Room-by-room home inventory checklist

How to use the checklist

The spreadsheet has one row per item, with a Room column so you can filter to one room at a time. Each room is pre-filled with common items as prompts. Delete what you don’t own, add what is missing, and fill in the details you know.

The columns follow what insurers and state insurance departments commonly suggest recording: Room, Item, Brand / model, Serial number, Quantity, Purchase date, Purchase price, Replacement cost, Photo taken (Y/N), Receipt saved (Y/N) and Notes. The Excel version adds a frozen header, filters, Y/N choices and totals for purchase price and replacement cost. The CSV version opens in Google Sheets, Numbers or any spreadsheet app.

1. Walk the room before you write

   Stand in the doorway and take a wide photo of each wall. Then open every drawer, cupboard and closet.

2. Start with the big and valuable

   Furniture, electronics and appliances first, then shelves and smaller things.

3. Record what sets the price

   Brand, model, size and material matter more than a long description.

4. Group small items

   A line like “Kitchen utensils, about 30” with one total is fine for low-value things.

5. Mark photos and receipts

   Use the Y/N columns to see at a glance what still needs evidence.

Living room and dining room

Living rooms hold a lot of value in a few large items. Record the brand and model of the TV and audio equipment, and photograph the serial labels while you can reach them.

• Sofa, armchairs, coffee and side tables
• TV, soundbar or speakers, streaming device, game console
• Lamps, rugs, curtains and blinds
• Bookshelves, books, records and other media
• Art, mirrors, wall decor and plants
• Dining table, chairs, sideboard or china cabinet
• Dinnerware, glassware, crystal, silverware and table linens

Kitchen

The kitchen is where small things add up. Large appliances each deserve a row with model and serial number. For cookware and dishes, a count and a total is usually enough, unless something is a set worth noting by brand.

• Refrigerator, range or cooktop, wall oven, dishwasher, microwave
• Coffee or espresso machine, stand mixer, blender, toaster, air fryer
• Pots, pans and bakeware
• Knives and cutlery
• Dishes, bowls, mugs and glassware
• Small tools, utensils and food storage
• Pantry contents, as one estimated total

Bedrooms and closets

Clothing is easy to underestimate, because it is spread across closets and drawers and bought a few pieces at a time. Count by type rather than itemizing everything, and list designer pieces, coats and shoes separately.

• Bed frame, mattress, dresser, nightstands, wardrobe
• Lamps, mirrors and TV
• Bedding, pillows and blankets
• Clothing by type: tops, trousers, dresses, suits, coats
• Shoes, bags and accessories
• Jewelry and watches, listed piece by piece
• Children’s rooms: furniture, toys, games, books and electronics

Bathrooms, linen and laundry

These rooms are quick, but easy to skip. The value is mostly in small electrical items and textiles.

• Hair dryers, styling tools, electric toothbrushes and razors
• Towels, bath mats and a scale
• Sheets, duvet covers, blankets and throws in the linen closet
• Vacuum cleaner, steam mop, iron and ironing board
• Washing machine and dryer, with model and serial numbers

Home office

Electronics in the home office are worth recording carefully: they are valuable, replaced often, and usually have a serial number in the device settings or on a label underneath.

• Laptop, desktop computer and monitors
• Keyboard, mouse, dock and headphones
• Printer, scanner, router and networking gear
• External drives, tablets and phones
• Camera bodies and lenses
• Desk, office chair, filing cabinet and bookshelves

Garage and workshop

Tools are bought one at a time over years, so most people have more in the garage than they think. Record brand and model for power tools, and note battery packs and chargers, which are expensive to replace.

• Power drills, saws, sanders and other power tools, with batteries
• Hand tools, toolboxes and tool chests
• Lawn mower, leaf blower, trimmer and pressure washer
• Bicycles, with serial numbers from the frame
• Ladders, workbench and shelving
• Sports equipment, camping gear and car accessories

Basement, attic and storage

State insurance departments specifically remind people to include extra closets, pantries, basements and attics, and occasional-use items such as tools and holiday decorations. These are the places you rarely see, so they are the hardest to remember later. For boxes, one row per box with a short description of the contents works well.

• Holiday decorations and seasonal clothing
• Luggage
• Stored furniture and spare electronics
• Exercise equipment
• Keepsakes, photo albums and heirlooms
• Labeled boxes, with a list of what is inside

Outdoor spaces and valuables

Finish outside, then make a separate pass for valuables, wherever they are kept. Jewelry, art, collections and instruments may have limits on a standard policy, so it is worth recording them with photos, receipts and any appraisals you already have, and asking your insurer whether to list them separately.

• Patio furniture, umbrella, grill and outdoor heater
• Garden tools, hoses, planters and shed contents
• Pool or hot tub equipment and play equipment
• Jewelry, watches and silver
• Art, musical instruments and collections

Keep a copy away from home and keep it current

A list is only useful if you can reach it when you need it. The California Department of Insurance suggests keeping copies of your inventory, receipts and model numbers in more than one safe place away from home, and the Connecticut Insurance Department recommends reviewing it annually and whenever you make a significant purchase. A cloud drive, an email to yourself and a copy with a relative all work.

How Allventory helps with a room-by-room inventory

The spreadsheet works on its own. If you would rather keep photos, receipts and dates with each item, Allventory is a home inventory app for Android and the web, including Safari on iPhone.

1. Rooms and storage spots

   Each property has its own locations, such as Kitchen or Garage / Shelf 2. Filtering by a location includes everything inside it.

2. A shelf in one photo

   Photograph a shelf or cupboard and Allventory suggests separate items with names, categories and estimated values. You review the suggestions and choose what to save.

3. Serial numbers and receipts

   Scan a serial number from a photo of the label, and let receipt reading suggest the purchase date and price for you to check.

4. Files kept with the item

   Attach up to 20 photos and documents to each item, marked as receipt, warranty, manual or other.

5. See what is missing

   Filter for items still missing a receipt, the same job as the Y/N columns in the spreadsheet.

6. Export it back to a spreadsheet

   Export your inventory to CSV on every plan, including the free 30-day trial. Paid plans add Excel exports.