Key & Crate
First apartment checklist
53 lines across six rooms · 33 marked must-have · updated
keyandcrate.com
Tick the boxes as you buy. M marks a must-have — the 33 lines an apartment does not work without in the first week. Everything else is a genuine improvement you can postpone without regret. Prices move, so this sheet does not carry any: for a live price and the alternatives, the named pick links to our guide for that item on keyandcrate.com.
Kitchen
- Cookware setMOne frying pan, one saucepan, one pot and lids is the real need. Nesting if the cabinets are tight.Our pick: CAROTE 20-Piece Detachable-Handle Nonstick Set
- KnivesMA chef knife, a paring knife and a serrated knife cover everything. Five good knives beat fifteen mediocre ones.Our pick: Henckels Solution 5-Piece Knife Set
- Cutting boardsMTwo minimum, one kept for raw meat. Never glass, which blunts a knife on the first cut.Our pick: Totally Bamboo 3-Piece Reversible Board Set
- Plates and bowlsMService for four is plenty for a first place. A thrift-store set is identical for about a quarter of the price.Our pick: Amazon Basics Porcelain Dinnerware Set, 18-Piece
- CutleryMA 20-piece set covers four people with spares in the drawer. 18/10 stainless keeps its finish in a dishwasher.Our pick: KINGSTONE 20-Piece 18/10 Stainless Flatware Set
- Dish rackMAbout 12 inches wide, draining into the sink. The most-used object in a kitchen with no dishwasher.Our pick: Kitsure Compact Dish Drying Rack
- Can openerMThe classic forgotten line. Cheap, tiny, and the one thing standing between you and dinner on night one.Our pick: KitchenAid Classic Multifunction Can Opener
- Food storage containersMAbout a dozen. Latching lids if lunch leaves the house with you.Our pick: Rubbermaid Brilliance Tritan Container Set
- Kitchen trash canM13 gallon is the size that matches standard bags. Buy the bags in the same trip.Our pick: Glad 13 Gallon Trash Can
- MicrowaveCheck whether the apartment already has one before you buy. 0.7 cu ft at 700 W fits almost any counter.Our pick: Toshiba 0.7 cu ft Countertop Microwave
- Air fryerMeasure the free counter width and the height to the upper cabinets first. 4 qt suits one or two people.Our pick: Cosori Lite 4 qt Smart Air Fryer
- Coffee makerSingle-serve if it is just you, and it takes up about five inches of counter.Our pick: Keurig K-Mini Single-Serve Coffee Maker
- ToasterWide slots if you buy bagels. Two slices is the right size for a small counter.Our pick: Cuisinart Core Collection 2-Slice XL Slot Toaster
- Electric kettleFaster than the stove and it frees a burner. 1 L is right for one or two people.Our pick: Amazon Basics 1 L Stainless Electric Kettle
Bathroom
- Bath towelsMTwo per person, so one is always dry. A 6-piece set covers one person comfortably.Our pick: Amazon Basics 6-Piece Cotton Towel Set
- Shower curtain and linerMMeasure the rail first, and buy the rings separately - they are almost never included.Our pick: Barossa Design Oeko-Tex Shower Curtain Liner
- Plunger and toilet brushMThe one item on this list that becomes urgent at 11pm. Buy it before you need it.Our pick: MR.SIGA Toilet Plunger and Bowl Brush Combo
- Bath matMA rubber-backed mat on a tile floor is a safety item as much as a comfort one.Our pick: Gorilla Grip Absorbent Chenille Bath Rug
- Small bathroom binMA few dollars at any supermarket. Grab it with the kitchen can so you only shop once.Any supermarket own-brand does this job.
- Toilet paper, hand soap, shampooMA grocery run, and immediately needed. The easiest line on the list to forget.Any supermarket own-brand does this job.
- Over-toilet storageThe only free square footage in a small bathroom. Choose a no-drill frame in a rental.Our pick: GloTika 3-Tier Over-Toilet Storage, No Drilling
- Under-sink organizerPull-out trays turn the awkward space around the trap into usable shelving.Our pick: Vtopmart 4-Pack Pull-Out Under-Sink Organizers
- Shower headSwaps on by hand in about five minutes. Keep the original in a cupboard for move-out day.Our pick: AquaCare 8-Mode Handheld Shower Head
Bedroom
- Sheets, comforter and a pillowMMeasure the mattress before you buy. Our sets are Twin XL, the size a dorm bed takes.Our pick: Bare Home Twin XL Bed-in-a-Bag, 5-Piece
- A lamp and light bulbsMCheck for a ceiling fixture before move-in day. A clip lamp needs no table and no drilling.Our pick: Lepro Clip-On LED Desk Lamp
- Surge-protected power stripMOlder buildings put two outlets in a bedroom. A surge protector, not a plain extension lead.Our pick: Yintar 6 ft Surge Protector, 6 Outlets + 3 USB
- Curtains or blinds, and a rodMMeasure the window and the wall above it. A tension rod inside the recess needs no screws.Any supermarket own-brand does this job.
