Complete Woodworking Tools Lists for All Skill Levels

Contents

Woodworking is a delicate art, and one of the best forms of it. Woodworkers create art pieces by touching and maneuvering pieces of wood, pieces of nature, and what activity is better than that!? It’s by no means a simple task, and it does require precision, skill, experience and most importantly, the right types of tools. Having the right set of tools can make all the difference in any area of work, but specifically in woodworking. That’s why I’ve gathered a comprehensive woodworking tools list.

A carpenter wearing safety goggles and gloves cuts a wooden plank with a jigsaw in a workshop filled with tools and equipment

From measuring and cutting to assembling and finishing, every woodworking project relies on a toolkit. While power tools like table saws and sanders speed up the process, classic hand tools such as chisels, mallets and hand planes provide the finesse needed for intricate details. Not to mention safety equipment or clamps and other accessories that play a crucial role in maintaining a secure workspace.

This guide is all about lists! I’ll break down the must-have woodworking tools, helping you build a functional workshop made just for your needs! Whether you’re a professional looking for a carpentry tools list or a beginner just taking on your very first project (congrats! You’re in for a lot of fun!), this list will ensure you have everything required to bring your woodworking projects to life.

Wood carving tools and chisels on a wooden workbench with wood shavings and intricate carved designs.

Woodworking Hand Tools List

A pair of hands holding wood shavings over a wooden table with various woodworking hand tools, including chisels, saws, and pliers.

You can’t start a woodworking project without proper tools, that’s a given. But did you know hand tools are the heart of a woodworker’s workshop? Whether you’re a professional carpenter looking for carpentry hand tools list to ensure you have all the right ones and aren’t missing out on anything, or a beginner just taking a peek at how big your collection could grow, this list has got you covered. Here is an “almost” complete woodworking tools list; and I say “almost” because, let’s be honest, when you’re desperate enough, anything can turn into a woodworking tool!

Measurement and layout tools	Cutting and shaping tools	Striking tools	Drill bits	Driver bits	Clamping tools
Measuring tape	Saws	Claw hammer	Twist	Phillips	Bar
Bench rule	Hand (rip) saw	Ball peen hammer	Multi-spur bit	Torx	“C”
Bench knife	Crosscut saw	Dead-blow	Forstner	Square	Hand-screw (Jorgensen)
Marking knife	Back saw	Mallet	Spade	Flat	Spring
Scratch awl	Dovetail saw	Nail set	Countersink
Framing square	Pull saw		Hole saw
Combination square	Coping saw
Try square	Wood chisel
Quality square	Wood file/ rasp
Sliding T-bevel	Hand planes
Compass/ Trammel points	Block plane
Protractor	Jack
Calipers	Bench
	Jointer
	Spoke shave
	Glue scraper
	Card scraper
	Putty knife

wooden toolbox filled with hand tools, including saws, chisels, and planes, set on a rustic workbench.

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Woodworking Power Tools List

Power tools lay more on the more expensive side of tools, and tools aren’t cheap to begin with! So, buying one can be considered as an investment. You’ll end up getting your money’s worth in the long run regardless of the type of woodworking you do. However, it’s a good thing to know what types of power tools come in handy for woodworkers in general, whether you’re a carpenter looking for a carpentry power tools list, or just a DIYer thinking ahead. So, without further ado, here is a list of all the power tools a woodworker might need:

Electric	Pneumatic	Sawing machines	Sanding and surfacing machines	Contouring machines	Drilling machines	CNC machines
Circular saw	Nail/brad gun	Table saw	Disc sander	Lathe	Drill press	Woodburning
Reciprocating saw	Pin nailer	Panel saw	Horizontal belt sander	Router table	Mortise	2D & 3D Routers
Drill motor	Sander	Upcut saw	Spindle sander	Shaper	Horizontal boring machine	Milling
Rotary hand tools		Miter saw	Edge sander		Line boring machine
Electric multi tool		Bandsaw	Drum sander
Router		Scroll saw	Wide belt sander
Belt sander		Jigsaw	Surface planer
Orbital sander			Jointer
Oscillating sander
Biscuit joiner

A set of red power tools, including a drill, router, sander, jigsaw, and angle grinder, arranged on stacked wooden planks in a workshop.

Woodworking Tools List for Beginners

A woodworking tools list for professionals doesn’t really exist; but what does exist is the perfect list for beginners! Woodworking covers so many different types and styles that it is nearly impossible to form the perfect list that’ll be applicable to everyone. Everyone’s style, approach and budget differ, and not everyone has the same setup and space in their workshop. But if you’re looking for the essentials to start your journey, you’re in the right place!

