Getting into DIY home projects is one of the most satisfying ways to maintain and improve your home, and having the right tools makes the difference between a frustrating experience and an enjoyable one. But walking into Bunnings and facing aisles of power tools can be intimidating if you’re just starting out. Here’s my guide to the essential power tools and what order to buy them in.

Start with a Drill Driver

A cordless drill driver is the single most useful power tool you can own. You’ll use it for hanging shelves, assembling flat-pack furniture, drilling holes for curtain rods, and a hundred other tasks around the house. It’s the foundation of any tool collection.

The Ryobi ONE+ 18V Drill Driver Kit (around $99 at Bunnings) is the standard recommendation for beginners, and for good reason. It’s affordable, comes with a battery and charger, and the Ryobi ONE+ battery system is compatible with over 200 tools. This means as your tool collection grows, you can share batteries across all your Ryobi tools.

If you want something more premium, the Makita LXT 18V Drill Driver (around $199 for a kit) is a step up in quality, power, and durability. Makita tools are used by professional tradespeople, and the difference in build quality is noticeable. But for occasional home use, the Ryobi is perfectly adequate.

Second Purchase: Impact Driver

An impact driver looks similar to a drill but works differently. It uses a rotational hammering action to drive screws with much more force and much less wrist strain than a drill. If you’re building a deck, assembling outdoor furniture, or driving screws into hardwood, an impact driver makes the job dramatically easier.

The Ryobi ONE+ Impact Driver (around $79 bare tool, battery not included) pairs perfectly with the drill if you’ve already invested in the Ryobi battery system. Having both a drill and an impact driver means you can have one set up for drilling pilot holes and the other for driving screws, which speeds up projects significantly.

Third Purchase: Circular Saw

Once you start tackling projects that involve cutting timber, a circular saw is essential. It makes straight cuts in sheet goods and framing timber quickly and accurately. The Ryobi ONE+ 18V Circular Saw (around $119 bare) handles most home DIY cutting tasks. For heavier work, a corded circular saw offers more consistent power, and the Makita 190mm Circular Saw (around $159) is a reliable choice.

Always invest in good blades. A sharp, quality blade makes cleaner cuts, reduces strain on the motor, and is safer to use. Diablo and Makita blades are worth the extra cost over generic options.

Other Tools Worth Considering

An orbital sander (from $59) saves enormous time on finishing and preparation work. A jigsaw (from $69) handles curved cuts and is more versatile than a circular saw for certain jobs. A multi-tool (from $79) is surprisingly useful for detail work, cutting in tight spaces, and scraping.

Battery Platform Strategy

The biggest decision in power tools is which battery platform to commit to. Once you buy a battery and charger for one brand, it makes financial sense to stick with that brand for future tools.

Ryobi ONE+ is the best choice for most home DIYers. The tools are affordable, the range is enormous, and the quality is perfectly adequate for occasional use. Makita and DeWalt are better for those who want professional-grade quality and plan to use tools frequently. Milwaukee is excellent but tends to be the most expensive.

Don’t mix platforms. Having three different chargers and battery types is wasteful and inconvenient.

Where to Buy in Australia

Bunnings is the primary destination for power tools in Australia, with the widest range and generally competitive prices. Total Tools is worth visiting for professional-grade options, and Sydney Tools offers good deals on premium brands. Online, Amazon AU stocks most brands and occasionally offers better prices.

Bunnings runs periodic sales events, and PowerPass members occasionally get early access to deals. For bigger purchases, it’s worth asking about price matching, as Bunnings will match competitors.

Safety First

Power tools demand respect. Always wear safety glasses, hearing protection for loud tools like circular saws, and a dust mask when sanding. Read the manual for each tool before first use. Keep your workspace clean and well-lit. And never, ever remove safety guards from tools.

The Bottom Line

Start with a drill driver, add an impact driver, then a circular saw. That three-tool combination will handle the vast majority of home DIY projects. Build your collection gradually as you take on new projects, and invest in a single battery platform from the start to keep things simple and cost-effective.