Tried & True College Packing List
- Missy Fox
- Jun 30
- 8 min read
Updated: Jul 4
With every kid we sent off to college, our family's packing list became more refined. Here is our compiled, combed, and complete master list for what to bring to college. We’ve included links to many of our favorite items.
How to make a small, cement dorm room feel warm and homey? The trick is focusing on comfort, organization, and narrowing down to just what’s needed.
Note: I participate in the Amazon Associates program, so when you use one of my links, Amazon sends me a small commission that helps cover my website expenses. Thank you!
Organization:
Over-the-door shoe organizer – this style works better for boots and high heels than the style with pockets. Note some dorms have armoires instead of closets, so find out the layout for your student’s room.
Space-saving slim hangers to fit more clothes in tiny closets (especially girls)
Little book light to clip on bed and use without waking roommates, if they like to read in bed
Sterilite wheeled footlocker: having a couple of these on hand was super useful for loading and unloading belongings. At the dorm, administration may let you store them in an attic somewhere, or they can go in the top of a closet or under the bed. If our favorite isn’t available, here is a backup version.
Optional: small shelf or utility cart for books or for kitchen supplies (foldable/collapsible is nice so you can transport it back and forth in the car over summer breaks): you can go basic (but easily disassembled), slightly larger and on wheels, or more classy-looking
Bedside shelf or storage caddy that attaches to bunk rail, but only if they will be on the top bunk (otherwise it is in the way)
Kitchen supplies:
Hopefully your teen can get most of their nutrition from the cafeteria, but it’s still nice to be able to heat up some ramen or a cup of coffee when needed. Make sure they coordinate purchases with future roommates so that they don’t arrive on campus with three microwaves and no trash can.
Water filter – Sometimes the dorm water can taste awful and who knows what’s in it. We like the travel-size (1.5 gallon) Berkey – expensive up front but you save in the long run on filter costs since they last so long. And, it filters much better than other options
Dorm-sized fridge
Microwave – we have this 1 cubic foot model at home and I LOVE it. Reliable, works great, feels bigger inside than I would expect. Amazon has it listed in two spots with different prices for the same model.
Hot water kettle – in case they want multiple cups of tea or coffee without stopping to keep reheating water in the microwave
Mugs
Bowl
A few spoons and forks
Paring knife (or, for $5 more, get two!) – Sharp, durable, quality – a go-to in our kitchen
Coffee maker: the Aeropress French Press is affordable, compact, and makes an excellent cup of coffee, or for a little more you can upgrade to a Keurig
Tea: eg. Good Earth Sweet & Spicy is a non-caffeinated cinnamon-y one
Hand towels
Paper towels
Dish detergent
Palm scrub brush for washing dishes
Note many colleges have rules against heating items like hotplates, crockpots, etc.
Furnishings and Décor:
Note that girls sometimes like to coordinate colors with their roommates before moving in.
Compact hammer with hidden screwdrivers inside (This will make them instantly popular with their hallmates who have no tools)
Set of picture hanging nails, screws in various sizes
Clear push pins – these work great for hanging things on wall. You can actually put a wooden shelf on the wall supported by push pins. Get the kind that stick out, not the flat ones.
Hanging door mirror (more affordable to pick up at store rather than ship)
Small lamp for desk
Extension cord surge protector – outlets are often in inconvenient places
Curtain fairy lights – girls tend to like stringing lots of lights everywhere for coffee shop ambiance. Guys, not so much.
Sound machine/alarm clock – makes white noise, rainstorm sounds, etc. that are nice for drowning out dorm noise. Price compare here as well.
Dry erase board and markers if that is their preferred study method
Bulletin board – if not provided by the school
Photos/pictures of family and friends, to hang on the wall or put on desk
Sheets (2 sets) – bed size is usually extra-long twin
Comforter or duvet and duvet covers
Bed pillow
A couple throw pillows – getting a pillow insert and separate removable pillow covers is nice for washability
Rug – compact, stains come off easily, and machine washable
Foldable saucer chair – depending on space availability and preference
Some girls like vine garlands to drape around the room, over mirrors, etc.
Other decor items
Cleaning supplies:
Small broom with dustpan - this one works well and takes very little space
Small vacuum - works remarkably well for the price. (Note there may be one available on the hall for student use, though.)