A man in a plaid shirt holding a sander while looking at a laptop, surrounded by woodworking tools and wooden boards.

It’s great to see more and more people taking on woodworking projects; and if you’re one of them, here are some quick tips to help you get started:

First and foremost: Don’t overspend on tools and materials before you have gained a bit of experience! The best and safest way is to start on a project, and when you realize you need a specific tool to complete the project, buy it then. Nonetheless, here is a list of woodworking tools that I think any beginner will find useful. Anything beyond this list can easily be acquired later on as you make more progress.

Secondly, this woodworking tool list offers safety gear, which I strongly recommend you never skip! Trust me, it’s not fun starting a project only to have to stop it because of some unfortunate injury… So, whatever you do, do not neglect safety equipment!

Lastly, if you’re already a professional who knows their list of carpentry tools, you can skip this part. However, you may still want to review this listto double check and see if you’re missing anything that could potentially improve your workflow.

Two men with tool belts are at a woodworking table. A circular saw and other tools are on the table.

So, without further ado, here is the list of tools for woodworking any beginner should look into:

Fundamental Workshop Gear	Power Tools	Safety Gear
Drill Bit and Driver Kit	Table Saw	Safety Glasses
Clamps	Miter Saw	Hearing Protection
Straight edge	Circular Saw	Respirator
Chisels	Random Orbit Sander	Dust Mask
Black Pipe	Variable Speed Jigsaw
Calipers	Drill and Impact Driver
Angle finder
Measuring Tape
Combination Square
Framing Square
Speed square

Woodworking Safety Tools List

Whatever tool you skip and substitute, you can’t skip safety tools! Especially while doing work like carpentry, where you’re exposed to so much sawdust and debris, not to mention the open blades everywhere!

Since safety gear is arguably the most important part of woodworking, I tried to fit the necessary items in sections providing a carpentry tools list for beginners or professionals, but these safety measures are just so important they also need a separate category all for themselves.

A vintage canvas first aid bag with a red cross emblem hangs on a wooden wall hook near an open door.

First Aid Kit
- Bandages
- Gauze
- Tweezers
- Alcohol spray
- Cold compression bags
- Antibacterial ointment
- Exam gloves
Dust Masks & Respirators
- A good dust mask should at least filter out 95%+ of particles down to 0.3 μm
- It’s best if it has replaceable filters
Hearing Protection: Earbuds & Earmuffs
- Protects against prolonged exposure to loud woodworking machinery
- Choose between earbuds (compact) or earmuffs (better insulation)
Safety Glasses & Goggles
- Impact-resistant lenses to protect against flying debris
- Anti-fog coatings for better visibility
- Wrap-around styles offer full eye protection

A woodworker wearing safety goggles, a respirator mask, and earmuffs sands a wooden surface with an electric sander in a workshop.

Other precautions you can take to take the safety to the next level are:

Woodworking Apron
- Keeps sharp tools and small parts within reach
- Protects clothing from sawdust and glue
- Durable material like canvas or leather
Hand & Arm Protection
- Cut-resistant gloves: Protect against accidental slips with chisels, saws, or sharp edges.
- Nitrile gloves: For handling finishes, adhesives, and stains without skin irritation.
Foot Protection
- Steel-toe boots: Protect against falling tools or heavy wood pieces.
- Non-slip soles: Provide stability on sawdust-covered floors.
Fire Safety Equipment
- Fire extinguisher: Class A for wood-based fires, Class B for flammable liquids.
- Fire blanket: Quickly smothers small fires before they spread.
- Flame-resistant shop apron: Prevents clothing from catching fire while working with heat tools.
Air Quality Control
- Workshop ventilation system: Reduces fine dust accumulation.
- Air filtration unit: Helps filter airborne particles and improves breathing conditions.
- Humidity control: Prevents warping of wood while also keeping air fresh.
Safe Work Habits & Ergonomics
- Anti-fatigue workshop mat: Reduces strain from standing for long hours.
- Adjustable-height workbench: Promotes better posture and reduces back strain.
- Proper lighting: Prevents eye strain and enhances precision in fine woodworking.

A woman wearing safety glasses, earmuffs, and gloves in a woodworking workshop, preparing for work.

Conclusion

Although I don’t recommend buying any tools too soon and ending up not really using them as you thought you would, I think it’s great to have a general idea of where you can take things further in your woodworking workshop. And what better way to look through different woodworking tools lists?!

Hopefully, now, you know what types of tools there are out there. The next step after checking out a carpentry tools list is to start a project that’s suitable for your level but may need extra gear to be easily conducted. This way, you know you’re buying something useful and you can look at it as an investment.