The 34 Best Gifts for a Handyman in 2024 - Gifts for DIYers

These tools, accessories, and organizers are sure to be welcome additions to their toolkit or workshop.

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Having a reliable handyman a quick text or phone call away sets your mind at ease. That’s why when the holidays roll around, a present to show your appreciation is in order.

If you’re not familiar with your recipient’s personal preferences, or the tool and accessory space in general, finding the best gift for your handyman may not be easy. To narrow down your search—and hopefully make the task less intimidating—we’ve put together this list of useful and practical gift ideas to choose from.

My experience as a residential and commercial carpenter in New York City, as well as a home repair and maintenance aficionado, has given me a pretty good idea of the type of products that a handyman, maintenance person, or DIYer would find the most useful. I filled the list with products that I’ve used personally or have been manufactured by brands I trust, like Milwaukee and DeWalt. I also included products with varying prices, from an $8 tape measure to a $200 heated jacket, so whatever your budget is, there’s something for your handyman (and you) on the list.

Looking for more gift ideas? Check out our guides to the best tool gifts, gifts for woodworkers, and outdoor gifts.

Whether you’re mounting cabinetry, hanging wall art, or installing shelving, your workpieces must be level. This Skil laser level projects easy-to-see green lines in both horizontal and vertical directions. This gift ensures all parts of your project are straight and true the first time, saving you the time and trouble associated with an askew shelf or frame.

This specific Bosch laser has saved me time and energy on countless construction projects, thanks to its accurate readings and straightforward design. It's small enough to carry around in your pocket until you need it, and the backlit display is easy to read in poorly lit work spaces.

Few things are more frustrating than encountering a broken bolt or a stripped screw head on a project, both of which can take valuable time to remove effectively. We’re big fans of this Alden kit, which provides clear instructions on how to correctly use their double-sided extractors.

This multifunctional work table also doubles as a sawhorse, making it an ideal gift for anyone tackling a wide range of home repairs or maintenance tasks. It also weighs just 25 pounds, which is heavy enough to provide a sturdy foundation and still lightweight enough to easily carry around a workspace.

This cordless screwdriver is USB-rechargeable and a real godsend for those who hate breaking out their bulky electric drill. Packaged with nine drill bits, a charging cable, and an LED light, this device is compact enough to tuck in a tool belt pocket or small toolbox compartment for both safekeeping and easy access on the go.

Most handymen are known for being prepared in any situation, and that includes a dead car battery. I’ve used this identical model to jump-start my car on more than one occasion. Its coolest feature is a USB charging cable that allows you to ensure it's always juiced up and ready to go.

This extendable magnetic pickup tool retrieves dropped screws, nuts, and bolts just by hovering over the item. Equipped with a three-bulb LED flashlight, it extends up to 22 inches and even adjusts 360 degrees. It also has a magnetic base for hands-free use on metal surfaces.

Cordless, rechargeable, and tough, these electric scissors get the job done as well or better than the pair of manual scissors you bought at the craft store a decade ago. This device holds a charge for months and weighs only a pound.

I have been using rare-earth magnets for years and find more and more uses for them all the time. Their super-strong attraction makes them perfect for locating studs behind drywall and wrangling screws that you don’t want rolling away. Also, try gluing them to your hand tools and attaching the tools to your metal work cart for super easy access.

Know a carpenter? This mechanical pencil comes with a pocket clip and has a built-in sharpener that makes hard-to-reach places much easier to mark. The lead works on both wet and dry surfaces, and it even comes with lead refills.

Raised nail heads are inevitable during finishing tasks, and this clever little tool punches them in quickly and easily. Instead of using a bulky hammer that might dent your finished surface, simply place the tip of this tool against the nail, pull back the spring, and release to tap it in.

Handyman projects frequently require kneeling and crouching, so quality knee protection like this prevents mobility issues down the road. These pads use high-density foam and a gel-filled zone for maximum comfort, and they feature velcro straps to maintain a snug fit throughout the day. They’re also light and compact enough to carry around in a tool bag until needed.

Compact, razor-sharp, and easy to use, few tools are more useful than a utility knife. This Milwaukee model flips open with the push of a button, locking in place for increased sturdiness and safety during cutting tasks. A belt clip keeps it within easy reach, and the tool-free blade change saves valuable time on the job.

If the handyman in your life manages landscaping, consider this 10-inch pruning saw. Its razor-sharp, triple-ground teeth chew through branches up to six inches in diameter, and the long, ergonomic handle provides a tight, comfortable grip. When you're finished, the blade folds into the handle for safe storage.

No handyman ever has too many tape measures. This unique model is packed with useful features, like an erasable notepad for jotting down measurements, built-in pencil sharpener, and measurements on both sides of the blade that are easy to read from all angles. The protective rubber shell also protects it from accidental drops and falls.

This handy organizer fits inside any five-gallon bucket and keeps your tools and gear accessible and easy to transport. It features 30 pockets and three interior loops to keep longer tools secure, and the durable polyester material resists rips and tears.

Like ice skates for a hockey player, this gives your handyman a way to effortlessly and comfortably glide all around their workspace. It features a padded cushion for comfort that lasts hours, and the built-in tool tray cuts down on those annoying trips back and forth to the tool chest or cabinet. Its tubular steel frame supports up to 250 pounds of weight and is covered by a one-year warranty.

This stubby little driver is short enough to access fasteners in hard to reach areas, and thanks to its ratcheting design, it gets the job done quickly and with minimal effort. The removable shank features reversible bits on either end, providing four different heads to tackle a variety of fastener sizes.

If your gift recipient already has a supply of DeWalt brand batteries, consider this handy cordless shop vac. I own this model personally and love the convenience and efficiency of quickly grabbing it to clean up emergency spills or errant sawdust after a long sanding session.

This Leatherman multitool packs a ton of functionality into a small package, including a pair of spring-action pliers and three different screwdriver heads. I’m a fan of the package-opening blade in particular—a small hook that slices through plastic clamshell packaging with ease.

Alex Rennie is a freelance writer who specializes in the Home Improvement, DIY, and Tool space. As a former residential and commercial carpenter, Alex uses his hands-on experience to write practical buying guides, how-to articles, and product reviews. His work has also appeared in Business Insider's Insider Picks, and before his writing career, he was a full-time carpenter living in New York City. There, he worked as part of a team designing, building, and installing large furniture pieces, as well as performing a variety of home repair and maintenance projects. Alex currently lives in Los Angeles, CA, and spends his free time exploring the beaches and mountains with his fiancé and their dog Louie.

Kevin Cortez is an editor for Runner's World, Bicycling, and Popular Mechanics covering reviews. A culture and product journalist for over ten years, he’s an expert in men’s style, technology, gaming, coffee, e-bikes, hiking, gear, and all things outdoors. He most recently worked as the Style Editor for Reviewed, a top product recommendation site owned by USA TODAY. He also helped with the launch of WSJ's Buy Side commerce vertical, and has covered the music and podcast industries for Mass Appeal, Genius, Vulture, Leafly, Input, and The A.V. Club. Equally passionate about leisure as he is his penmanship, Kevin dedicates his spare time to graphic novels, birding, making cold brew, and taking long, meandering walks.

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