Your starter toolkit

About ten tools handle most first-apartment jobs: Phillips and flathead screwdrivers (or one multi-bit driver), a claw hammer, a 25-foot locking tape measure, pliers, an adjustable wrench, a utility knife, a small level, hex keys, a flashlight, and safety glasses marked ANSI Z87.1. Add a plunger, tape and a few screws and wall anchors. Buy decent basics, keep them in one box, and add tools only when a job calls for one.

What to know

1. Start with screwdrivers. Consumer Reports calls them the one must-have set above all other hand tools. Get Phillips (cross-shaped tip) and flathead in a few sizes, or one multi-bit screwdriver if space is tight.
2. Add a claw hammer. The curved claw pulls out nails you put in the wrong place.
3. Get a 25-foot tape measure with a lock, for curtains, furniture and anything you hang.
4. Get pliers: needle-nose for tight spots and slip-joint for gripping and turning. Locking (vise-grip) pliers clamp things so your hands are free. Add an adjustable wrench for nuts and bolts of different sizes.
5. Add a retractable utility knife with spare blades, a small torpedo level, a set of hex (Allen) keys for flat-pack furniture, an LED flashlight, duct tape and painter's tape, and a small stash of nails, screws and wall anchors.
6. Get safety glasses. Every household should have at least one pair of ANSI-approved protective eyewear. Look for "ANSI Z87.1" on the lens or frame. Regular eyeglasses don't protect you from impact or debris.
7. Keep it all in one place: a small portable toolbox with compartments, or a soft-sided tool bag or drawer organizer if space is tight.