Ryobi has launched new hand tools at Home Depot, and it looks like more might be available shortly.
Ryobi… hand tools?! This wouldn’t be the first time – they’ve launched flashlights, tape measures, a hammer, studfinder, and their LINK tool box and workshop storage system. So why not screwdrivers and more?
This was way more than I bargained for looking for more information on Ryobi’s also-new hobby knife (available now at Home Depot)!
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There are quite a few new Ryobi hand tools here!
There’s even a compact ratchet and socket set.
Hold on a second.
Okay – the new Ryobi hand tools that will be launching exclusively at Home Depot are not quite identical to existing Hart hand tools sold exclusively at Walmart. But, they do look pretty similar.
(Ryobi and Hart tool brands are both designed and developed by TTI North America. TTI owns the Hart brand and the Ryobi tool business in most global regions.)
See More: Tool Brands: Who Owns What? A Guide to Corporate Affiliations
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The new Ryobi screwdriver sets look to have decent handles. There’s a 4pc set, a 7pc set, and also an 11-in-1 multi-bit screwdriver.
The Ryobi screwdriver handles are a little different compared to Walmart’s Hart screwdrivers, but I’d bet the shafts and tips are the same.
I bring up Hart for one simple reason. TTI North America produced an expansive selection of Hart hand tools exclusively for Walmart. This gives them an expansive selection of hand tools that Ryobi can launch at Home Depot, it’s just a matter of what the retailer is willing to make room for at stores.
Prices and Availability
You can purchase some of the tools now, others look to be coming soon, exclusively at Home Depot.
Ryobi Compact Multi-Tool – $12.97
Ryobi 11-in-1 Screwdriver – $10.97
Ryobi 12pc Screwdriver Set Bundle – $18.97
Ryobi Zippered Tool Bag – $6.97
Ryobi 7pc Screwdriver Set – $15.97
Ryobi 4pc Screwdriver Set – $9.97
Ryobi 26pc Ratchet and Socket Set – $24.97
Ryobi 20″ Hand Saw – $14.97
Ryobi 24″ Level – $29.97
Discussion
Thoughts?
NoahG
The holiday shopping season looms.
Popgun42
The Ryobi green will not go well with the Milwaukee red in my hand tool box…
Greg
it’s so christmasy though…
Jeff
the 11 in 1 screwdriver probably the same poor quality as team red.
Diego Chingon
I’ve had my milwaukee 11 in 1 since 2017 no problems
Fendii
Same I’ve had my 11 in 1 Milwaukee driver for years and it’s dirty but as tough as day 1
Shaun ford
I like all my ryobi tool they get the job done at half the price I only hope that they come out with some new tools for Ryobi days I have all of the ones they offer now
Lc
Do the ryobi really hold up to really demanding work 🤔
Jason
I own my own business and I am a mobile commercial truck and trailer repair mechanic and I have all Ryobi cordless tools and I use them every single day and I don’t have a single complaint about them!! I have owned Milwaukee and DeWalt and Makita and craftsman and my Ryobi are just as good as any of them and for less money!!
Javier
I don’t really know what the heck you’re talking about. The only problem I’ve had with the Milwaukee 11 and 1 is I keep losing the bits lol. But the handle is certainly lasted long
Jim
Sorry to burst your bubble but Ryobi ( parent company) technically owns the Milwaukee brand!!
Mike lyle
Here’s a pretty interesting article about TTI’S takeover of a good portion of the power tool landscape. I have to say the last three Milwaukee purchases (narrow crown stapler, brushless drill set and multi tool) have not impressed me much.
I bought a Ryobi multi tool almost 4 years ago now that I beat up on every day that seems bulletproof. It also can use all of the Ridgid jobmax heads.
I love to hear all of the Milwaukee fanatics bash on Ridgid and Ryobi when all of these tools are made in the same ant and share components.
If I’m doing precision trim work, I use the delta 10 inch table saw with a Bosch 12″ mitre.
But let’s be honest guys, for fieldwork 95% of things can be done with any brand tool, if the operator knows what he’s doing.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/shuchingjeanchen/2016/01/07/father-son-in-power-tools/?sh=3927cc5d6519
Stuart
Ryobi and Milwaukee tools don’t share components.
