The Ultimate Toiletries Checklist for College: What to Bring and What to Leave Behind

Moving into a college dorm is a significant milestone, filled with excitement and a touch of apprehension. Turning a small dorm room into a comfortable and functional living space requires careful planning, and one of the most crucial aspects is packing the right toiletries. This comprehensive checklist, compiled with advice from current students, will guide you through the essentials, ensuring you have everything you need for a smooth and comfortable transition to college life.

Introduction: Navigating the College Packing Process

Packing for college can feel like a daunting task. What should you bring with you? What should you leave at home? How many clothes should you really pack for your first semester? How many books is too many? These are just a few of the questions you may be asking yourself as you prepare to pack up and move into your dorm room. Make your college move smooth and stress-free!

Dorm Room Essentials: Creating Your Home Away From Home

Moving away from home for the first time requires planning and organization, but you’ve already done the hard work of getting accepted. Now it’s time to focus on what to pack to transform your dorm room into the ideal space for living, studying, and socializing.

Bedding and Linens: Setting the Foundation for a Good Night's Sleep

Good quality sleep is essential for academic success! When it comes to this category, there are a few things to keep in mind. Always check your bed size before buying anything. Make sure to get more than one set of each so you always have something clean to put on your bed while the other stuff is in the laundry. Lastly, consider the climate and choose your blankets accordingly. Remember, winter in Wisconsin is cold!

Twin XL Sheet Set - make sure you get Twin XL.
Sheets and pillowcases (2 sets. Check with college for size needed - some college twin beds are extra long.)
Pillows (2)
Mattress pad (Check with college for size needed)
Blankets (2)
Comforter/bedspread
Mattress cover and mattress pad (check the size of the provided mattress)

Personal Hygiene Items: Maintaining Your Daily Routine

Whatever essential toiletries you use on an everyday basis are items you'll want to make sure to pack for college!

Soap/body wash, shampoo, conditioner
Shower shoes (flip-flops)
Shaving supplies
Deodorant
Hairbrush or comb
Dental floss, toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash
Sunscreen
Bath towels and washcloths
Nail clippers and tweezers
Hair dryer/straightener/curling iron
Razor and shaving cream
Lotion and/or facial moisturizer
Cotton swabs
Feminine hygiene products, if needed
Contact lens supplies
Travel soap container(s)

Clothing and Laundry Supplies: Staying Fresh and Organized

Consider the weather you’ll experience throughout the semester and choose what clothes to pack accordingly. Be sure to bring enough to last you between laundry days, but don't bring your entire wardrobe, as there most likely won't be enough storage space in your dorm room. Undergarments and socks (essential, obviously!

Laundry detergent (we recommend premeasured, mess-free detergent sheets)
Laundry hamper, bag, or basket
Laundry drying rack
Dryer balls
Lint brush or roller
Mini sewing kit
Underwear
Socks
Pants/jeans/leggings
T-shirts/blouses
Sweats
Pajamas
Slippers and/or flip-flops
Sweaters
Light/heavy jackets
Gloves/scarf/hat (and other foul-weather gear as needed)
1 pair of boots
2 pairs of sneakers or comfortable/walking shoes
1 set of business-casual clothes
1 pair of dress shoes
1 swimsuit
Bathrobe (if you want to avoid walking to and from the showers in a towel)
Accessories like belts, scarves, hats, jewelry (but avoid bringing valuables)

Tech and Gadgets: Staying Connected and Productive

Whether you prefer a laptop or a tablet, you'll need something to complete assignments on. You'll also want to be sure you have what you need for chilled out evenings in your dorm room. Whether you plan to watch movies or listen to music, you'll want to be sure you can do so without disturbing your roommate if she's studying.

