RANKED: 2024 AMERICA’S MOST TRUSTED HAND TOOL BRAND

What are the Best Hand Tool Brands? 

In the world of do-it-yourself projects, professional trades, and everyday repairs, selecting the right-hand tools can make all the difference between a job well done and one marred by frustration. Hand tools are the unsung heroes of countless tasks, providing precision, durability, and reliability when we need them most. However, with so many hand tool brands competing for attention today, picking the right tools for the job can be difficult. Knowing the hand tool industry's key brands will help you decide whether you're a seasoned craftsman or a weekend DIY warrior.


The 2024 America’s Most Trusted Study

Commenced over a decade ago, the America's Most Trusted® study was set in motion to offer brands insights into the impact of trust on consumer purchasing decisions. Discerning brands recognize that consumer trust is pivotal for their success. In January, the study reveals its updated findings. This comprehensive research endeavor has established itself as the definitive ranking of brand trust.

Brand trust signifies customers' belief in a brand's capacity to deliver on its promises. Building and sustaining brand trust is paramount for securing customer loyalty. When consumers trust a hand tool brand, they exhibit heightened confidence in purchasing and endorsing it to their network. Furthermore, brand trust is a linchpin in nurturing customer loyalty, as individuals are more inclined to stick with a brand they trust. It serves as a catalyst for recurring transactions, drives word-of-mouth endorsements and fosters favorable impressions of the hand tool company.

Lifestory Research unveils the most recent findings from the America’s Most Trusted® study each year. We engage in over 75 detailed product studies annually, surveying many individuals about their perspectives and encounters with various brand products. Employing our rigorously validated Net Trust Quotient Score, the study quantifies individuals' trust in specific brands during the product selection process.

To determine whether a product meets customer expectations compared to competitor brands, the Net Trust Quotient Score (NTQS) measures customers' trust in a specific hand tool brand within a particular product category. This hand tool trust metric is designed to provide consumer-driven data insights utilizing social and opinion science research practices that adhere to the highest quality consumer research standards.

What are the top brands of hand tools people trust the most? Answering this question, the top hand tool brands were rated in the America’s Most Trusted Study. By asking participants to rate each brand within a hand tool category, the study seeks to identify the most trusted brands. The brands are ranked by the average of all responses from the participants. The results of the study help to determine which brands are most trustworthy. This allows consumers to make informed decisions when selecting hand tools.

Lifestory Research's meticulous ratings, reviews, and accolades are derived from in-depth survey feedback meticulously curated from participants in our comprehensive hand tool study. Notably, our methodology deliberately excludes the influence of third-party reviews, editorial committees, or industry professionals, underscoring our commitment to authenticity. We rely on real individuals' unfiltered opinions and trust ratings to identify the most trusted hand tool brands. Our approach adheres to rigorous social scientific survey standards, with sample sizes thoughtfully designed to mirror the nuanced perspectives of our discerning target audience. Every facet of our hand tool research findings is exclusively rooted in the candid opinions of independent survey respondents within the esteemed framework of America's Most Trusted Research program.

2024 America’s Most Trusted Hand Tool Brand

The Lifestory Research 2024 America’s Most Trusted® Hand Tool Brand Study found DeWalt to be the most trusted brand among people considering the purchase of a hand tool. With a Net Trust Quotient Score of 123.5, DeWalt had the highest trust rating among the most popular hand tool brands.  

The Lifestory Research 2024 America’s Most Trusted® Hand Tool Brand ranking is based on 6,776 opinions of people surveyed in the United States over the last 12 months. Dewalt, Craftsman, Stanley, Snap-On, Milwaukee, Black+Decker, Kobalt, Channel Lock, Lenox, Klein, Husky, Estwing, and Irwin were the most trusted hand tool brands. 

For a hand tool brand to feature in our rankings, it must enjoy a degree of recognition and possess sufficient consumer judgments. This ensures that our hand tool rankings are built on solid foundations. Our approach involves rigorous statistical standards, including a 95% confidence level with a 3% margin of error, to guarantee the precision of our hand tool results. Additionally, we mandate a large enough sample size to maintain the validity and reliability of the hand tool survey conclusions.

The table below shows the hand tool rankings among the top tool brands in the 2024 America’s Most Trusted® study. 

