Background: Knowing how to find and use research evidence can help policymakers and those who support them to do their jobs better and more efficiently. More systematic processes and tools are needed to support such evidence-informed policymaking. Objective: To describe a series of tools developed by the SUPporting POlicy relevant Reviews and Trials (SUPPORT) project to help ensure that health policies are informed by the best available research evidence. Methods: The tools are based on experience from workshops for policymakers on evidence-informed health policy. The materials were adapted from these workshops as well as from other evidence-based healthcare resources and resources identified through searches of relevant databases (primarily PubMed), websites and through personal contacts. The tools were revised based on feedback from policymakers and researchers. Results: The SUPPORT tools address four areas: (1) Supporting evidence-informed policymaking; (2) Identifying needs for research evidence; (3) Finding and assessing research evidence, and; (4) Going from research evidence to decisions. Each tool is structured using a set of questions that guide readers through the tools and indicate how to undertake activities to support evidence-informed policymaking effectively and efficiently. These activities include, for example, using research evidence to clarify problems; assessing the applicability of the findings of a systematic review about the effects of options to address problems; and organising and using policy dialogues to support evidence-informed policymaking. The SUPPORT tools include examples and resources from disparate settings and are relevant to low-, middle- and high-income countries. Conclusions: The SUPPORT tools can aid the use of the best research evidence available to inform health policy decisions. They are available as a series of articles (www.health-policy-systems.com/supplements/7/S1) and a book (www.kunnskapssenteret.no/Publikasjoner/8879.cms), and have been translated into Chinese, French, Portuguese and Spanish.