First apartment essentials: the complete checklist
Every line has a pick, a live price and a buy link — and a running total per room, so you can see what the whole apartment costs before you spend anything.
Most first-apartment lists give you nouns. “Cookware. Towels. A shower curtain.” Which is accurate and almost useless, because the hard part is not knowing you need towels — it is standing in a shop deciding which ones, forty times in a week, while trying to work out whether you can afford all of it.
So this list names a pick on every line, shows what it costs today, and totals it up. The picks come from our room-by-room guides, each of which has three alternatives if ours is not right for you.
How to use this
Three things that will save you money and a second trip:
- Split it by when you need it. You need about fifteen items to sleep and eat on night one. The rest can wait a fortnight, and spreading it out means you buy what you actually need rather than what a list said.
- Measure before you buy anything. Room dimensions, doorway widths, and the free counter space in the kitchen. Then measure the route — the sofa that fits the room and will not turn at the top of the stairs is a classic.
- Buy used where condition does not matter. Plates, cutlery, mixing bowls, sheet pans, cast iron and a bookshelf are identical secondhand and roughly a quarter of the price.
Night one: fifteen things
This is the genuine minimum to sleep, wash and eat. If you buy only one group today, make it this one.
| What you need | Our pick | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| BeddingSheets, a comforter, a pillow. Measure the bed first | Bare Home Twin XL Bed-in-a-Bag, 5-PieceSee all our picks | $31.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| Bath towelsTwo per person. One 6-piece set covers one person | Amazon Basics 6-Piece Cotton Towel SetSee all our picks | $18.39 | Buy on Amazon |
| Shower curtain and linerMeasure the rail. Oeko-Tex certified means no chemical smell on night one | Barossa Design Oeko-Tex Shower Curtain LinerSee all our picks | $8.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| Plunger and toilet brushThe only item on this list that becomes urgent at 11pm. Buy it now | MR.SIGA Toilet Plunger and Bowl Brush ComboSee all our picks | $23.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| Trash can13 gallon for the kitchen, plus a small one for the bathroom | Glad 13 Gallon Trash Can with Clorox Odor ProtectionSee all our picks | $37.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| Toilet paper, soap, dish soap, bin bagsGrocery store, about $25. Easy to forget and immediately needed | Whatever you already own works | — | |
| Plates, bowls, mugs, cutlery for twoBuy used — about $15 for a full set at a thrift store | Whatever you already own works | — | |
| A lamp and light bulbsMany apartments have no overhead light in the living room. Check before move-in | Whatever you already own works | — | |
| #ad — Amazon links in this table are affiliate links; we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. How this site is funded. | |||
Kitchen
The room where budgets get away from people, because the list is long and every item looks cheap. Full detail in the kitchen checklist.
| What you need | Our pick | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cookware setOne pan, one saucepan, one pot and lids is the real need. Nesting if cabinets are tight | CAROTE 20-Piece Detachable-Handle Nonstick SetSee all our picks | $69.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| KnivesChef's, paring, serrated. Five good knives beat fifteen mediocre ones | Henckels Dynamic 5-Piece Knife SetSee all our picks | $46.49 | Buy on Amazon |
| Cutting boardsTwo minimum, one for raw meat. Never glass — it ruins knives | Totally Bamboo 3-Piece Reversible Board SetSee all our picks | $19.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| Dish rack12 inches wide, draining into the sink. The most-used object with no dishwasher | Kitsure Compact Dish Drying Rack, 12 × 15.5 inSee all our picks | $19.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| Microwave0.7 cu ft / 700 W. Check whether the apartment already has one | Toshiba 0.7 cu ft Countertop Microwave, 700 WSee all our picks | $69.33 | Buy on Amazon |
| Food storage containersAbout a dozen. Latching lids if lunch leaves the house | Rubbermaid Brilliance Tritan Plastic Container SetSee all our picks | $23.73 | Buy on Amazon |
| Coffee makerPod machine if one of you drinks it, 4-cup drip if two do | Keurig K-Mini Single-Serve Coffee MakerSee all our picks | $75.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| Air fryerOnly if your oven is bad, or you have the counter. Not a day-one item | Ninja AF101 Air Fryer, 4 qtSee all our picks | $79.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| Utensils, colander, measuring cups, sheet pan, can openerBuy cheap — the $8 version and the $30 version are identical. About $60 together | Whatever you already own works | — | |
| #ad — Amazon links in this table are affiliate links; we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. How this site is funded. | |||
Bathroom and laundry
The cheapest room to set up and the easiest to under-equip. Full detail in the bathroom checklist.
