This article about about essential tools for furniture flipping and supplies that will help you make more money in your furniture flipping and vintage decor resale business.
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Flipping furniture is part art, part business, and part “Why did I just buy this broken dresser?!” But don’t worry—the right tools for furniture flipping can turn a frustrating project into a masterpiece (and keep you from wanting to throw a chair across the room). Flipping furniture isn’t just about slapping on some chalk paint and calling it a day—it’s about working smarter, not harder. Having the right gear saves time, makes your flips look professional, and keeps you from throwing a chair leg across the room out of frustration.
So, whether you’re a beginner DIYer or a seasoned furniture-flipping wizard, here’s your ultimate list of 30 essential tools—plus some handy product recommendations to build your flipping empire.
Essential Hand Tools for Furniture Flipping
Let’s start with the bare necessities—the simple tools that you’ll reach for every single project. Now, although you can get each of these tools, the other option is to get a whole tool kit. We keep eyeing this one, but you do you:
Hi-Spec 21-Piece Pink Tool Set with Power Screwdriver
Introducing the Hi-Spec 21-Piece Pink Tool Set, designed specifically for those who blend style with functionality. This comprehensive toolkit stands out with its chic design, perfect for women who take pride in their DIY projects. Not only is it visually appealing with its vibrant pink hue, but it also offers practicality with its compact USB Electric Power Screwdriver, making every screwdriving task a breeze.
This set is not just about aesthetics; it packs a punch with essential tools like a versatile bit driver set and sturdy hand tools, all neatly organized in a portable bag. Whether you're a seasoned DIY enthusiast or just starting, this toolset empowers you to tackle a myriad of home improvement tasks effortlessly.
Why settle for ordinary tools when you can have a set that reflects your personal flair?
1. Screwdrivers (Flathead & Phillips)
Nothing kills the excitement of a thrift store find faster than realizing the drawer pulls are attached with some weird, ancient screws. A solid magnetized screwdriver set lets you remove old hardware, tighten loose joints, and avoid dropping screws into the abyss (aka your workshop floor).
Flippin’ Essential: Amazon Basics Magnetic Screwdrivers Set, 12-Piece Hand Tools Set, Turquoise
2. Claw Hammer & Rubber Mallet
Ever tried to pull out an old, rusty nail with just your fingers? Not fun. A claw hammer is perfect for removing nails, fixing loose joints, and light demolition when you’re breaking down an unsalvageable piece. The rubber mallet? That’s for gently nudging things into place without leaving a trail of dents behind.
Flippin’ Essential: CRAFTSMAN Hammer
3. Tape Measure
Accurate measurments are everything in the flipping furniture business. A small enough tape measure to fit in a pocket or handbag keeps you from buying a dresser that won’t fit in your car. Or selling a table that won’t fit through a buyer’s door. Take it with you to thrift stores, use it before you do your listings. Trust me—measure twice, cry zero times.
Pro tip: Buy several. We keep one in the car in case of an emergency garage sale stop. One for a thrift store run. One that stays in the house. One that we can never find.
Flippin’ Essential: Set of Mini Measuring Tapes
4. Pliers (Needle Nose & Adjustable)
Pliers are the unsung heroes of furniture flipping. Use them to pull out old nails, remove stubborn staples, and tighten those annoying little nuts and bolts that refuse to cooperate. They also make you feel way more professional than using your teeth (which I strongly do not recommend).
Flippin’ Essential: IRWIN VISE-GRIP 8-Inch Pliers Set
5. Utility Knife
Perfect for stripping old veneer, or aggressively opening Amazon packages. Always keep extra blades on hand—a dull utility knife is about as useful as a broken chair leg.
Flippin’ Essential: Stanley Retractable Utility Knife
Power Tools for Furniture Flipping for Faster, Professional Results
Now, let’s talk power tools—because while hand-sanding a dresser may be a “great workout,” most of us would rather get the job done in half the time.
6. Cordless Drill & Drill Bit Set
Assembling furniture by hand is a one-way ticket to sore wrists. A cordless drill lets you tighten screws, drill holes, and secure hardware in seconds. Look for one with multiple speed settings and a rechargeable battery.
