The Printable Dorm Packing Checklist (What to Actually Bring)

This is the checklist companion to our longer narrative packing guide. Same advice, condensed into something you can print, screenshot, or text to your parents the week before move-in. If you want the rationale for any item, the linked guide has the full discussion.

How to use this list

1. Essentials — bring all of these. They’re universal across US dorms.
2. Discuss with roommate first — one fridge, one microwave, one TV per room is enough. Coordinate so you don’t double up.
3. Verify with your school — some schools restrict halogen lamps, candles, hot plates, and certain appliances. Check the official packing list before you buy.

Essentials — bring these

Bedding

• Twin extra-long sheets (39″ × 80″ — standard for most US dorms; verify yours)
• Pillow + pillowcases
• Comforter or duvet
• Mattress pad / topper (most dorm mattresses are firm and worn)
• Light blanket for warmer months

Bathroom + hygiene

• Bath towels and washcloths (2–3 sets so one can dry while another is in the laundry)
• Shower caddy (essential for communal bathrooms)
• Shower shoes / flip-flops — required for shared bathrooms
• Toiletries: shampoo, conditioner, body wash, toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, deodorant
• Medications (prescription + over-the-counter basics: ibuprofen, antacid, allergy meds)
• Personal hygiene items

Laundry

• Laundry bag or basket / hamper
• High-efficiency (HE) laundry detergent — pods are easiest if you’ve never done laundry
• Stain remover stick
• Quarters or laundry card (verify school’s system — many are now free or app-based)

Cleaning

• Disinfecting wipes
• All-purpose cleaning spray
• Paper towels
• Trash bags (small — most dorm bins are small)
• Small handheld vacuum or broom + dustpan

School supplies

• Notebooks, pens, pencils, highlighters
• Folders or binders
• Sticky notes
• Whiteboard for the door (optional but useful for messages)

Closet

• Clothes hangers (more than you think — 30+)
• Closet organizer / over-door storage
• Drawer dividers if you have a small dresser

Tech

• Cell phone + charger (and a backup cable)
• Laptop + charger
• Headphones / earbuds
• Power strip with surge suppressor (most dorm rooms have 1–2 outlets per person; surge protection is the safety upgrade)
• Ethernet cable (some schools still need it for the fastest connection)

Daily basics

• Reusable water bottle
• Reusable coffee cup / travel mug
• Backpack for class
• Sturdy umbrella + rain jacket
• Winter coat, hat, gloves, boots (if you’re in a cold-climate region)

Discuss with your roommate first

Coordinate with your roommate on these — one of each per room is plenty.

Appliances

• Mini fridge — option to buy or rent. Many schools partner with appliance-rental services that deliver to the room before move-in (see your housing portal for the vendor; for example, New England Student Services serves Amherst and other NE schools)
• Microwave — same deal: buy or rent. Many fridge-microwave combo units are designed for dorm rooms
• Coffee maker or electric kettle — must have automatic shutoff to be allowed
• Toaster (only if your school explicitly allows it — many ban open-coil heating)

Room comfort

• Fan (essential if your dorm has no AC)
• Desk lamp — non-halogen; many schools ban halogen entirely
• Floor rug (small)
• Door mat for the hallway
• Decorative pillows / throw blanket
• String lights / desk lights (verify school’s rules — UL-listed only)

Items worth bringing

Health + comfort extras

• First-aid kit (band-aids, antiseptic, thermometer)
• Earplugs — even quiet halls have noise nights
• Eye mask — especially useful if you and your roommate have different schedules
• Slippers
• Hair dryer — must have automatic shutoff per most school rules

Walls + decor

• Command Strips and other non-destructive adhesives — required for most schools (no nails, no permanent tape)
• Wall art / posters
• Photos from home
• Plants (pothos and snake plants are nearly indestructible)

Storage

• Under-bed storage bins (low-profile so they fit under lofted beds)
• Stackable storage cubes
• Over-door shoe organizer (works for shoes OR snacks OR toiletries)

Bring later or buy on arrival

Things that aren’t worth packing if your family is shopping at a Target near campus on move-in day:

• Bulk paper towels and toilet paper
• Heavy cleaning supplies
• Bottled water / large snacks
• Hangers
• Anything else that’s heavy and cheap

Don’t bring

• Candles, incense, and anything with an open flame — banned at most schools, fire-alarm risk
• Halogen lamps
• Hot plates, electric grills, and immersion heaters — banned at most schools
• Pets (other than fish in a small tank, often size-limited)
• Weapons of any kind
• Excess wardrobe — you’ll wear maybe 30% of what you bring; pack accordingly

Save this list

Print it, screenshot it, or save the page in your phone. Cross things off as you pack and you won’t arrive at school missing the one weird thing you forgot. When the year wraps up, our move-out checklist is the closing bookend — same advice, in reverse.

Looking for real photos, floor plans, and student reviews of specific dorm rooms? Search your school at DormScouter — a free, growing library of dorm reviews from the students and parents who've actually lived there.

Last updated for the 2025–26 academic year.