College Checklist: 250+ Dorm Room Essentials

The first day of school is just a few weeks away for some students so in the meantime, start diving into dorm-packing mode by putting together your college checklist. To help, we created a dorm room essentials guide that you may need to establish your home away from home as well as transform your space into a stylish spot for friends to hang out, lounge around, get some studying done, and (of course!) getting some zzz’s. We’ll make sure you have everything you need to move into your dorm or apartment and create an A+ college space!

What Should I Bring To College List?

Here’s a list (over 250 items!) of what to bring with you to college. It covers everything from bedding and kitchen to school supplies and medicine. You can download this college checklist of dorm room essentials and print it out from home.

College Checklist

This college checklist will make sure you have all the essentials for your dorm. You don’t have to get everything on this list. Focus more on the ones that you actually need. Necessities like bedding and toiletries are far more important than your “wants.” Also, there might be items on this college checklist that you can’t use depending on the type of dorm room you have.

READ: 22 Cute Dorm Room Ideas For College Students

Bedding:

bed sheets
blankets
comforter
mattress pad
pillows
pillowcases
bedbug-protecting mattress cover
sleeping bag (in case friends come over or you’re leaving for a trip)

Kitchen & Dining:

can opener
coffee maker
mini refrigerator
hot plate
microwave
broom
mini vacuum cleaner
toaster oven
cups
plates
utensils
dish soap
trash bags
paper towels
food storage containers
bag clips
wet wipes
water filter
blender
duster
dustpan
coffee mugs
travel mug
oven mitts
hand soap
plastic wrap
tin foil
sealable plastic bags

Bath:

bath towels
bath robe
bathroom cleaning supplies
bathroom rug
loofah
shower caddy
shower shoes
tumbler
shower cap
washcloths
shower curtain with rings
air freshener
hair dryer
curling iron

Room:

alarm clock
wall posters
bulletin board and pushpins
bedside lamp
mini trashcan
storage bins
desk lamp
dry-erase wall calendar
area rug
closet organizer
futon
jewelry organizer
picture frames
space bags
under bed storage
hangers
shoe rack
beanbag/comfy chair
adhesive hooks and strips
step ladder
desk chair

School Supplies:

binder
notebook
notebook paper
envelopes
folders
glue
paper clips
pens
pencils
pencil sharpener
pencil eraser
post-its
rubber bands
ruler
postage stamps
scissors
stapler
staples
staple remover
scotch tape
white out
three hole punch
waste basket
calendar
highlighter
calculator
index cards
textbooks
desk organizer
journal
portfolio case

Toiletries:

bar soap
body wash
face wash
body lotion
acne cream
moisturizer
toothbrush
toothpaste
mouthwash
shampoo
conditioner
hair gel
hair mousse
hairspray
cosmetics/makeup
makeup remover
hair brush
eye glasses
eye drops
deodorant
cotton balls
dental floss
mirror
nail clippers
nail polish
q-tips
razor
shaving cream
sunscreen
toilet paper
tampons and pads
tweezers

Tech:

computer
tablet
cell phone
cell phone charger
extension cords
mp3 player/ipod
speakers, television
corded phone with answering machine
video game consoles
batteries
camera
headphones
hdmi cable
flash drives
ethernet cable
Microsoft Office
printer
printer ink
surge protector
recording device for lectures
wireless mouse

Laundry & Cleaning:

clothes hangers
bleach
laundry detergent
fabric softener
laundry bag or hamper
stain remover
garment bag
drying rack
iron
ironing board
lint brush
sewing kit
packs of quarters

Clothing:

underwear
bras
socks
shirts/blouses
sweaters
pants/jeans
light/heavy jackets
pajamas
slippers
gloves
scarves
hat
boots
sneakers
walking shoes
swimsuit
a pair of dress shoes
a set of business-casual clothes
purse
belts
dress clothes
dress shoes
jewelry
little black dress
rain boots
sweats
sweat pants
workout clothes
sports bra
tights
watch

Medicine:

prescription medications
band aids
birth control
condoms/checks
cough drops
first aid kit
hot/cold packs
thermometer
vitamins
pain reliever
contact lens solution
cortisone cream
insect repellent
humidifier
vaseline

Documents:

ID
copy of birth certificate
copy of social security card
credit card
debit card
passport
driver’s license
car registration and insurance forms
registration forms
financial aid forms
health/dental insurance cards
emergency contact list
bank documents
renter insurance

Miscellaneous:

bicycle
bike helmet
bike lock
scooter
flashlight
duct tape
scotch tape
fan
light bulbs
tool kit
yoga mat
weekend bag
travel bag
umbrella
suitcase
safety pins
playing cards
board games
sleep mask
musical instruments
safety whistle
religious materials
backpack
sports equipment

Pin for Later!

Shop Dorm Room Essentials

Click through below to shop some of our favorite dorm room items that will glam up your dorm room.

The Best Retailers for College Dorm Room Essentials

Below are the top places to find sales and deals on items listed in our college checklist!

DormCo – They provide students with a selection of thousands of quality products for student living. Known as “The College Dorm Supplies Store.”
Target– Spend $50 save $10, spend $100 save $25 on bed and bath with code COLLEGE + up to 20% off on college must haves!
Walmart – Bedding starting at $39.98
Urban Outfitters – Up to 70% off sale items
PBteen – Up to 30% off bean bag chairs, up to 30% off backpacks, and up to 20% off desk, desk chairs + more!
Amazon – Tons of savings on kitchen appliances, printers, mattresses, clothes, and more. Also include free 2 day shipping for college students.
Kohls – $10 off your home purchase of $50 or more with code HOME10

Useful Websites for College Students

I created this list of useful college resources so you can get the most out of your undergrad experience.

The College Shack– A leading online retailer that offer collegiate apparel.
Campus Book Rentals– A textbook rental site for college students where you can save hundreds of dollars on books!
Knetbooks– Another textbook rental site that is simple and easy to use.
Greek Creations– They offer merchandise and gifts to Greek students and alumni.
Grammarly– A service that makes you a better writer by finding and correcting up to 10x more mistakes than your word processor. Perfect for when you need to write college essays.
Redshelf– An eTextbook software which makes learning materials affordable and easy to use!