Flippin’ Essential: DEWALT 20V MAX Cordless Drill
7. Orbital Sander
Hand-sanding an entire dresser is a great workout—but also a slow, dusty nightmare. An orbital sander cuts your sanding time in half, giving you a smooth finish without turning your arm into jelly. If you plan to flip more than one piece, this tool will quickly become your best friend.
Flippin’ Essential: Dewalt Orbital Sander
8. Detail Sander
You know those tiny corners and intricate carvings your orbital sander can’t reach? That’s where a detail sander comes in. It’s perfect for delicate refinishing work and keeps you from having to sand by hand (which we all know is the worst).
9. Jigsaw
Need to modify a furniture piece to fit a certain space? A jigsaw allows you to cut intricate shapes and curves with ease. But we actually even use this one just to cut small pieces quickly. It’s easy to use and very affordable.
Flippin’ Essential: Black + Decker Jigsaw
10. Dremel
Yeah, yeah, it’s not a power tool. But it IS–and it’s so great. It has so many awesome attachments for polishing, sanding, cutting, getting little screws out. It’s beyond worth it.
Flippin’ Essential: Dremel Lite Cordless Rotary Tool
Painting & Finishing Must-Have Tools for Furniture Flipping
11. Paint Sprayer
Painting by hand is relaxing…for the first 10 minutes. Then it’s just a streaky, brush-marked mess. A paint sprayer gives you a smooth, even coat in a fraction of the time. If you plan to flip furniture regularly, this is a game-changer.
Flippin’ Essential: Wagner Spraytech Paint Sprayer
12. High-Quality Paint Brushes
Even if you swear by your paint sprayer, there’s always a time and place for a good ol’ fashioned brush. Personally, we rarely use a paint sprayer for smaller projects. It’s just faster and easier to use a bush. Whether it’s for touch-ups, detailing, or those tricky corners a sprayer can’t reach.
But don’t cheap out on brushes! Low-quality brushes leave streaks, shed bristles, and make your life miserable. (We tried. We failed.) You’ll spend more time and more money. A high-quality set lasts longer, gives a smoother finish, and makes painting feel like a breeze instead of a battle. Invest in good quality brushes and be sure to clean them.
Flippin’ Essential: Purdy 3-Pack Paint Brush Set – Pro-quality brushes that won’t leave streaks or shed bristles. They’re not that expensive and will last as long as you take care of them.
13. Foam Rollers
If you’re after a flawless, streak-free finish on flat surfaces like dresser tops, table legs, and cabinet doors, foam rollers are your secret weapon. They apply paint evenly, prevent brush marks, and save you tons of time. Perfect for chalk paint, latex, or even topcoats, these rollers give you that pro-level finish without the frustration.
Flippin’ Essential: Foam Roller Set – A must-have for smooth, even paint application with zero streaks.
14. Floetrol
This turned out to be a game changer for us. As you know from our other article about flipping furniture without painting a lot, we use Floetrol not only to thin the paint but smooth it. It’s rookie painting error to paint too thickly. It wastes paint, it’s more likely to streak and it takes forever to dry.
This desk was an exception to our no painting rule. It was a beautiful desk but so scratched up. We used our favorite furniture flipping tool–Floetrol–to thin the paint and then used a brush and got a pretty smooth finish.
If you want that super smooth, brush-stroke-free finish without using a sprayer, Floetrol is the secret weapon. Just mix it into your paint, and voila—your brush strokes disappear like magic.
Flippin’ Essential: Flood Floetrol Paint Conditioner
15. Wood Filler & Putty
That gorgeous antique dresser you just scored? Yeah, it probably has a few dings and scratches. A high-quality wood filler is another tool for furniture flipping that helps you patch up imperfections before painting. Just sand it smooth, and no one will ever know that drawer had a giant gouge.
Flippin’ Essential: Minwax Stainable Wood Filler – Dries hard, sands well, and takes stain like a champ.
16. Painter’s Tape
If you’re painting two-tone designs, protecting details, or just trying to keep your lines crisp, painter’s tape is your best friend. And no, regular masking tape won’t cut it—it’ll bleed through and make a mess. (Yeah, we tried. You’re welcome.)
Flippin’ Essential: FrogTape Multi-Surface – Less bleed, cleaner lines, less cursing. (Yeah, we tried. You’re welcome.)
