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Best Tools for Construction Workers That Are Actually Worth Buying
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items I’ve spent years working around construction jobsites, contractors, inspectors, and testing crews, and I currently own and operate a construction materials testing company. This is my collection of construction tools, cordless tools, jobsite gear, an...
Sections
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Tools I'd Want in My Truck Every Day
Cordless Tools Worth Spending Money On
Jobsite Gear You Don’t Think You Need Until You Do.
Tool Storage That Saves Time on the Job
Small Tools That Save a Surprising Amount of Time
Tools I'd Want in My Truck Every Day
Nothing fancy here—a good 25-foot tape is something you'll use constantly. The FATMAX is heavy-duty enough for jobsite use, easy to read and a solid choice for anyone who wants a tape that doesn't feel disposable.
STANLEY FATMAX Tape Measure, 25-Foot (33-725)
One of those cheap tools that ends up getting used all the time. The one-handed opening and quick blade change make the FASTBACK a great knife to keep clipped to your pocket or sitting in the truck.
Milwaukee FASTBACK Folding Utility Knife w/Blade
These aren't the cheapest pliers, but they're one of those tools where spending a little more actually makes sense. Great grip, easy adjustment and useful for everything from plumbing and mechanical work to fixing something that wasn't supposed to br...
KNIPEX 87 01 250, 10in Cobra® Water Pump Pliers
Every truck and toolbox needs a good pair of Vise-Grips. When something is stripped, rounded, bent or just refusing to cooperate, these are usually one of the first things I want nearby.
IRWIN VISE-GRIP Locking Pliers w/ Wire Cutter
Estwing has been around forever for a reason. Solid steel construction, good balance and the kind of hammer you can beat on for years instead of replacing every season.
Estwing 22 oz Framing Hammer
Cordless Tools Worth Spending Money On
Cordless tools are one area where buying cheap usually costs you more in the long run. These are the drills, impacts, saws, and other battery-powered tools I think are worth spending money on if you work construction, do your own mechanical work, or ...
If someone is starting a professional cordless tool collection, buying a good drill/impact combo is where I'd put the money first. Milwaukee's M18 platform gives you a huge number of tools you can add later without buying into another battery system.
M18™ FUEL 2-Tool Combo Kit: Hammer Drill/Impact
If you work on trucks, equipment, trailers or anything with stubborn bolts, a good cordless 1/2-inch impact is a game changer. This is the kind of tool that makes you wonder why you fought everything with a breaker bar for so long. Milwaukee currentl...
M18 FUEL™ 1/2" High Torque Impact Wrench w
A Sawzall is one of those tools you don't always need—but when you need it, nothing else really replaces it. Demo work, pipe, wood, metal or cutting something out of the way when precision isn't the priority.
M18 FUEL™ SAWZALL® Recip Saw
Not everybody runs Milwaukee. If you're already invested in DEWALT batteries, I wouldn't switch platforms just because somebody online tells you to. The XR impact lineup is a solid professional option and keeps you using batteries you already own.
20V MAX* XR® Brushless Cordless 3-Speed 1/4 in. Impact ...
Cordless circular saws have gotten good enough that there's very little reason to drag an extension cord around for everyday cutting. A 7-1/4-inch saw is much more versatile than the tiny compact saws if you're actually using it around construction.
DEWALT XR 7-1/4" Cordless Circular Saw
Jobsite Gear You Don’t Think You Need Until You Do.
These are the kinds of tools that can make the difference between fighting through a job and getting it done faster, easier, and with less frustration. Good lighting, airflow, cleanup tools, and emergency gear may not seem essential until you’re stuc...
It sounds like a luxury until you've spent a summer working somewhere with zero airflow. If you're already running DEWALT batteries, this is the kind of tool that gets used way more often than you'd expect.
DEWALT 20V MAX Jobsite Fan (Tool Only) DCE512B - The Home Depot
A cordless inflator is great for trucks, trailers, equipment and everyday emergencies. It's exactly the kind of tool I'd rather already have in the truck than discover I need 20 miles from town.