Laptop and charger
Cell phone and charger
Tablet and charger, if used
Extension cord and surge protector
Graphing calculator
Headphones or earbuds
Portable speaker
Printer and ink cartridges
HDMI cord, Ethernet cord for computer (check if your room has wireless)
Surge protector
Extension cords
3-2 prong adapters
Camera
Charging cords

Study and Organizational Supplies: Creating a Functional Workspace

When packing for this category, think about how you like to approach notetaking, studying, and homework. Are you a sticky notes and flags kind of studier, or a color-coded notes and highlighters kind student?

Notebooks and binders
Lined paper and white computer paper
Pens, pencils, highlighters, and permanent markers
Paper clips and rubber bands
Weekly planner or calendar
Textbooks (consider digital versions or textbook rentals)
Electronic storage media such as memory cards and USB flash drives
Stapler and staples
Printer paper (if you decide to bring a printer)
Pencil holder and sharpener
Folder with pockets
Labels of various sizes
3 × 5 index cards
Sticky notes
Paper clips and binder clips
Rubber bands
Tape
Scissors
Highlighter pens (multiple colors)
Ruler
Stackable desk trays (at least 4)
Stamps and envelopes
Extra print cartridges (if you take a printer)
Notecards or stationery

Room Essentials: Adding Comfort and Functionality

Furniture will be provided for you, but consider which other items will be essential to make your dorm room a comfortable, functional space.

Desk or standing lamp
Fan
Dry-erase board or bulletin board
Furniture such as a nightstand or bookshelf (if not provided)
Bedside lamp
Mini trash can
Storage bins
Under-the-bed storage trays
Desk lamp
Fan
Drying rack for laundry
Bulletin board and pushpins
Dry-erase wall calendar/board
Mini toolkit (including screwdriver, hammer, wrench)
Picture hangers (double-sided tape for concrete walls)
Over-door organizers for clothes and shoes
Clothes hangers
Under-bed storage bins

Snacks and Kitchen Items: Fueling Your Studies

It's always best practice to check dorm policies when it comes to items in this category. And again, don't go overboard here-you don't need much.

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Microwave and mini-fridge (check with your roommate to coordinate)
Coffeemaker, if permitted
Toaster oven, if permitted
Microwave-safe plates, bowls, and cups
Forks, knives, and spoons
Dish soap and sponge
Dish towels
Reusable mug for hot drinks
Water bottle
Plastic food containers
Paper towels
Non-perishable food items (instant noodles, macaroni and cheese, cereal, granola bars, microwave popcorn, dried fruit, tea, coffee, etc.)
Bowl, plate and cup
Coffee mug
Water bottle
Silverware
Can/bottle opener

Important Documents: Keeping Your Information Safe and Accessible

It’s a good idea to find a sturdy binder or storage folder to secure your important documents. You’ll want to keep your university ID card accessible, as this may be required for entry to certain buildings, such as the library, laboratories, and other facilities after hours. Your meal plan may be loaded onto the card, along with your prepaid balance for laundry or printing. Keep your other documents in a safe place in your dorm room, and consider bringing copies rather than originals when possible.

Driver’s license, passport, or other government identification
University ID card
Debit/credit cards, checks, and bank account information
Health insurance information/card
List of emergency contacts
Copy of birth certificate/Social Security card
Car insurance and registration information, if bringing a vehicle to campus

Miscellaneous: Covering All the Bases

If there's anything else you know you'll need, use often or regret not bringing with you, add it here.

Umbrella
Backpack
Sports equipment
Backup pair of eyeglasses
Frequently Asked Questions About Dorm Rooms
All-purpose cleaner
Plastic storage bags
Food-storage containers
Dish soap
Wet wipes
Tissues
Lightbulbs
Antacid
Aspirin or other pain relievers
Vitamins
Antidiarrheal medicine
Adhesive bandages, antibiotic ointment
Cough drops
Shower Caddy - when you’re sharing a space with three or more people, there’s really not enough room for everyone to keep their personal items in the shower.
Toilet Paper - this can be worked out between you and your roommates.