Kevin
I can second what Stuart said that Milwaukee and Ryobi do not share any components. People tend to falsely assume that just because they are commonly owned, they’re made from the same parts, or in the same factory. You have to remember that although they share a parent company, they’re still two very separate companies. There shared influence but they have separate headquarters, separate engineers, separate managing personal, etc. it’s very common for companies to operate under the purview of one umbrella entity but that doesn’t attach the separate companies in any way from an operational perspective. TTI also owns Hoover vacuums, it’s not like you can expect to find the same components there either.
Rolls-Royce and Mini Cooper are companies held under BMW’s ownership; I’d be hard pressed to believe you’ll find a Mini and a Phantom sporting any of the same parts.
Chris
I used to work for TTI in Australia, yes you are correct to a degree, they do not share components but they do share technology and design, not in everything, but, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it, as a company why waste money reinventing the wheel when it already works but is just a different colour?
TTI own, Hoover, Vax, Dirt Devil, Hart, Stilletto, Empire, Powerfit, Kango, Ryobi, AEG, Rigid and the flagship being Milwaukee, plus more I know I’m missing. The technology used and perfected for the flagship brand filters it’s way down through the other brands and is made accordingly to price point, and this also works the other way, tools in other brands get specced up to be complimentary tools in higher quality, one thing I do know is that across the board the R&D that goes in to each and every tool under TTI is pretty intense.
Ct451
The cars you mention are different models. BMW is not going to release a mini cooper phantom. TTI will make the same tool and release it under different names depending on the market.
You like America, here’s Milwaukee. You like Germany, here’s AEG. The AEG SMT 355 chop saw is the same thing as the Milwaukee CHS 355. Obviously it not literally the same as far as individual components go but the performance is the same. There’s also a Ryobi one of these and in some markets you can find all 3.
They are all Chinese. They could be made anywhere around the world but they are what they are. I don’t understand why some are offended by this. Is a BMW made in the USA not a German car?
George
Agreed and exactly what wanted to say!
Bill
It’s mostly the guy holding the handle that makes them different
Chad
That’s so funny . You hurt so many people’s feelings.
Marc
Ryobi may own Milwaukee, but the ryobi tools are NOT comparable.
Stuart
Ryobi does not own Milwaukee.
Tool Brands: Who Owns What? A Guide to Corporate Affiliations
Jack Behrle
Ryobi does not own Milwaukee or Rigid tools. They are each a subsidiary of parent company TTI.
Just as there are a few under the Black and Decker/Stanley Group.
Toolfool
You might investigate who manufactures Milwaukee battery tools.
vs Ryobi. And besides that, every toolbox needs a little contrasting color in the box
Jim
Actually red and green are complimentary colors and look great together.
King+duck
I like them for no other reason than easy to spot lime green.
Wayne R.
Maybe I need a Ryobi lime-green muddler for my bar?
Dave
Nothing a can of Citrus Green Rust-Oleum can’t fix!
AlexK
The hobby knife looks comfortable. I’ll pick it up. Safer than my slim, metal handled one with the blade stuck in a cork, and easy to see in a bag.
I can see homeowners buying into the lime kool-aid. If you buy the kit with the drills, saw, etc. then why not get matching hand tools. Those customers won’t spend hours researching which screwdriver is best. They assume whatever they buy will do a good job. I own some Ryobi, and appreciate the company for keeping a battery style that didn’t make obsolete their older blue tools. When I don’t need a heavy duty tool, I go for Ryobi. Hand tools, probably not. But I’ll wait to see the reviews.
Ken
Honestly they should have ditched the stick pack when everyone else did.
Dannlh
Put a Bic ball-point pen cover over the blade. (Not the clear case pen, the white cased one)
Ben
Heck, maybe you need Ryobi limes for your bar. Way cheaper than Metabo HPT limes, and with at least 95% the acidity.
Bonnie
A can of spray paint works well for this. Also helps identify your tools if you end up on a shared jobsite.
Steve
Many of these items I’ve seen in person before at the Ryobi Store (Direct Tools Factory Outlet) and wondered what their primary channel was?
