Benefits of Purchasing a Combo Kit
Combo kits are an easy way to build a workshop that’ll let you take on a variety of home improvement projects. These kits collect two or more commonly used cordless tools in one package that includes the tools, a battery, a charger, and often a carrying case or bag. These kits also give you the convenience of tools that operate on the same battery platform, making it easy to swap batteries from tool to tool as needed.
These cordless combo kits are a good option for homeowners who:
• Are just starting to take on do-it-yourself (DIY) projects and need to build a tool kit
• Have light-duty tools but want to upgrade to tools that can take on tough projects
• Want to expand their tool kit to tackle more types of projects
• Have a mix of corded and cordless tools but want to switch to cordless tools that use the same battery
Many combo tool kits include batteries that work not only with a range of power tools but also with outdoor equipment such as cordless leaf blowers and cordless chainsaws.
What’s Included in a Combo Tool Kit?
Power tool kits range from two-tool sets to collections that contain three, five, and up to eight or more individual items. This means you can find the best cordless combo kit for just about any do-it-yourselfer.
2-Tool Kits
Combo tool kits with two tools are usually drilling/driving kits. These include a drill/driver for drilling, boring and standard fastener driving, as well as an impact driver for fastening jobs with large fasteners or hard materials that need more driving power. These kits can be useful for small tasks, such as installing wall anchors for shelving, and large projects, like installing deck framing and stairs.
Take a look at our Power Drill Buying Guide to learn about features that’ll help you get the most out of the tool.
3-Tool Kits
Three-tool combo kits often add a flashlight to the drilling and driving tools, but some replace one or both of the driving tools with a circular saw or oscillating tool, letting you take on projects such as trimming decking or undercutting door moulding for installing a wood or laminate floor.
If you’re wondering why you might want (or need) a tool combo kit with an oscillating tool, take a look at Choose the Best Rotary Tool or Oscillating Tool for the Job and see how versatile these tools can be.
4-Tool Kits and Larger
Some of the best cordless combo kits come with four, five, six or more pieces and offer a variety of tool combinations. These combo kit power tools are great for someone who plans to take on many different types of projects or wants to quickly build out a tool set. The different collections make it easy to find a kit tailored to the work you need to do. Those designed for light to medium DIY work may include items such as:
- A drill/driver
- An impact driver
- A circular saw
- A reciprocating saw
- A right-angle drill
- An oscillating tool
- A flashlight
Pay attention to the specifics of the included tools to make sure they’re suitable for your projects. In some light-duty sets, tools such as circular saws and reciprocating saws may be compact models. These are easy to handle and suit many projects. However, if you’ll be doing a lot of cutting, working with large pieces of lumber or doing demolition work for a full home remodel, you’ll want a kit that includes full-size saws.
Heavy-Duty Combo Kits
Multi-tool kits for heavy-duty or pro work include some of the same items as light- or medium-duty kits, but they may offer more powerful models. They may also include:
- A full-size circular saw
- A full-size reciprocating saw
- A jigsaw
- An angle grinder
- A hammer drill
Read Which Type of Power Saw Do I Need? for an overview of different saws and their uses, as well as tips for safety. Our Circular Saw Buying Guide provides detailed information on one of the most common and useful types of power saws.
Features to Look For in Combo Kits
When considering which setup will be the best cordless combo kit for you, think about the projects you want to take on, both now and later. The number of tools included is an obvious consideration, but it’s not the only factor to consider.
- Pay attention to how many batteries are included. Sets with two batteries give you more flexibility to easily work with multiple tools or let you keep a fresh battery ready for your next project.
- Determine the voltage and amp-hours of the included battery or batteries. High-voltage batteries can provide more power, but tools with lower-voltage batteries will typically be lighter. Higher amp-hours mean longer runtimes.
- Note the battery platform. You might want to look for a kit that includes a battery and charger that are compatible with tools you already have. It’s also a good idea to make sure that tools you want to purchase in the future can use the same batteries. Batteries that power a wide selection of tools will make it easy to expand your tool collection. This can be particularly helpful if you want to start with a small set and add tools as you need them or as you get more comfortable with DIY work and want to take on more projects.
- Pay attention to the features of the tools and determine if they’re suitable for your work. For example, a drill with a 1/2-inch chuck will accept larger bits that let you do more heavy-duty drilling and driving. An impact driver or reciprocating saw with a quick-change bit or blade will help you work faster. Brushless tools will be lighter and will offer more power and better runtimes. Brushless tools also tend to last longer.
- Note whether or not the kit includes a case or bag. Many kits come with a storage case, tool box or carry bag (or two), but some include only the tools, battery and charger.
Don’t Forget These Necessities
Once you have your tool kit picked out, it’s time to consider the accessories you need to make the tools as useful as possible.
Drill and Driver Bits
If your kit includes a drill/driver or an impact driver, make sure you have a good selection of bits. For the drill/driver, look for bit sets that include different drill bit sizes, a variety of driver bits and a quick-change bit holder that allows you to swap bits easily while you work. Make sure you have drill bits suitable for the materials you’ll be working with — wood, concrete, masonry, metal, tile, etc. Take a look at our Drill Bits Buying Guide to see the different types of bits available. For the impact driver, get an impact driver set with a variety of bits designed for different fastener heads.
Saw Blades
Kits with saws may come with multipurpose blades, but consider getting specialized blades if you’ll be cutting materials such as concrete, masonry or metal; want to make cleaner cuts; or need to take on demolition work. Our Circular Saw Blade Buying Guide will help you find the right blades for a circular saw.
Safety Equipment
Safety gear is necessary for using any tool, and the types of safety equipment you need will vary depending on the tools and materials you’re using as well as the project site. Make sure you have a complete set of common safety equipment, including:
For some projects you may also need to add:
- Steel-toe boots or shoes
- A back brace
- Fall protection equipment
- A hard hat
- A dust collector or shop vacuum compatible with your tool dust ports
Storage
While many kits include a case or bag to make carrying the tools easier, consider storage options such as tool chests or tool cabinets. A storage system helps you keep everything organized, makes your tools easy to find when you need them and protects your equipment from damage.