What You’re Probably Missing in the Shed That’ll Slow Every Project
You don’t need to own every tool out there, but missing the basics makes everything take longer. If you find yourself walking back to the house, digging through drawers, or improvising with the wrong gear, there’s a good chance your shed setup is holding you back.
Pencil or Chalk
Whether you’re marking fence posts, measuring boards, or laying out garden beds, you need something to write with. It sounds small, but trying to guess where to cut or drill because you forgot a pencil ends up wasting more time than you’d think. Keep a stash right by the door.
Fully Charged Drill Batteries
It doesn’t matter how good your drill is—if the battery’s dead, it’s useless. Always have one charged and one charging. If you only realize you’re out of juice once the screws are halfway in, that whole project grinds to a stop.
Extension Cord
You’ll always need power a little farther than the last outlet reaches. Keep a heavy-duty cord coiled up and ready in the shed. Whether you’re using power tools, plugging in a shop fan, or running a light, having that cord ready saves you from piecing together five short ones.
Spare Gloves
Tearing through your only pair mid-job leaves your hands wrecked. Keep extras on hand so you’re not skipping protection when it actually matters. Even lightweight gloves make a difference when you’re digging, trimming, or hauling something sharp.
Fasteners You Actually Use
Digging through a bucket of random screws every time you need to attach something is a huge time waster. Stock up on the sizes you reach for the most and keep them labeled. You’ll save time and finish projects without unnecessary hardware store runs.
*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.
