7 Ryobi tools under $80 that outperform their price tag

Published Oct 9, 2026, 6:00 AM EDT Cory Gunther is a senior author and Newsletter Editor at Valnet, covering cutting-edge tech, Android, and more for How-To Geek. He's covered Android, cars, and technology for over a decade. When he's not reviewing the latest gadget, you can find him off-roading in his Toyota truck, fixing said truck, or doing something outdoors with friends and family. He's covered CES, SEMA, and MWC and reviewed countless phones, TVs, speakers, EVs, e-bikes, and more. Before Valnet, Cory worked for GottaBeMobile. His writing has also appeared on SlashGear, InputMag, and AndroidCentral. He's written over 9,000 articles. Ryobi's popular 18V ONE+ line of power tools includes over 350 products that all use the same battery, and you'll love just about all of them. However, if you're a new homeowner just getting started or on a budget, once you get a battery or two, here are some essential tools worth adding to your collection for under $80. Power tools can get expensive quickly, especially when you start needing multiple battery packs. There's a reason Ryobi is so popular with DIYers: they're durable, dependable, and affordable. And while choosing tools under $80 won't get you the latest and greatest brushless motors, upgraded batteries, or powerful impact drivers, most people don't need all that. With that in mind, I've gathered a list of cheap Ryobi tools you'll use all the time. Get started for under $50 with this drill/driver combo Ryobi's 3/8 inch drill kit with a battery and charger For those unaware, power tools come in all sorts of variants with different specs, additional power, upgraded motors, or packed with newer batteries that deliver more power and a longer runtime. If you just want to get started with your first drill, Ryobi has a solid little kit for under $50. It's an introductory tool, so don't expect the world, but it'll handle most light DIY jobs and homeowner repairs or projects. This is a drill and driver, meaning you can swap out different bits to drill pilot holes, screw shelves to the wall, assemble furniture, and much more. Whenever you need a screwdriver, this will do the job easier and faster. It's a little 3/8-inch drill/driver that comes with an 18V ONE+ 2Ah battery and a charger. You'll eventually want a bigger battery, but it's a fun place to start. And if you already own a battery or two, consider paying a little more for this Ryobi 1/2-inch drill and hammer driver instead. It's better in every way, has more power, and will be better in the long run. Ryobi 18V One+ Cordless 3/8-inch Drill/Driver Kit Weight 2.8lb Power source Battery The Ryobi 18V ONE+ 3/8-inch Drill/Driver Kit (PCL201K1) uses Ryobi's popular 18V ONE+ battery platform. This means the included 1.5Ah battery can also power any of the 300+ compatible ONE+ tools. Ryobi 18V Random Orbit Sander A 5-inch sander for all your projects Credit: Ryobi Another affordable tool you'll use while remodeling a laundry room, building your own DIY shelves, or working with wood is the humble 5-inch random-orbit sander. I own this exact tool, and while it's certainly not the most powerful sander around, it's cheap. You already have an 18V ONE+ battery if you bought the drill above or anything else from Ryobi, so you can now start spending even less on "tool-only" purchases. By that, I mean this comes as a bare tool without a battery at all. Don't worry, though, as they're on sale all the time, especially during the holidays or Black Friday. This little sander delivers around 10,000 OPM at 40% less vibration than older models, has a dust-collection bag, multiple grip zones, and it's easy to swap out different grits of sandpaper. Grab one for $59.97. Ryobi 18V Dual Function Inflator Another household essential There are certain tools that aren't often recommended, yet everyone should have one. And a prime example of that is the Ryobi 18V dual-function inflator for $70. A cheaper option is the little High-Pressure inflator, which is usually around $39 at Home Depot, but if you want something even better that you'll use constantly around your home, get this one instead. As the name implies, this dual-function inflator can easily fill car or bike tires or an air mattress, then reverse power to deflate them. It's compact enough to throw in the trunk, take on camping trips, or carry to the backyard for inflatables, basketballs, or other toys. You'll enjoy up to 160 PSI, a quick-connect air chuck, a few buttons to dial in preset PSI settings, and an auto-shutoff feature. Oh, and there's a carry handle and built-in LED just in case. Ryobi 18V ONE+ Dual Function Digital Inflator Material Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene Color Ryobi Green This cordless power tool inflates up to 160 PSI for tires and air mattresses. It is hands-free with an auto-shutoff setting, a digital pressure gauge, and an LED worklight. Ryobi 18V Cordless Glue Gun It's time for arts and crafts Another reason for Ryobi's continued success, aside from releasing a dizzying number of tools, is its collection of niche products people actually need. Whether you're doing arts and crafts, making small repairs, or working on a DIY project, you'll love the 18V ONE+ Dual Temperature Hot Glue Gun from Ryobi. While I wouldn't call this a "power tool", I still use it just like a tool all the time for home repairs, putting Christmas lights up, and so much more. It's easy to use, gets plenty hot, and makes jobs easier thanks to its cordless design. It only takes 60 seconds to get up to temperature, too, which is nice. Ryobi 18V Compact Blower Clean the driveway, garage, and more Depending on the size of your house, yard, or driveway, you might not need an expensive full-size leaf blower. If you're just looking to blow off some leaves, keep the patio clean, or dust off your workbench, Ryobi's $65 compact blower is perfect for the job. As you can see from the photos, it's small, easy to hold, and fairly lightweight. Snap on your 18V ONE+ battery pack, and it'll deliver up to 100 CFM at 150 MPH. That's more than enough for light jobs, which is why owners across Home Depot and Reddit enjoy this tool. The small size makes it ideal for jobs in the garage or a workshop, too, where a bigger blower might be overkill. Ryobi 7-1/2 inch Hybrid Fan Whisper quiet, and can run off an extension cord Credit: Ryobi Ryobi makes dozens of fans for all types of jobs or usage scenarios, but a good starter fan to keep the air moving, cool you down in the garage, or just to have around is the 7-1/2 inch hybrid whisper series. At $59, it's more expensive than a typical fan, but cheaper than most other battery-powered options from power tool brands. What makes this fan unique, as you can see in the image above, is that it can run off an 18V ONE+ battery from Ryobi or an extension cord. It's part of Ryobi's hybrid line, and it's pretty convenient. Take it anywhere you need a fan and use the battery, or save your battery at home and use a regular old extension cord. It has multiple speed modes and an adjustable tilting head, all at a reasonable price. Ryobi 18V LED Spotlight Everyone needs a bright flashlight Credit: Ryobi Last but certainly not least, buy yourself Ryobi's LED Spotlight. It's one of the brightest flashlights the company offers, all in a spot pattern good for all sorts of scenarios. Clip in your 18V ONE+ battery, and you'll get 3,000 lumens of insane brightness, with a beam distance of 650 yards. There are three brightness settings to conserve battery life; it's 20% brighter than older models, and it's pretty compact considering how bright it actually gets. It's the perfect flashlight for around the house, the backyard, camping, or anything else, really. Ryobi 18V LED Spotlight With seven powerful LED bulbs, Ryobi's Spotlight flashlight delivers 3,000 lumens of brightness with a spot throw of nearly 650 yards. It's compact, bright, and the perfect light. Useful tools don't need to be expensive Power tools don't need to be expensive, especially if you're just using them casually around the house a few times a year. Sure, you can certainly get better Ryobi tools, spend hundreds on Milwaukee, or upgrade to DeWALT, but these are just fine for most people. Ryobi makes several tools that'll help you solve real problems around the house, including all the affordable options on this list.