The Ultimate College Packing Checklist: Essentials for Dorm Life & School Success

Check out our college moving checklist with all the essentials needed for dorm life and academic success. Make your college move smooth and stress-free!

If you’re reading this article, congratulations! You’re about to embark on one of the most thrilling periods of your life. That may seem like a cliche, but ask any graduate, and they’re likely to look back nostalgically on their college experience, whether they earned their degree several years or several decades ago. 

However, heading to college is also a time of massive change and uncertainty. There are travel arrangements to make, classes to choose, scholarships to apply for, textbooks to buy, and dorm rooms to make home. You may be wondering about your major and the clubs you’ll join. Will your roommate become a lifelong best friend or will you go your separate ways after freshman year?

When you’re already wrestling with those questions, the college packing process can feel especially overwhelming. To simplify this exciting yet daunting task, we’ve compiled a comprehensive dorm packing list of freshman-year essentials, so you can spend less time worrying about whether you’ve forgotten anything and instead focus on making the most of your first semester. 

Make moving in delightful with HeySunday! Download the checklist here.

Dorm Room Essentials

Moving away from home for the first time requires planning and organization, but you’ve already done the hard work of getting accepted. Now it’s time to focus on what to pack to transform your dorm room into the ideal space for living, studying, and socializing. To get started, here are some key dorm room essentials you won’t want to be without.

• Sheets, pillows, pillowcases, comforter/duvet/bedspread, blankets
• Mattress cover and mattress pad (check the size of the provided mattress)
• Over-door organizers for clothes and shoes
• Clothes hangers
• Under-bed storage bins 
• Desk or standing lamp
• Fan
• Dry-erase board or bulletin board
• Furniture such as a nightstand or bookshelf (if not provided)

Academic Supplies

Think about what items you’ll need for your classes. Will you be taking most of your class notes on a laptop or in a notebook? It’s a good idea to bring a selection of essential academic supplies, though you’ll be able to find additional items at your college’s bookstore. 

• Backpack (large enough for a laptop, notebooks, personal items, etc.)
• Notebooks and binders
• Lined paper and white computer paper
• Pens, pencils, highlighters, and permanent markers
• Paper clips and rubber bands
• Weekly planner or calendar
• Textbooks (consider digital versions or textbook rentals) 

Clothing and Personal Items

You’ll almost certainly have less space in your dorm room than in your room at home, so pack your clothes accordingly! Consider bringing enough everyday outfits for around two weeks. If you’re planning to go home several times during the year, you may be able to pack seasonally and avoid bringing all of your bulky winter clothes when you move in during the summer.

• Shirts, jeans, shorts, dresses, skirts (enough for two weeks)
• Socks and underwear
• Sweaters, hoodies, and sweatshirts
• Comfortable daily footwear
• Pajamas and loungewear
• Athletic clothes
• Sneakers/running shoes
• Coats and jackets
• Raincoat and umbrella
• At least one professional or business casual outfit (with appropriate shoes)
• At least one semi-formal outfit (with appropriate shoes)
• Swimsuit
• Bathrobe (if you want to avoid walking to and from the showers in a towel)
• Accessories like belts, scarves, hats, jewelry (but avoid bringing valuables)

Laundry and Cleaning

For many students, going to college is the first time they’ll be responsible for doing their own laundry. Having the right supplies is key to staying on top of this important task. At HeySunday, we’re passionate about making laundry day as easy and enjoyable as possible. Our detergent sheets are suitable for all washing machines, making them ideal for shared laundry rooms. Rather than lugging around a bulky detergent jug, all you need for an exceptional clean is to toss one or more HeySunday detergent sheets into the drum and let our powerful yet gentle biodegradable ingredients do the work for you. 

When you switch to detergent sheets, doing your laundry no longer means contributing to plastic landfill waste. Instead, you’ll get a lightweight compostable envelope with enough HeySunday laundry sheets for 60 medium-sized loads, so you’ll never have to measure out messy liquid detergent. 

Here are some other laundry and cleaning essentials for your freshman year.

• Laundry detergent (we recommend premeasured, mess-free detergent sheets)
• Laundry hamper, bag, or basket
• Laundry drying rack
• Dryer balls
• Lint brush or roller
• Disinfecting wipes
• Microfiber cleaning cloths
• Handheld vacuum
• Mop with reusable mop pads

Toiletries and Personal Care

If you’re accustomed to having your own bathroom or sharing it with a sibling, it can be a big adjustment to use communal bathrooms shared by multiple students. Dorm bathrooms usually don’t have much storage space, so it’s a good idea to use a shower caddy and toiletries bag to bring what you need. Refer to the information provided by your school about the location and layout of the bathroom facilities associated with your dorm.

