This 39-piece tool set is perfect for basic repairs — and it’s under $25

Published January 7, 2025

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We review a lot of tools around here, from power saws to drills and drivers and mechanics kits. But sometimes all you need is a simple tool kit that can help you with everyday projects, whether it’s putting together a shelf or bookcase, measuring a wall for a picture frame or hammering a few boards together. For those just looking for a basic kit that can handle a majority of tasks around the home, we recommend the CARTMAN 39 Piece Tool Set.

With this set, you get important tools for a variety of uses, along with durable construction and a convenient carrying case that keeps everything organized. Let’s lay out what comes with this set and why it’s our pick for a great, affordable basic tool set.

CARTMAN 39 Piece Tool Set, $22.99

photo of the CARTMAN 39 Piece Tool Set
Amazon

Simply put, the CARTMAN 39 Piece Tool Set is loaded. It comes with a claw hammer, a 10-foot tape measure, slip joint pliers, scissors, a utility box cutter, a magnetic screwdriver with 20 bits, eight Allen wrenches and four precision screwdrivers. Basically, it’s everything you need to handle household jobs.

For us, the centerpiece of the kit is the magnetic screwdriver, which comes with an extension bar that helps you access tight spaces when you’re screwing and unscrewing. Additionally, the 20 screwdriver bits cover all the screws you’ll encounter in everyday repair work, from Philips to flathead to Torx heads.

If you need to perform fix-its on things like electronics, toys and eyeglasses, the tiny precision screwdrivers are very handy. We also appreciate the eight Allen wrenches, which can be useful for bike tune-ups and repairs as well as putting together furniture like shelves and desks. The tape measure comes with both metric and SAE markings, so whether you’re measuring in inches or centimeters, you’re set.

All of the tools in this kit have been heat-treated to stand up to heavy use and resist corrosion, and they’re all arranged in specific spots in the sturdy carrying case so they’re easy to pick out and return to place. And with a total weight of just over three pounds, this is a tool set you can tote and store anywhere.

So, if you’re in the market for a reliable and versatile tool set, it’s hard to find a better value than this CARTMAN one. It’s great for folks who need help with basic DIY and repair tasks — and it might be the only tool set you’ll ever need!

Ho Lin is a content writer at McClatchy. He has over two decades of experience in content strategy, creation, and development, ranging from subjects such as anime and manga to military benefits, job search advice and AI evaluation. Ho is based in the San Francisco Bay Area and holds a M.A. in Creative Writing from Johns Hopkins University. Ho also writes both fiction and non-fiction; his books include China Girl and Bond Movies: A Retrospective.