Personal Touches: Making it Home

Choose a few decorative pieces to bring so you can add your own personal touch and make your dorm room feel more like home. Be very selective with what you bring, though, because your dorm room won't have much space!

Room decor such as posters or framed photos
Poster putty and removable wall hooks with self-adhesive strips
Floor rug
Doormat
Television, if wanted
Bicycle, bike lock, and helmet (especially for large or urban campuses)
Suitcase
Flashlight
Mini toolkit
Mini sewing kit

What NOT to Bring: Avoiding Clutter and Unnecessary Items

Excessive or out of season clothing and shoes: You really only need enough everyday clothing to get you through about two weeks maximum, the few seasonal clothing items you truly need for this semester's likely weather, and a few pairs of shoes that can be worn for various occasions.
Too many books or sentimental items: It's good to have a few books to read beyond your required textbooks, but there's no need to bring stacks of them. Books are heavy, and you likely won't have much space to store them anyway. Of course, bring a few sentimental items to remind you of home, but just choose your favorites. Dorm rooms tend to be small, so too many sentimental items will just make your space feel cluttered.
Duplicates: Contact your roommate(s) and coordinate with them about who's bringing what shared items.
Prohibited items: Check your dorm's policies on items like toasters, hot plates, coffee makers, candles and incense, etc…
Pack your clothes on the hangers: This will make moving in feel like a breeze! Just hang all the clothes you're bringing next to each other in your closet at home, put a garbage bag around them and tie it closed around the necks of the hangers.

Tips for a Smooth Move-In: Making the Transition Easier

Pack light and prioritize essentials: Focus on making sure you have what you'll need most, while also packing as lightly as you can to make the moving process easier.
Check out our college moving checklist with all the essentials needed for dorm life and academic success.
Coordinate with your roommate(s): As there are so many items to pack, it will relieve a large amount of stress to begin the process early, and I mean several weeks early. It is so fun to talk with your roommate about the way you want to decorate your room for the year, but it is even more important to communicate with them about shared items. These often include a fridge, microwave, garbage can, vacuum, coffee maker, floor rug, etc.
Start early: As there are so many items to pack, it will relieve a large amount of stress to begin the process early, and I mean several weeks early.
Consider buying some items after you arrive: To save packing time and shipping charges, it might make sense to buy some of these items after you arrive. It might also make sense to pack for one season at a time and switch items when you go home during breaks.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dorm Rooms

What’s a dorm room? A dormitory or dorm room is on-campus housing for college students, usually referred to as a residence hall. Some large dorm rooms can accommodate two, three, or four students, while others are designed for one person. Some dorm rooms don’t have private bathrooms. Instead, all of the occupants of the rooms in a single hallway have access to one or two shared bathrooms. You can request a private room, but it may not be possible if there are lots of students needing housing.
What comes in a dorm room? Typically, a dorm room includes a few pieces of basic furniture, including a bed, desk, chair, and lamp. Some colleges have dorm room essentials in the form of a small refrigerator and/or microwave. Plus, there are individual closets for each occupant’s clothing, shoes, and other items. Although a mattress is on the bed, the student has to supply the sheets, pillowcases, and other bedding items.
How big is a college dorm room? The size of a dorm room depends on the number of occupants it can handle. A dorm room for three students will be larger than one designed for one student. Another factor affecting size is the number of rooms in a dorm hallway. If there are 12 rooms in one hallway, the rooms may be small. Alternatively, if there are just six rooms in a hallway, there’s a good chance the rooms will be large.
How does a college dorm room work? After letting the college know you want on-campus housing, the school assigns you a room in a dorm or residence hall. Along with your room assignment, the school lets you know the names of your roommate(s) and the official move-in date. Sometimes assigned roommates may communicate before classes start and coordinate what optional room items (such as a small refrigerator or a microwave) each person plans to bring. After arriving and meeting your roommate(s), you each decide which bed you want. On move-in day, you’ll meet the resident assistant or RA.

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