A move-in move-out checklist is a room-by-room list of everything in a rental and what condition it is in on the day you get the keys and the day you hand them back. This printable builds the list for your own place: choose the number of bedrooms and bathrooms and any extra areas, and it prints Good, Fair and Poor circles, a photo box and a notes column for every item.
Quick answer: Pick bedrooms, bathrooms and any extra areas, choose move-in, move-out or both columns, and press Print or save as PDF. A two-bedroom, one-bathroom unit with a living room has 6 areas and 36 items to check, and prints on two pages. Walk the unit with the list, tick a condition for each item, and take a dated photo of anything that is not Good.
How to use the printable move-in move-out checklist
- Choose the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and tick any extra areas such as laundry, garage, balcony or basement.
- Choose move-in only, move-out only, or both columns on one sheet so the two walk-throughs sit side by side.
- Print or save as PDF, then fill in the address, dates, the number of keys and the meter readings.
- Walk each room with the list. Circle G, F or P for each item, tick the photo box when you have taken a picture, and write short notes.
- Sign and date it, ask the landlord or manager to do the same, and keep your own copy with the photos.
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What the move-in move-out inspection checklist covers
Every unit on the move-in move-out checklist gets an entry and general section and a kitchen. Each bedroom, each bathroom and each extra area you tick adds its own section:
| Section | Items | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Entry and general | 8 | Door and locks, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, walls, floors, windows, lights, thermostat |
| Kitchen | 7 | Sink, stove and oven, refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave and fan, cabinets, walls and floor |
| Each bedroom | 5 | Walls and ceiling, floor, closet, windows and blinds, outlets and light |
| Each bathroom | 6 | Toilet, sink, tub or shower and caulk, mirror, exhaust fan, walls and floor |
| Living room | 5 | Walls, floor, windows, outlets, vents |
| Laundry, garage, balcony, basement | 3 each | Appliances and hookups, doors, floors, lights and outlets |
The number of items grows with the size of the home. A studio with one bathroom has 21 items, a two-bedroom unit with one bathroom and a living room has 36, and a four-bedroom home with two bathrooms, a living room and four extra areas has 64.
How many photos to take for the apartment move-in move-out checklist
| Home | Areas | Items | Photos to aim for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio, one bathroom | 3 | 21 | 7 |
| Two bedrooms, one bathroom, living room | 6 | 36 | 12 |
| Four bedrooms, two bathrooms, living room and four extras | 13 | 64 | 24 |
For the printable move-in move-out checklist, the photo count is one wide photo of each area, plus about one close-up for every six items for scuffs, stains, cracks or anything already worn. It is a guide, not a rule: take more if in doubt. Keep the original files and the date they were taken.
Move-out cleaning checklist
Use the move-out column of the move-in move-out checklist to compare each item with the move-in column, then clean before the final walk-through. A short cleaning list that follows the same rooms:
| Area | What to do |
|---|---|
| Kitchen | Wipe cabinets inside and out, clean the oven and the fridge, degrease the stove top and hood, wash the sink |
| Bathroom | Scrub the tub or shower, descale fixtures, clean the toilet and the grout, wipe mirrors and the vanity |
| Bedrooms and living areas | Dust blinds and sills, wipe switches and doors, clean closet shelves, vacuum or mop the floors |
| Whole unit | Remove all belongings and trash, patch small nail holes only if your lease asks for it, wipe baseboards |
| Last steps | Replace burned-out bulbs, return all keys, take dated photos of each room and write the meter readings |
Comparing the move-in move-out checklist columns
- Look for differences, not perfection. On a move-in move-out checklist the move-in column is the baseline, so write anything already worn or broken on day one.
- Normal wear is different from damage. What counts as which is decided by your lease and local rules, so check them before you argue a point.
- Note dates and times. A line such as “stain by window, photo 3, March 2” is more useful than “carpet stained”.
Rules about deposits, notice periods and itemized deductions differ by country, state and city, and landlord–tenant law is a good starting overview. This page is a record-keeping tool and does not tell you what your rights are, so read your lease and your local tenant guidance for the rules that apply to you.
Frequently asked questions
6 quick answers
Is this move-in move-out checklist free?
Yes. It is free to print and save as a PDF, with no sign-up and no watermark.
Is the move-in move-out checklist for tenants or landlords?
Both. The signature lines at the bottom are for the tenant and the landlord or manager, and either side can print it.
Can I print the move-in move-out checklist with only one column?
Yes. Choose Move-out only for a clean copy, or Move-in only if you want one page for each walk-through.
What do G, F and P mean on the checklist?
G is good, F is fair and P is poor. Use P for broken or damaged items and F for items with ordinary signs of use.
How long should the walk-through take?
A one-bedroom unit often takes 20 to 30 minutes if you photograph as you go. Allow longer for larger homes.
Do you store my information?
No. Your choices stay in this browser on your device.
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- Mortgage calculator if you are buying instead
This page gives general information and tools, not legal advice.
Last updated: October 2026.