| What you need | Our pick | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bath matThe backing must grip wet tile. Measure your door gap first | Gorilla Grip Absorbent Chenille Bath Rug, 24 × 17See all our picks | $11.98 | Buy on Amazon |
| Over-toilet storageFreestanding, no drilling. The only unused space in a small bathroom | GloTika 3-Tier Over-Toilet Storage, No DrillingSee all our picks | $29.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| Under-sink organizerMeasure either side of the drain pipe — the two sides are never equal | Vtopmart 4-Pack Pull-Out Under-Sink OrganizersSee all our picks | $30.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| Shower headThe best $30 in any rental bathroom. Keep the original in a bag | AquaCare 8-Mode Handheld Shower HeadSee all our picks | $29.94 | Buy on Amazon |
| Clothes drying rackEssential with no in-unit dryer. Six-tier takes a full load | Honey-Can-Do 6-Tier Collapsible Drying Rack, 24 ftSee all our picks | $25.55 | Buy on Amazon |
| Two laundry hampersTwo, so sorting happens as you undress. With handles for the laundromat | Lifewit 80 L Laundry Hamper Bags, 2-PackSee all our picks | $12.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| Cleaning supplies, squeegee, rubber glovesAbout $30. A squeegee prevents most of the limescale you would otherwise scrub | Whatever you already own works | — | |
| #ad — Amazon links in this table are affiliate links; we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. How this site is funded. | |||
Tools and safety
Short list for an apartment. Full detail in the first-apartment tool kit.
| What you need | Our pick | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compact tool kitScrewdriver, hex keys, hammer, pliers, tape. Fits a kitchen drawer | Hi-Spec Compact Small Tool KitSee all our picks | $19.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| Adhesive picture-hanging stripsThe most-used item in any rental. Paint must be 4 weeks cured | Command Large Picture Hanging Strips, 15 lbSee all our picks | $12.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| Tape measure, 25 ftMagnetic hook so you can measure a room on your own | Komelon Monster MagGrip 25 ft Tape MeasureSee all our picks | $10.09 | Buy on Amazon |
| Parts organizer$8, and it is what makes a tool kit usable. Buy two | DEWALT Medium 8-Compartment Small Parts OrganizerSee all our picks | $7.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| Fire extinguisherMount it on the EXIT side of the kitchen, not behind the stove | Kidde Basic 110 Fire Extinguisher, 1-A:10-B:CSee all our picks | $19.97 | Buy on Amazon |
| First aid kitBathroom cupboard. Check expiry dates once a year | M2 BASICS 300-Piece First Aid KitSee all our picks | $27.88 | Buy on Amazon |
| Smoke alarm batteries, CO alarmAbout $35. Replace smoke alarm batteries on day one regardless of what you were told | Whatever you already own works | — | |
| #ad — Amazon links in this table are affiliate links; we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. How this site is funded. | |||
Living and sleeping
Furniture is the part of this list we deliberately do not pick for you, because it depends entirely on your room, your taste and what you can carry up the stairs. What we can say is which pieces are worth buying new and which are not.
