39 Handy Homesteading Tools To Make You An Ultimate Homesteader

Homesteading tools definitely make off-grid and self-sufficient living possible. Whether you're building, gardening, cleaning, doing repairs and maintenance, you'll need these homesteading tools list to make the job easier!

First, homesteading was just a dream, then we got into planning. When we bought our property, our family surveyed the land then stared at each other. We were like, “How in the world are we going to do this?”

Thankfully, homesteading isn't like going back to the Ice or Stone age. We've got handy helpers now in tools, supplies, and homesteading equipment–any job becomes easier to bear. Sometimes, with all the latest advancements in tools and gear, you'll find you have more than enough tools for one simple job.

Check out this list to make sure you have all the homestead essentials. Double-check the shed so you have everything you need to be a practical and effective homesteader.

A Practical List Of Homesteading Tools And Equipment

1. Knife

Whether for home use, self-defense, or in a survival situation, a knife sure is handy. There are different kinds of knives for use around the home, but for outdoors and all-around use, this Hoffman-Richter Tactical Folding Knife is the best knife. Trust me, I've been through my fair share of knives and this is a handy ally.

2. Axe

Wielding my ax out in the woodshed has become sort of an exercise for me. Considering how we use wood for our fireplace and when smoking on a regular basis, my trusty ax sure is capable.

3. Hammer

Since a hammer is still the best for driving in nails or stakes, I use a hammer for building or repairing stuff around the home. I even use it to take apart wood pallets for my projects, as well as extracting the nails stuck in the wood pieces.

4. Drill

As you probably know (or as you soon will find out), many wood projects will require the use of a hand drill. Even my plastic drum compost bin required a drill to bore ventilation holes around the bin.

5. Barrels

Try creating your own rain harvesting or gray water system with a barrel. Use it to store things, and when you're done, you can repurpose them into homestead furniture or compost bins. (Yes, I know a barrel isn't really a tool – but it's essential for homesteading, so I had to add it!)

RELATED:7 Best Garden Tools and Gadgets Every Gardener Must Have

6. Wagon Or Wheelbarrow

Your homestead will definitely see a lot of moving, transferring, and hauling around. A wagon or wheelbarrow is ideal for toting around your gear and your goods. You'll find it extremely useful for carrying soil, compost, or compost materials.

7. Sawmill

Depending on how much or how frequently you use wood around your homestead, the necessity of a sawmill might indeed be practical. While a chainsaw can cut wood pieces, a sawmill can definitely do a cleaner and better job of it.

8. Set of Pliers

A set of good pliers will help you out with all the bending, cutting, and wire-wrangling you'll be doing. You need different sizes of these essential homesteading tools for different jobs or projects. Needle-nose pliers, for example, are best for repositioning and snipping wires.

9. Nails

Make sure to stock up on different nail sizes for different building and fixing purposes around the home. From your home to garden sheds, compost bin to raised garden beds and fences, you'll be needing nails every step of the way.

10. Staple Gun

A staple gun can help quickly tack things together. Whether it's fabric, wood, carpet, drywall, roofing… punch and done.

11. Solar Panels

Solar panels are a homestead must-have if you want to live off-grid, but not go back to medieval times! Soak up the natural (and FREE) elements from Mother Earth to power your home. Learn how to make solar panels here.

12. Wind Generator

You'll find sourcing energy from renewable sources like the sun and the wind more practical in the long run. Installing wind turbines in your homestead will surprise you with their effectivity and sustainability.

13. Tape Ruler

You'll find most projects in your home, whether woodwork, pipe, strings, decor, and landscape, will require some measuring. Keep this measuring tape handy for precision in your projects.

14. A Tractor

Though a tractor is not for small yards, anyone with more than a few acres will find the tractor extremely helpful in doing a day's work. Invest in this one important homestead helper and you'll double the benefits you'll get.

15. Safety Glasses

Protect one of the most important organs of your body — your eyes! Always wear safety goggles when cutting, chopping, sawing, or really anything that deals with fine or sharp objects.

16. Pipe Wrench

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A pipe wrench comes in handy for…you guessed it, pipes. It's necessary tool for plumbing and other mechanical fixes.

17. Combination Wrench

The combination wrench, like the pipe wrench, is essential for around-the-house fixes and tune-ups. Get both, or choose one over the other. This depends on how many tools you want to keep in your shed.

