Revealed: The fundamental DIY duties which Gen Z will not do – as younger adults pay hundreds of kilos for others to do simple family duties

On Jan 13, 2025

Published: 01:37, 13 January 2025 | Updated: 02:01, 13 January 2025

Gen Z adults are refusing to do basic DIY tasks and are instead hiring people to clean their car or change a light bulb, new research suggests.

Halfords said its survey of 2,000 adults showed that those aged 18 to 27 were most likely to pay a professional for basic tasks around the home or car.

One in five did not know what a spanner was and nearly a quarter could not change a ceiling light bulb, often saying that going up a ladder was ‘too dangerous’.

Gen Z includes children from the age of 11 up to adults aged 27, but the research only surveyed adults.

The adults between 18 and 27 surveyed were spending an average of £1,300 a year calling in professionals to do basic jobs they could probably do themselves, he bike and motoring firm estimated.

Among Gen X adults, who are aged between 44 and 59, the figure is significantly lower at £386.

Baby Boomers, aged between 60 and 78, are spending around £253

Fewer than two thirds of the 323 people in the younger age group said they would be confident cleaning a car, often saying they would get a parent to do it.

One in five of the age group said they would call in a professional to change the bulb on a ceiling spotlight.

Andy Turbefield of Halfords said: ‘The results show very clearly that the ability to do basic, practical tasks is being lost amongst younger generations.

Many Gen Z adults surveyed expressed a fear about completing various basic household tasks (file image)

One in five of the age group said they would call in a professional to change the bulb on a ceiling spotlight (file image)

Some 11 per cent of Gen Z said they would call in a professional to hang a picture frame (file image)

‘Motoring knowledge in particular appears to be on the decline, with many reluctant to take on even the most basic tasks such as replacing windscreen wipers.’

Halfords said its study suggested the younger generation were GOTDITs – Get Others To Do It – amid a lack of basic knowledge when it comes to straightforward DIY jobs.

One reason Gen Z may be struggling with the tasks is not knowing their spanner from a screwdriver, The Telegraph reported.

Around 30 percent could not identify a flathead screwdriver and 21 per cent did not recognise a spanner.

Participants were also quizzed on their knowledge of cars, with just 34 per cent of young adults being able to identify the car battery from a picture of the engine.

Five tasks Gen Z say they won’t do themselves

Replacing a light bulb: A quarter of Gen Z adults said they would not change a light bulb themselves because using a stepladder could be dangerous, while one in five fear the bulb could be ‘too hot’.

Putting air into a car tyre: Almost half of Gen Z said they could not change a tyre,which can be done at home or at a petrol station. They said they would prefer a mechanic to do it for them.

Hanging a picture frame: Some 11 per cent of Gen Z said they would call in a professional to complete the task which takes just seconds in most cases.

Cleaning a car: More than a quarter of Gen Z said they had no idea where to begin so would call a professional in to clean their car, while a further 10 per cent said they would beg a parent to do it.

Fitting a wiper blade: A total of 65 per cent of 18 to 27-year-olds said they did not know how to fit a blade. It takes a minute to fit a blade designed to slide into place.