It often seems as though a man’s work is never done. There’s a sink to unclog, a picture to hang on the wall, a broken toy or lamp to put back together, and more. Somehow, all of this has become the job of the man of the house despite the fact that a man’s home is supposed to be his castle. Far from feeling like a king when scrounging around for the proper tools, he simply feels frustrated and annoyed. Prevent this scenario from happening to you by gathering the top 30 repair tools that every man should have in his toolbox. It’s a lot easier to fix household appliances, children’s toys, leaky plumbing, and more when the tools are at the ready. Here’s a quick look at each one of the tools that should be considered essential for a man’s toolbox.

Utility Knife

Lots of home repair tasks necessitate a bit of trimming, slicing, or dicing, making a utility knife an essential tool to place in that repair toolbox. Utility knives hold sharp blades that can be replaced readily when necessary. Instead of borrowing cutting shears or the kitchen scissors, invest in a sturdy utility knife for those home repairs that you know you will be asked to complete.  Buy it at Amazon

Claw Hammer

Claw hammers are a bit weighty, so asking your female counterpart to hand one to you when completing a home repair could be your ticket to providing a back massage later on. A claw hammer has a crevice at one end that is used to pull out nails. While a wooden hammer might have been good enough for your father, today’s hammers feature sturdy, synthetic handles that are built to last a lifetime. Try your claw hammer on for size, pick it up, see if it is top heavy, and see if it fits in your hand. If your grip feels good, this is the hammer for you. Take it home and get to work banging in a few nails for those paintings that your better half wants hung up. Buy it at Amazon

Level

A little balance in life never hurt anyone, so a good level is a great addition to a man’s toolbox. Straight lines are important when putting up those photographs for your other half or hanging a wall shelf in the den. If you are into high tech, a laser level is a cool tool, but the old-fashioned levels offer the thrill of getting that tiny bubble into place, kind of like a game of skill. Buy it at Amazon

Flathead Screwdriver

A flathead screwdriver is a tool that features a single blade that is designed to fit into a single slot on a flathead screw. It’s a great idea to have flathead screwdrivers in several different sizes since you’ll probably be asked to fix quite a varied assortment of items. Buy it at Amazon

Phillips screwdriver

The Phillips screwdriver features a four-point star-shaped tip designed to fit into the shaped depression of screws. It offers a great capacity for torque so it has become more popular than the flathead screwdriver. Stock up on varying sizes of Phillips screwdrivers because you never know what you’ll be asked to fix. Buy it at Amazon

Fasteners

Keeping things together is something that many men become adept at over the years. It helps if you have an assorted supply of fasteners in your toolbox. This should include different sizes of nuts, bolts, nails, and screws. Buy it at Amazon

Tape Measure

The tape measure is an essential tool that will save you lots of time since you can use it to measure whether or not you have enough room to move that sofa from one side of the room to another and back again before you actually move it once your counterpart knows where she wants it. Get a retractable tape measure with a length of approximately 25 feet or buy several in different lengths. Buy it at Amazon

Allen Wrench

Designed for use with fasteners that feature a hexagonal hole in their heads, the Allen wrench is handy to have. It is shaped like a large L and fits easily into tight spots, something many people are familiar with. It comes in a variety of sizes. Buy it at Amazon

Crescent Wrench

There are lots of repair tasks that are going to need a wrench of this type. The crescent wrench is the one to get since it can perform the task of several different wrenches, which is great since the person asking you to help probably won’t know exactly what type of wrench you need. It is adjustable and has a sliding jaw which allows you to change its width to fit it to the size needed. Buy it at Amazon

Socket Wrench

The world is full of loose nuts and bolts, so there comes a time when the socket wrench is going to be handy. It allows you to tighten or loosen nuts and bolts easily. Just make sure that you have a set of sockets and extenders to go along with it and make the job easier. Buy it at Amazon

Needle Nose Pliers

Needle nose pliers are easy to recognize and easy to use. They feature a narrow shape that is terrific for small spaces. This versatile tool can be used to grip, bend, cut, and strip wire. Plus, most people can readily pick out a pair of needle nosed pliers if you ask someone to bring it to you. Buy it at Amazon

Vise Grip Pliers (Locking)

Even man only has two hands and this is where a good pair of vise grip pliers can come in handy. This tool locks in place with a one-handed mechanism for unlocking it. Not only can it be used as pliers, but also as an adjustable wrench, pipe wrench, ratchet, clamp, or wire cutters. The standard vise grip pliers for home repairs are the 5-10WR pliers. Buy it at Amazon

Crosscut Saw

Yard work, a task many men find themselves enjoying on the weekend in between sporting events often involves the trimming of tree branches, which is simplified by using a crosscut saw. This type of saw is designed to cut against the grain, which is typically what you do when trimming trees. You can also use a crosscut saw to cut along the grain for other projects. Buy it at Amazon

Hacksaw

Hard headed is an adjective often used to describe men, but a hard head isn’t going to be of much use when trying to cut through piping or heavy plastic. Hacksaws have a u-shaped bow with a wide, thin blade held in it. They come in adjustable sizes and make quick work of cutting through piping. Buy it at Amazon

