9 Lowe's Tools Under $20 Users Say Are Actually Worth Buying

Cheap equipment that does its job well can sometimes be hard to come by, but when you hunt around you'll often encounter gemstones hiding in the rough. Lowe's is a quality place to peruse these kinds of value additions. Lowe's is a retail brand in the business of connecting trade professionals and DIY home improvers with the gear they need at fair prices. A main competitor of Home Depot, Lowe's delivers its own catalog of in-house brands — namely, options like Kobalt — and Home Depot exclusives like Ryobi are equally absent from Lowe's shelves. That doesn't mean Lowe's is any less valuable as a source of quality gear, just that you'll need to pick and choose on occasion if a particular brand is a part of your purchasing focus (as well as when thinking about warranty coverage from the outlets).

Many pieces of equipment found at Lowe's provide extreme versatility and more than enough value to get a buyer up in the morning. Some of these tools and accessories even come with very low price tags. From automotive maintenance gear to hammers and layout tools, there are actually numerous tools at Lowe's that you'll find at a significantly helpful price tag. These tools are all under $20 and have been thoroughly vetted by users.

The Craftsman 6-Inch Needle Nose Pliers stand as one of the most reviewed tools within Lowe's low-priced segment of the catalog as a whole. This pair of pliers sports a 4.7 star average rating across 2,700+ reviews. The pliers feature hardened blades for a durable grip and the handles are finished off with a rubberized, grippy outer layer that helps make handling material more comfortable. Users note that the jaws of the pliers are very thin, allowing them to reach into just about any kind of recessed setting you might require.

With this tool, you'll get a durable and high quality set of grippers that have the potential to go the distance. Baked into this purchase is the reality that Craftsman hand tools retain the brand's legendary warranty coverage. This means that if you do manage to damage or break the tool you can get a repair or replacement with little hassle. Overall, this tool features quality construction and a multi zone bi-material grip that rounds out a solid tool in all regards.

The Craftsman Automotive Magnetic Parts Bowl isn't one with a heap of user reviews backing it up. Over 50 buyers have given it their two cents, but they average out at a 4.9 star rating, certainly nothing to scoff at. Reviews note the simplicity of its use as well as the strength of its magnetic pull. It's a convenient size to help keep both tiny and moderately sized metal components in place as you work on a repair or building project. The bright finish is also highlighted by users, noting that this helps allow parts to stand out visually so that you can easily differentiate components being held in place. I personally rely on this kind of magnetic part organizer when working on projects across the spectrum of building component use.

The magnetic base allows you to confidently place screws, bolts, and other metal pieces in the 6-inch diameter bowl and know that they will stay put. Managing small parts as you put together flat packed furniture or repair a bike, swap out a tire, or change a light fixture is often a nuisance. But that issue goes away when you use this kind of part holding solution.

A small block plane will allow you to knock edges off a wooden work piece with ease in areas where a full-sized plane isn't necessary or convenient. It's an important finishing solution when building all kinds of project. The Jorgensen 3.5-Inch Block Plane is an ideal hand tool within this realm. It sports an average rating of 4.7 stars across 100+ user reviews. Users note that its overall size makes it easy to handle, and there's high praise for the build quality of its frog and other parts. It's important to note that some reviewers report that the blade was sharp upon arrival but not up to the standard that you might expect. This is frequently the case with new and even used hand planes of all sizes. Therefore, sharpening and honing the blade is likely necessary to get the most out of your new tool.

With that being said, the plane features a heavy gauge iron to provide consistent cutting throughout a long lifetime of use. The cast metal body is purpose built to retain its flat bottom for longer and users deliver praise for the adjustment screw, as well. This looks to be a very good tool within an important category for a great price.

Every automotive worker whether plying their craft in a home mechanic environment or at the professional level understands the value of a magnetic pickup tool. The Craftsman Automotive Telescoping Magnet Tool is a cheap and cheerful accessory piece of equipment that can go a long way is managing your workshop needs. The tool features a pen-style clip at its tail end, allowing you to stick it in your pocket or attach it to a tool holding feature in your organizational setup. The magnet tool features a telescoping arm that collapses down to provide an easy to carry implement while extending up to 25 inches when necessary. The magnetic tip is capable of lifting up to 2 pounds and the tool is backed by Craftsman's for lifetime warranty. 

Users give the tool an average of 4.7 stars across 120+ reviews. It's easy to carry because of its short, 5-inch length when collapsed and equally valuable as an extended solution to reach into recessed areas or even to pick something up off the ground without having to bend down.

