College Packing List: A Realistic Guide on What to Bring and What to Skip

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Now—I want to point out that this a GENERAL dorm packing list. The list is very detailed, including a broad selection of items. Which is why it’s a great a starting point for ideas!

College Packing List Guide

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Now let’s dive into what you should take with you to college for freshman year! But, first things first:

💡 TIP: Make sure you know what is and isn’t allowed in your dorm room, BEFORE you start packing.

Each university has specific residence hall guidelines and provides different things (like a trash can or mini fridge) in the rooms. Check your school’s website for their recommended guidelines.

Dorm Room Essentials

❑ 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
❑ Portable laundry basket (something like this)
❑ 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 utility cart*

Hold off until you check with your roommate – 

❑ Rug
❑ Coffeemaker
❑ Blackout curtains

Clothing/Shoes/Accessories

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, how frequently you visit your parents, and how you generally like to dress.

Just use your best judgment for your final dorm room packing list decision. Here’s a general overview of all the clothes to consider bringing with:

❑ 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

Girl-specific clothing:

❑ Bras
❑ Leggings/yoga pants
❑ Tights
❑ Casual & formal dresses
❑ Skirts
❑ Cardigans
❑ Jewelry
❑ Purse/s
❑ Clutch
❑ Flats
❑ Heels

Desk/School Items

For college school supplies, your class syllabi will give you a more in-depth look at what you need.

So what I’ve included here are some general items that are used in most courses and it’ll definitely be enough for freshman year. 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
❑ Mini stapler & staples
❑ Keychain multi-tool (super recommend the DoohicKey+, it has 8 tools in one design)
❑ Scissors
❑ Whiteout
❑ Tape
❑ Desk organizer
❑ Glue

Documents/ID’s

❑ 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

Bathroom

❑ 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
❑ Toilet Spray*
❑ Toilet scrubber*
❑ Toilet plunger*
❑ Bathroom cleaner*
❑ Pumice stone*
❑ Glass cleaner*
❑ Sponge or scrubber brush*
❑ Toilet paper*
❑ Scale
❑ Hanging shower caddy*

Toiletries

❑ 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
❑ Chafing powder
❑ Aftershave
❑ Cologne/perfume
❑ Nose hair trimmer
❑ 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 girl-specific personal care essentials:

❑ 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

Electronics/Tech Stuff

❑ 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*
❑ Gaming system
❑ Camera
❑ Lapdesk
❑ Kindle reader
❑ Tablet
❑ Portable charger
❑ Extension cord*
❑ Printer*
❑ Printer paper*
❑ Printer ink*
❑ HDMI cable*

Shared items (coordinate with your roomie/s):

❑ Apple TV/streaming device
❑ DVD player
❑ TV*

Cleaning & Laundry Supplies

❑ 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

Kitchen Stuff

❑ Water bottle
❑ Coffee mug
❑ Insulated tumbler
❑ Ziploc bags
❑ Food storage containers (this Anyday set is seriously convenient)
❑ Can opener
❑ Tupperware
❑ Brita filter pitcher
❑ A few utensils
❑ Bowl
❑ Plate
❑ Cup

Discuss these with your roommate before buying:

❑ Electric cooking pot*
❑ Electric kettle*
❑ Microwave*
❑ Mini fridge*
❑ Blender*
❑ Toaster*
❑ Air Fryer*

Miscellaneous Items

❑ Kleenex
❑ Air Freshener (love these Febreze Small Space Air Fresheners because no outlet needed!)
❑ Odor Absorber (Arm & Hammer Odor Busters are perfect for absorbing bad smells in dorms)
❑ Ice scraper (for your car)
❑ Umbrella
❑ Earplugs
❑ Sleep mask
❑ Clip-on book light
❑ Hand Sanitizer
❑ Diversion safe (for valuables)
❑ Luggage
❑ Duffel bag
❑ Weekender bag
❑ Board games
❑ Sleeping bag

What NOT to Bring to College (And Why)

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Now you know what stuff 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 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 these things were 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.  

The reasoning for skipping this stuff…

Textbooks

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.

Window AC Units

Plain and simple, these are almost always not permitted in dorms.

Bed Risers

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).

Sewing Kit

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.

Iron & Ironing Board

If you’re like me, you never iron your clothing anyway. Plus, a wrinkle releaser spray will do the trick for less effort.

Alarm Clock

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.

Light Bulbs

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.

TV & DVD player

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.

Printer & Printer Supplies

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!

Pets

Sadly, unless you’re lucky enough to be attending a pet-friendly college, furry friends are banned from campus housing.

Too many decorative pillows

Just try to not go overboard, you still need a place to sleep!

Dishes & Utensils

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.  

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Final thoughts on college necessities…

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 list, and even the things you should probably leave at home. With a solid gameplan like this, now you’re ready for literally anything college throws at you.

Did I miss any big stuff for this college packing checklist? 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!

Related articles for first-year students:

• Easy ways to organize food storage your dorm room
• 9 insanely useful cheap things college students need

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Pin it for later 📌:

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Dorm Checklist for Freshman Year