Bug zapper – in case the room has roaches. (A second way to make your teen popular with dormmates with, shall we say, emergency needs)
Terro ant poison - the buggers gobble it up like cows 'round a feeding trough, then bring it home to kill the colony
Trash can for room and another for bathroom, if they have an in-suite bathroom
Kitchen-size trash bags: Useful not only for trash, but also for moving things out at the end of the year
Office supplies:
Binders or spiral notebooks or folders, according to your child’s bent
Planner/calendar
Nice pens – these are our smooth-rolling favorites
Pencils
Highlighters
Flag-style Post-Its or Book Darts (I am a book dart addict – save multiple key places in textbooks without worrying about bulky bookmarks falling out. But my kids like the colored sticky flags because they can coordinate meaning to the various colors)
Index cards
Permanent marker
Scissors – These are kitchen sheers, not desk scissors, but you can use them for both. We had a pair of these for decades
Tape (blue, regular clear, packing, duct, masking)
USB drive
Stamps
Envelopes
Cards
Eraser
Pencil holder/mug
Pencil sharpener (small is good)
Batteries, if any of their items need them
Clothing and laundry:
My favorite video tip on packing clothes! This approach makes it so much easier – then you just layer these tied-up bags in the car (or squeeze them in between boxes, as padding)
Space-saving laundry hamper – need a sturdy one easy to carry to the laundry room
Stain spray/stick
Laundry pods are easier to carry than liquid container
Compact, foldable drying rack for delicate clothes (also nice for wet clothes after playing in snow, if school is up north)
Iron or Steamer
Fashion tape, for girls
Safety pins – don’t need this many; just a few for emergency clothing adjustments
Rain/snow boots
Winter coat
Jacket
Gloves
Cold-weather hat
Sunblocking hat or ball cap
Regular clothes
Accessories (belts, earrings, etc.)
Business wear – at least one outfit suitable for an internship interview
Formal wear? – if the school has formal dances. Might be better to wait until they get there and see what others typically wear. We found girls often sell or rent their formal dresses to each other on campus.
Toiletries:
Towels
Hand towels
Washcloths
Toothpaste
Dental floss – this one has no microplastics
Liquid soap for dishes and hands (?)
Shampoo
Hairspray
Sunscreen
Deodorant
Moisturizer – our dermatologist recommends this one. The larger size is cheaper per ounce but smaller is better in a dorm.
Razors
Nail clippers – compact leather-bound set
Hairbrush and hair accoutrements
Hairdryer
For girls:
Makeup
Makeup remover (or micellar water and washable micellar cleansing pads)
Feminine supplies
Flip flops for shower (in case someone in the dorm has athlete’s foot or plantar warts)
Shower caddy if bathroom is down the hall
For in-suite bathrooms:
Shower curtain, if needed
Bath mat
Hanging shower rack or cart or other storage
Magic erasers for cleaning
Bathroom cleaning supplies
To stay healthy:
Health/dental/vision insurance cards
Hand sanitizer or alcohol hand wipes, which work better but are bulkier, for their backpack
Tweezers for splinters
Vitamin D and C or emergenC
Alcohol pads for wiping faucets and doorknobs when roommate has the stomach bug
Probiotics
Aleve
Ibuprofen
Tylenol
Benadryl
Sudafed
Bandaids
N95 masks if they want to wear them while the flu is raging during exam week
Any other remedies your family believes in
Other:
Backpack - our kids didn’t have one this nice, but they wished they did - a friend showed it to them. Really comfortable even with a lot in it and works great as an airplane personal item.
Social Security card and birth certificate if planning to work on campus
Water bottle
Compact umbrella
Flashlight
Headphones and/or earbuds
A small window fan, if there's no A/C in the dorm
String or yarn
Laptop
Laptop charge cord
Phone - there’s a trend I love of students purposely choosing “dumb phones” which can’t access the internet. Helps avoid distractions and temptation
Phone charge cord
Suitcase, if there is a chance they may go on a trip where a backpack wouldn't be enough
Cash for emergencies/bug out bag
Things our kids didn’t end up using:
3-hole punch
Paper (I’m not sure why they didn’t need this, but there you go)
Clothespins
Rubber bands
Paper clips
As true homeschoolers, some of our kids brought stacks of books with them when they left home. Each time they came back on break, though, they brought more books back home… they just didn’t have enough room in the dorm. Especially as they took more and more classes and needed to squeeze THOSE books onto shelves.
The same was true for clothing. They seemed to be purging their closets every semester. In fact, our daughters discovered a vibrant resale market within the dorm, with girls selling used clothes to each other cheap, especially formal dresses. Any worries I had of “I need to buy them new clothes for college!” were quickly alleviated once they got there. They graduated with much better (and more professional) wardrobes than they arrived with as freshmen.
Other important steps to complete before the move:
Submit a final, official transcript if the school requires it (they usually do)
Many schools require a physical before the student attends. Schedule this early. Consider ahead of time which vaccines the school or doctor is asking for.
Sign legal forms that allow you to access your child’s education and medical. We forget as parents that once our children turn 18, laws like HIPPA prevent hospitals and colleges from giving us any information without written permission. Some teens balk at signing over parental access to see educational records; if so, a gentle reminder is in order of who is paying (at least part) of their tuition.
Set up bank account and app if they don’t have one already. I was surprised that our kids all got along fine for 4 years without a local bank account; they were able to do everything online with an out-of-state bank. I guess I’m still living in the 1980s.
Realize you WILL forget things. That’s okay. Leave room for a Walmart run once you get to campus. Honestly, paying for an Amazon Prime membership isn’t a bad idea for the first month, as they realize what they forgot or what they didn’t know they’d need. Students get cheaper rates.
Have I left off something key? Want to share a link for a favorite item? Leave it in the comments!
Photo by Ketut Subiyanto: https://www.pexels.com/photo/modern-couple-unpacking-car-while-moving-to-new-place-4246268/
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