• Plastic shower caddy
• Soap/body wash, shampoo, conditioner 
• Shower shoes/flip flops 
• Shaving supplies
• Deodorant
• Hairbrush or comb
• Dental floss, toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash 
• Sunscreen
• Bath towels and washcloths
• Nail clippers and tweezers
• Band-Aids and antibiotic ointment 
• Over-the-counter pain relievers (Tylenol, Advil, etc.)
• Glasses and/or contact lenses and contact lens solution, if used
• Makeup, lotion, and moisturizer, if used
• Feminine hygiene products, if needed
• Any prescription medications you are taking

Tech and Gadgets

While university libraries have desktop computers for student use, many undergraduates will have their own laptops. You’ll be able to use the printers in the library (for a small fee), though some students enjoy the convenience of having a printer in their dorm room. Taking notes on a laptop will be the norm in many classes, especially in large lectures, though some professors may want you to take notes on paper during smaller classes and seminars. 

• Laptop and charger
• Cell phone and charger
• Tablet and charger, if used
• Extension cord and surge protector
• Graphing calculator
• Headphones or earbuds
• Portable speaker
• Printer and ink cartridges

Kitchen Supplies

The eating and drinking supplies you’ll need will depend on the setup of your dorm. Some freshman dorms come equipped with a microwave and small fridge or provide these appliances in a kitchen shared by multiple dorms. Consider whether you’re planning to eat all of your meals in the dining hall or if you’ll cook sometimes, as this will make a difference to the types of kitchen equipment you’ll require. In the interest of safety, certain appliances are not permitted in dorms, so refer to your school’s dorm room essentials list for any prohibited items.

• Microwave and mini-fridge (check with your roommate to coordinate)
• Coffeemaker, if permitted
• Toaster oven, if permitted
• Microwave-safe plates, bowls, and cups
• Forks, knives, and spoons
• Dish soap and sponge
• Dish towels
• Reusable mug for hot drinks
• Water bottle
• Plastic food containers
• Paper towels
• Non-perishable food items (instant noodles, macaroni and cheese, cereal, granola bars, microwave popcorn, dried fruit, tea, coffee, etc.) 

Important Documents

It’s a good idea to find a sturdy binder or storage folder to secure your important documents. You’ll want to keep your university ID card accessible, as this may be required for entry to certain buildings, such as the library, laboratories, and other facilities after hours. Your meal plan may be loaded onto the card, along with your prepaid balance for laundry or printing. Keep your other documents in a safe place in your dorm room, and consider bringing copies rather than originals when possible.  

• Driver’s license, passport, or other government identification
• University ID card
• Debit/credit cards, checks, and bank account information
• Health insurance information/card
• List of emergency contacts
• Copy of birth certificate/Social Security card
• Car insurance and registration information, if bringing a vehicle to campus

Miscellaneous

Chances are, you’ll be sharing your freshman dorm with a roommate. While it may feel odd to move in with a complete stranger, consider reaching out over the summer to get to know each other. This is also a great opportunity to coordinate which large or communal items each of you will bring, as you don’t want to end up with two televisions or multiple area rugs. You may also want to chat about the posters and other decorations you’d like to bring, to ensure that there are no surprises when you discover each other’s aesthetic preferences. 

• Room decor such as posters or framed photos 
• Poster putty and removable wall hooks with self-adhesive strips
• Floor rug
• Doormat
• Television, if wanted
• Bicycle, bike lock, and helmet (especially for large or urban campuses)
• Suitcase
• Flashlight
• Mini toolkit 
• Mini sewing kit

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, our college essentials list has made the process of packing for your freshman year less intimidating. We’ve tried to be as thorough as possible with our dorm moving checklist, but remember that these are recommendations, not an exhaustive list of mandatory items. 

Likewise, it’s a good idea to find out what will be provided in your dorm. You can usually find this information in your admissions pack or the college moving list on your school’s website. There may be some so-called dorm room essentials you can skip, depending on your personal preferences or living situation. 

Buying second-hand items, from books and clothing to furniture and electronics, is a great way to minimize costs while also making a positive impact on the environment. We also recommend choosing eco-friendly or reusable items like a laundry drying rack, a travel mug, and a mop with reusable cleaning pads whenever possible. 

Most importantly, try not to stress about purchasing everything you might need before you get to campus. Keep in mind that you’ll be able to order essential items (including HeySunday laundry detergent sheets) once you’re at school, so avoid overpacking if you can. You’ll find many dorm room essentials at the campus bookshop and nearby stores, and your roommate and fellow students will most likely be happy to help if you discover you’ve forgotten something or have unexpectedly run out.