5 DeWalt Tools Smart Homeowners Should Have On Hand

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DeWalt is an interesting brand because it’s relied upon by tradespeople but also a popular brand with non-professionals. One reason may be that it covers a wide range of disciplines, including everything from automotive and plumbing tools to simple everyday items like duct tape and pens. One of the important things to consider before buying DeWalt tools is that it can be pricier than more casual brands. That may be why some shoppers don’t think of the brand when stocking up on tools and devices that can come in handy at any moment.

After all, regular folks need certain tools, even if you’re not a professional or even a DIYer like an amateur woodworker or craftmaker. There are some things around the house that practically anyone can do; tasks that would be silly to call a professional to come over and fix, such as a loose knob on a kitchen drawer. There are certain tools and accessories worth owning because, even if you’re not planning to use them, you never know when you might need them and don’t want to be left kicking yourself if you’re without them.

Here are five DeWalt tools that smart homeowners should have on hand for everyday situations. These tools have been verified to be solid quality through a variety of sources and more information on how they were evaluated and why they’re recommended can be found at the end of this list.

Electric screwdrivers are one of those “if you know, you know” tools that not everyone thinks to buy, but everyone who does can’t imagine what they’d do without them. They make everything from assembling furniture to opening toy battery compartments seemingly effortless and can save a ton of time when you’ve got a lot of screws that need tightening or loosening at once. Unlike cordless drills, they’re much smaller and lightweight, which also makes them more convenient to store and power, and they often don’t need separate expensive batteries like other power tools.

That includes the DeWalt 4V USB Rechargeable Electric Screwdriver, which experts say is the best electric screwdriver you can buy. As Pro Tool Reviews notes, the device offers “the right performance level for what these tools are used for” and “the torque control makes it more versatile.” PTR also praises its design, which eschews a pistol grip to allow for 360-degree control. Its Flexdrive controls also use a slide mechanism rather than buttons that can be awkward to press while operating.

The DeWalt 4V USB Rechargeable Electric Screwdriver can spin at up to 360 rpm of no-load speed. Six different torque settings are available, with the tool able to deliver up to 44 in-lbs of powered torque and 124 in-lbs of manual torque for final tightening turns. The tool uses USB-C, which is becoming more and more standard and allows for faster charging than older USB-A and USB-mini tools. It can provide up to 680 screws per charge. It’s built with a quick-load collet and comes with a dozen 2-inch bits of various types and sizes.

The DeWalt 4V USB Rechargeable Electric Screwdriver (model DWHT66719) is available from Amazon for around $79.

DeWalt also makes lawn and outdoor equipment, but even homeowners who don’t need to clear their yard or patio of leaves can make use of the DeWalt 20V Max Jobsite Blower. Its small compact size makes it more practical to use indoors, making it helpful for clearing dust and debris, among other applications. It’s not the most powerful DeWalt leaf blower in the brand’s catalog, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing, and you wouldn’t want to be blowing appliances off the shelves.

It’s capable of up to 100 CFM airflow and is equipped with three different speed settings, plus a variable-speed trigger that allow users to run it at lower mph with three different options. A trigger lock is also included for extended use. Because it’s compact, it’s also easier to maneuver, especially in smaller spaces, as well as store when not in use.

Based on over 15,500 user reviews on Amazon, the DeWalt 20V Max Jobsite Blower has a solid 4.4 average customer score. The quality, performance, and smaller size of the tool are frequently mentioned as positive assets, though some complain that the battery drains too quickly.

The DeWalt 20V Max Jobsite Blower (model DCE100B) is available from Amazon for around $107, though 20V Max batteries are not included at that price.

Hopefully, you’ve already got a pair of good scissors lying around the house for when you need them. However, it’s also a great idea to include something a bit sharper and more robust — such as DeWalt’s ToughSeries Retractable Utility Knife. If you’re constantly opening delivery packages and other cardboard boxes, the knife can be a quicker, cleaner option that won’t leave bits of tape or goop stuck to your junk drawer scissors. It can also be used to cut through plastic clamshell packing, stubborn knots, thick plastic sheeting, drywall, carpet, insulation, or many other materials.

