DEWALT 20V MAX Drill/Driver Combo Kit with 2 Batteries
Drill and impact driver. Two batteries, charger, bag. The starter kit.
$138.99Check It Out
May 1, 2026 · 7 min read
How to Set Up a Garage Workshop for Under $500
Most guys build a garage workshop backwards — they buy whatever's on sale, end up with 40 tools they barely use, and still can't find the one they actually need for a given job. The right approach is to build a foundation first: a small set of tools that handle most things, then expand from there as specific needs come up. Here's how to do that for under $500.
Start with cordless power — a drill and an impact driver
These two tools handle more home projects than everything else in the garage combined. A drill bores holes and drives screws. An impact driver drives fasteners faster and with more torque, and it's the one you reach for when you're assembling furniture, building a deck, or doing anything structural. Buy a combo kit with two batteries and a charger — never buy just one battery. The DEWALT 20V MAX combo kit covers both tools and plugs into the rest of the 20V lineup. Once you have the batteries, every additional DEWALT tool in the platform is cheaper to add.
Hand tools that handle most jobs
A mechanics tool set — sockets, ratchets, combination wrenches — is what you reach for on vehicle jobs, appliance repairs, and anything that involves hardware. The CRAFTSMAN 230-piece set has SAE and metric coverage, a lifetime warranty, and fits in a single organized case. Don't build a tool collection without a real socket set. You'll use a wrench or ratchet on half the jobs you do, and having the right size immediately is the difference between a 10-minute job and a hardware store run.
A floor jack — for any vehicle work
If you ever plan to change oil, rotate tires, do brake work, or get under a vehicle for any reason, the scissor jack in your truck is not the tool for the job. It's for roadside emergencies only and it's not safe for garage use. A low-profile hydraulic floor jack like the VEVOR 3-ton gets under most trucks and SUVs, lifts high enough to work comfortably underneath, and has an overload valve so it won't give way under load. Always pair with jack stands — never work under a vehicle on a jack alone.
Lighting: the upgrade most people skip
Working in a dim garage makes every job harder and slower than it needs to be. If you're on the single incandescent that came with the house, you're squinting through half your work. A 100W deformable LED shop light puts out 14,000 lumens, plugs into a standard socket, and installs in 10 minutes. The difference is immediate. It's the single lowest-effort, highest-impact upgrade in a garage and it costs around $50. Do this first or at least at the same time as everything else.
Storage: organize it or lose everything
Buying quality tools and losing them to a disorganized garage defeats the whole point. Start with one real storage solution rather than a pile of random bins. The Milwaukee PACKOUT rolling toolbox is the best modular option — the rolling base serves as your core and you add stackable organizers as your collection grows. If the budget is tight, even a set of magnetic parts trays on the workbench and a basic pegboard for the wall gets you 80% of the organization benefit for a fraction of the cost. Either way, decide on a system before you have tools scattered across every surface.
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CRAFTSMAN 230-Piece Mechanics Tool Set with Case
230 tools, one case. Sockets, ratchets, wrenches, extensions — the full set.
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3-ton low-profile jack with rapid pump. Lifts most trucks and SUVs.
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14,000 lumens on a deformable panel. Plug in, hang it, never squint again.
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