The Ultimate College Dorm Packing List 2024 [Free Printable]

If you’re looking for the ultimate college dorm packing list, you’ve come to the right place.

I lived in the college dorms all four years of college and have learned everything a college student needs to have a comfortable and functional home away from home.

Here is everything you need to make your dorm complete:

Dorm Bedding Essentials:

Twin (XL) bed sheets
Twin bed cover (twin long if available)
Pillows
Pillow covering
Mattress Pad (super essential! Dorm mattresses tend to be hard)
Throw over

Desk Essentials:

Most dorm desks come with a couple of drawers below for storage, and they are just big enough for a few items and space for you to work.

My advice is to keep the desktop simple with a desk lamp, a pencil holder for your pens, pencils, and highlights, and sticky notes. With a full load of classes, you’ll have plenty of assignments and books to keep your desk full!

Desk Lamp
Desk Organizer (very essential)
Trash bin
Tissues

Bathroom Essentials:

Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Toothbrush case
Face Wash
Hand Soap
Hand lotion
Shower Caddy (very helpful to have if you share a dorm with roommates)
Hair Shampoo
Hair Conditioner
Hair ties
Body Wash
Washcloth
Toilet bowl cleaner
Plunger
Shower curtains
Toilet Paper
Paper Towel
Hair unclogger
Bathroom rugs
Towels
Over the door hooks
Bathroom wall rack
Blow dryer
Straightener
Makeup bag
Pads/Tampons
Suntan lotion
Hair remover
Women razor
Mouth wash
Deodorant
Perfume

Why you should have a shower caddy in the dorms…

A shower caddy is a portable large meshed purse to store bathroom supplies. Buying a shower caddy for your dorm is a must if you share a dorm room with one or more people because you’ll have limited space to store your bathroom supplies under the sink or on the counter.

With a shower caddy, you can easily tow your bathroom supplies to the bathroom when you’re ready to use the bathroom.

Another reason why a shower caddy is a must is that you’ll lower the chances of having your bathroom supplies stolen or used without your permission by one of your roommates. Unfortunately, it happens.

Cleaning Essentials:

I don’t know why, but my freshman year, not one of my 3 roommates brought cleaning supplies for our dorm. (I guess it wasn’t on their college dorm packing list lol). Unsurprisingly, they weren’t the biggest cleaners either.

I was the only one that came prepared.

For this reason, I would advise you not to show up to your dorm hoping that your roommates brought cleaning supplies with them unless of course, you guys have a discussion beforehand about who is bringing what.

Bring your own dorm room cleaning suppies and ask your roommates to replace anything they use themselves.

Clorox Wipes
Swiffer wipes
Swiffer
Broom
Dust Pan
Ajax/Bleach (cleaning shower)
Tub scrubber
Duster
Febreeze
Lysol Toilet bowl cleaner

Laundry Packing Essentials:

Laundry detergent
Laundry softener
Laundry cart (must-have!! It may be a far walk to the laundry mat)

Dorm Kitchen Essentials:

This section is the second most extensive one on this college dorm packing list and one section you want to get right so you don’t come up missing something while you’re cooking. You don’t have to buy everything before you move into your dorm but you’ll eventually need everything.

I just have one big tip that I hope you take with a big bag of salt (because it’s just that important). When you are shopping for dinnerware, just buy 1-2 plates, forks, knives, spoons, cups, and bowls.

You do NOT need a complete set of silverware and dinnerware. You’re just one person. Trust me. I made the mistake of buying a complete set of silverware, 4 cups, 4 bowls, and 4 plates, and because I was just one person, two of my plates, cups, bowls, and two sets of silverware never saw the light of day.

It was such a big waste of money. If you are want to buy extra dinnerware because you want to host dinners at your dorm now and then, buy paper plates instead.

saucepan
frying pan
big deep pot
spatula
a few large wooden spoons
a couple of forks, knives, and spoons
a couple of plates, cups, and bowls
Silverware dividers
a complete set of variety-size Tupperware
potholders
paper towel
dish soap
dish sponge
baking pans
potholders
napkins
potato peeler
can opener
cutting knives
toaster
microwave
garbage bin
garbage bags
measuring cups
cutting board
blender
Tinfoil
Pizza pan
Ziplock bags
Trash bin
Cooking seasonings
Brita water pitcher
Stove cleaner
Kitchen mats

To make your dorm shopping as stress-free as possible, download my FREE ultimate college dorm packing list so you don’t forget a thing! It’s includes everything I needed and used all four years of college!

Closet Essentials:

Hangers
Hanging Fabric Storage Organizer

Unfortunately, dorm closets do not come with a lot of storage space so having a closet storage organizer that can create more room is super helpful.

As you probably know, jeans can take up a lot of space so I love folding my jeans and storing them away in this organizer. It’s also great for purses, dressy shirts, and shoes.

Of course, you can use your closet storage organizer however you like!

Medicine Cabinet Essentials:

I am guilty of completely forgetting to buy stuff for my medicine cabinet my freshman year and I don’t want you to make the same mistake or keep making that mistake (if you’re upperclassmen).

Below are your must-have college dorm medicine cabinet essentials.”

I promise that you will absolutely need these products.

You can check out why in this post.

Pepto Bismol
Advil
Cough drops
Miralax
Vix
First Aid kit

Storage Essentials:

In the dorms, you’ll want to get at minimum 1-2 storage bins or storage drawers for your textbooks or any miscellaneous items that you have and don’t have a perfect place for.

Dorm rooms are quite small, so it’s so important that you optimize your space by having a bin or two to put your extra stuff.