Cheap BDSM Equipment – Using Hardware, Dollar, and Thrift Stores

Not everyone has hundreds or thousands of dollars to shell out on custom paddles, Saint Andrew’s crosses, or violet wands.

And, while there are plenty of “beginner BDSM sets” out there, most of them run way over forty dollars. 

The fantastic news for all your new, veteran, or curious kinds out there…

All you need is a trip to the hardware or dollar store and a little creativity. 

AT THE HARDWARE STORE


If you’re lucky, you can also find some of these at a dollar store…

Adjustable C clamps – These can hook over your door frame if you want to tie someone while they stand up. Just make sure you know how and where to attach them. You’ll want about two of them and they run about $6 to $10.

Carabiner/D-Clips – Good for connecting rope or chains together and having a fast way out of them. They can be less than a buck each.

Fishing Weights – Great for nipple weights. There are several styles, but the ball ones are sometimes called eggs, beans, or ball sinkers. They either come in bags or box collections. $10 or less.

Paint Stirrers – Good for spanking or swatting the hands of your naughty little student. Grab one or two for free if you can.

Sandpaper – If you can’t find anything cheap at the hardware store, head for the dollar store. They might have some. Good for sensory play. $5 give or take.

Double-Ended Snap Hook – Another good one for connecting rope or chains. You can find nice brass ones for ten dollars, but I would go for the simple metal ones around $1.25.

Wooden Dowels – They come in a variety of widths and can be great for spanking. The thicker ones (with a little ingenuity) can be fashioned into a spreader bar to keep the legs apart. You can get a pack of TEN for around $9.

Medical Scissors – A MUST have for any BDSM kit. Don’t bother with normal scissors. The medical ones can cut your partner out of binding or dangerous situations faster. They run from $3 to $5.

AT THE DOLLAR STORE


You can probably fashion 99% of your BDSM kit from here…

Baby oil – Get your sub to give you a nice massage. Do not use for internal lube!

Baby pacifier – Humiliation or for those who are into age play.

Bottlebrush – Run along the skin lightly for some fun sensory play … or harder for more intense sensations. More sensory items include makeup brushes, paintbrushes, scotch pads, metal scouring pads, ice cube trays (for making ice), or loofah sponges.

Candleholders – Set some mood lighting. The cheapest will be tealight holders.

Chopsticks or BBQ skewers – Set one on either side of the nipple and hold in place with rubber bands for a make-shift nipple clamp. Watch out for splinters.

Clothespins – Also good for nipple clamps. Make sure you test the pressure first. Some are too tight and can cause damage.

Dog leash and collar – Good for your slaves or pet play.

Spanking Things – You don’t need an expensive flogger. Try plastic cutting boards, wooden spoons, spatulas, beach sandals, frosting knives, hairbrushes, rulers, yardsticks, ping pong paddles, and fly swatters.

Dog or cat toys – More products for pet play.

Feather duster – Tickling can be just as torturous … or make them clean the house because they were bad. More options include paintbrushes and makeup brushes.

Pickle pincher – Sounds terrifying, doesn’t it? They’re actually not that bad. Useful to pinching in random places and keeping your sub on their toes.

Rubber bands – Yes to nipple clamps but they are also useful for snapping the skin, and (if you’re REALLY careful) C&B torture.

Ribbons – Not to tie someone up with (unless you keep the knots light and it’s more for aesthetic or photography purposes). Good for making pretty collars. Why not attach a bell? It’s super cute!

Medical Gloves – You need these no matter what you’re into –  for applying lube etc. and you want to keep your hands clean without running to the bathroom. A must for any anal play.

Padlocks – Holding chains together or for locking them in their room because they were very naughty.

Wiffle Balls – Don’t have money for a ball gag? Not to worry. Just get your hands on one of these, string a length of rope (or whatever) through the holes and voila!

Zip Ties – I’m not a fan of zip ties to bind someone, but they are super useful in general.

Wet Wipes and Rubbing Alcohol – You’ll need to clean up things and keep things sterilized.

Velcro – If you have a DIY streak this is an easy way to make wrist and ankle cuffs. If they are lined with something soft, they will be quite comfortable to wear, plus be easy to take off in case of emergencies.

AT THE SECOND-HAND STORE


You’ll need to be more patient and keep going back if they don’t have what you’re looking for…

Scarves – Makeshift blindfolds. Tip: keep the knot to the side so they are more comfortable. Around $1 – $2.

Candlesticks – You can hunt down the bigger, cooler ones if the dollar store tea lights aren’t your taste. There are so many that they practically give them away. And if you are art savvy (or can extrapolate the DIY stuff on Pinterest) you can dress them up to suit your dungeon style. If all else fails, spray paint. Great for mood lighting. $1 to $3.

Clothing – Either for making your own floggers or cheap role play outfits that can be destroyed. The price is obviously going to vary.

Belts – Different materials, textures, and thicknesses. There’s no reason to just get one. Go for a selection. Around $1 – $2.

Fake fur – It’s great for sensory play, or you can make a light flogger from the material. No idea how much you would have to shell out, but the fake stuff will definitely be a steal.

A NOTE ON TYING THEM UP


There are multitudes of material choices available – each with their own pros and cons.

  • Hardware stores have a wide selection of ropes, chains etc. but you’re going to pay by the foot or meter.
  • Dollar stores will be the most affordable but you won’t have as much of a choice.
  • Neckties or scarves from the dollar store will save you a bundle, but they probably won’t come in sexy red or black … more likely the paisley print your grandma favors.

