Best home tool kits

Top pick: Stanley 94-248 65-Piece Homeowner's Kit. It's the classic first kit for a house: hammer, screwdrivers, pliers, tape measure and wrenches in a case that stays organized, and it's the best-rated of the mid-size sets here. Buy it if you want one box that covers almost every small fix.

Who the others suit:

• WORKPRO 100-piece pouch — the most tools for the least money; great for a drawer or apartment, less tidy than a hard case.
• Hoey 105-piece — adds a hacksaw, utility knife and voltage tester; good if you'll do slightly bigger jobs.
• Craftsman 102-piece — the pick if you want a name brand with a ratchet and sockets for furniture and bikes.
• WORKPRO 322-piece — for someone setting up a first home who wants everything in one bag.
• Apollo 39-piece / Hyper Tough 40-piece — tiny starter sets for a dorm or a second kit; skip if this is your only kit.