24 Smart and Practical Items to Pack for College
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Back-to-school shopping looks a little different for those who are preparing to head off to college. Dorm room living can call for Twin XL sheets, shower caddies, closet organizers, and stocking up on essentials like towels and school supplies. And that’s only the start.
Shared spaces underscore the importance of individualized amenities like laundry baskets and storage containers for a tidy dorm room. To help you tackle that seemingly never-ending shopping list, we pulled together the college dorm essentials worth buying.
Storage and Organization
Amazon Basics Slim Hangers, set of 50
Attempting to squeeze every item of clothing you own into a dorm-sized closet might present a few challenges. Slim hangers can help you maximize those small spaces. Certified professional organizer Mackenzie Scott of Mission 2 Organize recommends felt hangers to maximize the capacity of the closet.
Madesmart Soft-Grip Tote
Living in a dorm probably means sharing a bathroom. And according to Scott, “The best method for bathroom-sharing is to get a bath caddy, especially if your bath area is down the hall or not attached to your room.” This handy version comes with two compartments, an easy-to-grip handle, and ventilation holes that promote airflow.
Threshold (Target) Bathroom Shower Caddy
If you’re lucky enough to have an en suite bathroom, a shower caddy is an organizational staple you won’t want to miss. This version from Target’s Threshold collection has two deep shelves and a soap tray, with two hooks beside it for loofahs or a razor. On either side of that bottom shelf area, there are two longer hooks for loofahs or washcloths. This is more than was provided by most of the shower caddies that we tried. And the suction cups stuck to the wall like a tongue to a frozen pole. Plus, the suction cups actually work.
For more options: Best Shower Caddies
Command Clear Variety Kit
Command hooks can be a useful organizational tool, and according to Sharon Lowenheim, founder of Organizing Goddess, they’re versatile and easily reusable. Just keep the hooks and grab more adhesive strips if you want to move them around. Use these for corralling cords underneath a desk, hanging towels from a door, or even as a display for bags and accessories.
Bed and Bath
At $28 for a pack of four, these are some of the most budget-friendly towels we tested, but they’re on the small side, measuring 27 inches wide by 54 inches long. These terry cloth towels aren’t the softest of the terry options we tested, though they still have a pleasant softness. They dried quickly, and we saw less hourglassing (all towels with borders saw some differential shrinking), minimal shrinkage, and no change in softness after 10 washes.
For more options: Best Bath Towels
Buffy Cloud Comforter, Twin/Twin XL
Buffy’s Cloud Comforter is a great pick for being the softest choice in our at-home assessment. Thanks to its smooth, silky feel and fluffiness, the duvet is comfortable enough to use without a duvet cover. Made of recycled materials, it’s uniformly stuffed in layers to prevent clumping and shedding. The shell material is 100 percent sateen-weave Tencel lyocell.
A great set of sheets never goes out of style, and a good-quality set will surely be appreciated. If you prefer your sheets soft to the touch, this set may be a tad off-putting; our sensory experts say it’s slightly coarse. If that’s not a deal-breaker, the L.L.Bean Pima Percale Sheet Set has a number of redeeming qualities. It will withstand pulling, prodding, and movement, as evidenced by its top-tier performance in our strength evaluation. Testers say the thread used in the material is consistent throughout, allowing the sheets to hold up well when stretched in any direction. And you can expect these sheets to have a pretty similar fit with very little shrinkage after a year of washing.
For more options: Best Sheets
Alaska Bear Natural Silk Sleep Mask
When your roommate is burning the midnight oil studying while you’re trying to catch a little shut-eye, a sleep mask can help. This silk option is an actual steal (at $13!) and an editor-approved one at that. It’s lightweight, delicate, and poised to block out light—perfect for when your sleep schedules don’t exactly align.
For more options: Best Sleep Masks
Luna Weighted Blanket
A weighted blanket can be a solid substitute when you feel like you need a hug. This version from Luna comes with a cotton cover and is available in various colors, which means you can easily customize it to suit your style and space. According to the manufacturer, you can wash it in cold water, on a gentle setting, and hang it to dry or tumble dry on low heat.
For more options: We Tested 5 Weighted Blankets
Getting a good night’s sleep is paramount in college, and a reliable pillow is just the place to start. This Coop Home Goods Premium Adjustable Loft pillow is made of shredded memory foam and earns an excellent rating in our tests for support, no matter your size and whether you sleep on your side or back.
For more options: Best Pillows
A mattress is a college dorm room staple, and you can bank on the probability that it’s not exactly new. Whether you’d like a buffer for sanitary reasons or prefer a softer foundation, a mattress topper can be of great value. A memory foam topper, like this one from Tempur-Pedic ($237 at Amazon), is perfect for those who want a bed they can sink into. For sleepers who run hot, consider an organic topper made from latex with tiny air pockets throughout—like this version from Saatva.
For more options: Best Mattress Toppers
JALL Wake Up Light Sunrise Alarm Clock
The Jall Wake Up Light Sunrise Alarm Clock is at least half the price of other clocks we tested, but from an ease-of-use standpoint, this model comes out on top. It has two independent alarms (so you can set them for different times depending on your routine), seven alarm tones (including “wind bells” and birds chirping), an FM radio, and a fall-asleep mode that simulates a sunset (though no white-noise option). Check the on-page coupon to save 5 percent.
Travel-Friendly Gear
Early morning classes call for coffee on the go, and this Zojirushi travel mug is not one to miss. It holds 16 ounces of liquid; has a spring-loaded, lockable, snap-close, button-open lid; and is leakproof. It lacks a handle and requires a brush for cleaning.
