As a parent sending my first kid off to college, I was bombarded with things I was “supposed” to buy for his dorm room — and it was so easy to get sucked in.

• A smoothie blender for my active kid? Check — never used.
• LED lights? Check — school banned them.
• Pottery Barn throw pillows and color-coordinated bedding? Hard pass. I’m a value-conscious shopper, and luckily, my son was happy with just a comforter. That’s all he has on his bed at home.

It’s tempting to buy everything to make their new space feel like home, but most of it ends up collecting dust. Dorm rooms are small, your budget is real, and your student will likely wear the same hoodie all week.

So, I made a checklist of what we actually used — no fluff, no overspending. Just the practical, budget-friendly essentials. The links are for things that were in my shopping cart – I bought stuff via Amazon, Walmart and Costco.

Want a downloadable checklist? Click here: College Dorm Checklist

Before you start shopping: College move-in is a big milestone — and a crash course in dorm logistics, Pinterest trends, and mattress topper scarcity. 😅 Here are the lessons I learned so you don’t have to.

📏 1. Get the Dorm Measurements First
Before you buy a single bin, check the college website. Most schools list room dimensions, furniture details, and what’s provided. Bonus tip: Pinterest and Reddit often have real photos and layouts for specific residence halls. That cute ottoman might not fit anywhere!

🛒 2. Don’t Wait Too Long to Shop
If your teen is anything like mine, you’ll hear “just buy it, Mom” or “I’ll do it later” more than once.
Here’s the thing: sales don’t last and Twin XL mattress toppers sell out. I learned this the hard way. So, if you know they’re going — start grabbing the essentials early. Future you will be grateful.

That said, you can also ship stuff later or pick it up at the local Target and Walmart. So, if your kid is going out of driving range, check with their schools as some allow packages to be delivered a week or two before school starts.

🎯 3. Know the Difference Between Must-Have vs. Nice-to-Have
Yes, you want them to feel at home. Yes, those dorm hauls on TikTok look amazing. But no — they probably don’t need six throw pillows or a full-on Keurig setup.
Stick to what they’ll actually use. Think: bedding, storage, towels, shower gear, and basic lighting. The rest? Optional (and often unused).

🎨 4. Girls Usually Want to Coordinate Décor — So Wait Before Buying
If you have a daughter, expect a group chat with her roommate about color schemes and room themes. Hold off on sheets, pillows, and decor until after the vibe has been decided. Trust me — buying blush pink when the theme turns out to be sage green = return trip.

😅 5. Your Kid Might Not Care At All
And that’s okay. Mine didn’t want to pick anything — just said “whatever works.” So I made the executive decisions on basics and called it a day. But I still wish I’d started earlier and skipped the overthinking.

In the end, dorm rooms are small, your budget is limited, and your student will probably be too busy (or tired) to care about half the extras. Focus on what counts, keep it simple, and don’t forget to breathe. You’re doing great!!

