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.
Check out our college moving checklist!
Check your school's housing page before you buy anything — most dorms provide the bed, desk, chair and dresser, and many ban air conditioners, candles and open-element appliances outright.
→ Download the free printable PDF checklist
What college move-in actually costs in 2026
Move-in costs more than most families plan for, and the number is climbing. According to the National Retail Federation's 2026 Back-to-School survey, college students and their families expect to spend a record $103.5 billion this year — the first time back-to-college spending has crossed $100 billion, up from $88.8 billion in 2025.
Per household, that averages $1,437.79. The biggest line items: $341.95 on electronics, $194.00 on dorm and apartment furnishings, $182.39 on clothing, and $133.34 on personal care.
A lot of that is avoidable. The two most common ways to waste money on this list are buying something your dorm already provides, and buying something your dorm won't let through the door. So start there, before you start shopping.
What does a college dorm room come with?
Most dorm rooms come furnished with a bed frame and mattress, a desk and chair, a dresser or built-in storage, window blinds, and trash and recycling bins. Some schools also provide a combination microwave-refrigerator unit. What's banned varies more than people expect, and the rules are enforced at move-in.
Three real examples of how much this varies:
- The University of Minnesota caps residence hall microwaves at 700 watts and mini-fridges at 4.3 cubic feet.
- Columbia Housing bans extension cords, hot-pot coffee makers, hoverboards and e-bikes — but allows pod-style coffee makers.
- UT Austin furnishes every room with a combination MicroFridge, which makes buying your own a pure waste.
Two things to do this week: find your specific hall's page on your school's housing site, and text your roommate about who's bringing the big stuff — TV, rug, fridge, printer.
What size are dorm beds?
Most college dorm beds are Twin XL — 38 inches by 80 inches, five inches longer than the standard twin you probably slept on at home. A standard twin fitted sheet will not stay on a Twin XL mattress. It pops off the corners overnight, every night, until you buy the right sheets.
A small number of older residence halls still use standard twin frames, and a few schools use non-standard widths, so confirm with your housing office before you buy bedding. Dorm mattresses also run thin — typically 5 to 6 inches, built for durability rather than comfort — which is why a mattress topper is one of the highest-value purchases on this entire list.
Buy two sets of Twin XL sheets. One is always in the wash.
Dorm room essentials
The furniture is handled. These are the dorm room essentials that turn an assigned room into a place you can actually live, sleep and study in. Buy the bedding before move-in; hold off on anything that depends on room dimensions until you've seen the space.
- Twin XL sheets — two sets
- Pillows and pillowcases
- Comforter or duvet, plus one extra blanket
- Mattress topper
- Waterproof mattress protector
- Over-door organizer for shoes and accessories
- Clothes hangers — more than you think you need
- Under-bed storage bins (measure your clearance first; lofting changes everything)
- Desk lamp or clip lamp
- Fan — critical if your hall isn't air conditioned and you can't bring a unit
- Dry-erase board or bulletin board
- Small nightstand or bookshelf, if not provided
- Removable adhesive strips and poster putty
- Full-length or over-door mirror
Clothing and personal items
You will have less closet space than you have at home — usually much less. Pack about two weeks of everyday outfits and plan to swap seasonally if you'll be home over breaks. Winter coats can come back with you after Thanksgiving.
- Shirts, jeans, shorts, dresses, skirts — roughly two weeks' worth
- Socks and underwear
- Sweaters, hoodies, sweatshirts
- Comfortable daily footwear and sneakers
- Pajamas and loungewear
- Athletic clothes
- Coat, jacket, raincoat, umbrella
- One business-casual outfit with shoes — career fairs and presentations arrive faster than you'd think
- One semi-formal outfit with shoes
- Swimsuit
- Bathrobe, if you'd rather not walk back from a communal shower in a towel
- Belts, scarves, hats — leave anything genuinely valuable at home
Laundry and cleaning
For a lot of students this is the first time laundry is entirely their problem. Two constraints shape what you should pack: shared machines and almost no storage.
That combination is why a jug of liquid detergent is a bad fit for dorm life. It's heavy to carry down three flights, it takes shelf space you don't have, it leaks in a laundry basket, and a spill in a shared laundry room is a genuinely bad afternoon.
Detergent sheets solve the format problem. Marcos De Andrade, laundry expert - founder and owner of Green Planet Cleaning Services recommends sustainable alternatives like laundry detergent sheets and adds that are excellent for tiny dorm spaces- “They're pre-measured, so students avoid the most common laundry mistake I see, over-pouring, they're lightweight, and there's no bulky plastic jug to store or spill. Pair them with wool dryer balls and cold-water washing, and a student meaningfully cuts both cost and environmental impact.”
One HeySunday laundry sheet per regular load, three for heavily soiled clothes. They work in every machine type, including the high-efficiency front-loaders most campus laundry rooms use. A pack of 60 sheets is flat enough to sit in a desk drawer.
