College Life Made Easy is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more.
Find out exactly what to bring to college and grab a FREE printable checklist! You and I both know why you’re here, so I’m going to cut right to the chase – What I have for you today in this post is a realistic college packing list for move-in day. Both over and under packing are a worry for most new students, but this list will show you exactly what to pack for college. Plus, I’ll clue you in on the stuff you can leave at home and just not bring all together. Now—I want to point out that this a GENERAL dorm packing list. The list includes a broad selection of items. Which is why it’s a great a starting point for ideas! To minimize the risk of anyone accidentally forgetting something important on move-in day, I went over absolutely EVERYTHING (room, bathroom, kitchen, clothing, etc.). I made it versatile enough to work as a dorm checklist for guys and girls. But, we all have our own personal preferences. Tweak it as needed to make it work for you. Save the PDF version of this college checklist for later with the links at the end of this post.
2️⃣ If something is highlighted – that just means that it’s an item that I wouldn’t consider to be absolutely necessary or essential to college living.
Now don’t get me wrong, these highlighted items are definitely nice to have.
But they’re totally optional items to add to your packing checklist for college. These items can make a dorm room more comfortable or make your life a little easier.
Now let’s dive into what you should take with you to college for freshman year! First things first, when you’re putting together your own college packing checklist:
💡 TIP: Make sure you know what is and isn’t allowed in your dorm room, BEFORE you start packing.
Each school has specific residence hall guidelines and provides different things (like a trash can or mini fridge) in rooms. Check your school’s website for their recommended packing list as it should tell you what NOT to bring, as well.
❑ Pillow/s
❑ Comforter
❑ Duvet cover (SO much easier to fit in a washer than a whole comforter)
❑ Sheets (1 set is good, typically twin XL size)
❑ Pillowcases
❑ Desk lamp
❑ Extra blanket
❑ Laundry basket
❑ Snacks* (here are some healthy dorm-friendly ideas)
❑ Hangers*
❑ Small trash can*
❑ Humidifier
❑ Dry erase/cork board
❑ Dry erase markers
❑ Thumbtacks/sticky putty
❑ Wall calendar
❑ Makeup mirror
❑ Fan*
❑ Mattress pad
❑ Mattress cover
❑ Command hooks
❑ Full-length mirror*
❑ Shoe organizer/over-the-door storage*
❑ Under the bed storage*
❑ Drawer organizers*
❑ Storage ottoman*
❑ Lockbox*
❑ String lights
❑ Pictures/posters/art
❑ Plants
❑ Other decor
❑ Rolling cart*
Hold off until you check with your roommate –
❑ Rug
❑ Coffeemaker
❑ Blackout curtains
Which clothing you’ll bring with you to college will depend on different factors. Like where your campus is located, which seasons you’ll be attending classes, and how you generally like to dress.
Just use your best judgment for your final dorm room packing list decision.
❑ Underwear
❑ Socks
❑ Jeans
❑ Pants
❑ Sweatpants
❑ PJ’s
❑ Shorts
❑ T-shirts
❑ Long sleeve shirts
❑ Formal tops
❑ Tank tops
❑ Workout clothing
❑ Professional attire (1 full outfit)
❑ Belt
❑ Waterproof jacket
❑ Sweatshirts/hoodies
❑ Heavy winter coat
❑ Light jacket
❑ Gloves/mittens
❑ Swimsuit (1)
❑ Casual everyday shoes
❑ Running shoes
❑ Rain boots
❑ Snow boots
❑ Formal shoes
❑ Slippers
❑ Flip-flops/sandals
❑ Sunglasses
❑ Watch
❑ Scarf
❑ Hat
College packing list – girl specific clothing –
❑ Bras
❑ Leggings/yoga pants
❑ Tights
❑ Casual & formal dresses
❑ Skirts
❑ Cardigans
❑ Jewelry
❑ Purse/s
❑ Clutch
❑ Flats
❑ Heels
For college school supplies, your class syllabi will give you a more in-depth look at what you need.