| Item | Buy | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Mattress | New | Hygiene, and it is the thing you spend eight hours a day on. |
| Bed frame | Used | A frame is a frame. Check it is complete and has its bolts. |
| Sofa | Used, or wait | Expensive new, abundant used. Measure the route before buying either. |
| Dining table and chairs | Used | Marks are cosmetic. Often free on local marketplaces. |
| Desk | Used | Same. Measure the room first. |
| Bookshelf / storage | Used | Flat-pack shelving secondhand is a fraction of retail. |
| Floor lamp | Either | Cheap new; check the used one works before paying. |
| Rug | New or wait | Used rugs are a gamble. Wait until you have seen the floor. |
| Curtains or blinds | New | Measure the window. Many apartments have none, and this is urgent. |
One thing worth saying about curtains: check before move-in whether the windows have any covering. A bedroom with bare windows and a streetlight outside is a genuinely bad first night, and tension-rod curtains need no drilling.
What the whole thing costs
Three tiers, excluding furniture. Our full cost breakdown works through these with furniture included.
| Tier | Approach | Roughly |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | Cheapest viable picks, plates and cutlery used, no air fryer | $550–$700 |
| Mid | The picks on this page, mostly new | $850–$1,100 |
| Comfortable | Better cookware, towels and appliances; nothing used | $1,400–$1,800 |
If those numbers are a problem — and for a lot of people moving house they are — our apartment essentials on a budget page does the same list at the cheapest version that still works.
The things people forget
Not expensive, and all annoying to be without on the first evening:
- A shower curtain and rings — the rings are sold separately
- Light bulbs, and a lamp if there is no overhead light
- An extension cord or two, and a surge-protected power strip
- A can opener
- Bin bags in the right size for your bin
- A plunger
- Curtains, and something to hang them from
- A doorstop
- Batteries — AA, AAA, and 9V for the smoke alarm
- A phone charger for the bedroom, so you are not unplugging one every night
- Paper towels
- A hand towel for the kitchen, separate from the dish towel
The short version
- Night one needs about fifteen items. Everything else can genuinely wait a fortnight.
- Measure the room AND the route. Doorways and stair turns are where furniture fails.
- Buy plates, cutlery, cast iron, sheet pans and most furniture used. Buy knives and nonstick new.
- Non-furniture total runs roughly $550 budget, $900 mid, $1,500 comfortable.
Common questions
What do I need for my first apartment?
For night one: bedding, towels, a shower curtain and liner, a plunger, trash cans, toilet paper and soap, basic plates and cutlery, and a lamp with bulbs. Then kitchen, bathroom storage, tools and safety items over the following fortnight.
How much does it cost to furnish a first apartment?
Non-furniture essentials run roughly $550 to $700 at the budget tier, $850 to $1,100 mid, and $1,400 to $1,800 comfortable. Furniture adds anywhere from a few hundred used to several thousand new — see our full cost breakdown.
What should I buy first for a new apartment?
In order: bedding, towels, a shower curtain, toilet paper and soap, a trash can, a plunger, basic plates and cutlery, and a lamp. That is enough to sleep, wash and eat. Cookware and appliances can wait a few days without difficulty.
What do people forget when moving into a first apartment?
Shower curtain rings (sold separately from the curtain), light bulbs, a can opener, bin bags in the right size, a plunger, curtains, batteries, and an extension cord. None is expensive; all are annoying to be without on the first evening.
Should I buy new or used for a first apartment?
Used for plates, cutlery, mixing bowls, sheet pans, cast iron, bed frames, dining furniture, desks and shelving. New for a mattress, knives, anything nonstick, cutting boards and curtains. Condition matters for the second group and not the first.
Read next
- What it costs to furnish a first apartmentThe same list with full totals and furniture.
- Apartment essentials on a budgetThe cheapest version that still works.
- Your first week in a new apartmentWhat to do, not just what to buy.
- The kitchen hubEvery kitchen pick, with alternatives.
- The bath and laundry hubEvery bathroom pick, all renter-safe.