Every builder, renovator, and woodworker needs a speed square (in addition to the combination square, a woodworker's best friend). No matter what kind of job you take on, it's unrivaled in its value and versatility. The tool is triangular shaped and features perfect 90 and 45-degree angles, with a lip on the back allowing you to overhang it on the end of a board to trace a perfectly straight cut line across the face of your material. Similarly, speed squares are ideal as an angle layout tool, and those working on roof rafters will find even more value in the implements. The Big 12 Speedlte Orange Composite Speed Square variant comes from Swanson, a brand that makes impeccable layout equipment. My own speed square is a Swanson model. It's light, made from high impact polystyrene, and features a bright orange finish to help you find it with ease no matter where it may be laying around on the jobsite.

Users are in agreement that this tool is an ideal measurement and marking solution. It has received 600+ reviews to the tune of a 4.7 star average rating. The bright orange color is highlighted, and many users note that the polystyrene construction actually results in a more accurate measurement tool than the standard aluminum build.

Sometimes a simple tool is the most valuable option. The Craftsman Automotive Clip Removal Tool allows you to remove plastic push pins that clip in to hold the components in place in your vehicle. These kinds of clips are easy to remove if you have the right equipment, but they can be a challenge without a tool like this. This Craftsman offering is designed to help users quickly and easily remove clips to access important components without damaging anything within the vehicle. This damage reduction function also extends to the clips themselves, allowing you the ability to reuse a retaining solution rather than having to replace it because you've snapped the fastener.

The clip removal tool from Craftsman has 4.8 stars from over 140 buyers. They report that it works exceedingly well because of an advantageous angle in the removal blade. It's also worth noting that reviews say it's useful in tackling staples and other fasteners beyond the automotive workshop.

Precision screwdrivers are one of those tools with a small stature and underrated value. They often sit idle in your toolbox for weeks or months, but when they are necessary there's nothing else that can perform the job. Precision screwdrivers are the only solution for removing tiny safety screws or tackling certain elements of electrical installation. The Klein Tools 14-in-1 Precision Screwdriver/Nut Driver features a wide range of important precision bits to tackle just about any kind of small screw removal tasks you may face. The "Cushion-Grip" handle allows for significant comfort while using the tool, and the back end is rounded out by a spin cap that allows you to push against your workpiece with the palm of your hand and twist the driver with your fingers in order to maintain precise control while fastening or removing an element.

150+ user reviews give it a 4.8 star average rating. Many highlight its value in tackling electronic repair tasks, in particular. Each bit features industrial strength heat treatment to give it a long lasting durability. Each bit is also precision milled to get the job done with extreme efficiency.

Hammers are of course a striking tool first and foremost, but they're useful for all kinds of stuff. The Kobalt 16 oz Steel Head Fiberglass Handle Claw Hammer is a quality solution when hitting things with prejudice is your main objective. The fiberglass handle does a great job of dampening vibration so that you won't feel the strike force rippling through your arm with each swing. The curved claw on the back delivers ample power when removing nails and other fasteners from workpieces, as well. Although, it's worth noting that a straight claw framing hammer can provide a more delicate touch when tackling this part of a hammer's duties.

550+ reviewers have provided feedback to the tune of a 4.8 star average rating. They note that the hammer is sturdy and durable, and praised the fiberglass handle with Kobalt's bi-material slip resistant grip, in particular. The tool features a smooth face and an ergonomic, soft grip. All around, this is a quality striking solution that users appear to love.

Unless you're looking for something very large (or laser-powered), most kinds of leveling tool will be fairly low priced. Lowe's naturally carries a range of levels and leveling tools, but this one stands out as a particularly valuable solution. The Johnson Plastic 5.5-Inch Cross Check Post Level includes three vials to provide a cross check to your leveling efforts. It fits around a post, specifically, to allow for fencing installation and other, similar applications with precision and efficiency. 

The tool has garnered a 4.8 star average rating across 360+ reviews, lending additional credence to its versatility and value. The tool can be hooked onto a post or pole with the help of its rubber strap, allowing you to set the leveler in place and then go about fine tuning the workpiece's installation. It features an impact resistance plastic body with reflective backer plates on each of the acrylic vials to make reading the leveling instruments easier. Users give it high praise, focusing in large part on the tool's ability to be set in place. Its price tag is another point of focus, with reviewers noting the value they get from a tool with such a minimized price tag.