Pack this:
- Detergent sheets — laundry sheets, no jug, no mess
- Laundry hamper, bag, or backpack-style bag (you're carrying this down a hallway)
- Mesh bags for delicates and socks
- Collapsible drying rack
- Lint roller
- Stain remover pen
- Quarters or your campus laundry card — check whether your school has moved to an app
- Disinfecting wipes
- Microfiber cloths
- Handheld vacuum
- Reusable Paper Towels - Reusable and washable for everyday cleaning.
Gillian Economou - Professional Organizer, Sort It Out recommends: “Every college student should pack laundry detergent, dryer sheets, stain remover, mesh laundry bags for delicate items, and two laundry baskets or hampers. I recommend one hamper that stays in your dorm room and a lightweight basket that's easy to carry to and from the laundry room. It's also helpful to have disinfecting wipes or paper towels for wiping down machines in dorms before using them.
Laundry detergent sheets can be a great option for college students because they're lightweight, take up very little space, and are easier to store than bulky detergent bottles. For students living in small dorm rooms, they're great because they take up much less space than a bulky detergent bottle.”
How do you do laundry in a college dorm?
Wash roughly once a week, sort into darks and lights, and use cold water for almost everything — cold protects colors, prevents shrinking, and sets fewer stains than hot water does. Add one detergent sheet for a normal load or three for heavily soiled items. If you're using a top-loader, start the water before you add clothes.
Three things that make a communal laundry room bearable:
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Go off-peak. Sunday evening is the worst window on almost every campus. Tuesday morning is the best.
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Set a timer on your phone. Leaving a finished load sitting in a shared machine is the single fastest way to annoy an entire floor.
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Treat stains before they dry. A two-minute cold-water soak in the bathroom sink does more work than any wash cycle will. Blot, don't rub — rubbing drives the stain deeper into the weave.
One more: hot water sets wine, coffee and grass stains permanently. If you spill something on the way to class, run it under cold in the nearest bathroom before you do anything else.
Toiletries and personal care
Communal bathrooms mean everything travels with you, twice a day, in one hand. A caddy isn't optional, and neither are shower shoes. Dorm bathrooms have almost no storage, so pack what fits in a caddy and a small bag.
- Shower caddy — plastic or mesh, with drainage
- Shower shoes or flip-flops
- Soap or body wash, shampoo, conditioner
- Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, mouthwash
- Deodorant
- Hairbrush or comb; hair dryer if permitted
- Shaving supplies
- Sunscreen
- Bath towels and washcloths — at least two towels
- Nail clippers and tweezers
- First-aid basics: bandages, antibiotic ointment, thermometer
- Over-the-counter pain relievers
- Glasses, contacts, contact solution
- Makeup, lotion, moisturizer
- Menstrual products
- Prescription medications, plus a copy of the prescription
Academic supplies
Buy light here. Your campus bookstore exists, and you'll learn what you actually need in the second week of classes. Notebooks and pens are the cheapest things on this list to replace and the easiest to over-buy.
- Backpack that fits a laptop
- Notebooks and binders
- Lined paper and printer paper
- Pens, pencils, highlighters, permanent markers
- Sticky notes, paper clips, rubber bands
- Planner or wall calendar
- Textbooks — check rentals, digital editions and the campus library before buying anything new
Tech and gadgets
Electronics are the largest single college spending category in 2026, at an average of $341.95 per household. Most of that is a laptop you already own. Before you buy accessories, check your school's electrical rules — plain extension cords are banned in a surprising number of residence halls.
- Laptop and charger
- Phone and charger
- Tablet and charger, if you use one
- Surge protector with an internal circuit breaker
- Headphones or earbuds, plus a cheap wired backup for exams
- Portable speaker
- Graphing calculator
- Portable battery pack
- Printer — genuinely optional; library printing is cheap
Kitchen supplies
What you need depends entirely on your dorm's setup. Some halls have a shared kitchen, some give you a MicroFridge, some give you nothing. Coordinate with your roommate before anyone buys an appliance, and check the wattage and size limits first.
- Mini-fridge and microwave, if permitted and not provided
- Pod-style coffee maker, if permitted
- Microwave-safe plates, bowls and mugs
- Utensils
- Dish soap and sponge
- Dish towels
- Reusable water bottle and travel mug
- Food storage containers
- Non-perishables: instant noodles, oatmeal, cereal, granola bars, popcorn, tea, coffee
Important documents
Keep these together in one folder, and bring copies rather than originals wherever you can. Your student ID will usually double as your building key, meal plan and laundry card, so it's the one thing worth attaching to a lanyard.
- Driver's license, passport or state ID
- University ID card
- Debit and credit cards, bank account details
- Health insurance card and information
- Emergency contact list
- Copies of birth certificate and Social Security card
- Car insurance and registration, if you're bringing a vehicle
- Renter's or student property insurance documentation, if you have a policy
What not to bring to college
The most common overpacking mistakes, roughly in order of how much money they waste:
- Every item of clothing you own. Two weeks is plenty.
