Moving into or renting your first apartment can be an exciting and confusing time. What do you need to buy for a rental? To help you cut through the confusion and clutter, I’ve put together this handy first apartment checklist for renters. Use this list as a moving planner or as a simple checklist so you land in your new place with dishes to dine upon and clean sheets to rest. Phew!
Since there are wide variations in what people deem necessity items, I’ve made this list fairly broad, and hopefully helpful to a range of apartment renters. The essential items are grouped under these headings: Basic Furniture, Bedroom, Bathroom, Kitchen, Laundry, Cleaning, Closet & Storage, Personal, and Odds & Ends.
Use the Apartment Checklist to:
- Figure out what you need. Hey, maybe the folks can help out?
- Build a shopping list of essentials you didn’t know about!
- Save money by not spending on the wrong stuff.
- Get organized BEFORE moving into your new apartment.
- Keep track of odds and ends. Yes, you’ll need toilet paper.
- Serve as a moving checklist for locating your stuff into an apartment.
- Help organize your items into boxes for the move.
Beyond the apartment checklist
Don’t forget to also download these 15 Free Printable Home Inventory Worksheets — once you rent an apartment it’s a good idea to insure your belongings in case of damage or theft. A home inventory can help you identify what you own so you remember if something is lost in a flood, fire, or theft.
Heading to college or university? Check out my Dorm Room Checklist or Moving Checklist and Planner.
If you’ve got too much stuff for you move consider downsizing and use my guide, How to sell your stuff online. I cover everything from selling on eBay to Etsy — so there are a lot of ways to earn a little cash while unloading your stash.
Did I miss something important? What was your first apartment like? My first apartment had cockroaches. Not kidding.
Love love love,
Kerry
My first apartment was missing almost everything on your list. We had a bed, dresser, a box with a tiny B&W TV on it, some silverware & dishes, a couple of pans, a set of towels, and two laundry baskets. That’s pretty much it! Later one of the maintenance people brought us furniture that someone had left behind, and we got a table too.
I just love the layout of these!
I’m glad you included the fire extinguisher for the kitchen. I bought one right when I moved in, but it seems a lot of people don’t even think of it.
Great list! However, I moved into my first house with less furniture, and still don’t have that much. You can fill out many things over time at good garage sales (except for matresses! Never get those at a g.sale). Also a smaller place in a nice location doesn’t need much furniture and saves $.
Love seat and TV was the living room, Office area stuff you list plus a plain twin bed is it for the bedroom/office. No fancy small appliances. Microwave and ordinary range has fed my family of 3 nicely. Many meals were essentially one-pot. Other items eventually came from thrift stores over time. Cheap nice sheets saved expensive curtains. Simple mp3 player and a CD player with computer speakers covered “stereo” needs.
The fire extinquisher and detectors are a must I think. Along with a strong-box for your personal ID stuff if you don’t have anyplace else for these things.
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Don’t forget the Carbon Monoxide Detector. Mine saved my life two years ago. We had a leak in the gas line connected to our oven! We are moving into a new apartment and I am definitely using this list!
@Michelle The carbon monoxide detector is listed under “Closet and Storage” along with the smoke detectors. I agree, these detectors are essential! I’m thrilled you will find a use for this list in your next move! 🙂
[…] PS: For a great checklist of the things you might need when setting up house, make sure to check out Squawkfox’s printable checklist of first apartment essentials. […]
Thank you for the list, I really needed this. If you ever create a list for decorating essentials please share. Right now, the thought of decorating my new place is a bit overwhelming, with all the rooms to tackle. Wish I had my own HGTV designer =(, I’ll just have to take it one day at a time, slowly but surely I’ll get there.
Awesome list! Thank you. My 20 yo D is getting her 1st place and this will come in hand. And although,have I been on my own for a zillion years;-) there are things, I totally forgot about.
your list it is the best, do you have it in excell or power point that I can add another room?
Thanks
we are a 50+ couple moving into our first apartment. We have nothing and need a really good checklist. This looks great. We would appreciate anything additional ideas.
@Grace You’re very welcome. 🙂
Quite Useful. Thanks a lot.
This is good list! Thanks you!! Verry good, my english isn’t.
Thank you for your helpful list. My fiance and I are moving into our first home at the end of January and are starting from absolute scratch- both coming out of student-type accommodation. I have printed your list and am already on the lookout for sales. 🙂
Thanks again!
This list is almost exactly what i was looking for. My only suggestion would be to include some price ranges for the items on the list. This way readers will be able to quickly estimate the cost of what they might need.
Thank you so much for these important checklists. Everyone should make lists
Francoise
I have one year
I have a one more year before I move out my own a apartment. I’m really excited to learn a different things that why I make up a list for aparment. I hape I save a lot money not breaking out my
sanvings account. I’m really excited. Thanks for a
rticle..