I’ve included some general items that are used in most courses. To get the lowest prices on this stuff be sure to take advantage of back-school-sales!
❑ Backpack (with laptop compartment)
❑ Lunchbox
❑ Notebooks
❑ Notebook paper
❑ Academic Planner
❑ Or a bullet journal
❑ Binder
❑ Folders
❑ Pens & pencils
❑ Highlighters
❑ Calculator (or just use an app on your phone)
❑ Ruler
❑ Paperclips & binder clips
❑ Sticky notes
❑ Index cards
❑ Stapler & staples
❑ Scissors
❑ Whiteout
❑ Tape
❑ Desk organizer
❑ Glue
❑ Birth certificate
❑ Driver License
❑ Student ID
❑ Social security card
❑ Debit & credit cards
❑ Checks
❑ Passport
❑ Banking information
❑ Car registration & insurance information
❑ Medical & dental cards
❑ File box or fireproof safe to keep the documents in
❑ Bath towels (2)
❑ Washcloths (2)
❑ Shower flip-flops
❑ Loofah
❑ Shower caddy (mesh works best)
❑ Shower cap
❑ Robe
For dorm rooms with a separate bathroom, you may also want –
Note that most of these are things that you’ll want to chat with your roommate about first. Wait to buy them until after you talk so you can avoid having doubles and save some money.
❑ Hand towels (2)
❑ Hand soap
❑ Bath mat
❑ Shower curtain & curtain rings
❑ Curtain rod
❑ Air freshener*
❑ Toilet scrubber*
❑ Toilet plunger*
❑ Bathroom cleaner*
❑ Pumice stone*
❑ Glass cleaner*
❑ Sponge or scrubber brush*
❑ Toilet paper*
❑ Scale
❑ Hanging shower caddy*
Pin it for later 📌:
❑ Toothbrush & toothpaste
❑ Mouthwash
❑ Floss
❑ Tweezers
❑ Body wash or soap
❑ Face wash
❑ Shampoo & conditioner
❑ Hairbrush/comb
❑ Deodorant/antiperspirant
❑ Nail clippers
❑ Q-Tips
❑ Lotion
❑ Face moisturizer
❑ Hair products
❑ Hair dryer
❑ Razor & shaving cream
❑ Medicine – over the counter (like Advil, Midol, Tylenol) & prescriptions
❑ Melatonin
❑ Benadryl or other allergy relief
❑ Band-aids
❑ Vitamins
❑ Eyeglasses
❑ Eyeglass cleaning wipes or cloth
❑ Contacts + contact solution
❑ Chapstick/lip balm
❑ Birth control/condoms
❑ Sunscreen*
College packing list – girl specific things to bring –
❑ Hair straightener
❑ Curling iron
❑ Tampons/pads/feminine hygiene products
❑ Makeup
❑ Makeup remover
❑ Cotton pads
❑ Toner
❑ Face scrub
❑ Body scrub/exfoliator
❑ Bobby pins
❑ Hair ties & accessories
❑ Hair mask/treatment
❑ Nail polish
❑ Nail polish remover
❑ Nail file
❑ Face masks
❑ Self-tanner
❑ Wax strips
❑ Laptop, charger, and/or carrying case
❑ Flash drive
❑ Mouse
❑ Earbuds/headphones
❑ Phone charger
❑ 6 ft+ charging cable
❑ Portable speaker
❑ Power strip/surge protector
❑ Batteries
❑ Router*
❑ Ethernet cable*
❑ Camera
❑ Lapdesk
❑ Kindle reader
❑ Tablet
❑ Portable charger
❑ Extension cord*
❑ Printer*
❑ Printer paper*
❑ Printer ink*
❑ HDMI cable*
Shared items (coordinate with your roomie) –
❑ Apple TV/streaming device
❑ DVD player
❑ TV*
❑ Laundry detergent*
❑ Stain remover*
❑ Fabric softener*
❑ Dryer sheets or dryer balls
❑ Paper towels
❑ Small broom & dustpan*
❑ Disinfecting wipes
❑ Small trash bags
❑ Wrinkle release spray
❑ Lint roller
❑ Handheld vacuum
❑ Water bottle
❑ Coffee mug
❑ Insulated tumbler
❑ Ziploc bags
❑ Can opener
❑ Tupperware
❑ Brita filter pitcher
❑ A few utensils
❑ Bowl
❑ Plate
❑ Cup
Discuss these with your roommate before buying –
❑ Electric kettle*
❑ Microwave*
❑ Mini fridge*
❑ Blender*
❑ Toaster*
❑ Kleenex
❑ Ice scraper (for your car)
❑ Umbrella
❑ Earplugs
❑ Sleep mask
❑ Luggage
❑ Duffel bag
❑ Weekender bag
❑ Board games
❑ Sleeping bag
Now you know what items you should consider taking with you to university, but what about what not to bring?