Dave
Probably the average homeowner looking for “good enough” tools at low prices. I’ve bought several Husky hand tools for one-off jobs due to their price (but needing more than HF), and I’ve been impressed enough to keep getting more. I think that’s what Ryobi is trying to go for. I actually just bought the Ryobi precision screwdrivers, partially due to price. The ones I currently have are those thin metal ones that I can’t get a grip on, but I couldn’t bring myself to getting the $34 Xcelite ones. For $7, the Ryobis seemed to be close enough in shape/size/grip to gamble on. I’ll find out once they’re delivered.
These could also be appealing as a low-cost option for “extra” screwdrivers around the house to keep people away from my Western Forge acetate Craftsman screwdrivers 😀
Tracy
Yep, I’m an average homeowner who can’t afford to pay someone else to do the work around here and we’ve postponed a lot of stuff over the years because we never had any tools and tools are expensive.
But the past couple of years has seen us buying a dozen or so various tools, (including some yard work stuff) most recently an angle grinder that has us finally ripping out walls and insulation, and cutting new windows out of the old metal siding because we couldn’t find the right size to replace the old windows.
So now in the next month we’ll have replaced about 2/3 of our insulation, replaced 2/3 of our old single pane windows with basic double pane from a discount (used?) window place and installed a diy mrcool mini split system for better heating and cooling of our house. It’s as old as I am, so these upgrades while not pretty are going to save us a lot as we are getting older.
I don’t know how these tools would hold up in a real work environment, but they are doing wonders for us.
Casey
You cut walls out with an angle grinder?
Nita
I’m a chippy and we cut 90% of our cladding sheets with a grinder You’d be surprised wat you can do with them 😉 but yeah sorry guys it’s a makita (green thou) 😆
Tracy
Yeah, I don’t know what the best tool to use is, and we initially tried with the saws all but it wanted to rip the siding apart and not just cut it.
The siding is in long horizontal strips and has a thin metal outer layer with some sort of cardboard-ish inner support layer.
The metal cutting disk on the angle grinder went through it like it was soft butter.
Tony
Lol I thought the same thing
MM
Those ratchets, both the Ryobi and the Hart, appear to be copying Snap-On’s visual styling.
Jared
I’m dubious whether these tools will be any “good” at these price points, but there’s a market for cheap tools too. I don’t spy anything offensive about them.
The handles on the screwdrivers look very power tool-inspired.
Derek
Depending on the size of the case I’ll probably pick up the ratchet and socket set for my tool bag along with the zippered tool pouch for it. Been wanting a small kit for the tool bag for little things around the house instead of pulling out the bigger set(s).
Davethetool
I have the 1/4” socket set. Purchased on a whim but have yet to actually use it. Looks decent enough quality but cannot comment on fit, finish or reliability as of yet. Also have the hobby knife and have used it a few times. It has a release on it to change the blade rather than just unscrewing the tip. Would have been nice to have it hold extra blades in the handle however. The tri-grip handle is nice and offers quite a bit more control than the standard hobby knives.
Jeremiah D
I also find that ratchet and socket set appealing. Good variety for the size and efficient use of space. I currently bring my tools other places to do work and dont have a dedicated work vehicle so I bring what ill need for each job. Looking for kore bang for my buck efficiency, size and weight wise. Im also doing all kjnds of different trades work.
King+duck
The socket set looks nice but honestly I’m sick of the metric and standard small tool kits would be so much more compact with just metric which anything built in the last 20 years is.
Josh
Hand saw!! 🤯
Jeremiah D
Ryobi would be one of my last choices for blades and bits. Every home improvement store has some kind of handsaws in stock. Depending on your application Id highly recommend you consider a japanese style pullsaw for a handsaw.
Jeremiah D
Its the original cordless saw
Tracy
I’m trying to figure out how you attach the battery 🤔
Ball_bearing
The handle color would make it so easy to find them inside a tool bag. ❤️
TonyT
Unless it’s a lime green Ryobi tool bag!
Ball_bearing
Haha, so true.
Kent+Hanson
My old man always had young bucks riding around with him and he had the back of his van split down the middle. Dewalt for him on the left and ryobi on the right for the green horns. He would have bought all of these for the ryobi side for sure if he hadn’t just retired.
