What you actually need in your shed, and what’s better to borrow
If you’re diving into DIY projects around the house, the first question isn’t “What can I fix?”. It’s “Do I really need to buy this tool?”
In New Zealand, where garages are often small, budgets are tight, and second-hand deals are everywhere, knowing which tools to buy once vs borrow, hire, or share can save you money and space.
Here’s a breakdown of what’s worth owning, and what’s better to rent or borrow, especially if you’re not using it regularly.
✅ Tools Worth Buying (You’ll Use Again and Again)
These are the DIY basics: you’ll reach for them across almost every project.
🪛 Screwdriver Set (Manual + Electric)
You’ll use these for assembling furniture, removing switch covers, tightening cabinet hinges: the works.
Tip: Buy one with interchangeable heads and magnetic tips.
🛠️ Hammer, Measuring Tape, Utility Knife
- Hammer: claw or multi-purpose
- Measuring tape: 5–8m is ideal
- Utility knife: for packaging, plasterboard, carpet, and more
Low cost, high value, and they’ll last you forever.
🔋 Cordless Drill/Driver
One of the few power tools worth buying early. Use it for:
- Screwing in brackets, shelves, hinges
- Drilling pilot holes
- Mixing small batches of grout or paint (with a paddle bit)
Go for a brand with battery compatibility (e.g. Ryobi One+, Makita LXT, etc.)
🪚 Handsaw or Jigsaw
A basic handsaw is cheap and useful for timber, garden work, and rough cutting. Upgrade to a jigsaw if you’re planning shelves, furniture mods, or cutting plywood.
🔌 Extension Cord + Multi-Plug Board
You’ll use it more than you think, especially if you’re working in garages, sheds, or older homes with few sockets.
🤝 Tools You Should Rent, Borrow, or Share (Most of the Time)
These are big, expensive, or super job-specific. Unless you’re doing regular renos, don’t waste your money or storage space.
🧱 Tile Cutter / Wet Saw
Only needed if you’re doing a tiling job, and you won’t use it again for years.
✅ Rent from: Hirepool, Kennards, Bunnings, Sharehub
✅ Or borrow from someone who’s already tiled a bathroom
🛁 Concrete Mixer / Cement Tools
Unless you’re building a fence, laying a slab, or going full tradie, rent it for the day.
🪜 Ladders Over 2m / Scaffold
Short step ladders = buy.
But anything taller, especially platform ladders or mobile scaffold, is bulky and overkill for most homes.
✅ Borrow or hire when painting ceilings, installing lights, etc.
🪚 Mitre Saw / Circular Saw
A mitre saw is handy for angled cuts, but if you’re working with full sheets (MDF, plywood, etc.), you’ll quickly realise it’s not enough – you’ll need a table saw or track saw, which takes up even more space.
Unless you’re:
- Building furniture regularly
- Doing large framing or decking projects
- Confident with setups and safety
👉 You’re better off renting – or better yet, outsourcing the cuts.
✅ Use services like The Cutshop – they’ll precision cut your panels to exact sizes.
It’s cheaper, safer, and saves hours of faffing around with clamping and layout.
Ideal for built-ins, wardrobes, custom shelves – especially in small home workshops.
💨 Heat Guns, Nail Guns, Sanding Machines
These are specialty tools. Great to have, but not until you really need them.
Most people use them once, then store them forever. Try hiring one first.
🔄 Tool Sharing in NZ
If you don’t want to rent from big hire companies, try:
- Sharehub.co.nz – peer-to-peer tool and gear hire
- Your local DIY Facebook group
- Community tool libraries – I have collated a list for you 😉
You can also chip in with friends or neighbours on shared tools (e.g. water blasters, trestle tables, saws) and rotate them around.
💡 Final Tip: Buy Smart, Not Fast
If you do decide to buy:
- Wait for sales (Mitre 10, Bunnings, Trade Depot)
- Choose a brand with interchangeable batteries
- Check Facebook marketplace or Trade Me for second-hand tools in good nick
- Ask yourself: Am I going to use this 3+ times this year?
If not? Rent it.
Better Whare 
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