On SlashGear’s ranked list of the best major utility knife brands, DeWalt sits comfortably in the top three. It has multiple models available, but a retractable blade allows you to store the knife more safely when not in use. It’s also part of DeWalt’s ToughSeries line of hand tools, which are built to be especially durable so they can better survive harsher jobsite environments. That doesn’t mean it’s overkill for a home and exorbitantly priced though, as you can still pick one up for less than $20 at Home Depot.

On the retailer’s website, the knife has a strong 4.5 out of 5 overall user rating, with owners highlighting, among other things, its ability to internally store up to 10 extra blades and a quick change mechanism for swapping in new ones. In a video review by The Truck Guy, the tool’s grip is also mentioned as a big plus, which is important when handling any knife. The reviewer does mention that the blade can rattle when extended, though.

The DeWalt ToughSeries Retractable Utility Knife (model DWHT10999) is available from Home Depot for $19.

A staple gun can come in very handy when securing upholstery on an old favorite couch or in your vehicle, among other uses outside all the kinds of things it can do on the jobsite. When it comes to staplers, the DeWalt 20V Max 18-Gauge Narrow Crown Stapler is identified by Amazon as a #1 bestseller and has an excellent 4.7 out of 5 average customer score based on over 650 user ratings.

Battery-powered staplers don’t need a compressor like pneumatic options, making it more practical for casual home use. It’s powered by a brushless motor for better battery life and durability and uses a trigger for both contact actuation or sequential firing. Its depth can be adjusted on the fly and the tool is equipped with a low-nail lockout feature to prevent dry firing, so you don’t accidentally mark up your wall or fabric. It can also be quickly reset after a stall with an integrated lever.

After trying out DeWalt’s 20V Max 18-Gauge Narrow Crown Stapler, RR Buildings, which has nearly 2 million subscribers on YouTube, called the tool “highly effective,” even when driving staples through 29-gauge steel soffit. The reviewer praises features like its built-in worklights and bump-fire capability, as well as the narrow tip design of the stapler, as it accurately hits V-grooves, and notes that it rarely jammed during use. However, the reviewer also noted that the bottom-loading stapler only holds one magazine at a time.

The DeWalt 20V Max 18-Gauge Narrow Crown Stapler (model DCN681B) is available on Amazon for $299, though no battery or charger is included at that price.

If you’re not a DIYer and were to only keep one real power tool in your home, it should be a cordless drill, which is versatile and fairly easy to use. There are several different kinds of cordless drills made by DeWalt, which could be intimidating for homeowners who don’t frequent hardware or home improvement stores. One of the simplest options is the brand’s 20V Max XR Cordless ½-inch Drill/Driver.

That’s not to say it’s a no-frills tool or not up to the job, though. It’s very much a 21st-century power tool and is compatible with DeWalt’s Tool Connect Chip system that allows you to locate the tool with DeWalt’s manager app. The drill/driver has two different settings you can choose from: 0-650 and 0-2,000 rpm (no load). It’s controlled with a variable-speed trigger that allows you to apply the power you need within those ranges. The cordless tool can make up to 175 holes per charge with a 20V Max XR 8 Ah PowerPack battery.

Together, these features are partly why the DeWalt 20V Max XR Cordless ½-inch Drill/Driver has a high overall score from Consumer Reports. Based on owner surveys and lab testing, the nonprofit org gives the drill/driver perfect marks when it comes to power, speed, and performance. Its scores for handling, charge time, and operational noise aren’t much lower.

The DeWalt 20V Max XR Cordless ½-inch Drill/Driver Kit (model DCD801QQ2), which includes two 4-Ah batteries and a charger, is available from Home Depot for $269.

The DeWalt tools included on this list were selected because they are smart choices for any homeowner, as they can be used for everyday tasks and aren’t the type of equipment reserved just for professionals or serious DIYers. Only tools that are relatively simple to handle, easily accessible, and practical to buy and keep were selected. We used a variety of sources to verify the quality of these tools, including overall user ratings (4 out of 5 or higher from at least 100, if not thousands of users) found on major retail websites like Amazon and Home Depot. Also taken into account were professional evaluations from reputable sources like Pro Tool Reviews and Consumer Reports, as well as expert video reviews on YouTube. In addition to cost and utility, tools were selected for their performance, build quality, handling, and extra features.