Reliable College Packing List: What to Bring to Kickstart Your Dorm Life

Not sure which items count as essentials for dorm life? Check out our packing list!

If you’re worried you’ll forget to pack something essential for dorm life or just don’t want to spend too much time putting together your own college moving checklist, we have you covered.

As you’re about to leave the nest and start living on your own for the first time ever, a lot of thoughts might be racing through your mind. Between making travel arrangements, picturing all the cool people you’ll meet, and getting on with the final preparations for leaving, packing might not be at the forefront of your mind, understandably so.

You might think that packing the same luggage as you would for a long trip would do the trick. Yet, living in dorm rooms isn’t exactly the same as staying at your relatives’ place over the holidays. For one, certain items are straight-out prohibited. Plus, getting something like a mini-fridge might never cross your mind until you see one in another dorm room (and instantly start envying its occupants).

Don’t know where to start when it comes to college packing? We’ve got you covered. Keep scrolling to discover our ultimate dorm packing list that covers everything from absolute dorm essentials and personal items to kitchen supplies and important documents.

Dorm Room Essentials to Pack

Imagine you enter a bare-bones dorm room on your first day on campus. What will you need right away? Every answer to this question is what we’ll call the dorm room essentials. Those are the items you won’t be able to make do without from the very start.

Here are the most essential of essentials you need to pack:

• Twin bedspreads (2 sets)
• Comforter/duvet (machine-washable)
• Pillows and pillowcases (2 sets)
• Twin bed mattress protector (2 sets)
• Hangers for clothes
• Over-the-door organizer
• Desk lamp
• On-the-floor or portable fan
• Mini vacuum or dustpan

Academic Supplies to Prepare in Advance

You don’t want to make it to your first class and suddenly realize you don’t have a highlighter or marker for taking notes. That said, before you check out our list below, remember that the exact academic supplies will depend on your courses and major. Here are the supplies we at PaperWriter, a student-favorite college paper writing service, think most students need:

• Backpack and/or tote bag (suitable for a laptop and multiple textbooks/notebooks)
• Notebooks
• Binders and/or folders
• Pens, pencils, markers, and highlighters for taking notes
• Sticky notes
• Scientific or graphing calculator
• Stapler and/or paper clips
• Hole punch
• Textbooks (consider digital versions, rentals, and second-hand purchases)
• Weekly planner or agenda

Clothes & Personal Items to Take

Unless you already live a somewhat ascetic lifestyle, you’ll probably have to go through your whole wardrobe and choose only your favorite items. That’s because your wardrobe space will be a lot more limited in a dorm room. The same goes for your personal possessions: go through them carefully to choose only the absolute must-have items.

Here’s what you should consider taking:

• Everyday clothes (jeans, shorts, T-shirts, shirts, etc.) to last you at least two weeks
• At least one formal outfit
• Workout/athletic clothes and footwear
• Pajamas (at least two sets)
• Bathrobe
• Enough socks and underwear to last you two weeks without doing the laundry
• Warm clothes: sweatshirts, hoodies, sweaters
• Shoes: at least one pair for fall/spring, summer, and winter each
• Waterproof footwear
• Demi-season and winter coats/jackets
• Umbrella
• Swimsuit
• At least one business casual outfit
• Jewelry and accessories (earrings, necklaces, bracelets, watches)
• Sunglasses
• Belts
• Summer hat or baseball cap
• Scarf, gloves, and hat for winter and spring/fall

Storage & Laundry Items to Prepare

Laundry and storage are probably not on your mind at all when you’re packing. But you’ll have to face two major changes quite fast once you move to a dorm room. One, you’ll have to do your laundry yourself using shared facilities. Two, your room most likely won’t be as spacious as your current room. So, you’ll have to get creative with storage.

Here are the must-have storage and laundry items for your dorm stay:

• Over-the-door hooks for clothes
• Over-the-door or closet shoe organizers
• Closet organizers for socks and underwear
• Under-the-bed storage bins
• Stackable drawers or bins
• Lint brush
• Iron or steamer
• Foldable ironing board
• Hangers
• Laundry hamper or bag
• Laundry detergent (pods or liquid)
• Bleach
• Stain remover

Toiletries & Personal Care Items to Bring

You’ll have to share a bathroom with multiple students when you live in a dorm — or, at the very least, with your roommate. So, be prepared to haul your toiletries to and from the bathroom every time you need a shower. That said, check in with your college to know exactly what is provided by the dorm and what you’ll need to chip in for yourself.

