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The good news is your teen is GOING to college. The bad news is your teen is LEAVING for college. To help them get ready for dorm life, there may be a long list of things they WANT to buy, but here is the short list of what every college student needs to bring with them — the absolute dorm essentials.
To streamline your shopping, we’ve cut straight to the basics and listed only the 12 must-haves they’ll need on day one. In a few instances, we added extras for you to consider while shopping but have deliberately kept this college packing list short. Consider this a solid starting point and layer on the items your college student knows they will use, not the myriad things retailers and schools identify as “essentials.”
Four MUST-DO things before you shop
First, we recommend that you read Dorm Room Shopping: 50 Questions to Answer First which will guide you through all the Q&As you want to discuss with your teen BEFORE you shop.
Second, gather as much insight as possible from their college’s website, typically under “Residence Life.” Find out what things are provided for freshmen (e.g., desk lamp, trash can) and what might be prohibited (e.g., extension cord, coffee maker.) Look for the floor plan of the actual dorm your teen is assigned to and make note of any dimensions provided. Pay special attention if the bed is lofted and, if so, how much space there is under the bed that can be used for storage.
Third, your teen will want to coordinate with their roommate if they’re planning compatible decor and/or want to share a mini-fridge or microwave as most dorms are too small to accommodate duplicate appliances. An area rug is also popular, but no need to get more than one.
Finally, do you have the (free) Grown and Flown Off-to-College Checklist? It Includes important financial, health and wellness, and legal things to check off your list before your teen leaves home. Download it here.
12 dorm essentials to put on your list
1. Twin XL Sheets: Mellanni TXL Sheet Set (Amazon)
There’s no place other than a college dorm where your teen will need Twin XL sheets, which means you will need to get a new set or, at least, a fitted sheet in that size. These highly-rated sheets are stain, shrink, fade, wrinkle, and pill-resistant and can withstand the dorm washer and dryers. Good Housekeeping gives these sheets top marks.
Expert Tip: While shopping for sheets, your teen might also want to get a comforter, duvet, or blanket if they don’t already have something to bring from home. Twin XL size will fit the best, but consider choosing a regular or Queen size blanket/duvet to fit larger beds they may be using once they move out of the college dorms.
2. Utopia Bath Towel 8-Piece Set (Amazon)
Your teen can bring towels from home or, if you want them to start their dorm life with a new set, these Utopia towels are well-priced for an 8-piece set with two of each bath and hand towels and four washcloths. They have nearly 70,000 4.4 reviews on Amazon and Good Housekeeping ranked them number 5 on their top 8 towels and were noted as being the best set. Available in 20 pretty colors.
3. ViscoSoft Select High-Density Mattress Topper (Amazon)
Help your student sleep like they’ve never left home by sending them to campus with a ViscoSoft Select High-Density Twin XL mattress topper. They are super comfortable, easy to clean, durable, and provide an ick-safe barrier between your teen and the old dorm mattress that’s typically provided. You can choose between 3″ or 4″ of gel-infused memory foam. The covers are washable and come with adjustable straps and slip-resistant mesh for a snug fit.
The quality construction and innovative design of this mattress topper helped Viscosoft become recognized as a highly-rated mattress topper brand by Consumer Reports and the New York Times Wirecutter product reviewers, too.
4. Beckham Hotel Collection Bed Pillow (Set of 2) (Amazon)
This is another item that your teen can bring from home. However, if buying a new one, consider this highly-rated down alternative pillow which is number one in the bed pillow category on Amazon and the best value pick on Good Housekeeping. They are machine-washable which is a big plus when living in dusty dorm rooms.
Expert Tip: Two pillows can make the bed much more comfortable as most dorm beds do not have headboards to lean on. Another excellent option for back support is this one by ComfortSpa at Amazon.
5. Azhido Backpack Laundry Bag (Amazon)
Your teen will (eventually) wash their clothes and need a laundry basket or hamper to help transport a mountain of dirty clothes to the laundry room.
This backpack laundry bag is a great dorm essential that will work for most students. It has padded straps and is adjustable to accommodate regular and extra bulky loads. Available in loads of colors, it is made from durable Oxford cloth and can also be used as a travel or storage bag.