DalTxJim
What is the item between the level and the stud-finder on the last row in the photo?
Stuart
That’s their “whole stud” detector – it came out in early 2017.
https://toolguyd.com/ryobis-whole-stud-detector/
KokoTheTalkingApe
That hobby knife looks appealing, if just for the larger handle, faster blade change, and blade storage.
I don’t love the blade cap, though. I’m sure to lose it. And there are lots of hobby knives with retractable blades, so there’s no need for a cap. Some even have blade storage.
Or, if you don’t mind the less acute blade tip, snap knives work pretty well too. And there are snap blades with a 30 degree tip, which is pretty sharp.
Lenny
I have found that Ryobi always has a great performance to dollar ratio. More hand tools please.
Nathan
sort of a mix between Hart and Milwaukee – but only at home depot.
not that surprised and probably decent pieces.
TomD
Thoughts? Craftsman/Sears really did horrible things to various pooches when they messed up their hand tools. They were so well known and respected that HD had to directly make fun of them in store – and the void they left has clearly been felt and is being filled by power tool companies of all things.
What a waste of an opportunity both for them and SBD afterwards.
JoeM
But to put it bluntly… Why aren’t we “Expecting” hand tools from the likes of Milwaukee or Ryobi? I’ve seen enormous Ryobi packages of non-power tool related products at Home Depot in the past. Why would it be a shock to us, at all, that any of these companies expanded their hand-tool lineups?
Stuart
Traditionally, expanding beyond one’s wheelhouse takes a lot of time and attention.
Let’s say McDonalds started offering a Mexican-style burrito. Is that what someone would go to McDonalds for? Or would they stick with Chipotle and other such restaurants?
There’s the potential for expansion like that, but it takes an enormous amount of time and effort.
Now, let’s say you are willing to expend that time and effort. What about your retail partners, will they give you shelf space for the length of time needed to drive sales from a zero starting point? How much space?
Let’s say I started BeerGuyd, a blog about beer. Regular readers might head on over there to see what it’s about, but that wouldn’t be enough to support the venture. It would need organic growth, which takes a long time.
There are ways to accelerate things. What type of advertising would McDonalds need to drive up burrito sales?
But what if instead of a burrito, it’s a sandwich with Mexican grill-style flavorings?
Ryobi has new rotary tools and accessories. Buried within their rotary tool accessory displays is a precision screwdriver set and a hobby knife. Those are thematically linked to hobby tools and projects, which encompasses their rotary tool efforts.
Something like a ratchet and socket set is just too far separated from their core competencies to be expected.
So while this exploration or expansion, temporary or permanent, isn’t outside the realm of what Ryobi can do, it’s still surprising. This is partly due to the fact that Home Depot doesn’t seem to have a lack of partners who can equally fill their shelves with additional entry-priced offerings.
TomD
Ryobi is mostly Home Depot, right? Which makes it even more strange as Hone Depot already has Husky hand tools.
Stuart
Exclusively at Home Depot.
Ferman S
I’ve been reading the comments and just had to chime in that Ryobi is not exclusive to the United States and is extremely popular in Germany, the United Kingdom, I believe Africa in it’s entirety (they literally have an 18 V ONE+ coffee pot that can brew a single cup of coffee with a Ryobi battery and apparently it’s everything you never knew you needed on the job site), and Australia as well.
They have actually had a number of these tools for years now and in those countries Ryobi is only available at exclusive retailers as well. However, if you’re a diehard fanatic like me, you can go on Amazon and find different things such as Ryobi tool bags or Ryobi backpacks that are available for free delivery with Prime and shipped from the UK .
One fun thing that’s cool is in Australia they have several different modular storage systems other than Ryobi LINK available for purchase. Also, in Germany they have what appears to be an industrial wood chipper. Who knew?
Stuart
Ryobi is exclusive to Home Depot in the United States. While available outside the USA, selection and availability can vary widely. There are also certain tools exclusive to other regions, such as Australia.
My answer was specifically to answer the question “Ryobi is mostly Home Depot, right?”