18. Rope

Homesteaders will find rope extremely useful for many purposes. Use it to pull, hang, and tie up your work. Also, get creative with it as an easy decor solution.

19. Rake

Anyone with a yard should have a rake in the tool shed. Useful for raking up leaves, digging up dirt, and spreading out soil or compost evenly.

20. Wood Chisel

Be sure to have a nice wood chisel handy for any needs around the home. The chisel can be used to shape and carve just about anything.

21. Earmuffs

I have this friend whom I have to repeat my questions to, and twice as loud than when first asked because he works with a lot of loud power tools. I do too, but earmuffs, you know?

22. Extension Cord

If you do not have an extension cord in your homestead, drop everything and go order one right now. An extension cord can help simplify tasks, and it can also help cord-dependent objects reach much farther locations.

Extension cords help in a lot of situations, whether it's vacuuming, or hanging up lights. Having 1, 2, or 10 handy will be very useful around the homestead.

23. Ladder

I've come to appreciate ladders for their invaluable role around the homestead. I think construction on a large scale would have never been possible without ladders.

24. Shovel

A good shovel is necessary for the garden and digging for just about anything. You can even use a shovel to edge your garden if you don't have an edging tool.

25. Crowbar

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Crowbars are extremely helpful for lifting up heavy things. They're commonly used in masonry, but useful for other homestead purposes as well.

26. Allen Wrench

Keep your Allen wrench set handy for any nuts and bolts with hexagonal sockets in their heads. You will need a set of different sizes.

27. Circular Saw

A circular saw will be convenient for cutting up wood for crafts, fire, and construction. If you want to cut tile or even glass, look into different blades. Research the project and the blade before you perform any cutting task, and always use safety goggles.

28. Level

A level is useful in any kind of construction, whether indoors or outdoors. Not only does a home structure need leveling, so do retaining walls and garden structures, so this tool will always come in handy.

29. Palm Sander

A palm sander will simplify any wood project. Whether finishing, or refinishing, this baby may seem unnecessary, but when you consider the amount of surface it can sand versus your own elbow grease, you'll know it's a smart investment.

30. Toolbox

For obvious reasons, a toolbox is a must-have in your homestead. You wouldn't want to keep running back and forth to the tool shed searching for small items and materials you need.

31. Combination Square

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A combination square is an important tool for aligning, calculating, and measuring various projects. I highly recommend this tool for anyone who builds anything!

32. Socket Wrench

This socket wrench makes tightening both small parts and big parts of machinery so much easier. Necessary for anyone operating machinery, plumbing, and engine repair.

33. Hose

A hose can be used for more than just gardening, as you'll find them handy for cleaning purposes too. Have a spare hose handy as well, for siphoning water and other liquids via the suction method.

34. Screwdrivers

The screwdriver is a homesteader's right-hand man. Use it for quick screws and fixes. Unconventional uses include opening paint tins, making marks on wood and metal, etc.

35. Pickaxe

When you're starting a garden or doing some landscaping, you've got to loosen up the soil. Who better to take on that simple task than a trusty pickaxe.

36. Lawnmower

Keeping and maintaining the lawn in your homestead will need regular mowing. For this, you will need a reliable lawnmower. Don't waste the grass clippings and use them as mulch for your garden.

37. Chain Saw

An ax will make short work of a big chunk of wood. But when we're talking about timber, or perhaps a fallen tree down the road, a chainsaw definitely has to come to the rescue.

38. G-Clamp

You can't always have someone else to hold pipes, woods, or iron bars for you to work on them. Thankfully, a G-clamp can help you with that.

39. Hand Saw

Working with a hand saw might seem tedious, but for minor repairs and woodwork, nothing is more efficient and easily accessible. Power saws seem to take over the job, but hand saws have been man's handy cutting tool for thousands of years for a reason.

 

How about power tools? Check out this video before updating your homestead essentials:

There you go, homesteaders! Just the tools you need to make your self-sufficient living work. I might have missed on some, and I promise to update as I go. These are the ones that have been helping me around the homestead. If you have a few to add yourself, I'd be glad to make a few more additions to this list of homesteading tools!

Checked your homesteading tools list lately? What do you think of our list? We'd love to hear your thoughts about it in the comments section!

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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in August 2017, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.