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Tools You Actually Need to Build a Shed
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This page names tool categories only. We give no brands, prices or rankings and we have not tested any tool. Check your plan's tool list first.
The core kit
Family Handyman's "How to Build a Cheap Storage Shed" lists these as required tools. Its 12 x 16 garden shed article assumes "standard carpentry tools, including a circular saw and drill."
| Job | Tools |
|---|---|
| Cutting | Circular saw, jigsaw, sawhorses |
| Drilling and driving | Cordless drill and a drill bit set |
| Layout and checking | Tape measure, level, speed square, chalk line |
| Holding and fastening | Hammer, clamps, brad nail gun with compressor and hose |
| Finishing and reach | Caulk gun, tin snips, stepladder |
From Family Handyman's "Tools Required" list for a cheap storage shed. Its list also has a pocket hole jig and router for the doors, which most simple sheds will not need.
Nice to have, not required
- Framing nail gun, miter saw, table saw. Family Handyman says they "will save you some time and effort but aren't necessary."
- A carbide blade for your circular saw if you cut fiber cement siding. Both Family Handyman shed articles say so.
- A hand tamper to compact gravel in foundation trenches. See our gravel base guide.
- A chisel instead of a router to cut hinge recesses (Family Handyman).
Buy, borrow or rent?
Neither Family Handyman article mentions renting. A sensible rule of ours: buy what you will use again (drill, level, square, tape), and borrow or rent the expensive, single-use tools. This is our opinion, not a sourced claim.
Safety and site basics
- Family Handyman's cheap shed project names hearing and eye protection. NIOSH says noise at 85 dBA or higher is hazardous with long exposure.
- The 12 x 16 garden shed article says to call 811 before digging, and to check with the local building department about a permit. See our permit guide.
- Electrical work is a job for a licensed electrician, and local codes apply.
Shopping for tools?
These are product categories, not endorsements. Check each tool's specs and safety notes, and compare against your plan's tool list.
Shop shed-building toolsCommon questions
What tools do I need to build a shed?
Family Handyman's cheap storage shed lists a circular saw, jigsaw, cordless drill with a bit set, hammer, level, speed square, chalk line, tape measure, clamps, sawhorses, a stepladder and a caulk gun, plus an air compressor and brad nailer for finish work. Its 12 x 16 garden shed says a circular saw and drill are the standard carpentry tools it assumes.
Do I need a nail gun?
Not necessarily. Family Handyman says a framing nail gun, miter saw and table saw "will save you some time and effort but aren't necessary."
Should I wear hearing protection?
Family Handyman's cheap shed project names hearing and eye protection. NIOSH says noise at 85 dBA or higher is hazardous with long exposure. Check your tool's manual for its noise level.
Before you buy tools
Pick your plan and your size first, because they decide what you need. See shed plan packages, the cost calculator and the step-by-step build guide.
Related guides
- How to build a shed: step by step
- Shed plan packages: are they worth it?
- Gifts for DIYers and shed builders
Free printable: Shed Build Checklist
From permit check to the last coat of paint, in one page. Download the one-page PDF now, or get it by email along with a short series of five helpful emails.