17. Sandpaper Variety Pack
As you know, we think that sometimes hand sanding is good enough for our furniture maintenance, not makeover start-up stage. (Read our article on starting a flipping furniture business from nothing if this doesn’t ring a bell.)
Even if you have an orbital sander, you’ll still need sandpaper for touch-ups, hand-sanding curves, and distressing edges. Grab a variety pack with multiple grits—you’ll use them all. Don’t go cheap on these: we tried that and the cheap kind literally just shreds up in your hands and actually kind of tears up your hands because of that. Just buy decent sandpaper. Seriously.
And you need a variety pack because you start with a rougher grit like 80 for big scratches and go all the way to really fine (maybe 220) for just a slight smooth down of brush strokes in your finished painting job.
Flippin’ Essential: 3M Sandpaper Assorted Grit Pack – Covers everything from rough stripping to fine finishing.
18. Spray Paint Tent
Ever tried spray-painting furniture without a proper setup? If so, you’ve probably ended up with a fine mist of paint covering your garage, your clothes, and possibly your dog. A spray paint tent is a game-changer—it keeps overspray contained, protects your work from dust and debris, and makes cleanup a breeze. Speaking of breeze, this was essential for protecting the wet paint from every leaf in Texas landing on it.
A good spray shelter is essential if you use a paint sprayer or even just want to keep your workspace tidy while working on smaller projects. It’s like a mini spray booth that saves you from turning your entire workspace into a crime scene of floating paint particles.
Pro tip: The first one we had was cheaper and fine to set up HOWEVER, putting it back into the bag was a nightmare. Legit there are YouTube videos with different tricks for getting it back in. This one is sooo much less work.
Flippin’ Essential: Wagner Spraytech Spray Shelter with Built-In Floor & Screen for DIY Spray Painting – Easy to set up, keeps overspray under control, and folds up for storage when you’re done.
Essential Cleaning Supplies and Tools for Flipping Furniture
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19. Microfiber Towels
Microfiber towels are the secret furniture flipping tool for quick and efficient cleaning. Their soft texture prevents scratches while picking up dust and dirt effortlessly. Keep several on hand for dusting off sanding residue and giving that final polish before photographing your masterpiece.
Flippin’ Essential: Amazon Basics Microfiber Cleaning Cloth – Affordable and reliable, these microfiber towels ensure a streak-free finish on any surface.
20. General Cleaner
A versatile surface cleaner is perfect for a wide variety of materials, ensuring even delicate finishes remain safe and undamaged. It’s a reliable choice for daily cleanups and making those thrift store finds look showroom-ready. We use it to remove old price tag glue, hardened gum, and a whole lot of we-don’t-want-to-know…ew…from items.
Flippin’ Essential: Krud Kutter is just the best. So many times we thought we couldn’t possibly get that unknown gunk from that unreachable spot. Cue the Krud Cutter.
21. Wood Polish and Conditioner
Wood polish not only refreshes the appearance of tired finishes but also nourishes them. Regular application can protect and revitalize surfaces, maintaining that just-flipped look far longer. Knowing what to use when matters but for starters a good orange oil-based wood conditioner is a good place to start. And Murphy’s Oil Soap is classic for a reason.
Flippin’ Essential: Murphy’s Oil Soap – A classic, gentle cleaner that works wonders on wood, laminate, and vintage finishes.
22. Odor Eliminator: the ultimate furniture flipping tool
Combat musty or unwanted odors often accompanying second-hand pieces with a robust odor eliminator. This is especially key for smoke odors. Ensuring your furniture smells fresh is key to making it appealing to potential buyers.
Flippin’ Essential: Zero Odor Spray – Eliminates lingering smells without leaving behind a strong fragrance.
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23. Tack Cloth
A tack cloth is your go-to for removing fine dust particles before applying paint or varnish. It ensures a smooth application and professional finish. Never underestimate the importance of a pre-finish dusting.
Flippin’ Essential: Trimaco Tack Cloth – Picks up even the finest dust for a flawless paint job.
24. Silver Polish
If you’re flipping vintage pieces, a good silver polish can turn a dull, tarnished item into a shiny, sellable beauty. Buyers love that freshly restored look, and this little trick can help boost your profits.
Pro tip: We were told by an estate sale company that the cream works better than the liquid!
