Moving away from home for college comes with many challenges. One of the major challenges is deciding on the things you need for college. College packing can be confusing with students wondering what to pack and what not to pack. However, creating a dorm checklist beforehand can help you save time and money. In this article, you will find some of the best tips to get you started with your college dorm essentials.

Tips for Packing for College Dorm Essentials

Before we show you the college dorm checklist, let us help you with some helpful tips for packing for college. Here are they:

• Make 2 different lists of the things your college allows and doesn’t allow.
• Keep space for some things that you might want to buy while you reach your college since there is no point carrying things you might not need in a particular season.
• Get some advice from the present students and teachers of the college to get some idea what to pack.
• Get a clear idea of the size of your living space in the college.
• Most of the college dorms have shared bathrooms and common living space for two or more, so make sure to carry things you will be comfortable placing in the shared spaces.
• Try to focus on the essential things more since unnecessary things might take up space.
• Carry different sets of clothes that are enough for 2 seasons since you can always carry back clothes if you come home for winter break or other festivals.
• Use bins, cardboard boxes, and bags to pack the dorm essentials. Also, break down and store the cardboard boxes for future use.

College Dorm Checklist

Bedding Things You Need for College

Before buying bedding items, you must check with the housing authority to know what they are providing and what not. Accordingly, you can make your checklist.

• Quilts/Comforters
• Bedsheets
• Pillows and pillowcases
• Throw Blankets

Bath Essentials

It is always good to carry all your bathing essentials since your college housing might not provide any bath essentials.

• Towels
• Tissue
• Paper Towels
• Shower cap
• Bathrobes
• Shower mat
• Shower shoes
• Bucket
• Basket to carry shower items

Laundry Supplies

• Cloth hangers
• Laundry detergent
• Sewing kit
• Dryer sheets
• Lint brush
• Bleach
• Stain remover stick
• Laundry bag or basket
• Coat racks
• Cloth Hangers
• Iron and iron board
• Steamers

Toiletries You Need for College

Make sure you carry all the toiletries mentioned in the below list to make your college stay convenient and comfortable.

• Hair products

• Skincare products
• Hairbrush/comb
• Deodorant
• Shaving cream/gel/foam
• Razor
• Toothpaste
• Toothbrush
• Mouthwash
• Dental floss
• Q-tips
• Nail polish removers
• Nail-clippers
• Make-up essentials
• Hairdryer

Office-desk Essentials for College

Carry almost all the stationeries needed for college assignments or classes. These are the things you need for college the most since you would not want to borrow them or look for them in the middle of an important assignment.

• Memory cards/USB
• Pens/pencils
• Marker
• Notebooks
• Scissors
• Stamps
• Paper clips
• Whiteout
• Envelopes
• Sticky notes
• Calculator
• Pencil sharpener
• Hole punch
• Printer paper
• Staplers
• Tapes
• Rulers
• Highlighters
• Binders
• Index cards
• Folders
• Rubber bands
• Desk storage

Electronics

Electronic items such as laptops, computers, mobile phones, and headphones are the most essential items. Along with that, you must also carry a few more electronic essentials for college.

• Laptop
• Desktop computer
• Mobile Phone
• Headphones
• Tablet
• HDMI cord
• DVD Player
• TV
• Chargers
• Portable speakers
• Extension cords
• Camera
• Gaming consoles
• Bedside lamp

Clothes and Accessories

Your list of clothes for college largely depends on your choice and the season. Make sure to carry some sets like formalwear, swimwear, sportswear, etc.

• Clothes you generally wear
• Seasonal clothes
• Socks
• Shirts
• Sweats
• Hat
• Loungewear
• Pajamas
• Jeans
• Business/formal wears
• Swimwear
• Undergarments
• Scarves
• Gloves
• Sportswear
• Sneakers
• Shoes
• Sandals
• Jewelry
• Watch
• Sunglasses
• Belts
• Shoe storage
• Slippers

Room Decors Essentials

Room décor items are also college dorm essentials. But the items may vary from student to student. Also, it depends a lot on what your college allows. There is no point in carrying something you will not be able to use.

• Curtains
• Posters
• Rugs or carpets
• Desk chair
• Clock
• Closet
• Adhesive hooks
• Bulletin board
• Trash can
• Under-bed storage
• Photo frame with personal pics
• Stepladder
• Bed risers

Food, Snacks, and Kitchen Supplies

You can buy most of the snacks and food items once you reach college. However, in case you want to carry them beforehand, make sure to pack them properly to avoid leakage or spilling. Also, you can add kitchen electronic items like microwave, refrigerator or coffee maker, etc. to your list if your college does not provide that. There is no point in carrying things that you already have access to in your living space.

• Mini refrigerator (if needed)
• Microwave (if needed)
• Coffee maker
• Coffee mugs/cups
• Dish soap
• Dishtowel
• Trash bags
• Storage bags
• Wet wipes
• Bowls/plates
• Water bottle
• Bottle/can opener
• Foil
• Ziploc bag
• Pots/pans
• Disposable Spoons/forks
• Oven mittens
• Soda
• Granola bars
• Cereal
• Munchies
• Fruit snacks
• Instant noodles/Ramen
• Coffee
• Instant oat meals
• Popcorn
• Bread
• Sandwich meat
• Chips
• Peanut butter/jam/jelly/mayonnaise
• Soup
• Juice boxes

Medical items

Medical or health-related items should be given utmost priority in the college dorm checklist. You must pack them at first so that you do not miss them at the end.

• Band-aids
• Painkillers
• Neosporin
• Gauze
• Disinfectant
• Medical Tape
• Digestive pills
• First-aid kit
• Heating pads
• Prescribed medicines (if any)
• Thermometer
• Cortisone

Other Items in Your College Dorm Checklist

There are many other things you need for college other than the items listed above. Some of these things are listed below.

• Umbrella
• Medical Insurance Card
• Student ID
• Driver’s license
• Social security card
• Bicycle/Bike
• Car registration
• Flashlight
• Large Backpack
• Sports equipment (if needed)
• Bike lock
• Debit and credit cards
• Toolkit

While going away from home, your main goal is to make your life comfortable. So, make sure you carry most of the things you need for college. We hope our college dorm checklist has got all the college dorm essentials you need to pack. Remember, college is going to bring some of the best moments in your life. Along with that, it will also bring new challenges. So, be prepared with the right college supplies to get started with your new life. All the best for your college life!