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The short answer
- Yes, in most apartments you can add a Ring doorbell without drilling, as long as your lease allows it and you don't damage the door.
- The Ring Peephole Cam swaps into your existing peephole and comes out cleanly at move-out.
- A Ring Battery Doorbell can go on a smooth door frame with the Ring No-Drill Mount, which uses adhesive instead of screws.
- Ask your landlord in writing first, and aim the camera so it doesn't record your neighbors' doors.
Our picks
Ring Peephole Cam
A battery camera that replaces your door's peephole, so you get a video doorbell, motion alerts and a door-knock sensor with no drilling.
Good
- No drilling and no wiring
- Looks like a normal peephole from the hallway
- Easy to move to your next apartment
Watch for
- Only fits certain door thicknesses and peephole sizes
- Battery needs regular recharging
Ring Battery Doorbell
A wire-free Ring doorbell with a rechargeable battery that pairs with the Ring No-Drill Mount for renters who can't use screws.
Good
- No doorbell wiring needed
- Works with the Ring No-Drill Mount
- Works with Alexa and Ring Alarm
Watch for
- Battery needs recharging
- Saving recordings needs a Ring Home subscription
Ring No-Drill Mount
Ring's adhesive mount for its battery doorbells, made for doors and frames where you aren't allowed to drill.
Good
- No screws in the door or frame
- Made by Ring for its battery doorbells
- Spare adhesive included
Watch for
- Only fits specific Ring battery doorbells
- Not for rough or textured surfaces
| Product | Best for | How it installs |
|---|---|---|
| Ring Peephole Cam | Best for apartment doors | Unscrews your existing peephole; keep the original to reinstall at move-out. |
| Ring Battery Doorbell | Best if you have no peephole | Pair it with the Ring No-Drill Mount on a smooth door frame. |
| Ring No-Drill Mount | Best renter accessory | Works best on smooth surfaces; avoid brick, shingles and rough stucco. |
Can you put a Ring doorbell on an apartment? Yes: most renters can add a Ring doorbell without drilling, using either the Ring Peephole Cam or a Ring Battery Doorbell on the Ring No-Drill Mount, as long as the lease allows it. The catch is rarely the hardware. It’s the lease, the door and your neighbors.
We get this question more than almost any other from renters. In this guide I’ll walk you through what to check first, the three no-drill setups we recommend, and how to keep the camera friendly to your building. If you want a wider look at door cameras, our peephole camera guide compares more options.
Can you put a Ring doorbell on an apartment?
You can, and the easiest route is a Ring doorbell that never touches your door’s wiring or needs a drill. Traditional doorbells are hardwired, and apartment doors rarely have doorbell wiring, so renters need a battery model.
That leaves two practical paths:
- Replace the peephole with the Ring Peephole Cam.
- Stick a battery doorbell to a smooth door frame with the Ring No-Drill Mount.
Both come off at move-out, which is what protects your security deposit.
Check your lease and ask your landlord
Before you buy anything, read your lease for rules about door alterations and ask your landlord in writing. Most refusals we hear about are about drilling or hallway recording, and a no-drill plan answers the first worry.
Here’s the short message I’d send a landlord:
- Say which device you want (for example, a Ring Peephole Cam).
- Explain that it needs no drilling and that you’ll reinstall the original peephole when you leave.
- Confirm the camera will point at your own door, not your neighbors’.
- Ask for a reply by email so you have a record.
Some buildings ban anything on the door’s exterior face. If yours does, an indoor camera facing your entry is the fallback; our Blink vs Ring subscription comparison covers the best indoor options.
Three no-drill ways to add a Ring doorbell
The Ring Peephole Cam is the best fit for most apartment doors, and the Ring Battery Doorbell with the No-Drill Mount covers doors without a peephole. Here’s how the options compare:
| Setup | Drilling | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ring Peephole Cam | None | Doors with a standard peephole | Door thickness and peephole size limits |
| Ring Battery Doorbell + No-Drill Mount | None | Smooth door frames without a peephole | Not for brick, shingles or rough stucco |
| Indoor camera facing the door | None | Buildings that ban exterior devices | No doorbell button for visitors |
Ring Peephole Cam: best for apartment doors
The Ring Peephole Cam is the Ring doorbell we suggest to most renters first. It unscrews your existing peephole and fits through the same hole, so the door is untouched. From the hallway it looks like an ordinary peephole with a doorbell button, and inside you still get a small viewer. Before ordering, measure your door thickness and peephole diameter against Ring’s listed range.
