The best gift ideas for handymen and tradesman

If he’s a tradesman, he’ll likely already have a drill, but it might be years old and in need of an upgrade, in which case, a new one would make his day! And if he isn’t a tradesman, but fancies himself as a bit of a handyman, upgrading his cheap or non-existent drill to something he can show off when his mates are over is a sure way to put a smile on his face.

We suggest the Makita HP457DWE10 Combi Drill. Makita is an industry leader in power tools, meaning he’ll have no shame in getting this out at work. And if it’s only going to get used around the house, he can at least feel like a pro!

With a spare battery and a 74 piece accessory set included, the HP457DWE10 is well worth the price. 

No tradesman ever goes to work without a pocket knife (widely known as a ‘Stanley’ knife here in the UK). Likewise, no home toolbox is without one (at least, it shouldn’t be). 

These things are so versatile and get used for countless different jobs. The downside, though, is that they are often a little flimsy and don’t last long. That’s why a good quality knife can make such a good gift for tradesmen and DIYer’s! It’s something he will use all the time, so he’ll really appreciate one that’s well made.

We suggest the MILWAUKEE Fastback Folding Pocket Knife. At £36.99, it is expensive for a work knife, but if you want to impress him with something a bit special, then this will certainly do the trick – they are extremely well made. 

If you’re on a lower budget, though, something like the Rolson 62845 will be more than adequate to replace his old plastic box-cutter.

Men love tool belts – this is a fact. It’s probably because a tan leather tool belt equipped with a hammer and drill is about as close as we’ll ever get to dressing like a cowboy with a gun on each hip or a medial knight with a sword sheathed at our side. Of course, they are also extremely useful if you build stuff for a living, but you don’t have to be a master carpenter to own one. There is no shame in getting your tool belt on to put up a chest of drawers from Ikea!

If he is a tradesman, you’re going to want to get something robust and versatile as he’ll be using it every day and putting it under a lot of strain. We suggest something like the DEWALT DWST1-75552, which is built for heavy use and allows custom pouch placement.

If it will only see moderate use or is just for use around the house, though, this leather Tool Belt from Stanley will make the perfect gift for the handyman.

Essential for tradesmen, and the first item on the list for anyone putting together a home tool kit – the Toolbox makes a great gift for any handyman – amateur or pro.

Chances are, however, any tradesman who needs a toolbox already has one. So unless he’s been complaining about needing an upgrade, this gift idea might be best for the amateur DIY enthusiast who currently has all of his tools rattling around in an old shoebox.

Check out this heavy-duty box from Stanley, with a detachable top section for organising small parts.

These are extremely useful for anyone who does fiddly work involving small parts that might get dropped in hard to reach places (mechanics, electrical engineers etc.). They also make a great addition to any home tool kit. 

You can pick these up for less than £10, making them the perfect low-budget or small gift item for handymen, engineers, or hobbyists. Check out this model from ‎Preciva, which features a strong magnet and an LED light, making finding and retrieving lost items even easier! 

This is one of the most practical and useful items that you can have in a toolbox. If you’ve ever done any manual work, even just putting up household furniture, you’ll probably have used hex keys at some point, and you’ll know how frustrating it can be when you don’t have the right size key.

With a handy all-in-one multi-key, he’ll never have that problem again, plus this compact little device will save him having to buy and store an entire set of separate keys. Best of all though, he’ll no longer have the problem of losing all those loose keys! One of these is just a fantastic low-cost gift for handymen and tradesmen.

We suggest the DEWALT DWHT70263M Folding Locking Hex Key Set, which includes keys of 8 different sizes. You can pick up cheaper models from other manufacturers, but with DEWALT, you know you’re getting a quality product that is built to last.

This gift idea is intended more for the career tradesman than the occasional DIYer. If he works outdoors, on-site, or anywhere where he might not have access to tea and coffee, a good thermal flask is an absolute must.

We suggest a Thermos Stainless King Flask. These things are excellent (the amazon reviews and ratings speak for themselves). They are well made, don’t leak, and most importantly – they keep stuff hot (very hot), or cold for that matter. Whatever you put in there, it’s staying that temperature for a long time!

Pocket levels are great for levelling at heights or in confined spaces where it isn’t safe or possible to use a full-size model. They are also a perfect addition to the home toolbox, particularly if you don’t have the space to store a full-size level. 

Available from anywhere between £5 – £20, one of these handy little tools make for a perfect small-gift item for him.

Check out this model from Stabila, which includes both vertical and horizontal levelling and magnetic sides, which make this level particularly useful when working with metal surfaces!