Tools and Hardware at Bin Stores: Great Deals or Junk?
Tools at bin stores can be a real value — or a waste of money. Here's how to evaluate what's worth buying and what to leave behind.
The Tool Aisle in the Bins
DIYers, contractors, and home improvement enthusiasts have found bin stores to be a surprisingly good source for tools and hardware. Home Depot, Lowe's, and Amazon all have high return rates on tools — often because a buyer purchased the wrong size, already owned the tool, or found it was more than they needed.
This creates a consistent flow of tools into the liquidation pipeline. The quality of what you find varies, but the potential is real: brand-name hand tools, power tool accessories, and measuring devices appear regularly at prices far below what you'd pay at a hardware store.
Here's how to navigate this category intelligently.
What Types of Tools Show Up
Hand Tools
These are the most common and most reliable tool finds at bin stores:
Screwdrivers (individual and sets)
Pliers, wrenches, and adjustable tools
Hammers and mallets
Tape measures and levels
Utility knives and box cutters
Allen key sets and socket sets
Hand tools are excellent bin store buys because they're simple, durable, and easy to inspect. A quality screwdriver from a brand like Stanley, Klein, or DeWalt works or it doesn't — and a visual inspection usually tells you which.
Power Tool Accessories
Full power tools (drills, saws) are less common in bins, but accessories show up regularly:
Drill bit sets
Router bits
Saw blades (circular, jigsaw, reciprocating)
Sanding pads and belts
Grinding discs
These accessories retail for $15–$60 per set. At bin store prices, they represent real savings for active DIYers or contractors.
Measuring and Layout Tools
Digital calipers
Laser levels
Measuring tapes (various lengths)
Speed squares and T-squares
Stud finders
Electrical and Plumbing Accessories
Outlet and switch covers
Cable management items
Wire nuts and electrical tape
Pipe fittings and connectors
Storage and Organization
Tool bags and pouches
Parts organizers and storage boxes
Pegboard accessories
Full Power Tools: Rare but Possible
Occasionally, a drill, jigsaw, circular saw, or impact driver makes its way into bins. These are usually standalone tools (not full kits) and may or may not have their batteries or chargers. When you see a power tool:
Check the brand: DeWalt, Milwaukee, Makita, Bosch — these are worth further inspection. Generic no-name brands are not worth the risk.
Look for the battery and charger: A cordless drill without its battery is significantly less valuable unless you already have the same battery platform.
Assess physical condition: Check the chuck, trigger, and housing for damage. Test if possible.
Consider the math: A Milwaukee drill retailing for $150 is worth buying at $10–$15 even with some uncertainty, if it looks intact.
Brands Worth Picking Up
Quality matters enormously with tools. These brands are worth prioritizing:
Professional Grade:
Milwaukee
DeWalt
Makita
Bosch
Quality Consumer Grade:
Stanley
Klein Tools
Irwin
Channellock
Craftsman
Generally Worth Buying:
Ryobi (value consumer brand, wide accessory ecosystem)
Black & Decker
Approach with Caution:
Generic or unbranded tools
Brands you don't recognize with no markings or certifications
Red Flags for Tools at Bin Stores
Missing Safety Guards
Circular saw blades, table saw components, and similar items should have their safety guards. Missing guards are a safety issue.
Severe Rust or Corrosion
Surface rust on a tool body is cosmetic. Rust on cutting edges, tool tips, or mechanism components is functional damage that affects performance and safety.
Electrical Damage on Power Tools
Frayed cords, damaged plugs, or obviously burned components on corded power tools are safety hazards. Pass.
No Blade/Bit in a Specialty Tool
A router without a collet, a drill without a chuck, a jigsaw without a blade guide — these functional components may be hard to source and reduce the tool's value significantly.
Hardware and Fasteners
Sometimes bins contain bags or boxes of hardware — screws, bolts, nuts, anchors, and similar fasteners. These are almost always worth buying at bin store prices. New fasteners retail for surprising amounts, and bulk hardware at bin prices is a practical household value.
Check that bags are intact and the hardware appears to be for a recognizable purpose. Avoid bags of mystery hardware without markings.
The Reseller Angle on Tools
Tools are a strong resale category. The combination of brand recognition, clear value, and easy assessment makes them easy to list and sell. Brand-name hand tools in complete sets sell well on eBay. Power tool accessories sell on both eBay and Amazon. Local sales through Facebook Marketplace work well for bulkier items.
If you're shopping to resell tools, focus on complete sets over individual pieces (sets photograph better and sell for more), recognized brands over generics, and items with verifiable retail values over $30 at the current bin price point.