- HangersMCount the wardrobe rail, then buy that many. Slim velvet hangers hold roughly a third more.Any supermarket own-brand does this job.
- A second set of sheetsSo the bed is still made on laundry day. Worth it from the first week.Our pick: Amazon Basics Twin XL Microfiber Sheet Set
- Mattress topperThe cheapest way to make an unloved mattress sleepable. Two inches is enough for most people.Our pick: Linenspa 2-Inch Gel Memory Foam Topper
- Under-bed storageMeasure the clearance under the frame before buying. Wheels make it reachable.Our pick: Yecaye Under-Bed Storage with Wheels, 2-Pack
- FanA clip fan uses no floor space, which matters in a small bedroom.Our pick: Vornado Pivot Clip Personal Air Circulator
Cleaning and laundry
- All-purpose cleaner, sponges and clothsMSupermarket own-brand works. One spray, one pack of sponges, a few microfiber cloths.Any supermarket own-brand does this job.
- Broom and dustpanMA dustpan with a rubber lip actually picks up. The first thing you will want after unpacking.Any supermarket own-brand does this job.
- Mop and bucketMA flat mop with washable pads suits a small apartment and dries in the shower.Any supermarket own-brand does this job.
- Trash bags and dish soapMMatch the bag size to the can you bought - 13 gallon for a standard kitchen can.Any supermarket own-brand does this job.
- Laundry basketMA vented basket carries wet laundry back from a shared machine without souring it.Our pick: Rubbermaid XL Hip-Hugger Laundry Basket
- Drying rackMPays for itself quickly against a shared dryer, and folds flat behind a door.Our pick: Honey-Can-Do 6-Tier Collapsible Drying Rack
- Laundry hamperA collapsible bag hamper stores flat between washes, which a rigid one cannot.Our pick: Lifewit 80 L Laundry Hamper Bags, 2-Pack
- VacuumA broom covers the first few weeks on hard floors. Wait until you know the apartment.Any supermarket own-brand does this job.
Tools
- Household tool kitMOne box with a hammer, pliers, bits and an adjustable wrench beats buying tools one at a time.Our pick: Amazon Basics 142-Piece Household Tool Kit
- Tape measureM25 ft with a magnetic hook, so you can measure a room on your own. Use it before you buy furniture.Our pick: Milwaukee 25 ft Magnetic Tape Measure
- Damage-free hanging stripsMHow you decorate a rental without patching walls on move-out. Follow the weight rating.Our pick: Command Large Picture Hanging Strips, 15 lb
- Screwdriver setA ratcheting handle with bits assembles flat-pack furniture far faster than the supplied key.Our pick: Amazon Basics Ratcheting Wrench and Precision Screwdriver Set
- Cordless drillCheck your lease before drilling. Worth owning the first time you hang a shelf or a curtain rod.Our pick: BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX Drill Driver Kit
- Stud finderAnything heavy belongs on a stud. A multi-sensor model shows both edges at once.Our pick: Franklin Sensors ProSensor M150 Stud Finder
- Step stoolReaches the top cabinet and the smoke alarm, and folds into the gap beside the fridge.Our pick: Cosco 2-Step Folding Steel Step Stool
Safety
- Test the smoke and CO alarmsMUsually the landlord's to install, yours to test. Press the button on day one and note the date.Any supermarket own-brand does this job.
- Fire extinguisherMAn ABC-rated extinguisher covers paper, liquid and electrical fires. Keep it near the exit, not over the stove.Our pick: Kidde Basic 110 Fire Extinguisher, 1-A:10-B:C
- First aid kitMKeep it in the kitchen, where most small injuries happen, rather than the bathroom cabinet.Our pick: M2 BASICS 300-Piece First Aid Kit
- Batteries and a flashlightMAA, AAA and a 9V for the alarm. A flashlight you can find in the dark, not a phone.Any supermarket own-brand does this job.
- Fire blanketSmothers a pan fire without spraying the kitchen. Keep it within arm's reach of the stove.Our pick: Prepared Hero Emergency Fire Blanket, 2-Pack
- Kitchen fire extinguisherA second, smaller unit rated for grease and electrical fires, stored under the sink.Our pick: Kidde Kitchen Fire Extinguisher, 711A