A first-apartment tool kit: what you actually need
Seven tools, about $45, and it fits in a kitchen drawer. An apartment's jobs are flat-pack furniture, picture hooks and a loose handle — not renovation.
Quick picks
Our ranking at a glance. Tap any row for the full write-up, or the price to go straight to Amazon. Scores are ours, from published specs and what owners report after a year — we have not lab-tested these, and we say so plainly.
| # | Product | Best for | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Hi-Spec Compact Small Tool Kit A drawer, not a closet | A drawer, not a closet | 8.88.8 out of 10 on our Beginner-friendly, Value, Durability, Stores small scoring | |
| 2 |  Amazon Basics Ratcheting Wrench & Precision Screwdriver Set, 73-Piece Big screws and tiny screws | Big screws and tiny screws | 8.98.9 out of 10 on our Beginner-friendly, Value, Durability, Stores small scoring | |
| 3 |  Command Large Picture Hanging Strips, 15 lb Hanging a frame with no hole | Hanging a frame with no hole | 9.09.0 out of 10 on our Beginner-friendly, Value, Durability, Stores small scoring | |
| 4 |  Komelon Monster MagGrip 25 ft Tape Measure Ten dollars and a magnet | Ten dollars and a magnet | 9.09.0 out of 10 on our Beginner-friendly, Value, Durability, Stores small scoring | |
| 5 |  DEWALT Medium 8-Compartment Small Parts Organizer Screws, anchors and picture hooks | Screws, anchors and picture hooks | 9.09.0 out of 10 on our Beginner-friendly, Value, Durability, Stores small scoring | $7.99View on Amazon $8.98 · 11% off |
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An apartment needs seven things: a screwdriver with bits, hex keys, a small hammer, pliers, a tape measure, adhesive picture-hanging strips, and a parts organizer for the fixings. About $45, and it fits in a kitchen drawer. Everything beyond that is either a house’s problem or your landlord’s.
The seven, and what each is for
| Tool | Cost | What it is for in an apartment |
|---|---|---|
| Screwdriver with bits | ~$29 | Flat-pack furniture, outlet plates, a loose cabinet handle, battery compartments. The one you use most. |
| Hex keys | included in kits | Every flat-pack bolt. Keep the ones that come with the furniture too. |
| Small claw hammer | ~$10 | Picture hooks, tapping furniture dowels home, closing paint tins. |
| Combination pliers | ~$10 | Gripping, bending, pulling a stuck plug, holding a nut. |
| Tape measure, 25 ft | ~$10 | Will the sofa fit, how wide is the doorway, how long is that wall. |
| Adhesive picture strips | ~$13 | Hanging art with no holes. The most-used item on this list. |
| Parts organizer | ~$8 | Keeps screws, hooks and the spare furniture bolts findable. |
A compact kit covers the first five for about $20 — see our tool kit picks. Buy the strips and the organizer separately.
Three things worth adding, in order
- A cordless drill (~$65). Not for walls — for furniture. Assembling a wardrobe or a bed frame by hand is genuinely miserable, and a drill with a clutch turns an afternoon into forty minutes. See drill picks.
- A stud finder with AC detection (~$15). Only if your lease permits hanging anything heavy. It is also the thing that stops you drilling into a cable.
- Safety glasses (~$8). If you own a drill, own these.
What to skip in an apartment
- A socket set. Nothing in an apartment has bolts you need to turn with a ratchet.
- A saw of any kind. You are not cutting anything, and if you are, you probably should not be.
- A full 325-piece kit. The case alone will not fit your storage.
- A ladder. Bulky, and a sturdy chair covers a light bulb. Ask the building for one if you need a real ladder.
- Plumbing tools. Plumbing is the landlord’s. A plunger is the exception and it belongs in the bathroom — see our plunger picks.
- Paint and painting equipment, unless you have written permission and know what you are putting back.
What is the landlord's job, not yours
This matters practically as well as legally: fixing something yourself can make you responsible for it, and can void the landlord’s obligation to repair it properly. Report rather than fix:
- Anything electrical beyond changing a bulb — outlets, switches, fixtures, the breaker panel.
- Anything plumbing beyond plunging a toilet — leaks, taps, the water heater, the sink trap.
- Heating and air conditioning.
- Appliances that came with the unit.
- Windows, locks and exterior doors — and locks are also a security matter.
- A broken extractor fan, which matters for mold.
- Anything structural, including damp and mold that is not surface cleaning.
Report in writing, with a date and photographs, even if you also phone. That record is what protects your deposit and establishes when the problem was raised. Our renter-safe repairs guide goes through the dividing line in more detail.
The five jobs you will actually do in week one
- Assemble furniture. Screwdriver, hex keys, hammer, and ideally a drill.
- Hang art and a mirror. Adhesive strips, a tape measure, a level if you have one.
- Tighten the loose cabinet handle and the wobbly toilet seat. Screwdriver.
- Put up a shower curtain and hooks. Usually no tools at all.
- Change batteries in the smoke alarm. Do this on day one regardless of what the landlord says — see home safety essentials.
The short version
- Seven tools, about $45, fits a kitchen drawer. That is a complete apartment kit.
- Add a drill for FURNITURE, not walls. Flat-pack assembly alone justifies it.
- Skip socket sets, saws, ladders and plumbing tools. A plunger is the exception.
- Report electrical, plumbing, heating and appliance faults in writing. Do not fix them.
The picks in detail
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#1 · A drawer, not a closet
Hi-Spec Compact Small Tool Kit
A genuinely small kit that lives in a kitchen drawer. It handles flat-pack furniture, a picture hook and a battery change, which in an apartment is most of what happens.
