These Are the 7 Tools Renters Must Have

With high interest rates and steep real estate prices, many are choosing to unlock their DIY inspirations within their rentals. Most landlords are happy to allow upgrades that improve the property, but you aren’t going to transform a space with a butter knife and a prayer. To turn a "standard unit" into a custom home, you need a curated kit of high-quality tools.

The selections below are designed with apartment living in mind but with an eye toward the future. You build a collection over time—moving from a single toolbox to a full workshop—and the tools you buy today should still be in your belt decades from now.

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The Essential Tools For Renters

You acquire tools over time, building out your collection from a toolbox to a full workshop. With that in mind, you should still be using the tools you buy today decades from now. 

The Anchor: 12V Cordless Drill/Driver

The drill/driver is the first power tool any renter should buy. This workhorse is essential for assembling prefab furniture, mounting a flatscreen TV, or installing the heavy-duty anchors needed for floating shelves.

• Recommendation: Go with a 12-volt brushless model, like this Bosch 12V Max. It’s smaller and lighter than an 18-volt drill but has enough muscle to handle anything apartment life throws at you.  Plus, Bosch tools last a long time. 
• Renter Pro-Tip: Use the clutch settings, the numbers on the dial, to back off the torque when you’re assembling furniture to avoid stripping out that cheap particle board.  

The Precision Tool: The Multi-bit Screwdriver

This is your go-to for all the odd jobs that pop up weekly, including tightening door handles, installing a dimmer switch, or changing out a dated light fixture. 

• Recommendation: This Klein 11-in-1 magnetic screwdriver is affordable, well made, and includes all the most commonly used bit types and sizes. 

Tape Measure

You can’t eyeball a rug size or a sofa fit. A tape measure is your most used tool during the first month of any lease.

• Recommendation: The Stanley PowerLock 26’ is a classic tape measure for a reason. It’s durable, affordable, and will stay rigid, so you can measure long distances without having to knock on your neighbor’s door for help. 

Level

If you plan on hanging pictures, curtain rods, floating shelves, or a TV, you need a level to ensure it looks professional. 

• Recommendation: If you have the storage space, go with a 24-inch I-beam level. If not, a 9-inch torpedo level should suffice for an apartment. It’s long enough to level items you’re planning to hang without taking up a lot of space. 

Claw Hammer 

The most iconic tool in the box. You’ll need it to tap in picture hangers the day you move in and use the claw to pull them out the day you move out.

• Recommendation: Go with a standard 16-ounce hammer with a fiberglass handle. It’s heavy enough to hammer large 16d nails, but light enough that you won’t struggle to use it. You can find a quality affordable hammer, like this Craftsman, that you’ll still be swinging years from now.

Utility Knife

In the age of endless deliveries, a kitchen knife shouldn't be your primary box opener. You need a safe, sharp blade for everything from breaking down cardboard to trimming peel-and-stick backsplash tiles.

• Recommendation: Go with a heavy duty model with a retractable blade. 

Channel Lock Pliers

These are essential for minor plumbing adjustments—like swapping out a low-pressure rental shower head for a high-end rainfall model—or tightening hardware on furniture.

• Recommendation: Go with a 10-inch set of pliers, which offers the most versatility, and look for a pair with a molded grip that’s comfortable to squeeze.