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There’s a short list of a dozen must-have dorm essentials and then there’s a second tier of things your teen could find very helpful at college. It’s tempting to think there are many more essential purchases that your student absolutely needs but we want to help you think through and source a much shorter list.
We’ve looked at sales trends within our Grown and Flown community and curated the following list of dorm “nice to haves.” These are the items and brands that many parents will buy for their off-to-college teens. We hope this will help you make your own list.
BTW, do you have the 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.
Popular Dorm Items Your Teen Might Love
1. SureGuard Twin XL Mattress Encasement (Amazon)
To keep the dorm bed and mattress topper encased, use this waterproof barrier that’s hypoallergenic and blocks bedbugs, too.
2. Levoit Mini Air Purifier (Amazon)
Dorm rooms are dusty and this mini sized air purifier can help. This is a top brand that gets great reviews. It is one I have bought for our home, too.
3. J&J First Aid Kit (Amazon)
Your teen needs a basic first aid kit, at a minimum. This one is filled with 160 pieces they will be happy to have when they need it. For additional things that might be what your individual teen should bring with them, take a look at this very long list of contents for a first aid kit that a pharmacist/mom created for her son.
4. Brita 6-Cup Water Pitcher (Amazon)
Keep water chilled in a mini fridge using a Brita water filter and smaller size pitcher. This is the #1 Bestseller in the Pitcher with Water Filters on Amazon.
5. Wondermax Door Stoppers (6-pack) (Amazon)
An inexpensive door stopper will help with move in AND with your teen getting to know their hall mates. Bring along the extras in case other families could use one.
6. Belkin Surge Protector (Amazon)
There are loads of different surge protectors and this one by industry-leader Belkin, has some important features including 12 AC Outlets, 2 USB-A Ports, and 1 USB-C Port, on a 6ft Cable.
7. ViscoSoft Memory Foam 3″ TXL Mattress Topper (Amazon)
ViscoSoft makes several different mattress toppers and this one is a very good one for dorm rooms.
8. IKEA FRAKTA Bags (4 pack) (Amazon)
Having lightweight, foldable bags with zippers will be crucial for move-in and move-out. The FRAKTA bags by IKEA are legendary in the Grown and Flown community!
9. Bukere Backpack Laundry Bag (Amazon)
What we love about this laundry bag is that it functions as a hamper (stand upright)and the straps make it convertible into a backpack for ease in carrying. Available in nine different colors.
10. Anker Nano Portable iPhone Charger (Amazon)
Having a charged phone is one of the best safety devices your son or daughter can have at college. This compact device from top brand Anker easily slips into a backpack. It has a built-in USB-C connector for iPhone 16/15 Series, Samsung S22/23 Series, iPad Pro/Air, AirPods, and more. Chargers for earlier iPhone models are also available. This is a wildly popular gift for this age group year-round, and we think it is truly a dorm essential.
11. Apple Airtag (4 pack) (Amazon)
Apple AirTags has become incredibly popular and this is one way your teen can keep up with all their gym bag, backpack and move in bags.
12. Glocusent Rechargeable Book Light (Amazon)
This ingenious dimmable book light is rechargeable and has different light settings.
13. Mesh Shower Caddy (Amazon)
Your teen’s bathroom is likely to be down the hall and shared space, making a shower caddy a necessity.
14. Salistar Desk Lamp (Amazon)
This is a well-priced compact desk lamp with a built-in phone charger and attached pencil cup. Dimmable (which is considerate to a roommate who might be trying to sleep) and has a flexible neck.
15. Aiduy Bedside Caddy (Amazon)
This caddy is convenient to store glasses, phone, book, water bottle….this one checks the boxes. Now apply a 10% discount coupon.
16. Apollo 39-Piece Tool Kit (Amazon)
These 39 pieces in a lightweight, durable case will be a practical addition to their dorm supplies. This is something they can keep for years to come.
17. Boncare 10 Second Oral Thermometer (Amazon)
In 10 seconds your student will know if they have a fever and how high it is. This is a bestseller in its category on Amazon.
18. Master Lock Portable Small Lock Box (Amazon)
Here’s a small lightweight safe for valuables in the dorm.