TOP 13 Ranked Hand Tool Brands – 2024 Study

1Dewalt123.2★★★★★
2Craftsman123.0★★★★★
3Stanley116.0☆☆☆
4Snap-On114.7☆☆☆
5Milwaukee113.3☆☆☆
6Black+Decker112.2☆☆☆
7Kobalt108.3☆☆☆
8Channel Lock103.5☆☆
9Lenox103.1☆☆
10Klein101.6☆☆
11Husky100.5☆☆
12Estwing94.9☆☆
13Irwin91.8☆☆

No promotional use or advertising can be made of America's Most Trusted® survey results without the express prior written consent of Lifestory Research. America's Most Trusted® is a registered trademark of Lifestory with all rights reserved.

The America’s Most Trusted® study is an annual study examining brand trust across many product categories.  Results for this product category and others from prior years of the study can be found here. Further details of the annual study are on the survey methodology page of this website. Additional insights and questions are answered in our frequently asked questions.  

Lifestory Research America's Most Trusted® Study results are based on survey responses and should not be considered legal or financial advice. Your experiences may vary.  For details, see our Terms of Use and Legal Notices on the Lifestory Research website.

Brands Ranked in Study

The Lifestory Research America’s Most Trusted® research study actively surveys hand tool shoppers throughout the year in the United States. The study is focused on measuring consumers' opinions of the most recognized hand tool brands in the market. In the study, consumers rate the quality of the hand tool brand, their likelihood of recommending the hand tool to others, how favorable they feel about the brand behind the hand tool, how they rate the reputation of the hand tool, and their trust in the hand tool brand.

Here, we provide information on the brands in the 2024 America’s Most Trusted® study. The brands are presented in the order they ranked in the 2024 America’s Most Trusted® study.

  1. Dewalt:
    Dewalt is a hand tool brand that operates under Stanley Black & Decker. While Stanley Black & Decker is known for various tools and hardware, Dewalt tools are specifically recognized for their durability and performance. Dewalt originated in 1924 and is headquartered in Towson, Maryland.

  2. Craftsman:
    Craftsman is a hand tool brand that operates under Stanley Black & Decker. Initially owned by Sears, Craftsman is now part of the Stanley Black & Decker portfolio. Craftsman tools are known for their quality and reliability. Craftsman originated in 1927.

  3. Stanley:
    Stanley is a renowned hand tool brand under Stanley Black & Decker. Stanley tools are recognized for their innovation and longevity. The brand has a long history dating back to 1843 and is headquartered in New Britain, Connecticut, USA.

  4. Snap-On:
    Snap-On is a premium hand tool brand known for its high-quality equipment. The Snap-On Tools Company, LLC is headquartered in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Snap-On has been providing professional-grade tools since its founding in 1920.

  5. Milwaukee:
    Milwaukee is a hand tool brand that operates under Techtronic Industries Co. Ltd. (TTI), a global manufacturer of power tools. Milwaukee tools are known for their durability and innovation. The brand originated in 1924 and is headquartered in Brookfield, Wisconsin.

  6. Black+Decker:
    Black+Decker is a hand tool brand that operates under Stanley Black & Decker. Known for its wide range of power and hand tools, Black+Decker originated in 1910 and is headquartered in Towson, Maryland, USA.

  7. Kobalt:
    Kobalt is a hand tool brand owned by Lowe's Companies, Inc. Kobalt tools are recognized for their quality and affordability. The brand originated in 1998 and is exclusively sold at Lowe's stores. Lowe's is headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina.

  8. Channel Lock:
    Channellock, Inc. is the company behind the hand tool brand Channel Lock. Headquartered in Meadville, Pennsylvania, USA, Channellock is known for its high-quality pliers and hand tools. The brand has been in operation since 1886.

  9. Lenox:
    Lenox is a hand tool brand specializing in cutting tools and saw blades. Lenox operates under Stanley Black & Decker and is headquartered in East Longmeadow, Massachusetts. The brand has a history dating back to 1915.

  10. Klein:
    Klein Tools is a hand tool brand known for its electrical and utility tools. The brand is family-owned and operated and headquartered in Lincolnshire, Illinois. Klein Tools has been providing professional-grade tools since 1857.

  11. Husky:
    Husky is a hand tool brand owned by Home Depot. The brand offers a variety of tools and is exclusively sold at The Home Depot stores. The Home Depot, founded in 1978, is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

  12. Estwing:
    Estwing is a hand tool brand known for striking tools, hammers, and axes. Estwing tools are recognized for their quality and durability. The brand originated in 1923 and is headquartered in Rockford, Illinois.

  13. Irwin:
    Irwin Tools is a hand tool brand under Stanley Black & Decker. Irwin is known for its wide range of hand tools and accessories. The brand has operated since 1885 and is headquartered in Huntersville, North Carolina.

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