• Sleep
  • Mattress Topper https://amzn.to/4dAW9Ec
  • Mattress Protector https://amzn.to/3FmTy3U2 or https://amzn.to/4nw2ZiN
  • Twin XL fitted sheets https://amzn.to/4kv8oUN
  • Pillow – don’t buy – use what you have
  • Pillow protector – don’t buy – use what you have
  • Pillow covers https://amzn.to/43tJttQ
  • Fan -The WooZoo fan is the best and also cheapest at Costco https://amzn.to/3H3HcOv
  • Optional: Decorative Pillows https://amzn.to/43JBH0k
• Grooming:
  • Quick dry Towels (2) – you want the quick dry ones Sonoma Goods For Life® Quick Dry Ribbed Bath Towel, Bath Sheet, Hand Towel or Washcloth
  • Washcloth (1) Sonoma Goods For Life® Quick Dry Ribbed Bath Towel, Bath Sheet, Hand Towel or Washcloth
  • Shower Shoes or Crocs – get the shower shoes with holes for drainage and quick drying https://amzn.to/439u3w2
  • Shower Tote/Caddy https://amzn.to/3FfbRbh
  • Shampoo and conditioner
  • Bodywash / Facewash
  • Razor and shaving gel
  • Deodorant
  • Q-tips
  • Face Products/ Makeup
  • Hairbrush
  • Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Mouthwash, Dental Floss
  • Tissues
• Study:
  • Backpack
  • Desk lamp – one with a charging dock saves space https://amzn.to/43rvHYF  or Lepro LED Desk Lamp, 9W 655lm, Dimmable, Touch Control, 3 Modes, Ideal for Office and School, White – Walmart.com or the Ottlite from Costco on sale
  • Calculator and charger
  • Notebooks
  • Highlighters, Pens, Pencils
  • Stapler/Staples, Paper clips
  • Scissors
  • Tape
  • Post-its
• Technology
  • Laptop with charger
  • Optional: Ipad with charger
  • Portable Charger https://amzn.to/4dyKk16
  • Phone and Charging Cables https://amzn.to/43bkhJW
  • Power-strip/Extension Cord/ USB Charging dock https://amzn.to/4dtHj1Y
  • Thumb drive
  • Batteries
  • Headphones / Earbuds
  • Watch with charger, if applicable
• Cleaning List
  • Screen cleaner https://amzn.to/4kvjKbg
  • Laundry detergent
  • Stain remover
  • Dryer sheets
  • Laundry Bag from Walmart OUDXVEE Extra Large 115L Laundry Bag Backpack with Padded Shoulder Strap and Mesh for Dorm – Walmart.com or Amazon https://amzn.to/43oQmfZn  
  • Lint roller – being in the business school and having to wear suits regularly, the lint roller was handy
  • Iron/Steamer – This was a more expensive buy, but we wanted a good one my kid does iron his clothes, and the steamer was especially useful for suits. He definitely put it to good use. We got the one from Costco: Conair 2-in-1 Steamer & Iron with Gentle Temp | Costco or https://amzn.to/45uSvJE
• Medication:
  • First aid kit
  • Thermometer: LPOW Infrared Digital Forehead Thermometer, 1s Reading, 3 Colors Backlight, 50 Memories Recall, All Ages – Walmart.com. This came really handy when flu rotated through the residence hall
  • Theraflu: Theraflu Severe Cough Cold and Flu Daytime Relief Medicine Syrup, Berry, 8.3 Oz – Walmart.com
• Miscellaneous
  • Sunglasses
  • Weekend duffle bag – we gave a small duffle bag that we had at home, but Sean used the laundry bag and even the Veno bag to bring stuff for when he came home for holidays
  • Umbrella/rain jacket/ backpack cover
  • Plate, Bowl – what was most used was a plate and a Ramen Bowl (don’t buy plastic because it goes in the microwave). TJ Maxx/Marshalls have nice, big glass ramen bowls that are perfect for those late-night hunger pangs
  • Spoon, fork, knife
  • Brita water filter (depending on your residence hall) https://amzn.to/4dFsNEE
  • Carpet – discuss with roommate. We got this one because it was easy to clean, didn’t need an underpad, was soft. The boys vacuumed it every weekend (yeah, unbelievable but their room was pretty clean!) https://amzn.to/44LzIcU
  • Shelving unit – discuss with roommate https://amzn.to/4ksfZ6t
  • Mini-fridge – discuss with roommate. The dorm room came with one, so we didn’t have to buy one. Decide if you’ll split costs or one person buys it. If you split costs, what happens when you move out of the dorm, who takes it?
  • Shelf with drawers – make sure you know it will fit under the bed Sterilite 3 Drawer Cart, White – Walmart.com
  • Desk hutch – we didn’t get one since he didn’t want one but a lot of kids like them
  • Vanity mirror – didn’t buy one, room had a small mirror. But a girl might want one
  • Vacuum cleaner – his roommate had a portable Bissell
  • Ottoman (as storage, to sit, and to climb on the bed!) https://amzn.to/4jmuSXb
  • Picture Rail hooks as most rooms don’t allow nails https://amzn.to/4k56V7P
  • Space Saving hangars – was very useful in optimizing closet space https://amzn.to/4kv8oUN
  • Storage Cart https://amzn.to/4mkBzf0
  • Veno Packing Bags https://amzn.to/45oWKq9 or through ebay! I bought it off eBay since I got brand new bags cheaper but it wasn’t available anymore so I have the link to Amazon
  • Boot tray – Sean used two – one at the room entrance for shoes, the other was under the bath caddy because that will drip once they bring it back from the bathroom Mainstays Diamond Boot Tray, 15″ x 29″, Black – Walmart.com
  • Room Decor – We had a cross from his room at home, and some stuff his grandparents sent. But nothing else beyond that. The two boys used their wall to post stickies for reminders!
  • Optional: Lap Desk “iFanze Foldable Bamboo Lap Desk, Portable Adjustable Laptop Table Stand for Adults, 21″”x13” – Walmart.com. Sean didn’t end up using this
• DON’T FORGET
  1. Copy of Health Insurance Card
• 1. Power of Attorney – Health, Finance, HIPAA release and FERPA waiver. If you don’t have a lawyer through a legal plan at work, this site is the best alternative: Mama Bear Legal Forms: Young Adult Power of Attorney Package, Complete Online Will Bundle.

Enjoy this process!