Essential tools to keep at home for emergencies: why a small kit beats one gadget
Last reviewed 24 October 2026 · 5 min read
Quick checklist
Quick checklist
0 of 7 doneThe problem with one gadget
A multi-tool folds many tools into one, so it feels like the sensible single buy. At home, it rarely is.
The pliers are small, the screwdriver is short, and the handle is hard to grip. If you lose it or break it, you have nothing. A plain kit has a proper screwdriver, pliers and hammer, each easier to hold, with spares in the same box.
Essential tools to keep at home for emergencies
Most small jobs at home need a few basics. A ready-made home tool kit (Retailer link coming soon) usually covers them, and it keeps everything in one box. Look for a kit that includes:
- screwdrivers (flat and cross-head)
- pliers
- a hammer
- a tape measure
- spare screws and wall plugs
This is our reasonable practice, not an official list.
Add a few backups
Once you have a kit, add a few extras that do a different job.
- Duct tape. A roll of duct tape (Retailer link coming soon) makes a quick temporary fix and labels boxes.
- An adjustable spanner. An adjustable spanner (Retailer link coming soon) helps with simple fittings, such as a loose nut on a garden tap or a bike. Our guide to where your stopcock is shows how to find it.
- A screwdriver bit set. A screwdriver bit set (Retailer link coming soon) fits many screws with one handle, and it is a good back-up to the main screwdrivers.
- Work gloves. Work gloves (Retailer link coming soon) protect your hands in simple jobs.
Keep a torch by the fuse board
The most useful tool in a power cut is a torch you can find. Keep one beside the fuse board or consumer unit, and another by the front door. A torch kept by the fuse board (Retailer link coming soon) saves a search in the dark. Test it twice a year and keep the batteries fresh.
The torch is for seeing, not fixing. Never take the cover off the fuse board or touch any wiring. For a power cut, call 105.
What about a multi-tool?
If you already own a multi-tool, keep it in the kit as a bonus. We would not buy one for this job.
Check UK law on carrying blades before you take any tool with a blade out of the house. We do not recommend carrying one. Keep tools in the box at home, where they belong.
What tools are for
Tools are for simple jobs. Tighten a loose handle, put up a shelf, fix a hinge, open a stiff paint tin, or check your stopcock handle turns.
They are not for gas or electrical supply work. Never try to repair a gas appliance, a gas pipe, a meter, the fuse board or any wiring yourself. Call a registered professional. For a gas smell, call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999 (Great Britain; Northern Ireland: 0800 002 001), leave the property and do not use switches. For a power cut, call 105.
Common mistakes
Our guide to emergency kit mistakes covers more. With tools, three come up often.
- Buying one gadget and stopping. If it breaks, you have nothing.
- Hiding the box. A tool box in the loft is not ready. Keep it within reach.
- Skipping practice. Try each tool on a simple job before you need it.
Do this today (free)
- Find your tool box, or gather your tools in one place.
- Find your stopcock and check the handle turns.
- Put a torch by the fuse board, and test it.
- Tell your household where the box is.
If you have £10, £25 or £50
These are budgets, not quotes. Prices change, so check the current price first.
- About £10: a roll of duct tape and a pair of work gloves.
- About £25: add an adjustable spanner and a torch for the fuse board.
- About £50: a plain home tool kit, plus a bit set.
Questions people ask
What tools should every home have?
A screwdriver set, pliers, a hammer, a tape measure, an adjustable spanner, duct tape and work gloves, plus a torch by the fuse board. This is our reasonable practice for simple jobs. It does not include gas or electrical work, which needs a professional.
Is a multi-tool enough?
Not for most households. A multi-tool is handy as a bonus, but the pliers and screwdrivers are small, and losing it leaves you with nothing. A small plain kit with backups does more jobs. Check UK law on carrying blades, and note that we do not recommend carrying one.
Where should I keep my torch for the fuse board?
Keep a torch next to the fuse board or consumer unit, within reach, so you can see in a power cut. Check it twice a year. Use it to see, not to work on the electrics. Call 105 for a power cut.
Can I fix my own gas or electrics with these tools?
No. Never do your own work on a gas or electrical supply. Tools are for simple jobs like putting up a shelf. For a gas smell call 0800 111 999, and for a power cut call 105. Hire a registered professional for repairs.
Sources and further reading
Sources
firesidefolk.com/skills-and-checks/essential-tools-to-keep-at-home-for-emergencies · Last reviewed 24 October 2026 · Fireside Folk