The truth of the matter is that Kyocera owns the Ryobi brand, and TTI owns the Ryobi power tool business in North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. https://toolguyd.com/no-kyocera-did-not-buy-ryobi/
Getting into all the nitty gritty, such as “well, they’re exclusive to Home Depot here, and there are all sorts of other matters regarding overseas products” tends to be more than what ToolGuyd’s predominantly USA-based audience is asking about.
Their ToolBlox system looked neat, and I still wish it made it over here. https://toolguyd.com/ryobi-toolblox-cabinets/
JoeM
Are you writing while hungry, Stuart? That is a lot of food references you’re using there.
Okay, thank you for clarifying. It’s not a shock about the companies making tools, it’s about their demographic sell rate, and whether or not their consumer impact is big enough to support so many new items. Now that, I understand. Thank You, Stuart. Saved me again!
Stuart
Food references are universally understood.
You should hear my physics references. I created kids with candy analogies to explain thermodynamics.
Pwrtoolpwrdrinker
I’ll be looking out for that BeerGuyd blog, Stuart! I have my faves but always willing to expand, lol.
Stuart
Bad news – I’m not a beer fan. I’ve never really liked the taste of hops and have yet to find a beer I truly enjoy.
Mopar4wd
Well the Ryobi fan boys will go nuts. I belong to some Ryobi online groups and alot of those guys collect tools as much as they use them. A few have made it their lifes misson to own every branded Ryobi item there is. A number of them have even imported tools from other countries including the hand tools. Which I’m sure just helps Ryobi introduce so many niche tools, having a fan base that buys them as soon as they come out.
Darren
I’m really waiting for the Craftsman USA made in the Milwaukee USA made hand tools I prefer to buy us made tools whenever possible and I will pay a premium for them. Not a Snap-On level premium that will pay a premium over Chinese or Taiwanese made stuff
PW
I don’t really understand this TBH. To my mind, hand tools are better covered by Husky. Same retailer, same approximate price point and presumable quality?
Plus the various other house and SBD brands they carry for low end hand tools.
How many overlapping house brands can HD support?
John+S.
Reminds me of craftsman evolv, right down to the color scheme!
bg100
Man this doesn’t make sense to me. What is the target market? Don’t they have plenty of offerings from other brands in this space? These aren’t pro offerings, so they’ll compete directly with Husky, and the HD stores I’ve been been in lately don’t have the shelf space to support two full competing product lines. What’s HD’s strategy here, don’t they make less money selling a Ryobi ratchet set than a Husky set?
Pat
I’ve got tools that range from Snap-On down to Harbor Freight. The only bad tool is one that don’t do what you bought it for.
Ld
Yeah not like craftsman made by Stanley are any better then the ones they used to sell at Walmart.
Ryobi always been a decent set of tools good selection of stuff and worth it for what they are. Like harbor freight stuff does the ends justify the means?
Chris
I had around 47-50 different pieces of Ryobi tools for years and not a single one has broken or stopped working, I even have a 5×5 Ryobi pup-up tent😝 just love Ryobi tools because they are sold at a good price and last for a long time. Will be buying more little by little. I highly recommend Ryobi tools, you won’t regret it when you see how much money you’ll save compared to other good brands.
Deb
Love my ryobi kit with weedeater, leaf blower, and chajn saw. Light weight & easy to use. In fact, my battery chainsaw outworked my husband gas one. Only downside for me is trying to grip the battery to remove it. My hand is not big enough
Engineer
Hope they’re better than their crappie soft drill bits
Ric wake
Hard pass for me. love Ryobi, have a large toolbox and ~20 batteries. But going deeper with Ryobi after HD owner helped fund J6; I’m out. If Hart are similar, Walmart and spray paint will have to do
RickC
Would be nice to know if the drivers comply with DIN 5260-PH/ISO 8763-1. It would make so much sense if they did. That standard accommodates JIS screws. It also accommodates American Phillips screws much better than American Phillips standard drivers do.
Kevin dunk
When will you develop a full blade brush cutter?
Stuart
I’m not sure we’ll be seeing that from Ryobi anytime soon.
Kevin dunk
That leaves a gaping hole in their product line! They have chainsaws, post hole diggers, so why not go that extra bit more for clearing thick brush? Their other 2 products just won’t ‘cut it’ with thicker woody brush! This could be a big miss IMHO.
Kevin