Deck Building Tools: The Full List for a DIY Deck
A deck is the biggest tool list on this site, because it is really three jobs stacked together: groundwork for the footings, framing for the substructure, and fine work for the boards. Each stage needs different kit, and knowing which stage you are in stops you buying the wrong thing.
What it costs to tool up
759 €
The 9 essentials, bought outright
1,327 €
All 13, including the nice-to-haves
Indicative prices for DIY-grade tools — brand and region move them a lot. Already own half of it? The project tool checklist lets you tick off what you have and put your own prices against the rest, then adds it to your budget. For the materials themselves, use the deck calculator.
Three stages, three kits
1. Groundwork
String line, spirit level, post hole digger, shovel, barrow, and concrete. Everything that follows is only as square and as level as this stage — an error here cannot be corrected later.
2. Framing
Circular saw, mitre saw, impact driver, speed square, clamps. This is where the deck gets its strength, and where a nail gun repays a rental fee if the deck is large.
3. Boards
Mitre saw, impact driver, spacers and a white-faced mallet. Slower, more visible work — every cut here will be looked at for the next twenty years.
Why you want an impact driver, not just a drill
A deck takes hundreds of long screws into dense, often wet treated timber. A drill/driver applies steady torque, which means the resistance goes into your wrist and the screw head — you will cam out, chew heads, and ache. An impact driver delivers rotational hammer blows instead, sinking the same screw with a fraction of the effort and almost no reaction force. It is the one purchase that changes how the job feels. Keep the drill too: you still want it for pilot holes and countersinking, and swapping bits constantly on one tool wastes more time than the second tool costs.
Post holes: digger, auger or spade?
A spade digs a wide crater, which means far more concrete and a weaker post — the strength comes from undisturbed ground gripping a narrow column. A clamshell post hole digger cuts a tight vertical hole and is inexpensive; it is hard work but perfectly manageable for a handful of posts.
A powered auger is worth renting from roughly ten posts upward, or in heavy clay. Two things to know before you do: it needs two people in anything but light soil, and it will stop dead against a root or a rock and try to take your wrists with it.
If you are laying composite boards
Two changes to the list. Use a white-faced rubber mallet — a black one leaves marks on composite that are extremely hard to remove. And check whether your system uses hidden fasteners, which usually come with a system-specific tool or spacer from the manufacturer; a generic one will not set the gap correctly. Composite also blunts blades faster than timber, so start with a fresh fine-tooth blade rather than the one that just cut your treated joists.
What you can skip
- —A nail gun, on a small deck. It is a genuine time-saver on a large substructure and worth renting there, but for a modest deck the compressor faff outweighs the gain.
- —A cement mixer for a handful of footings. Dry-pouring into the hole and adding water is perfectly acceptable for fence and deck posts; hire a mixer once you are past about ten.
- —Deck board spacers. A pair of offcuts or even a couple of nails gives you the same consistent gap for nothing.
- —A laser level, on a small ground-level deck. A string line and a good spirit level do it. On a raised or long deck, the laser earns its rental.
Treated timber dust
Cutting pressure-treated timber releases the preservative with the sawdust. Cut outdoors, wear a mask and glasses, and do not burn the offcuts — treated timber must go to proper disposal, never on a bonfire.
Tools you'll need
The kit this job actually calls for, and whether it's worth buying or renting for one weekend.
- Circular saw
Fast straight cuts in sheet goods and timber.
Buy 60–200 €Rent 15–30 €/day - Mitre saw
Repeat cross-cuts on joists and boards.
Buy 100–350 €Rent 20–35 €/day - Cordless drill/driver
The one power tool every job on this site needs.
Buy 60–200 € - Impact driver
Hundreds of long screws — your wrist will thank you.
Buy 70–200 € - Spirit level
Get a 1.2 m one — short levels lie on long runs.
Buy 15–60 € - String line and pegs
Sets the deck line and falls before anything is fixed.
Buy 5–15 € - Post hole digger
Digs a narrow, deep hole — much better than a spade for posts.
Buy 25–60 € - Speed square
Fast square marks and a saw guide for repeat cuts.
Buy 10–30 € - Safety glasses, gloves and dust mask
Treated timber dust — mask and glasses.
Buy 15–40 €
Prices are indicative for DIY-grade tools and vary a lot by brand and region — treat them as a budgeting starting point, not a quote. Rental rates are per day from a typical tool rental shop.
Now work out the timber
Boards, joists, posts and footing concrete for your deck size — then read the full deck guide for spans and spacing.
Frequently asked questions
What tools do I need to build a deck?
Split it by stage. Groundwork: string line, spirit level, post hole digger, shovel and barrow. Framing: circular saw, mitre saw, impact driver, speed square and clamps. Boards: mitre saw, impact driver and a white-faced mallet. It is the largest tool list of any DIY building job.
Do I need an impact driver as well as a drill?
For a deck, yes. Hundreds of long screws into dense treated timber will cam out and wreck your wrist with a drill/driver. An impact driver uses rotational hammer blows instead, sinking the same screw with far less effort. Keep the drill for pilot holes and countersinking.
What is the best way to dig post holes?
A clamshell post hole digger cuts a tight vertical hole, which is what gives the post its strength — a spade digs a wide crater that needs more concrete and grips worse. Rent a powered auger from about ten posts upward or in heavy clay, but use two people, as it stops dead against roots and rocks.
Do I need special tools for composite decking?
Two changes. Use a white-faced rubber mallet, because a black one marks composite permanently. And check whether your system uses hidden fasteners, which normally need the manufacturer's own tool or spacer. Composite also blunts blades faster, so start with a fresh fine-tooth blade.
How much do deck building tools cost?
Roughly €760 for the essentials and about €1,330 for everything, making it the most tool-intensive job on this site. A nail gun and a cement mixer are both worth renting rather than buying unless the deck is large.
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Turn this guide into a plan
Get exact quantities and costs for your own measurements, build an itemized shopping list so you don’t overbuy, and use the PDF to collect quotes from contractors.