- Beginner-friendly
- 9.4
- Value
- 9.6
- Durability
- 6.6
- Stores small
- 9.8
What we like
- Small enough that you keep it accessible instead of in storage
- Covers the apartment jobs
- Cheapest here
What to know
- Tools are small-scale — the hammer is light for real work
- No adjustable wrench
- Case is not rigid
Specifications
- Compact zip or clip case
- Screwdrivers, pliers, small hammer, tape, hex keys
- Fits a drawer
- Under 20 pieces
Who it is for
An apartment with no storage and no plans to hang heavy shelving.
#ad we may earn a commission · price as of October 6, 2026
#2 · Big screws and tiny screws
Amazon Basics Ratcheting Wrench & Precision Screwdriver Set, 73-Piece
A ratcheting driver for furniture and household screws plus a precision set for glasses, laptops and games consoles. Two separate purchases avoided.
- Beginner-friendly
- 9.4
- Value
- 9.0
- Durability
- 7.8
- Stores small
- 9.0
What we like
- The ratchet action matters when assembling flat-pack furniture by hand
- Precision bits cover laptop and console screws most kits miss
- One case for both jobs
What to know
- Ratchet mechanism is the long-term wear point
- Bit holder magnet is weak on small bits
- Case is thin
Specifications
- Ratcheting driver with a magnetic bit holder
- Precision bits for electronics, including Torx and Pentalobe
- 73 pieces in a molded case
- Standard and precision bits in one kit
Who it is for
Everyone. The one screwdriver purchase that covers both ends of the scale.
#ad we may earn a commission · price as of October 6, 2026
#3 · Hanging a frame with no hole
Command Large Picture Hanging Strips, 15 lb
Fourteen pairs rated to 15 pounds each, and they come off the wall cleanly if you pull the tab straight down. This is how you decorate a rental you want the deposit back on.
- Beginner-friendly
- 9.8
- Value
- 8.6
- Durability
- 8.0
- Stores small
- 9.8
What we like
- No holes, no patching, no deposit argument
- Interlocking design keeps frames level, unlike adhesive hooks
- Removes cleanly when you follow the tab instruction
What to know
- Will not hold on textured, wallpapered or freshly painted walls — read the surface guidance
- Pulling the tab outward instead of down takes paint with it
- Not for mirrors or anything you would mind falling
Specifications
- 14 pairs, 15 lb rating per pair
- Interlocking strips hold the frame flat to the wall
- Removes by stretching the tab straight down
- For painted drywall and other smooth, sound surfaces
Who it is for
Every renter hanging frames. For anything heavy or breakable, use a stud and a screw.
#ad we may earn a commission · price as of October 6, 2026
#4 · Ten dollars and a magnet
Komelon Monster MagGrip 25 ft Tape Measure
A magnetic-tipped 25-footer with a rubberized case for about ten dollars. It is the value answer and it has been in production for years for good reason.
- Beginner-friendly
- 9.4
- Value
- 9.8
- Durability
- 8.0
- Stores small
- 9.4
What we like
- Cheapest magnetic tape worth buying
- Rubber case survives being dropped
- Long production run means it is a known quantity
What to know
- Shorter standout than the Milwaukee
- Blade printing wears over years
- Belt clip is stiff
Specifications
- 25 ft blade
- Magnetic hook
- Rubberized over-molded case
- Nylon-coated blade
Who it is for
A first tool kit where ten dollars matters.
#5 · Screws, anchors and picture hooks
DEWALT Medium 8-Compartment Small Parts Organizer
Eight sealed compartments for the fixings that otherwise live loose in a drawer. Eight dollars, and it is the thing that makes a tool kit usable.
- Beginner-friendly
- 9.6
- Value
- 9.8
- Durability
- 8.4
- Stores small
- 9.8
What we like
- Sorted fixings is the single biggest quality-of-life upgrade to a tool kit
- Clear lid shows what you have before you go to the store
- Seals keep screws from migrating between compartments
What to know
- Not a tool box — it holds fixings only
- Compartment dividers are fixed
- Small
Specifications
- 8 compartments with individual seals
- Clear lid
- Stackable
- Very compact
Who it is for
Everyone, alongside a real tool box. Buy two.
Common questions
What tools do I need for my first apartment?
Seven: a screwdriver with bits, hex keys, a small claw hammer, combination pliers, a 25-foot tape measure, adhesive picture-hanging strips, and a small parts organizer. About $45, and it fits a kitchen drawer.
Do I need a drill in an apartment?
It is worth having for furniture rather than walls — assembling a wardrobe or bed frame by hand is miserable, and a drill with a clutch turns an afternoon into forty minutes. Whether you drill walls depends on your lease.
What should I not fix myself in a rental?
Anything electrical beyond a bulb, anything plumbing beyond plunging a toilet, heating and air conditioning, supplied appliances, windows, locks, the extractor fan, and anything structural including damp. Report these in writing with photographs — fixing them yourself can make you responsible.
Where should I keep tools in an apartment?
A kitchen drawer or under the sink — somewhere you can reach in ten seconds. A compact kit kept accessible gets used; a full tool box in a storage closet behind suitcases effectively does not exist.
Can I hang pictures in a rental apartment?
Usually, with adhesive strips rather than nails. Most leases permit small picture hooks and prohibit anything that needs patching. Command-style strips hold up to 15 pounds per pair and remove cleanly if you pull the tab straight down — see our full guide.