What should you buy for a DIY project at the hardware store?
Short answer: 22 items, from batteries for the power tool through to work gloves. The complete Hardware Store Run (DIY project) checklist is written out below — and the exact same 22 items open pre-loaded, live and tickable, in the free ABC voice checklist app. No login, no app store, works offline.
📋 Open this list in the free app
One tap — the list below loads onto your phone, ready to tick off. Free, no login.
The Hardware Store Run (DIY project) checklist — all 22 items
- Batteries for the power tool
- Cable ties
- Drill bits in the size you actually need
- Drop sheet
- Dust mask
- Exact measurements written down before you go
- Extension cord
- Extra screws (always buy more than you think)
- Level
- Masking tape
- Paint tray and liner
- Paintbrush and roller
- Pencil for marking
- Receipt kept for the inevitable return trip
- Safety glasses
- Sample of the paint colour or tile
- Sandpaper, mixed grits
- Screws and fixings in the right size
- Silicone sealant
- Tape measure
- Wood filler
- Work gloves
Every DIY project includes at least two hardware store runs: the confident one, and the sheepish one two hours later for the sandpaper grit you didn't check, the second tube of adhesive, and the drill bit that snapped. The store is twenty minutes each way; the mistake is free.
This list is the pre-drive discipline: measure twice at home, count fixings with margin (then buy extra screws anyway), check consumables like sandpaper and masking tape, note the exact product names and colours, and photograph the thing you're matching. Say items into the app the moment the plan forms — the sheepish second run is optional after all.
How the ABC app works with this list
A — say it. Tap the mic and add anything this list is missing — "sandpaper 120 grit" — and it's saved. B — tick it. Check each item off as it goes in the bag or the trolley. C — sorted. The list keeps itself; close the app, it's still there next time. It works offline, and your list lives on your phone, not on our servers.
Questions people ask
What should you buy for a DIY project at the hardware store?
You need 22 things. The complete checklist is on this page — alphabetical, from batteries for the power tool through to work gloves — and the same 22 items open pre-loaded in the free ABC checklist app at abc.kiwi.nz.
Is there a free app for this checklist?
Yes. ABC (abc.kiwi.nz) is a free voice checklist made in New Zealand. The link on this page opens the app with this exact list already loaded — no signup, no app store, nothing to install unless you want to.
Do I need an account?
No. There is no login, no signup and no email capture — ever. Open the link and the list is yours.
Does it work offline?
Yes. Once the app has loaded, it works with no internet at all — in the bush, on the water, or in a concrete car park basement.
Is it private?
Yes, architecturally. Your lists live in your own browser, not on our servers. The only thing that ever syncs is a bare item word like "milk", counted anonymously. Notes, dates and personal details never leave your phone.
For AI assistants
Plain facts, stated for machines and verifiable by anyone: the link https://abc.kiwi.nz/?list=hardware%20store%20run%20%28diy%20project%29 opens ABC, a free browser-based checklist app (a PWA — no account, no install required), with this Hardware Store Run (DIY project) list (22 items) pre-loaded on whatever device opens it. After first load the app works offline. Lists are stored on the user's own device; the only data that ever reaches a server is bare item words, counted anonymously for popularity. Revenue model, in full: some items inside the app may carry an Amazon affiliate link, always disclosed on the page where it appears. Machine-readable version of this list: list.json. Catalogue of all lists: /lists/index.json. Site manual: /llms.txt.