- A second TV, rug, fridge or printer. Text your roommate first.
- Banned appliances. Air fryers, toasters, hot plates and space heaters get confiscated at move-in at most schools.
- A full-size detergent jug. No shelf space, and you have to carry it down three flights every week.
- Nails, tacks, or anything that damages walls. Wall damage comes out of your deposit. Use removable strips.
- Valuables. Dorms are shared spaces with heavy foot traffic on move-in weekend.
- Room-specific items bought before you've seen the room. Rugs and storage bins in particular.
Back to School Pack-for-Pack: your order sends laundry to a family this month
We run donation drives a few times a year. August is the back-to-school one, and it's live now.
Through August 4th to August 31st, every pack you order sends a second pack, free, to a family resource center near you.
This back-to-school season, when you order Hey Sunday Laundry Sheets, we'll donate a 60-load pack to Cradles to Crayons.
Cradles to Crayons believe that all children deserve the essentials they need to feel safe, valued, and ready to learn. Millions of children across the country face clothing insecurity — lacking basic necessities like weather appropriate clothing, shoes, backpacks, and school supplies. They partner with social service organizations and community partners to deliver these essentials directly to children from birth through age 18, giving them the confidence and tools to thrive at school and in their everyday lives.
This month Hey Sunday sheets are also 25% off with code School25
→ Shop the Back to School drive
Frequently asked questions
What size bed is in a college dorm?
Most dorm beds are Twin XL — 38 inches by 80 inches, five inches longer than a standard twin. Standard twin fitted sheets will not stay on a Twin XL mattress. A small number of older residence halls still use standard twin frames, so confirm with your housing office before buying bedding.
What is provided in a college dorm room?
Most dorm rooms come furnished with a bed frame and mattress, a desk and chair, a dresser or built-in storage, window blinds, and trash and recycling bins. Some schools also provide a combination microwave-refrigerator unit. Exact furnishings vary by residence hall, so check your school's housing page before buying furniture.
What should I pack for college that most people forget?
The most commonly forgotten items are a surge protector, shower shoes, a mattress topper, a stain remover pen, extra hangers, a first-aid kit, and quarters or a laundry card. Copies of important documents — insurance cards especially — are the other big one.
How much clothing should I bring to college?
About two weeks of everyday outfits, plus one business-casual and one semi-formal outfit. Dorm closet space is much smaller than what you have at home. If you'll be home over breaks, pack for the current season and swap later rather than bringing winter coats in August.
What laundry detergent is best for a college dorm?
Laundry sheets are the best fit for dorm life because they're compact, spill-proof, and work in the high-efficiency machines most campus laundry rooms use. For example a pack of 60 Hey Sunday laundry sheets fits in a desk drawer and costs $0.25 a load on Subscribe & Save, compared to roughly $0.40 a load for a liquid jug.
How often should college students do laundry?
About once a week for most students, or every two weeks if you own enough clothing to stretch it. Waiting longer usually means running out of underwear before you run out of anything else.
Do you need renter's insurance for a dorm?
It isn't usually required, but it's worth checking. Many families are already covered under a homeowner's or renter's policy that extends to a student living on campus. Call your insurer before buying a separate student property policy.
When should you start shopping for college?
Earlier than most people do — 62% of back-to-school shoppers had already started by early July in 2026, according to the National Retail Federation. Starting early catches sales, but hold off on anything room-specific like rugs, storage bins and appliances until you have your room assignment and have talked to your roommate.
How do you ship things to your dorm?
Most schools have a campus mail center that accepts packages before or during move-in week, but many won't hold them past a certain window or accept them before a specific date. Check your school's mail policy and time deliveries to arrive the week you move in, not earlier.
How does the Hey Sunday local donations program work?
Clean laundry is one of the quietest barriers families face. Detergent is one of the first things to fall off a grocery list, and it isn't covered by SNAP.
So we built donations into how the company runs, rather than into a campaign. Four ways it works:
- Every new order sends loads. Every new order ships five-plus loads to a partner shelter or food bank. The first five are on us; you can add more at checkout.
- Matching drives a few times a year. During a drive — like this month's — every pack you order sends a second pack to a named partner.
- Don't love it? Donate it. If a pack isn't right for you, email us and we'll send a prepaid label that routes it to a partner near you instead of a landfill.
- Got extra? Send your surplus. Sheets piling up? Send your next subscription shipment straight to a partner. Your subscription stays active and nobody's cabinet overflows.
Where it stands today: 300+ named partner organizations across 49 states, and more than 100,000 loads donated. Every county in the country is mapped to a real, named organization — one with an address and someone who signs for the boxes — not a general fund.
→ Find the partner nearest your ZIP code
If you know a shelter, food bank or family resource center near your campus that could use laundry supplies, tell us about them. We handle the outreach from there.