M18 18-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Electric Portable Inflator w/ (2) FORGE 8.0 Ah Batteries & Charger
Good lighting makes almost every job easier and safer. Cordless flood lights are especially handy because you can throw them somewhere without running cords across the work area.
M18 floodlight/work light
Being able to quickly clean up without hunting for power is incredibly useful. Great for the truck, shop and jobsite.
M18™ 2-Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum
This is a serious upgrade if you’re already invested in the Milwaukee M18 system. It gives you portable AC power without dragging out a generator, dealing with fuel, or listening to an engine run all day. Great for running tools, chargers, lights, an...
Milwaukee M18 18V Lithium-Ion Cordless 3600-Watt/1800-Watt Battery Powered Power Supply 2845-20
Tool Storage That Saves Time on the Job
Good tool storage isn’t just about keeping things organized—it saves time, protects expensive tools, and keeps you from digging through the truck looking for something you know you packed. These are the storage systems, boxes, and bags I’d look at if...
I like drawer-style storage because you don't have to unstack half your setup just to get one tool out of the bottom.
MILWAUKEE® PACKOUT™ 3-Drawer Tool Box
PACKOUT isn't cheap, but the modular system makes a lot of sense if you're constantly moving tools between a shop, truck and jobsite. Start with the rolling box and build the setup around what you actually carry.
Milwaukee PACKOUT 38 in. Rolling Modular Tool Chest 48-22-8428
If you're already a DEWALT guy, ToughSystem is the obvious alternative to PACKOUT. Don't change ecosystems just because another brand is more popular online.
DEWALT TOUGHSYSTEM 2.0 Small Tool Box, TOUGHSYSTEM 2.0 22 in. Large Tool Box and TOUGHSYSTEM 2.0 24 in. Mobile Tool Box DWST08165W00450
A backpack-style tool bag makes a lot of sense for anyone who needs both hands free getting equipment into a site or climbing around a project.
Klein Tools Backpack & Tool Bag Set, Includes 4 Piece, Tradesman Pro Tool Bag Backpack, Zipper Bags and Magnetizer 80038
Small Tools That Save a Surprising Amount of Time
Some of the best tools aren’t the biggest or most expensive—they’re the ones that solve little problems all day long. These are the measuring, marking, checking, and convenience tools that can save trips back to the truck, speed up layout, and make e...
A laser measure isn't a replacement for a tape, but once you have one you'll find a lot of situations where it's ridiculously convenient—rooms, long distances and quick estimating especially.
Milwaukee 150 ft. Laser Distance Meter 48-22-9802
A good laser level is one of those tools that can save a surprising amount of time on layout and setup. This DEWALT green cross-line laser is rated for up to 100 ft. and is accurate to ±1/8 in. at 30 ft., making it a solid choice for framing, cabinet...
DEWALT 100 ft. Green Self-Leveling Cross Line Laser Level with (3) AA Batteries & Case DW088CG
This is the kind of tool you don’t think about until you need to see somewhere your eyes can’t reach. The Milwaukee M12 inspection camera is great for looking inside walls, equipment, engines, pipes, and tight spaces without tearing half the job apar...
Milwaukee M12 12V Lithium-Ion Cordless M-SPECTOR 360-Degree 4 ft. Inspection Camera Kit 2323-21
This is a simple kit that can save you from guessing around electrical work. The non-contact tester lets you quickly check for live voltage, while the receptacle tester helps identify common outlet wiring problems and test GFCI protection. It’s inexp...
Klein Tools Premium Non-Contact Voltage and GFCI Receptacle Electrical Test Kit RT250KIT
This is one of those simple tools that makes marking and layout work a lot easier. The long-reach pencil is built to mark through deep holes and tight spots where a regular carpenter pencil won’t reach, and the replaceable leads make it useful on woo...
TRACER Deep Pencil Marker and Lead Marking Kit AMK1
This is one of those cheap tools that can save you time, sore knees, and lost hardware. The adjustable magnetic head makes it easy to grab dropped screws, nails, bolts, and other metal parts from under equipment, in gravel, or across a shop floor wit...
Empire 11.5 in. Black and Silver Adjustable Magnetic Clean Sweep 27059