The First Tools You Should Buy If You Move to the Country

When we left city life behind, I knew we’d need tools—but I didn’t realize which tools would matter most. You can always build up your collection, but starting with the right stuff saves you time, effort, and a lot of frustration. These are the first tools I’d recommend grabbing if you’re getting set up on land.

A Quality Shovel

Sounds basic, but you’ll use it constantly.
Digging post holes, fixing drainage, planting, or prying up rocks—you’ll want one that doesn’t bend or snap when it hits clay.

Cordless Drill and Impact Driver

You’ll hang a fence and fix a cabinet all in the same week.
A good drill/driver combo with a backup battery is a must. Don’t go cheap here—it’ll get used more than you think.

Wheelbarrow or Yard Cart

Hauling firewood, feed, dirt—you name it.
A solid wheelbarrow saves your back and time. Get one with a good tire and reinforced tray. The plastic ones won’t hold up long.

Chainsaw

Even if you’re not cutting trees down, you’ll be clearing limbs and trimming fence lines.
A mid-size, reliable gas saw will carry you through most tasks without being overkill.

Post Driver

You’ll eventually need to put in fencing or T-posts, and swinging a hammer won’t cut it.
A manual driver with some weight to it makes the job way faster and a lot easier on your arms.

Hose and Spray Nozzle

City folks don’t think about this, but on land, water isn’t always close.
A 100-foot hose and a durable spray nozzle will get water where you need it fast, from the garden to the animals.

Socket Set

You’ll be fixing stuff more than you expect, and having the right size socket makes life easier.
Start with a decent ⅜” set and build from there.

Push Broom

Dust, dirt, feed, sawdust—it piles up quick.
A wide push broom works better than any vacuum or leaf blower when it comes to the barn or shop.

Level and Measuring Tape

You’ll use them for everything from fencing to hanging shelves.
It doesn’t have to be fancy, but it needs to be accurate and tough enough to get tossed in the truck without falling apart.

*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.