Building A Wood Shelf Just Got Easier With These Ryobi Tools

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Shelves are one of the most practical upgrades you can make to your place. They maximize space in your home, help you stay organized, and, when done right, can elevate the entire look of a room. But sometimes you can't find a shelf that fits that awkward corner in your entryway, and it might be expensive to commission a custom piece or hire a professional to get it done for you.

Instead of settling for whatever's available at the store, you can make exactly what you need yourself. That's the beauty of DIY skills; They let you bring your ideas to life. However, as fulfilling as even basic DIY projects can be, they aren't always easy — but the tools you use can make the process a lot smoother. That's where Ryobi comes in; its lineup is designed with everyone in mind, whether you're a newbie or a pro. Most people also find its tools to be generally affordable, reliable, and easy to use. That's why we've picked out the best Ryobi tools you need to build a simple wooden shelf, considering price, how beginner-friendly each tool is, and which tools are best suited for the task at hand. The best part is that every tool on this list is likely to come in handy for your next DIY project.

When putting a wooden shelf together, you need to drill holes and drive screws into place; that's something the Ryobi One+ cordless drill/driver can help you with. It's lightweight, easy to work with, and powerful enough for most of the DIY projects you may want to try at home.

It delivers up to 515 inch-pounds of torque and comes with a two-speed gearbox so you can toggle between up to 450 revolutions per minute or up to 1,750 rpm, depending on the material you're working with and how fast you need to go. The 24-position clutch lets you control how much torque is applied so you don't end up stripping the screws. There's also a keyless chuck that lets you easily swap drill bits and lock them in place so they don't fall off, even when you're drilling at a high speed. You also get a built-in LED light, which makes a big difference when you're working in tight corners or dim areas. This drill is often sold as a tool-only model, so it doesn't come with a battery or charger in the box. It works with Ryobi's One+ system, though; if you already have other Ryobi tools, you can use the same battery. If not, you need to buy one separately. The drill itself costs about $60 on Amazon; with a 4.6-out-of-five rating, it's safe to say it's a good value.

For anyone new to woodworking, using a hammer and nails to achieve clean, consistent fastening can be a bit difficult. If you're looking for a beginner-friendly alternative that gives you better precision and speed, consider the Ryobi One+ cordless AirStrike narrow crown stapler. It works just fine without any need for noisy air compressors or expensive gas cartridges, and it's easy to move around since you're not tethered to a hose or power outlet. It accepts 18-gauge, ¼-inch narrow crown staples in lengths ranging from ⅜ inch to 1.5 inches; with a fully charged battery, you can use up to 1,700 staples.

Before using this stapler, make sure you read the instructions carefully and become familiar with all the features that come with it. For instance, some buyers have complained that this stapler struggles to fully sink into certain types of wood that are otherwise easy to build with. While that's not unusual for a cordless stapler, most customers eventually discover that they can adjust the depth and air pressure settings to have more control over how the staples are set. Overall, the stapler has earned a solid 4.5-star rating on Amazon. It's definitely not the cheapest option out there at around $130, but the positive reviews and the convenience it offers are worth thinking about.

Most woodworking projects require a saw. For this list, we chose a circular saw because it's one of the easiest cutting tools to work with. However, if you've never used a circular saw before, it's a good idea to learn the basics first so you don't make any fatal mistakes. The Ryobi One+ 5.5-inch circular saw is particularly beginner-friendly yet powerful enough to help you achieve smooth, clean cuts (up to 215 on a single charge), whether you want them straight or angled.

It runs at 4,700 RPM, which is fast enough to cut through most softwoods without burning or splintering, and has a maximum cutting depth of 1.69 inches to handle common materials, such as 2-by-4 lumber and plywood, with no problem (if you're working with much thicker wood, you might need to choose a different saw with more muscle). Like most tools in the Ryobi One+ system, this circular saw is often sold as a bare tool, but it can come with an optional vacuum dust adaptor; if you don't want sawdust flying everywhere, consider picking that up as well. It is backed by a 4.4-star rating on Amazon and costs about $50, making it a popular choice for anyone looking for a reliable saw on a budget. As long as you're working with standard lumber and don't need deep cuts, this saw should serve you well.

Sanding is one of the most tedious parts of any woodworking project and takes a lot of time and effort — sometimes more skill and endurance than most beginners are ready for. We recommend you skip the manual labor with the Ryobi One+ random orbit sander. For about $60 on Amazon, you can save a good deal of the time and strain involved in giving your shelf a smooth finish.

This sander comes in handy when you need to prep the wood before staining, if you want to smooth sharp edges, or if you have to refurbish wooden furniture. The hook-and-loop pad makes changing sandpaper discs fast and easy, which helps when you're moving between grits. It also comes with a dust collection bag that does a solid job of catching debris as you work. Now, one problem most people have with sanders is vibration. However, Ryobi claims this model comes with 40% reduced vibration; less vibration means better precision and less hand fatigue, especially if you're sanding for a long time. It operates at 10,000 orbits per minute, which is fast enough to level most surfaces quickly, but it doesn't let you adjust the speed; something you might need when working on more delicate finishes or sanding down paint. It's also not ideal for particularly tough hardwoods.

One last thing you need is a measuring tool to make sure every cut is accurate. We recommend the Ryobi 25-foot tape measure, featuring a rubber housing that makes it comfortable to grip and a belt clip so you can attach it to your tool bag or the side of your work pants.

What really makes this tape user-friendly is its clear fractional markings, which help you read measurements easily. When you don't need to squint, do mental sums, or make guesses, there's less margin for errors that can mess up the symmetry of your shelf. There's also the Accu-Slide hook that automatically adjusts for inside and outside measurements, reducing the risk of inaccurate readings. The blade can extend about 7 feet before bending, which is fine for the most part; if you often work alone and need to measure longer spans without support, try this genius tape measure trick to save you the frustration. While there's no double-sided printing, no magnetic tip, and no architectural scale — features that might matter more to pros — this tape does cover the basics. For the price, that's not a bad bargain. With these tools in hand, you're almost ready to build your shelf: All that's left is to choose a suitable wood material, round up the few non-power tools you need, and brush up on some essential woodworking safety tips.