Flippin’ Essential: Wright’s Silver Cleaner
25. Rubber Gloves
When flipping furniture, you’re dealing with old, gritty pieces that might have decades of grime. Enter: reliable rubber gloves. These gloves shield your hands from harsh cleaning chemicals and grime, providing comfort and durability during long hours of work. They’re essential for scrubbing down vintage finds or when applying potentially skin-irritating treatments like paint stripper or stain. Keep a few pairs on hand so you’re always prepared for whatever unexpected mess your latest treasure throws at you.
Flippin’ Essential: Playtex Living Reusable Rubber Gloves – These gloves offer a great grip and are gentle on your hands, making even the dirtiest jobs manageable.
Photography & Selling Tools for Furniture Flipping
A beautifully refinished piece won’t sell if your photos make it look like a blurry garage sale reject.
26. Lightbox for Photography
Great for taking clean, professional-looking photos of small items like vintage decor or hardware. A lightbox helps so your furniture stands out (and sells faster). This isn’t necessarily an immediate investment but it made a massive difference. As we mentioned in our article on selling vintage decor, Etsy became a game changer for us and this lightbox was essential to taking good photos. Worth every penny. Pro tip: buy as big as you can afford. We returned our smaller one because the walls of the box were showing in the photo.
Flippin’ Essential: Lightbox Photo Studio
27. Rotating Display Stand
A motorized turntable lets you show off your piece from all angles—perfect for Etsy listings or social media videos. The turntable lets you create smooth, rotating shots that make your listings pop. Most of the listing platforms like Etsy and Facebook really prioritize video and this was an inexpensive way to take much better videos.
Seriously. A motorized turntable is great to level up your postings. We love it for small vintage decor like this MidCentury Modern Green Bowl.
Flippin’ Essential: Motorized Turntable for Display The one below is our as seen in the photo above.
28. Counterfeit Bill Detector Pen
Selling furniture locally? Don’t get stuck with fake cash from a sketchy buyer. A counterfeit pen is a cheap way to protect your hard-earned money. Sad but necessary. We bought one once we started selling things over $50 in person because we started to receive $50 and $100 bills.
Flippin’ Essential: Dri Mark Counterfeit Detector Pen
29. Shipping Scale
If you’re selling online and shipping
Flippin’ Essential: Digital Shipping Scale
30. Foam Board Backdrop
When photographing your flipped furniture for resale, presentation is key. Foam boards can serve as excellent backdrops for your pieces, providing a clean, neutral background that highlights the furniture itself. It’s crucial to buy a foam board that’s the right size for your pieces; this ensures your backdrop doesn’t overshadow or awkwardly frame your furniture.
Pro Tip: Enhance your foam board by covering it with contact paper. This creates an instant, stylish backdrop that can mimic various textures, from wood grains to marble, giving your photos a polished, professional look. The ability to easily switch out different contact papers based on the aesthetic you’re going for can be a real game-changer in presenting your listing.
These Chinoiserie plates are sitting on a foam board covered in faux wood contact paper like this. The back wall is another foam board and floral contact paper. Just swap it out for a different look! A little furniture flipper hack.
Flippin’ Essential: Elmer’s Foam Board – Lightweight and sturdy, it’s perfect for setting up quick backdrops.
Flippin’ Essential: Here is a contact paper for a great backdrop: Green Leaf Contact Paper Boho Floral Wallpaper Peel and Stick
We love this clean simple look for a backdrop to our vintage decor. The peel and stick makes it easier to add it to a foam board and use when you photograph vintage items.
The Right Tools for Furniture Flipping = More Money & Less Stress!
Flipping furniture should be fun and profitable—not a frustrating struggle. Invest in the right tools now, and you’ll thank yourself later when your flips look better, sell faster, and require way less effort.
Having the right tools makes furniture flipping easier, faster, and more profitable. If you’re just starting, begin with the basics like a drill, sander, and paint supplies, then add more specialized tools as you grow.
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Ready to take your furniture flipping to the next level?
We built our furniture flipping business from nothing. If you’re a furniture flipping beginner read this first.
Want to upgrade your furniture flipping game? Check out this article on how to grow your furniture flipping business from hundreds of dollars to thousands of dollars per month.