Thank you for going to this trouble. I, for one, appreciate it so much! It definitely makes my life with 4 kids and 2 dogs and a gov’t employee hubby less stressful. 🙂
This list is extremely helpful all i could think of getting was dishes a mop a broom and a garbage can so than you very much for publishing and might i add if someone can find like a dollar tree or some kind of dollar store the have most of these items for very cheap.
This was a life saver! You really don’t realize how much u need until you actually move in!!!
This is definitely cool.been tryng to come uo with a list of mine it was definitely missing lots of stuff..thank u for saving me the hustle *_*
Thank u so much! I seriously almost forgot toilet paper!! Lol
I am moving and have dressers, bed bases and just needed the info on this list. Great list.
Thanks!! I am moving in about a week and this is definitely helping me make sure I have what I need. I printed it out and highlighted the items I don’t have and still need to get.
I like your checklists…..please do one for budgeting for a new baby (adopted–like us or home brewed by folks that lack the insight to increase their genetic diversity).
Thank you!
Tash
My first apartment was in a converted 19th century house. My kitchen, which was once a hallway, was so small that I had to keep the refrigerator in the main room. You had to go through the bathroom (which was kitchen adjacent) to get into the single bedroom, and there was no door separating the bedroom from the bathroom. It was awful, but I loved it; it was my first taste of independence.
I have found that a first aid kit (band-aids, Tylenol, etc) is a must! When I got my first apartment, I cut my hand on one of my nice, new kitchen knives and didn’t have any band-aids!
Thank you!
thank you so much! this is very helpful!!!
My boyfriend and I are in the process of buying our first home together, I’ve been working on a list of things for weeks and still keep coming up with odds and ends that I take for granted, thanks so much for such a comprehensive list!
awesome list very helpful im moving in a couple days and this helped me alot you might want to add sponges and a dish drain 🙂 thanks again!
Thank you so much for this! I’m moving into my first place of my own in 6 months, and will be getting some of the things ahead of time to save money on sales/ with coupons, etc. This is a great base list to start with!
I am SO happy I found this! I’m 18 and moving into my first apartment within the next few weeks. Of course I’m getting a ton of help, but I’m trying to take some steps into being independent… and this is a great first step. I love this!
Thanks, I needed something like this. Unfortunately this is not my first apartment, but due to bed bugs I have to start over again. So this is a good start.
Thank you this will come in handy for me and my roommate as we move into our place next month! 🙂
This is incredibly helpful! Thank you so much!! My son and I are moving into our own place and I was at a loss on where to start! Thanks again.
Kristyn
Thanks so much for the list. Here in about a month I’m moving into my first very own apartment so my mom sent me a copy of the list. Should have a first aid kit on the list and it would be great if you could give ideas on where to get this stuff and a price range . But its a great list either way thanks so much.
This is by far the best list I’ve seen online for a first apartment! Thank you for your help in my move!
Kerry,
Thank you so much for this list. I’ve been living in a one room hotel for 2 years…lost all my household belongings, and just got a 2bd2ba apartment last week and moved in with virtually NOTHING…I’ve been graced with a few pieces..couch, coffee table and 2 end tables…bought an airbed…but this list is my SANITY for my insane moments of making my apartment feel like home! THANK YOU! 🙂
Hi! Great lists – I plan to give it to my son’s half-brother. I’ll be giving him some of these very items as I have so much duplicates of everything. I would definitely add a trash can and liners for the kitchen and some kitchen sanitizing spray!
I am getting read to move on my own.. so this list was helpful! Does it have air freshener on the list or is that included with cleaners?
love this list. will be moving in a couple of months to my first apartment with my babygirl.
not sre ifi skimmed to fast but DONT FORGET a first aid kit & sewing Kit! definitely good to have ! thank you so much
This is a great checklist (and comments) that I am printing for two gals that are moving into their first apartment. Remember…If anyone likes to shop thrift stores, there are some amazing finds.
This is so great checklist, may be one of the most detailed I’ve seen. My sister’s moving to her first apartment soon and your checklist will be of a great help for her. I’m definitely recommending your post to her. Greets!
Also, if you are trying to budget expenses such as light bills, might I recommend timers! They’re super useful on things like tvs, radios, and air conditioners. I forget to shut my TV and lights off all the time. So having the timer to shut my TV off helps some. I also flip things off at the breaker when I’m not using them.
But yeah. Timers! Important.
I am moving out at the end of the month. I didn’t have any idea on what I was going to prioritise since am starting small. this list has worked wonders for me. thanks a lot
Thank you so much for taking time to make this xx
shaina c: you are very very welcome.