Here’s what you should consider bringing with you:

• At least two sets of towels and washcloths
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Razor and shaving cream
• Shampoo and conditioner
• Dental floss
• Hairbrush or comb
• Soap or body wash
• Skincare and makeup products you use in daily life
• Deodorant
• Nail clippers and tweezers
• Shower caddy
• Shower shoes or flip-flops
• Toiletry bag
• First-aid kit (with band-aids, painkillers, etc.)
• Prescription medications
• Feminine hygiene products

Tech and Gadgets You Won’t Make It Without

Who can go through their day without their phone charger or laptop, right? As obvious as this may seem, you’d be surprised how often we at PaperWriter hear about someone heading to college without something as essential as headphones or a laptop charger. Here are all the gadgets you might need while you’re chilling in your dorm room or sitting through classes:

• Laptop and/or tablet
• Chargers for all of your tech
• USB flash drive
• External hard drive (if used)
• Printer, ink, and paper for it (if not provided on campus)
• Extension cord (with or without surge protection)
• Headphones (ideally with good noise cancellation)
• Portable Bluetooth speaker

Kitchen Supplies to Help You Eat Healthy

Different dorms come with different kitchen setups, and some don’t have any shared cooking facilities at all. So, depending on your dorm, you might have access to a proper stove and oven or end up making do with only a microwave. Certain dorms leave no other choice besides going to the cafeteria, even.

N.B. Most dorms also restrict the use of kitchen appliances in rooms for fire safety reasons. So, check your dorm’s rules before taking those.

Once you check out your dorm’s restrictions and available kitchen facilities, look through our dorm room essentials list for cooking:

• Coffee maker
• Mini fridge
• Microwave
• Toaster oven
• Reusable water bottle
• Travel mug or thermos for coffee/tea
• At least one set of dishware: bowl, plate, cup (microwave-safe)
• At least one set of utensils: fork, spoon, teaspoon, knife
• Reusable containers for food storage or homemade lunches
• Can/bottle opener
• Dish soap and sponge
• Paper towels or napkins
• Snacks and non-perishable food (e.g., instant noodles) for the first week or two

Don't forget to clear all of your appliances with the administration since some places can prohibit the use of some appliances.

Documents You Don’t Want to Forget Back Home

As you get focused on how you’ll do your laundry or prepare your meals, overlooking packing some crucial documents is easier than you might think. Making a U-turn halfway to the airport or the campus itself could make for a good story down the line, but it’ll be a stressful experience while you’re living it.

Tip: Get a good binder for the documents that will remain in your dorm room to keep them organized!

Here are the documents you’ll probably need from day one:

• Student ID (if you already received it by mail)
• Driver’s license and/or state ID
• Health insurance card
• Social Security card
• Credit or debit cards and checks in your name
• Copy of your birth certificate and/or passport
• Medical and vaccination records
• Financial aid documents 
• Car registration and insurance

Miscellaneous Items to Consider Taking

Of course, you don’t want to make it to your dorm without essentials, but they’re not exactly what makes a room cozy. So, think about all the things that make your current room comfortable and, well, yours. Those can include decorations, rugs, and so on.

On top of that, you might not need some items like a sewing kit or a flashlight immediately, but they are always good to have in case of an emergency. You never know when you might need those, but you’ll be glad you’ve packed them when you do.

Here’s your miscellaneous packing checklist:

• Decorations (posters, photos, memorabilia)
• Command strips or putty to put them up (double-check dorm rules)
• Whiteboard or calendar
• Playing cards and other games
• Seasonal items (e.g., Halloween costume, Christmas door wreath)
• Personal journal or notebook
• Books or Kindle for leisure reading
• Bike with a helmet and sturdy lock (if used)
• Rugs and doormats
• Suitcase
• Flashlight
• Sewing kit
• Toolkit for quick repairs

In Closing

Here it is, our college essentials list. Hopefully, it’ll help you stay on track while you’re preparing for your dorm life. But before you start packing, check your dorm’s rules, restrictions, and facilities to know what you can’t or simply don’t have to bring with you.

On top of that, check in with your future roommate regarding any dorm room essentials you might both end up using, such as a mini-fridge or a surge protector. You might be able to pull your resources together if your college moving list is similar to theirs. That’ll save you from making unnecessary purchases or taking up too much space in the dorm room.

Finally, look at your packing list and ask yourself: Does it really make sense to bring it with you, or is it better to purchase this item once you arrive on campus? Whether you take a plane or go by car, your luggage space is limited. Some items, like hangers or shoe organizers, can be easily found in second-hand stores or ordered online.

Not ready to pack your dorm room essentials just yet? Save the PaperWriter packing list in bookmarks for later! And, of course, make sure you pack your possessions as efficiently as possible. For example, you can roll your clothes instead of folding them. Good luck packing!