Carpenter’s Square

Tired of guessing whether or not you are lined up properly or creating that 90 degree angle you are looking for? Try a carpenter’s square for better odds. A versatile tool that can be used in place of a miter square, depth gauge, or ruler, the square looks like an upper case L. It is used to assist with measuring and creating straight angles. Buy it at Amazon

Cordless Drill and Bits

The cordless drill is used to drive screws or drill holes into sturdy surfaces. Pay attention to the weight of the drill when shopping for it. The more voltage the drill has, the heavier it is going to be to use. Check into ones that feature multiple speeds to get the most of it. A reversible cordless drill is nice to have when removing screws. Most drills come with their bits, but you can purchase additional drill bit sets to complement your drill. Buy it at Amazon

Plunger

A plunger is a long stick with a rubber ball or cup at one end. If you have one of these in your arsenal of tools, even if it doesn’t fit in your toolbox, you never have to worry about a clogged toilet again.  Buy it at Amazon

Plumber’s Snake

A plumber’s snake is a flexible coil of metal wire with a handle at one end that is used to rotate the snake down the pipe. Since pipes tend to travel through walls and under floors, a plumber’s snake is often a necessary tool to have. After all, you aren’t going to have easy access to those pipes and will need a bit of help unclogging them. Imagine how pleased your better half will be when you whip this handy device out and pop that clog in a matter of minutes. No more worrying over slow-churning drains. Buy it at Amazon

Flashlight

Quite a few repair tasks will involve the need to shed light on the project in some way. Flashlights, especially stand-alone versions, offer a direct beacon of light to help you see what it is that you are trying to do. Buy it at Amazon

Clamps

Holding things together is an important part of many tasks, especially for men who are noted for being strong. C-clamps are shaped like the letter C and have a small t-shaped bar that is used for securing the clamp. Spring clamps resemble clothespins and work the same way, holding items together. Buy it at Amazon

Electrical Tape

Typically made from vinyl, electrical tape is designed to insulate electrical wires. It does not catch on fire even when overheated. This is a great repair item to have so you can fix things like vacuum cleaner cords that have been run over and lamp plug-in cords that have been pulled a bit too taut without stressing out and asking, “how could that happen.” Buy it at Amazon

Circuit Tester

Use a circuit tester to check that the current is actually off to avoid electrical shocks when dealing with electrical outlets and computers. This instrument includes a housing unit, a tester and a probe that are used to check the voltage. A light or sound goes on when the current is working. It lets you know whether the outlet is bad or the electrical item is bad.

With this handy device, the only shock you’ll get is that you can actually complete the repair on your own. Buy it at Amazon

Caulk Gun

Imagine how lucky you will be if you have a caulk gun handy and you can plug up the drafts from the windows that your honey has been complaining about. Plus, you’ll save on your energy costs at the same time. A caulk gun is designed with a spring-loaded mechanism and push rod that forces the caulk out evenly. Buy it at Amazon

Wire Cutter/ Stripper

Used for electrical work that involves trimming wires such as in shortening a cord, wire cutters have sharp blades. Designed for use with one hand, a good pair of wire cutters has two handles similarly to pliers and sharp blades that are designed to strip or cut insulated wire. Buy it at Amazon

Orbital Sander

Need to strip away some hideous paint that you selected for the powder room? Use an orbital sander and save yourself some elbow grease. Designed to slip on the hand and featuring a sanding pad and disk, a palm-sized sander is perfect for smaller jobs. Orbital sanders come with lots of specialized options, so check them out before picking up the one you want. Buy it at Amazon

Chisels

Sometimes shaving off a little bit at a time is a good thing, especially when it comes to wood or metal. Chisels come in varied sizes and work well in small areas where power tools don’t fit. You can use these to help you remove door hinges or to shape an opening for a door lock set. Buy it at Amazon

Chalk Line

A chalk line is a small case that is filled with colored chalk, usually blue in color, and a long string with a metal tab. A small reel on the side of the case allows you to reel the string back into the case when finished. Next time your other half gets a notion to have you replace the wallpaper, you’ll be prepared to do it correctly. Buy it at Amazon

Paintbrush

Maybe that chip on your shoulder is actually from that door with the chipped paint. Keep an average size paintbrush handy just in case you need to do a quick touch up job before the in laws arrive for dinner. Buy it at Amazon

Stud Finder

A stud finder is a device that includes an electromagnet that can be used to locate the studs within a wall. It is battery operated and has a light that goes on when the stud is located. While the location a stud finder suggests for hanging that picture frame for your partner might not be the location your other half wants, it is necessary if you want the frame to remain on the wall. Buy it at Amazon

Glue Guns

Glue guns are hand-held devices into which you feed a solid stick of glue. A heating element in the glue gun melts the stick allowing it to flow out of the cone-shaped tip of the gun. From repairing the broken vase that you accidentally knocked over while cheering for your favorite sports team to gluing decorative accents back onto wreaths or knickknacks, a glue gun is a man’s best friend in times like this. Buy it at Amazon

It’s important to have a set of repair tools at hand for those unexpected tasks that are going to occur and that you are going to be asked to complete. Typically, this type of man’s repair kit should be put together at least in part so that it holds the most commonly used repair tools. Since you can save lots of time simply by putting your toolbox together ahead of time, it only makes sense to do so. This will save you time and completing the repair tasks on your own will save you money!