19. Command Hooks and Strips (Amazon)
This package includes 14 Large, white Command Utility Hooks and 16 Large Command Strips; 1 hook holds up to 5 lbs. Will be a life saver for your student.
20. Magnetic Paper Towel Holder (Amazon)
Having a roll of paper towels at the ready will be convenient for cleaning up spills in your teen’s dorm. This magnetic base towel holder can adhere to a mini fridge or microwave. This has been a wildly-popular dorm item this year. Inexpensive and handy!
21. Casegrace Jewelry Box (Amazon)
A small jewelry box that can be kept out of sight in a dresser drawer is something that many college women might find helpful. This one can also be used for travel. Available in many different sizes and colors.
22. Apple AirPod Pro2 (Amazon)
I have a set of these and love the sound quality and how easily I can also block out the sound around me. Your college student will want to have some way to block out a noisy roommate or loud hall mates. These would be a wonderful gift.
23. Beautural Garment Steamer (Amazon)
A garment steamer is a much more practical device to pack for a college dorm than an iron and ironing board. This one is #2 in the category of Travel Carmet Steamers and has 18,000 4.3 star reviews.
24. Beckham Hotel Pillows – Set of 2 (Amazon)
This set of two down-alternative pillows has more than 200,000 reviews on Amazon and has earned the #2 spot in bestselling Bed Pillows. Machine-washable means they are easy to clean, too.
25. Mellanni Twin XL Sheet Set (Amazon)
These sheets are highly-rated, having won the Good Housekeeping Award six times. They have been featured on The Today Show, Oprah Daily, CNN, and more. Use the drop down menu to explore all the many different colors to choose what works best for your college student’s dorm decor.
26. Iris Woozoo Desk Fan (Amazon)
This small desk fan is the right size to help keep your student cool while they study. The Woozoo is super-popular and, if they want a more powerful fun, there are other options in the Woozoo product line. If you are looking for a different color and/or more powerful fan with other options, here’s where you can find all the WOOZOO fans.
27. Utopia Towels 8-Piece Set (Amazon)
These cotton towels, with nearly 70,000 reviews on Amazon, are available in lots of pretty colors for your teen to choose from. The set includes two of each bath and hand towels and four washcloths. They are #2 in the category of Bath Towel Sets on Amazon.
28. “Open When” Envelopes – Set of 16 (Amazon)
This one is for you to fill with notes, gift cards, cash, photos, etc. and leave as a treat for your student to “Open When…” You’ll both be happy you did this.
29. 3″ S Hooks – 10 Pack (Amazon)
We think this is a genius idea – pack these S hooks to use in a closet to hang pants (as shown) or at the end of a dorm bed to hang a wet towel or jacket.
30. Gorilla Grip Nonslip Mattress Gripper (Amazon)
Your teen’s dorm mattress is slippery but this pad will keep the mattress topper from slipping around on top. Note: if the mattress topper has a nonslip bottom, that should do the trick but, if not, consider getting one of these.
31. Folding Laundry Rack (Amazon)
My daughter likes to air dry her running and workout clothes (which is what she lives in) and this lightweight rack can make it easy to do so as it can be folded and stored flat.
32. Bagsmart Toiletries Bag for Men (Amazon)
Your son might prefer to keep his toiletries in this type of shaving kit that will help him keep organized on trips to the communal bathroom. It is water resistant and has a dual zipper design making it easier to open the entire top versus a more narrow, single zipper opener. This would be convenient for him to use when he travels, too.
Why You Should Trust Us
We are three moms who have raised 8 young adults and have been working on products lists for over 12 years now, making us experts. When selecting products we survey the Grown and Flown Parents Facebook group of nearly 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.
When your teen turns 18, there are some legal forms you will want to have in place. Don’t forget to add these legal forms to your list of what should be done before you head out for campus. Click here to learn more or on this link to go directly to the forms you need.
Do you have the Grown and Flown Off to College Checklist? It is all the things you need to do (legal, health and medical, financial) before your teen leaves for college. Download it (free) here https://grownandflown.com/off-to-college-checklist/
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