Owala FreeSip
A reusable water bottle should go without saying, and the Owala FreeSip can easily travel from dorm to class to the gym. In our tests, it was one of the easiest water bottles to open, with its unique tab that you push to pop open the lid. Inside, there’s a large spout, and within that, a smaller spout connected to a straw. If you’re not a fan of a straw, you can remove it from the bottle and drink from it chug-style, making this bottle the most versatile one we tried.
It had mixed results in our durability tests. When dropped down the stairs, it sustained several scuffs, scratches, and dents, making it one of the least durable bottles in our lineup. Ice remained after 24 hours, though, so you can trust that it’ll keep your water cold.
Herschel Novel Duffle
Whether you’re traveling from class to the gym to heading home for break, a versatile weekender will always come in handy. This reasonably priced weekender comes in a playful array of colors and patterns, and it’s water-resistant, light, and easy to carry. A separate compartment for shoes keeps your clothes clean, but other than that, this is a straightforward bag to get you from point A to point B.
For more options: Best Weekender Bags and Duffels
Chi Handheld Garment Steamer
Chances are, they won’t need an iron but they will appreciate a portable handheld steamer. With a travel bag in tow, this Chi handheld garment steamer is a voyager’s best accessory. Roughly the size of a flat iron, it offers 8 minutes of steaming and has a manual button on the handle. It was the fastest steamer to heat up in our lab test, ready to go after a mere 40 seconds. The compact device is compatible with tap water, which takes the stress out of having to track down distilled water when on the go.
Desktop Tech and Accessories
Voncerus LED Desk Lamp
Burning the midnight oil while studying is much more effective with a great desk lamp. The Voncerus is lightweight and simple to set up. In place of bells and whistles, you get a controller you’ve seen before and will know how to operate: There’s an on/off button; a button for switching among red, amber, and blue light options; and minus and plus buttons for increasing or decreasing brightness intensity.
Soundance Laptop Stand
This no-frills aluminum laptop stand from Soundhance requires minor assembly: You snap the two arms into the base of the stand, and when you’re done, your laptop sits about 6 inches off the desk. While it’s not adjustable (neither height nor tilt), you can still position your laptop’s screen to any desired degree.
For more options: Best Laptop Stands for a More Ergonomic Workspace
Sharing a dorm room means that studying in silence isn’t always a guarantee. A pair of noise-canceling headphones can save you. While the Monoprice BT-300ANC headphones don’t have the latest features—like a monitor mode or adjustable noise cancellation—they deliver where it counts: above-average sound quality and fantastic sound-blocking abilities if you cherish the quiet.
For more options: Best Noise-Canceling Headphones
The JBL Clip 4 has two important things going for it: It’s inexpensive and it’s small, making it a great choice for taking it to college. This tiny speaker fits easily into your palm and features a carabiner that can clip onto a backpack or a beach bag. JBL claims an IP67 rating, which means the speaker is both water-resistant and dustproof. Our testers found the Clip 4 to be easy to pair, and the prominent controls make it easy to turn up the volume. Trust us: A speaker will definitely come in handy.
For more options: Best Wireless Speakers
Small (but Mighty) Appliances
In our tests, we found the Shark SpeedStyle Pro Flex to be a high-performing hair dryer. We liked how easily the attachments snapped onto the dryer and how you could rotate them without removing them. Its airflow is so strong that when turned on, it has a kickback.
The Shark Pro Flex has another high-end feature: Its IQ Speed Styling & Drying Suite automatically adjusts heat and speed depending on the attachment. The attachments are unique and feature-rich, including the Frizzfighter, which is helpful in making sleek bangs (and eliminating flyaways). The diffuser features different prong lengths depending on hair type, and its brush attachment includes boar bristles. Its highest temperature reading in our tests was 115° F.
For more options: Best Hair Dryers
A daily Starbucks habit can add up quickly, and once midterms roll around (and that caffeine intake triples), having a personal coffee maker will be appreciated. The Ninja Single Serve Pods & Grounds PB051 dual coffee maker is perfect for college students sharing a dorm or an apartment. It’s virtually three machines in one: a pod coffee maker, a drip coffee maker, and a milk frother. For single-serve Keurig K-Cups, a speedy first cup is paramount, and our testers found this model excellent in that regard. For drip brewing, we found brew performance very good, meaning the machine brewed at between 195° F and 205° F for 5 or 6 minutes, the industry standard for optimal brewing and the best flavor. This Ninja model has a removable reservoir, a water filter, and an indicator to tell you when you’ll need to clean it.
For more options: Best Coffee Makers
Along with its sibling, the Brita Tahoe, Brita’s Denali pitcher sounds more like an SUV than a water filter. But it’s actually the highest-rated water filter pitcher in our ratings, thanks to its Elite filter cartridge, which removes chlorine, lead, and PFAS. We found that the Denali improves flavor and reduces odors, and its impressive flow rate means your pitcher should be clog-free during its lifespan. We expect you’ll spend about $40 a year on replacement cartridges.
For more options: Best Water Filter Pitchers
An air purifier might not be at the top of your college dorm essentials shopping list, but it’s still worth considering. The portable Sharper Image Purify 9 is primarily filter-based, has six speeds, and is designed for floor or tabletop use in areas up to 350 square feet (prime for a compact dorm). This model receives an excellent rating in our tests for its ability to remove dust, pollen, and smoke when operating at its highest setting. It’s also easy to use and simple to remove and replace its filters.
For more options: Best Air Purifiers