REMEMBER: Rougher ropes hold their knots better but are harder on the skin. Soft materials like neckties, scarves, and pantyhose will be more forgiving but riskier for knots.

If you want to know more about rope, this article might help:

Bondage Rope 101 – 12 Useful Tips and Extensive Rope Rundown

A NOTE ON SAFETY


  • Always try something on your own body before trying it on others
  • Learn how to spank safely
  • Educate yourself on bondage safety
  • Study basic knots (lots of stuff online)
  • Have medical scissors ready just in case
  • Even if your gear is cheap, keep things clean
  • Include aftercare in all your sessions

And this is just a BASIC list. There’s an entire world out there with options. Let your mind and kink go free and see what you can come up with.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

ADDITION: One lovely reader suggested PET STORES as another source for kink equipment.  Watch for some great sales so you can stay within your budget (these places aren’t always guaranteed to be cheap). Also, a “super” store will be better than expensive pet boutiques. 

Also, if you want more interesting and informative articles, check these out:

Have you found any other ways to keep BDSM within a budget? Share in the comments!

Lovense blog has one, passionate drive - to bring everyone valuable content revolving around sex toys, sex education, safe kink practices, and even a bit of entertainment just to make you smile.

It's this drive that proudly earned us the title "Best Sex Blog in the World" in 2020. But we haven't stopped there. We're always on the hunt for new material and ways to help you learn, grow, and stay safe in the world of sex.

So jump in and start reading. There's tons to discover!

For questions and issues regarding copyright, please contact us by email here.

Join newsletter

Stay up to date on sexy articles & hot deals!

Leave a Comment

20 comments

boca restaurant 09/23/2021 - 3:31 pm

Hi there just wanted to give you a quick heads
up. The text in your post seem to be running off the screen in Firefox.

I’m not sure if this is a formatting issue or something to do with internet browser compatibility but I thought I’d post to let you know.
The design and style look great though! Hope you get the
issue solved soon. Thanks

Reply
Robyn 09/28/2021 - 2:37 pm

Thanks! We recently changed over to a new format, so there might be bugs at the start. Ill check asap!

Reply
MRSgreg 12/21/2020 - 12:00 am

How do you make or find bondage mittens that can pass in public

Reply
Dr Boobenstine 11/20/2020 - 12:00 am

DO NOT use lead fishing weights unless you have a heavy metal poisoning kink. You could try coating them with something. Silicon rubber to be safe, or electrical tape. Even few heavy coats of enamel paint in a pinch.

Reply
Snowman 09/18/2020 - 12:00 am

pool noodles are fun to initiate spanking with. Swing as hard as you can, theres not enough mass to make the impact painful, but now youre into it!

Reply
Mr. C. 07/22/2020 - 12:00 am

Garage, yard and church sales are also a great place to save money.

Reply
Potter 05/15/2020 - 12:00 am

Bamboo skewers bundled and held with rubber bands make very nice thwacker with with a pleasing sound.

Reply
Eager2Please Sub 04/04/2020 - 12:00 am

Anyone have any ideas on how to fix cuffs if the hooks broke during play?
Also any diy tips for ways to restrain against a bedroom door?

Reply
SlutWannabe (male, if it matters) 01/02/2020 - 12:00 am

At the hardware store, pick up some PVC pipe and bungee cord. Cut an appropriate length piece and thread the bungee cord through. Makes a great spreader bar!

Reply
O 08/10/2019 - 12:00 am

Equestrian store for short and long handle riding crops.

Reply
Chuck 07/23/2019 - 12:00 am

Fabric stores for cords (tie backs for curtains in a multitude of colors and material), inexpensive candles and ribbon.

Reply
GunSlinger6 05/04/2019 - 12:00 am

Military surplus stores have some fun stuff. I have also found scarves really cheap at goodwill.

Reply
John Ford 06/04/2020 - 12:00 am

Im really turned by guys in military uniforms. My brother was a cadet. He came home and caught me jerking ofg wearing his pants and boots. He freaked out and made me let him spank me with his webbed military belt.He took off his workout shorts and made me lick his underwear. He ended up fucking me

Reply
Kevin 04/21/2019 - 12:00 am

Farm stores are a good place to pick up things cheaper as well. You can find nice spanky things like crops cheaper than you would through BDSM sites.

Reply
sorin 04/15/2019 - 12:00 am

Ok nice.for love bdsm

Reply
Jake 02/08/2019 - 12:00 am

Candles from the dollar store can be good mood lighting but ARE NOT SAFE FOR WAX PLAY

Stay safe!

Reply
C 03/26/2019 - 12:00 am

Cheap candles are actually good to use. The expensive ones have burned folks, heard from groups that Im in. Look it up.

Reply
T Dougle 04/17/2020 - 12:00 am

If you read the full article it does say to try all things on your own skin first, and to be careful!
Anyone who is playing with HOT wax hopefully knows there is a risk of being BURNED hense the HOT word in HOT wax.
Different waxes melt at different temps. You have to find whats right for yo

Reply
Jason 02/24/2018 - 12:00 am

Nice list, but I wish you would have put Amazon referral links to all of the toys and items you listed so you can be compensated when I buy some of this for the wife

Reply
robyn256 07/09/2018 - 12:00 am

Thanks, Jason. No worries about the links. Hope the wife liked her toys!

Reply