College Packing List
By the NanoPack team · Updated on · Checked against official sources
What to bring to college: start with Twin XL bedding, because most dorm beds are extra-long and a standard twin sheet will not fit. Add a surge-protected power strip, a laundry basket with detergent, a shower caddy and shower shoes, and a small kit of Command strips, a fan and first-aid basics. Coordinate the big shared items, the fridge, microwave, rug and TV, with your roommate so you do not both bring one. Leave candles, halogen lamps, hot plates and space heaters at home: they are banned in almost every residence hall for fire safety.
College essentials at a glance
- Twin XL sheets and a mattress topper
- A surge-protected power strip
- Laundry basket, detergent and quarters
- Shower caddy and shower shoes
- Command strips for damage-free storage
- A fan and a power bank
- First-aid basics and any medication
- One dressier outfit
Move-in day is a lesson in editing. The room is smaller than the brochure photos, most of the storage is under the bed, and a surprising amount of what people pack goes home untouched in June. The winning approach is to make the room livable in week one, coordinate the big shared items with your roommate, and buy the rest once you have seen the space and found the campus shop.
Bedding (Twin XL)
- Twin XL sheet sets ×2 · dorm beds are extra-long, standard twin will not fit
- A mattress topper · dorm mattresses are thin and firm
- A mattress protector
- Duvet or comforter and a spare blanket
- Pillows ×2
- A throw for the bed or futon
Bathroom and shower
- A shower caddy · you carry everything down the hall
- Shower shoes or flip-flops · shared bathrooms
- Bath towels and washcloths ×2 to 3
- A quick-dry robe
- Toiletries and a wash bag
- A toothbrush holder
Laundry
- A pop-up hamper or a laundry bag
- Detergent pods and a stain-remover pen
- Dryer sheets
- Quarters or a preloaded laundry card
- A small drying rack for delicates
Study and desk
- Laptop and charger
- A surge-protected power strip · dorms have few outlets, non-surge strips are often banned
- A charging cable or two, spare
- A desk lamp with an LED bulb
- Notebooks, a planner and stationery
- Noise-cancelling headphones or earbuds
- A backpack
Storage and organisation
- Command hooks and strips · nails and screws mean damage charges
- Under-bed storage bins
- Bed risers · if the frame is not adjustable
- Over-the-door hooks
- Drawer and desk organisers
- A storage ottoman or a folding crate
Clothing
- About two weeks of everyday clothes
- Slim hangers
- One dressier outfit · presentations, interviews, a night out
- Layers for the season
- Comfortable shoes and shower shoes
- A rain jacket and a small umbrella
Food and kitchen
- A refillable water bottle and a travel mug
- A few dishes, a bowl, a mug and cutlery
- A mini-fridge · coordinate one with your roommate
- A microwave · check it is allowed and coordinate one
- Reusable bags and some snacks
- Dish soap and a sponge
Health, safety and documents
- First-aid basics: plasters, painkillers, antacids
- Any medication · original packaging, plus a copy of the prescription
- A thermometer
- Student ID, bank card and some cash
- Copies of insurance and health documents
- A small toolkit and a sewing kit
Comfort and the first week
- A fan · many dorms have no air-conditioning
- A power bank
- Photos, posters and a little decor
- Earplugs and an eye mask
- A doorstop for meeting people
- A reusable shopping bag for the first supply run
What not to pack
Items that are prohibited or pointless to bring. Some are confiscated at security.
- Candles and incense · open flames are banned in almost every residence hall; candles are a leading cause of dorm fires
- Halogen lamps · the bulbs run hot enough to start fires and are widely prohibited
- Hot plates, toasters and toaster ovens · exposed heating elements are not allowed in most rooms
- Space heaters and immersion or heating coils · banned for fire safety
- Non-surge extension cords and multi-plug adapters · use one surge-protected power strip instead
- A printer · campus printing is cheaper and takes no space
- Your entire wardrobe · bring a season, store or swap the rest
- A second fridge, microwave or TV · coordinate one each with your roommate
Packing tips and mistakes to avoid
Buy Twin XL, not twin
Most residence-hall beds are extra-long twins (Twin XL), several inches longer than a standard twin, so regular twin sheets will not fit. Check your housing page for the exact size before you buy bedding.
Coordinate the big stuff with your roommate
You each do not need a fridge, a microwave, a rug and a TV. Message your roommate before move-in and split the large shared items, then you both save money and floor space.
Command strips, never nails
Almost every housing contract charges for holes and marks in the walls. Damage-free hooks and strips hold posters, lights, keys and towels, and peel off cleanly in June.
Leave the open flames at home
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, candles start a large share of dorm-room fires, which is why candles, incense and halogen lamps are banned in nearly all residence halls. A wax warmer or LED candles are the safe swap.
The things people forget
- An extra-long charging cable, the outlet is never near the bed
- Quarters or a laundry card for the machines
- A small toolkit for furniture and quick fixes
- First-aid basics and any medication in original packaging
What travelers wish they had brought
- A mattress topper for the thin dorm mattress
- Command strips for storage without damage charges
- A fan, because many dorms have no air-conditioning
- Earplugs and an eye mask for a roommate on another schedule
Frequently asked questions
What should you bring to college?
Twin XL bedding and a mattress topper, a surge-protected power strip, laundry supplies and quarters, a shower caddy and shower shoes, storage bins and Command strips, a fan and a power bank, first-aid basics, and about two weeks of clothes. Coordinate the fridge, microwave and TV with your roommate.
What should you NOT bring to a dorm?
Anything with an open flame or an exposed heating element: candles, incense, halogen lamps, hot plates, toasters and space heaters are banned in most residence halls for fire safety. Also skip a printer, duplicate large appliances and your whole wardrobe.
What size are dorm beds?
Most are Twin XL, an extra-long twin that is longer than a standard twin bed, so you need Twin XL sheets. Always confirm the size on your specific school's housing page.
What do students forget to pack for college?
The unglamorous things: a mattress topper, a surge-protected power strip, quarters or a laundry card, a fan, a first-aid kit, and Command strips for damage-free storage.