Ring Battery Doorbell: best if you have no peephole
The Ring Battery Doorbell runs on a rechargeable battery, so it doesn’t need doorbell wiring. It works with Alexa and Ring Alarm, and it’s on Ring’s compatibility list for the No-Drill Mount. Like every Ring camera, saving clips requires a Ring Home subscription.
Ring No-Drill Mount: best renter accessory
The Ring No-Drill Mount is Ring’s own adhesive bracket for its battery doorbells. Ring says it works best on smooth, even surfaces and advises against brick, shingles and rough stucco. We’d test the spot with a clean, dry cloth first and let the adhesive cure before mounting the doorbell.
Do you need a subscription?
A Ring doorbell works without a subscription for live view and motion alerts, but you need Ring Home to save recordings. For many renters, alerts on your phone are enough to know when a package arrives. If you want to review footage after a missed delivery, budget for the plan.
Hallway privacy and neighbors
Point your Ring doorbell at your own doorway and use motion settings so it doesn’t record neighbors’ doors all day. Shared hallways are the main reason buildings push back on doorbell cameras.
Our habits for a neighbor-friendly setup:
- Use privacy zones or motion zones to block neighbors’ doors.
- Lower motion sensitivity so it triggers on people at your door, not passersby.
- Tell your neighbors, especially across the hall, what the camera covers.
- Check your local rules on audio recording, which can be stricter than video.
Taking it with you when you move
Ring doorbells are made to move: reinstall the original peephole or peel off the mount, then set the device up again in the Ring app. We keep the original peephole in a labeled bag in a kitchen drawer so it’s easy to find on move-out day.
For the adhesive mount, peel slowly and use a little heat from a hair dryer if the tape resists. Wipe away residue with rubbing alcohol on a soft cloth. Our smart home for renters guide has a full move-out checklist, and our smart lock guide covers no-drill locks that pair well with a Ring doorbell.
Our verdict
Yes, you can put a Ring doorbell on an apartment: get permission, choose the Ring Peephole Cam if your door has a peephole, and use the Ring Battery Doorbell with the No-Drill Mount if it doesn’t. Both setups leave the door as you found it, which is exactly what a renter needs.
Questions renters ask
Can you put a Ring doorbell on an apartment door?
Yes. The Ring Peephole Cam replaces your door's peephole with no drilling, and a Ring Battery Doorbell can be attached with the Ring No-Drill Mount. Check your lease and ask your landlord first.
Do I need my landlord's permission for a Ring doorbell?
Usually it's wise to ask. Many leases restrict changes to the door, and a written yes protects your security deposit. A no-drill option makes the request easier to approve.
Does the Ring Peephole Cam need drilling?
No. It replaces the existing peephole. It only fits doors and peepholes within Ring's size range, so check the requirements before buying.
Do I need a subscription for a Ring doorbell?
Live view and motion alerts work without one. To save and review recordings you need a Ring Home subscription.
Can I take my Ring doorbell when I move out?
Yes. Reinstall your original peephole or peel off the No-Drill Mount, then set the doorbell up at your new place in the Ring app.
Why you can trust this guide
- Products are checked against manufacturer specifications, installation manuals and long-term owner reports.
- Each pick is scored on our renter criteria: install footprint, reversibility, portability, subscription costs and ecosystem support.
- We never accept payment for placement. Affiliate commissions do not affect rankings.
Last reviewed . Read our research process and editorial policy, or report an error.
Sources
RenterSmartHome Editorial Team
Research & editorial
We research smart home gear specifically for apartments and rentals: how it installs, whether it is reversible, what it needs from your landlord, and whether it moves with you. Every guide follows our published research process and editorial policy.