Everything in this section is all stuff that you can get along just fine without at college. Or at the very least, I suggest waiting until you’re moved in to get these things.
Now of course, things you shouldn’t take with you to college is a subjective topic. I strove for my ultimate college dorm packing list to be inclusive, but everyone is different. This list is just here to give you some general guidelines.
Here are items that students often don’t end up needing/using, or even can’t have at college:
❑ Textbooks
❑ Window AC units
❑ Bed risers
❑ Sewing kit
❑ Iron
❑ Ironing board
❑ Alarm clock
❑ Light bulbs
❑ TV
❑ DVD player
❑ Printer & printer supplies
❑ Pets
❑ An excessive amount of decorative pillows
❑ Dishes & utensils
Some of this stuff was listed in earlier sections and that’s because some items are debatable. Some students might want to have them and some will find them completely unnecessary.
It all just depends on preferences and lifestyle!
If you want to know WHY I’m suggesting leaving these things off of your freshman year checklist, read on below.
Of all the freshman mistakes there are to make, buying textbooks ahead of time is the biggest one you’ll want to avoid. Textbooks are not required on the first day of class. Go to the first class to find out which books you’ll actually need for each course.
And at all costs, DON’T pay full sticker price at the campus bookstore. Textbooks can always be found for cheaper elsewhere.
Plain and simple, these are almost always not permitted in dorms.
Dorm room beds sit pretty high off of the ground, to begin with, so chances are that you won’t even need these. But if you do want the extra height, it’s easy enough to get a set from a local retailer (like Target).
The likelihood of actually needing to use this item is low. If a button does end up coming off, box stores have mini-sewing kits for cheap.
If you’re like me, you never iron your clothing anyway. Plus, a wrinkle releaser spray will do the trick for less effort.
While it’s important to make it to class on time, buying an alarm clock can be an unneeded expense when your phone already has an alarm function.
These can break in during the college move-in day process, but mainly I think you should hold off on buying light bulbs until you need them. There’s no reason to keep some lying around when you can pick a pack of light bulbs at most stores.
With limited dorm space, a TV can make your small room feel even more cramped. Instead of bringing a TV, stream your favorite shows on your laptop, table, or phone.
But if you still end up wanting one, you do you! Because they’re bulky to pack, it’s a good idea to pick one up after you’ve moved in.
On campus, there will be places where you can print. Plus, some colleges let you print out a certain number of pages for free as a student.
Find out your school’s printing policy before making up your mind!
Sadly, unless you’re lucky enough to be attending a pet-friendly college, furry friends are banned from campus housing.
Just try to not go overboard, you still need a place to sleep!
If you have a meal plan, then everything you need for eating will be in the cafeteria. Keeping around some paper or plastic ones makes clean up quicker anyway.
I believe that solves the mystery of what to bring to college! I covered just about everything that should be considered when creating your own college packing checklist, and even the things you should probably leave at home.
But, if you’re worried about forgetting something important when move-in day rolls around…
I made a printable version to help keep it all fresh in your mind. Snag it below! ↓
Did I miss any big stuff for this college packing list? Are there any things to bring to college that wish you had or hadn’t brought?
Let me know your thoughts by dropping a comment below!
Pin it for later 📌:
