately go out and buy another one. If you only have the room or budget for one power tool, this is the one you need. It is compact but powerful and has the functionality of a cordless drill but more versatile. Impact drivers are great for driving screws into studs with their hammering action, especially in tight spaces with its low-profile design. Impacts are battery powered, so you don’t have to worry about wagging an extension cord all over the place. It is also great for assembling furniture by saving you time from having to screw it all together by hand. Just be careful not to over tighten your screws
These also can be used for drilling holes into materials such as wood and drywall with a drill bit set. However, they do not have the power or generate the RPMs to drill into harder materials such as concrete or masonry. You could even get a socket set for an impact driver to make for speedy assembly of items with nut and bolt assembly.
Ultimate Dad Impact Driver Recommendation
I have always preferred DeWalt power tools, so my personal favorite is the DeWalt Atomic Cordless Brushless ¼” Impact Driver. It is lightweight at a little over two pounds, but still packs quite the punch. I use the belt hook each time I am using this impact because it comes in very hand when your hands are full holding your material with one hand and measuring with the other. With the belt hook, I can simply reach down and grab the impact driver and fasten the material as needed without having to bend down and pick it up off the ground. The LED light is also a nice feature when in tight spaces or areas with little light.
DeWalt Atomic Cordless Brushless 1/4″ Impact Driver
8. Screwdriver Kit
Having a flat head screwdriver and a Phillips screwdriver is mandatory to have stuffed in your junk drawer, but to be the Ultimate Dad, you also need to have a good set of screwdrivers. The benefit to having a set is the assorted bit sizes. Kits such as these come with dozens of bit shapes and sizes. Avoid the screaming and crying when the walking and roaring T-Rex won’t work because the batteries are dead, and you don’t have a screwdriver that will fit. With a set like this, you can do anything from repair electronics to hang ceiling fans to, assemble furniture with the hex keys.
Ultimate Dad Screwdriver Kit Recommendation
With over 16,000 reviews and a 4.6-star rating on Amazon, we recommend the Oria Precision Screwdriver 60 in 1 kit. This screwdriver set offers a magnetic head, flexible shaft, extension rod and non-slip handle. Also available with this set are flat head, Phillips head, hex key, star, triangular and square bits. This set will cover virtually any need you may have.
Oria Precision Screwdriver Kit
9. Pliers
Pliers come in all shapes and sizes, and you need at least one pair in your home. We all know dads are famous for their non-human strength, but occasionally we come across a task that needs a little stronger grip. Pulling out nails or bending metal back into place, pliers will get the task done.
Ultimate Dad Plier Recommendation
The Stanley 3 Piece plier set has the different types of pliers that you’ll need daily. Needle-nose pliers are handy with their long and thin profile, they are useful in cleaning out sink or shower drains. But they are also versatile enough to pull wires through tight spaces. The side cutters allow you to cut any wires, metal barbs, or simply need to cut your guitar strings after changing out your old ones. With the slip-joint pliers, you can bend thin metal such as gutters as needed or loosen bolts that need a little extra grip. Although they won’t have the strength of other types of pliers, they should be sufficient for everyday tasks.
10. Wrench Set
A good wrench set is a must for Dads. Wrench sets are invaluable for assembly. You won’t be able to put together an outdoor patio set or your children’s Christmas toys without one. Plus, you don’t want to be that dad who can’t do any basic vehicle maintenance or put together your son’s pitching machine before baseball season!
Ultimate Dad Wrench Set Recommendation
For a good value, the Crescent 10-piece combination wrench set is hard to beat. It comes with a case for easy storage and organization. Sizes range from ¼” to ¾”. The combination wrench consists of one end being open-ended while the other end is a socket of the corresponding size. Pair these with the crescent adjustable wrenches to allow you to hold a bolt while tightening a nut since with this set you will only have one of each size.
Crescent 10-Piece Combination Wrench Set
11. Allen Wrenches (Hex Keys)
Who actually keeps the Allen wrenches that come with the new furniture assembly hardware anyways? When it is time to move, and you need to disassemble your bookshelves you know you will never find the hex key that came with the set. So having a good set of Allen wrenches will save you the headache.
Ultimate Dad Hex Key Recommendation
I like the Texas Best Folding Hex Key set. It comes with both metric and SAE sizes. The folding design prevents you from losing various hex keys. There are a total of 17 keys. Metric sizes range from 1.5 mm to 8 mm, and SAE has different sizes from 5/64” to ¼”.
Texas Best Folding Hex Key Set
12. Speed Square
A square may not be part of your everyday honey-do list tasks, but if you are going to be the Ultimate Dad, then you’ll need one. Since you are trying to be a dad who can do anything and everything, you’ll be wanting to do a few small woodworking projects with your child. You may want to do a few next level projects like building a playhouse. For most of these tasks, you will need a square to make sure that your construction is square so that it will fit together properly. I used a framing square and speed square over and over on my recent basement renovation.
Ultimate Dad Speed Square Recommendation
The Swanson speed square is a classic. There are different types of squares for specific tasks such as a framing square and the combination square, but what sets the speed square apart is that can be used as a protractor, has a cut out at 3 ½” for stud width, and is great to use as a straight edge with a circular saw.
13. Putty Knife
Inevitably you will have to repair drywall in some form or fashion. Suppose you had a bookshelf anchored to the wall, but now want to re-arrange the room. You take the bookcase down and remember that there were drywall anchors drilled into the wall. If you take those out, you’ll have ¼” holes in the walls. Leave them in and an eye sore. Your solution – get some spackling and use your putty knife to apply it and sand it down to paint over it.
Ultimate Dad Putty Knife Recommendation
No need to break the bank on such a simple tool. Go with the basics but get a 2” and a 6” putty knife. The smaller one is for applying the spackle, and the wider is for smoothing it out. Home Depot has good option in their Husky line.
14. Electrical Non-Contact Tester
Electrical non-contact testers are used to check to see if a circuit is hot. Before you change out a ceiling fan, you’ll want to test the positive wire to make sure that the circuit is not complete before you touch it with your bare hands just in case someone flipped some light switches before you started! This is a must if you will be doing any electrical work around your house, so you don’t get fried
Ultimate Dad Electrical Tester Recommendation
I have used the Klien Non-Contact Voltage Tester Pen for several years. It is small enough to keep in your pocket and will light up and beep when it detects a live circuit. Place it into a non-tamper resistant outlet and it will let you know if it has current. This will give you peace of mind before you start working with electrical systems in your home.
Klein Non-Contact Voltage Tester
15. Tool kit
What dad doesn’t have a tool kit? If you want to pull a classic dad move, keep this in the family car in case of emergency! A kit of basic hand tools will have all the other tools in this list plus a few others such as a ratchet wrench, fastener kit, box cutter, torpedo level depending on the complexity of the kit. Even though you may already have all the tools in this kit by purchasing the other items on this list, it is always a good idea to have a backup in case you lose something, or someone is helping you and they also need some various tools.
Ultimate Dad Tool Kit Recommendation
For the average dad, the Amazon Basics 131 Piece General Household and Mechanic’s Hand Tool Kit Set will be all you need. It has all the basic tools you need in one case – claw hammer, hex key set, combination and adjustable wrenches, tape measure, screwdrivers and more. Simply put, it is all you really need.
Amazon Basics 131 Piece Tool Kit
When buying your essential tools for keeping up with home maintenance or assembling your children’s toys, there is no need in breaking the bank and buying the best tools. At this point the simple and basic tools will more than suffice. If you begin to get serious with your DIY projects or want to dive deeper into a particular task, then you’ll want to venture into the world of power tools. At which point, you will want to get higher quality products. For now, just make sure you are prepared for most household repairs by making sure you have all the items on this list!