The Top 10 Amenities Renters Want Most in 2026

Some amenities are nice to have, while others are crucial. Which are the amenities renters can’t live without?

Ten popular amenities topped the list, according to the latest survey from Apartments.com. The survey, which featured over 15,000 people planning to rent their next place, was conducted in November and 2025.

Does your property have renters’ must-haves? When evaluating your amenity offerings, these 10 features can boost your property’s appeal the most.

1. Air conditioning

There’s nothing like turning on the A/C during a hot summer day. For 65 percent of renters, air conditioning is a requirement when looking for their next place.

This practical amenity is especially important to older renters. While 65 percent or fewer of Gen Z, millennials, and Gen X marked A/C a must-have, among older generations the share was much higher: 73 percent of baby boomers and 75 percent of Silent Generation renters.

Renters in Atlanta, too, are more likely than the average renters to consider air conditioning a requirement. Seventy-one percent of renters in the Georgia capital known for its hot summers said that A/C was a must-have, compared to New York City — where the tight housing market makes A/C a requirement for only 47 percent of renters.

2. In-unit laundry

Most renters wouldn’t choose a place that doesn’t come with its own washing machine and dryer. Having an in-unit washer and dryer is a necessity for 64 percent of renters.

The race between air conditioning and in-unit laundry remains tight — a difference of only one point.

Women are seven points more likely than men to say they wouldn’t live in a unit without an in-unit washer and dryer.

3. Off-street parking or garage

Nearly tied with the dishwasher, parking comes out ahead as the third most popular amenity. For 42 percent of renters, having off-street parking or a garage is essential.

And this amenity is increasingly important for renters as they get older. Less than 40 percent of Gen Z and millennials say off-street parking or a garage is a requirement. For Gen X, it’s 44 percent. But over half of baby boomers and Silent Generation renters say they wouldn’t choose a place without it. 

4. Dishwasher

Wash the dishes by hand? No thanks, say 42 percent of respondents. For these respondents, this kitchen amenity is a must-have.

Youngest renters are the most likely to consider a dishwasher a necessity. Nearly half of Gen Z respondents (47 percent) said it was a requirement, while only 37 percent of Gen X and baby boomer respondents agreed.

5. Balcony, patio, or private outdoor space

Outdoor space matters to renters. For 37 percent of survey respondents, it’s crucial to find a place with a balcony, patio, or private outdoor space. These units give renters the opportunity to step outside without leaving their home, enjoy the fresh air and sun, and even grow some outdoor plants.

Older renters are much more likely to consider outdoor space a requirement. Only 28 percent of Gen Z renters consider a balcony essential, compared to 47 percent of baby boomers and 60 percent of Silent Generation renters.

Female renters are 10 points more likely than their male counterparts to consider this amenity a must-have.

6. Laundry facilities available within the building

For renters who can live without an in-unit washer and dryer, laundry still matters. The presence of onsite laundry facilities was a must-have for 35 percent of respondents.

This amenity offers the ease of having a go-to place within the building to wash and dry a load of laundry — no lugging piles of clothes to the laundromat.

7. Storage

“Is there room for my stuff?” This key concern for renters selecting their next place is likely motivating 28 percent of renters to say that storage is a must-have. Whether it’s a spacious apartment with ample cabinets and closets, a place with an outdoor storage closet on the balcony, or a property that offers extra storage space in the basement, any additional storage is essential.

This amenity is 5 points more popular among women than men, and it gains popularity with age. Less than a quarter of Gen Z renters (24 percent) consider storage a must-have, compared to 34 percent of baby boomers.

8. Walk-in closets

When you live in an apartment, every square foot counts. For 25 percent of respondents, having a walk-in closet is a necessity. The walk-in closet, an ever-popular apartment amenity and new addition to the survey, gives renters a comfortable way to store their clothes and belongings without clutter.

Women, who comprise the majority of apartment seekers, are 6 points more likely than men to prioritize walk-in closets. Much like storage more generally, the importance of the walk-in closet also increases with age. It’s a must-have for 29 percent of baby boomers, but only 21 percent of Gen Z renters say they wouldn’t rent without it.

9. Fitness center or gym

For 18 percent of renters, their next place has got to have a fitness center or gym. Wellness has been a top priority for multifamily in recent years, and renters appreciate having an onsite place to lift weights, hop on the elliptical, or crank up the treadmill for a run.

This amenity is especially popular among younger renters. Having an onsite gym is considered essential for 22 percent of Gen Z renters and 18 percent of millennials, compared to only 15 percent of Gen Xers and 101 percent of baby boomers.

Men are 3 points more likely than women to consider a fitness center an essential amenity.

10. Elevator

When you live on the top floor, it matters whether you have to take the stairs or can use the elevator. Having an elevator, which was a common write-in option in past surveys, was a new addition this quarter and was a priority for 17 percent of renters.

Not surprisingly, the elevator becomes increasingly important to renters as they age. Only 14 percent of Gen Z renters say it’s a must-have, whereas 29 percent of baby boomers and 40 percent of the Silent Generation say so.

Does your building have elevators? This is a great way to attract senior renters.

How other amenities ranked

These amenities took the top 10 spots, ranking as important to a sixth or more of renters. But they’re not the only features that renters care about.

Less popular amenities include a pool (12 percent), smart lock for entry (11 percent), and smart home appliances (10 percent).

Furnished units are a necessity for only 9 percent of renters, although they’re much more popular among students and younger renters. Nearly one in five student renters (19 percent) consider them a requirement, as do 12 percent of Gen Z renters. Men are 5 points more likely than women to want a unit to come with furniture.

Sports courts like tennis, pickleball, and basketball are a requirement for only 4 percent of renters.

Only 3 percent of renters consider an electric charging station to be a necessity,

In addition to the amenities discussed above, survey respondents were also given the ability to write in their own responses, and 5 percent did so.

Accessibility was a top consideration for many of these respondents, who listed accessible units, living on the ground floor, and disability-friendly parking as essential.

Other popular responses in the “Other” category included hardwood flooring, a fenced-in yard, garbage disposal, and washer/dryer hookups.

Get more renter insights

That’s not all. Explore the top takeaways from the latest renter survey.