6. EUDELE Shower Caddy (Amazon)
Students who make the trek down the hall with shampoo, conditioner, toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, soap dish, soap, deodorant, and a towel need to bring a shower caddy to college. For students who share a bathroom with suite-mates, this item can be left off the list if they can leave their toiletries in the bathroom.
Expert Tip: Women students, in particular, might also want a bathrobe or towel wrap to wear for the walk to the communal shower rather than trying to keep a towel wrapped around them as they carry a shower caddy filled with all of the above. A bath wrap or terrycloth robe will help with drying off as they walk back to their room.
7. Adidas Unisex Slides (Amazon)
Whether walking down the hall to the bathroom or using the one they share with suitemates, shower shoes are a must-have dorm essential. Dorm and bathroom floors are gross and these Adidas unisex slides are lightweight, quick-drying and have plus cushioning. These are the #1 bestseller on Amazon in the category of “Men’s Athletic & Outdoor Sandals & Slides.” Available in many colors.
8. IRIS Underbed Storage Bins (Amazon)
Dorm rooms only have so much built-in storage. That’s why under-bed storage containers are necessary to store bedding, extra socks and underwear, and toiletries. Before buying, find out as much as you can about the room to maximize this precious space. Iris makes lots of different shapes and sizes of bins so try to find out how high the bed is lofted before you make your purchase.
9. Anker Power Strip Surge Protector (Amazon)
Surge protectors are preferable to extension cords, which many schools ban. This one has 6 AC, 2 USB A & 2 USB C Ports and a 5ft power cord. There is an 18-month warranty, $200,000 connected equipment guarantee for the product’s full service life.
10. Owala Water Bottle – 24 ounce (Amazon)
We love these Owala bottles are our favorites, and they’re available in numerous sizes and designs, all of which are cheerful!
11. Johnson and Johnson First Aid Kit – 160 pieces (Amazon)
If you want a ready-made first aid kit, this one is very complete. With 160 pieces, it includes standard first aid supplies: Neosporin, Benadryl Itch-Stopping topical cream, Tylenol Extra Strength acetaminophen pain reliever caplets, and a Bengay Non-Medicated Instant Cold Pack.
Expert Tip: We suggest that parents also put together a medicine/first aid kit and fill it with what they know their teens are used to taking at home when they have colds or sore throats. Students seem to get sick at 2 a.m. and having a thermometer, the cold remedies they are used to, along with basic first aid supplies is essential. It is also vital to ensure your student can renew any prescription medication they are currently taking.
BTW, here is a list for preparing an ULTIMATE first aid kit suggested by a pharmacist/college mom.
12. IKEA Frakta Bag – Pack of 4 (Amazon)
Packing up for college and moving into the dorm can be made much easier with a light-weight, durable bag like this IKEA big blue bag. Bonus is that it has straps so it can be worn as a backpack and it’s foldable and easily stashed in your student’s room to be used for moving out.
Other dorm essential to consider
Backpack
Your student can bring their backpack from home, but getting a new one that does not have years of crumbs and grime from high school is a little luxury that they will appreciate. Here are our picks for a new backpack.
School Supplies
Students may use different methods for reading, taking notes, and completing school assignments at college than they did in high school. Don’t buy a semester’s supply of bulky printer paper, sticky notes, notebooks, binders, pens, pencils, index cards, highlighters, scissors, folders, etc., if your student plans to use more digital resources. Additionally, dorms often have printing facilities, so students don’t need their printers and paper.
Dorm Cooking
If your student can use a microwave or coffee maker in their dorm, they might need a few things like a mug, bowl, utensils, dish soap, and paper towels. But those can all be purchased once they know what they’re allowed to use and where they can be stored.
How to Save Money On Dorm Essentials
Many retailers have free shipping and other special savings for college students, so read the fine print and take advantage of every offer. Your student may have to provide their .edu email address to be eligible, which seems like a fair ask to unlock the savings.
Why You Can Trust Us
We are three moms who have raised 8 young adults and have been working on products lists for over 14 years now, making us experts. When selecting products we survey the Grown and Flown Parents Facebook group of over 300,000 parents of teens, tweens and young adults. We do opinion polls, surveys and ask open ended questions. We search for products that combine reasonable price with high quality and are recommended by our large following.
Prices accurate as of time of publication.
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