The 6 Best Pro-Grade Tools at Home Depot

The right tool makes any job easier. But when it comes to cordless power or outdoor equipment, figuring out which product to choose isn’t always straightforward. Pros who rely on tools day in and out recognize that quality — and longevity — are factors that are equally as important as which one spins the fastest or delivers the most torque.

While tools with new and exciting features are constantly popping up in the aisles of home centers, seasoned pros know not to get swayed by all the bells and whistles and instead look for smart upgrades that will help them work more efficiently—in other words, less effort with the best results.

6 Must-Have Tools for Any Home Improvement Project

Below, you’ll find our top recommendations for the cordless tools and outdoor power equipment that we find practically indispensable.

Courtesy Home Depot

DEWALT 7-Tool Combo Kit and Case

• $499

Prices taken at time of publishing.

With these seven, 20-volt max cordless tools packed in a rolling ToughSystem toolbox, you can tackle a wide range of job-site tasks from general carpentry and finish work to metal or masonry projects. Along with an impact driver, flashlight, 6 1/2-inch circular saw, LED work light, and 4 1/2 inch grinder, you get a hammer/drill/driver, oscillating multi-tool, and random orbit sander boasting brushless motors for extended runtime. Pair each tool with one of the two included 2 amp-hour batteries when weight is a priority and the heavy-duty, 4 amp-hour version for tougher jobs where run-time is critical.

• $499 at Home Depot

Why we love it

This is an excellent starter kit for a carpenter, conveniently packaged in a weather-tight, wheeled toolbox that makes storage and transport to the job easier and tidier.

Pro Tip: TOH’s Tom Silva keeps two drill/drivers on hand at all times — one loaded with a drill bit and the other with a screw-driving bit — so he doesn’t waste time swapping between tasks. With this kit’s hammer/drill/driver and impact driver, you get that two-tool workflow built right in.

Pro Tip: Tom Silva, TOH general contractor, has long advised: “Buy the best you can afford. Believe me, I learned that the hard way.” A pro-grade combo kit like this one is a smart way to follow that advice — you get top-tier tools across the board without piecing them together one by one.

Courtesy Home Depot

DEWALT Table Saw with Rolling Stand

• $549
• $649
• 15% off

Prices taken at time of publishing.

With job-site table saws that are lightweight, you often have to sacrifice cut quality and accuracy, but not with the DEWALT. From the front of the blade to the back, the easy-to-adjust rack and pinion fence moves a consistent distance, which means your cuts are perfect. And the stand makes it a breeze to wheel around and set up at a comfortable working height without help. The powerful 15-amp motor can churn the 10-inch blade through 3 1/8-inch-thick material, while the table accommodates up to 32 ½ inch rip cuts to the right of the blade.

• $549 at Home Depot

Why we love it

It accepts 8-inch-diameter stacked dado blades up to 13/16-inches thick to cut notches.

Pro Tip: Norm Abram, TOH master carpenter, calls the table saw the nucleus of any workshop: “Just about every project has an element made at this tool, and it’s used before the cut off saw, the band saw, the drill presses, or anything else in the shop.”

Courtesy Home Depot

DEWALT Cordless Ratchets, 1/2 Inch and 3/8 Inch

• $199

Prices taken at time of publishing.

Working in an engine bay or underneath a car can expose power tools to pretty harsh automotive solvents and chemicals. That’s why these two cordless DEWALT ratchets are housed in glass-filled nylon, which prevents that stuff from causing damage. The two square sockets, paired with a 20-volt battery, deliver up to 70 foot-pounds of torque through a variable speed trigger. That means you have total control when you go full power to blast off stuck nuts or start bolts slowly without crossing the threads. Paired with a 2 amp-hour battery (sold separately), these Atomic tools weigh in at just over 3 1/2 pounds, so they’re comfortable enough to work with even overhead.

• $199 at Home Depot

Why we love it

An onboard LED light illuminates the work surface when you pull the trigger, while the low-profile directional switch on the head won’t interfere with access in a crowded engine.

Courtesy Home Depot

Cub Cadet Riding Mower

• $2,199

Prices taken at time of publishing.

Typically ride-on mowers are massive machines that need wide open spaces (and spacious storage sheds), but this Cub Cadet’s 34-inch width will squeeze through most narrow garden gates, eliminating access issues. Once this smooth-driving machine hits the yard, you can expect the same strength to power through tall grass, cut quality, and durability as any larger Cub mower backed by a 10 1/2 horsepower engine. The single blade cuts a 30-inch-wide swath ideal for lawns up to 1 acre, with a turning radius of 18 degrees to maneuver nimbly around garden beds.

• $2,199 at Home Depot

Why we love it

The five-position cutting deck provides plenty of options for different grass heights throughout the season, from 1 1/2 to 3 1/2 inches tall.

Courtesy Home Depot

DEWALT Cordless Miter Saw

• $849

Prices taken at time of publishing.

The combination of the brushless motor and the included FLEXVOLT 60-volt battery ensures that this cordless miter saw cuts like a corded one without the hassle. Precise enough for woodworking but portable enough to bring to the job site, the lightweight and compact DEWALT can make 675 cuts through 1/4-inch-thick MDF molding on a single charge. This saw will handle finish work all day long through composite, wood, or PVC trim.

• $849 at Home Depot

Why we love it

A bright-white LED light shines over the blade casting an accurate cut line on your work. Better yet it never needs calibration.

Pro Tip: TOH general contractor Tom Silva recommends a compound miter saw as the go-to for finish carpentry: “You can angle it from 0 to 45 left and right and anywhere in between, or you can tilt the saw from 90 to 45 degrees.” That versatility is exactly what makes a saw like this DEWALT indispensable for trim work — from baseboard to the dreaded crown molding.

Courtesy Home Depot

Troy-Bilt Push Lawn Mower

• $259
• $369
• 30% off

Prices taken at time of publishing.

Achieving a quality cut with the Troy-Bilt starts before the blade touches the grass. Up front, a built-in rake aligns the turf so it stands tall, while the blade creates lift to sever the grass. Then the grass clippings bounce around within the 21-inch-wide steel deck, meeting the blade multiple times, before the now-minced grass returns to the ground to act as a natural nitrogen source for the lawn. When you’re done, just loosen a pair of wing bolts to collapse the handle and save valuable floor space in a trailer or garage.

• $259 at Home Depot

Why we love it

Easy-to-use levers at each wheel allow for customization of up to six different cutting heights, from 1 1/2 to 3 3/4 inches.