- College life is sure to look a bit different this year, but according to the Chronicle of Higher Education, nearly 40 percent of colleges are planning to operate in-person or using some sort of hybrid model this semester.
- If your school is planning in-person classes and you’re moving into a dorm, there are plenty of supplies you’ll need to stock up on.
- We’ve rounded up everything freshmen might need for their dorm room from bedding and backpacks to tech and small appliances.
Chances are your college kid hasn’t lived on their own – ever. The thought of sending your kid off to fend for themselves against dirty laundry, piles of dishes, and the other inconveniences of adulthood probably sounds crazy to you, but they’ve got to learn somehow.
The college dorm is a good training ground for new adults, assuming they’ve got all the essentials. We’ve rounded up everything your college kid needs to have in their dorm room, including everything for their bed, bathroom, kitchen, and more.
Before we get into our picks, here are some tips on what to buy in 2020:
- Know your dorm: How many roommates will you have? How much space is there? Do you even have a kitchen? Adjust accordingly.
- Talk to your roommates: If you talk to your roommate(s) before you shop, you can coordinate and figure out who’s bringing what. My first roommates brought a mini fridge, a microwave, and a TV. All I brought was a suitcase and a duffle bag. It was a pretty good deal.
- Don’t go overboard: Trust me, you don’t need all those random things you think you’ll need. The more stuff you buy, the more you have to carry back and forth for the next four years.
Living in a dorm is a crazy experience, but so long as you have the essentials, you’ll be just fine. Read on to find our top picks for every dorm essential you can imagine.
Prices and links are current as of 8/6/20. We cleaned up the copy to make this guide more reader-friendly. We also swapped out many of our picks to align with our buying guide advice.
The best twin XL sheets
L.L.Bean's flannel sheets are built to last, so they'll likely last you all four years, and they'll get softer over time.
If your school is located in a colder clime, winters can get pretty brutal, especially if your dorm's heating system is less than spectacular. That's why we heartily recommend L.L.Bean's flannel sheets. The brand has a strong reputation for creating products that are built to last, so these sheets will likely last you all four years. Plus, flannel gets softer over time the more you wash them - and we do encourage you to wash them regularly.
If you're heading off to school somewhere warm, flannel might not be the best choice for you, but we have plenty of other picks that will suit you better.
Check out our full guide to the best twin XL sheets.
The best affordable comforter
The LinenSpa All-Season Down Alternative comforter is cozy and affordable.
The LinenSpa All-Season Down Alternative comforter is our pick for the best affordable comforter because it is warm, comes in different colors, and doesn't cost as much as down-filled comforters. If you get the colorful versions, you won't even need a duvet cover, though you may want one because it'll be easier to clean.
Check out our favorite duvet covers here and our guide to the best comforters here.
The best pillow
The Coop Home Goods Premium Adjustable Shredded Memory Foam Pillow is great for any sleeping position.
The Coop Home Goods Premium Adjustable Shredded Memory Foam Pillow is not cheap, but it is the very best pillow you can buy - period. It's our top pick for the best pillow overall because it's adjustable, suits all kinds of sleeping styles, and it's relatively affordable. The shredded memory foam is very comfortable, and you can remove some to make it less firm if you want. This pillow will last you way beyond college.
Check out our full guide to the best pillows.
The best mattress pad
The Dreamfoam Bedding memory foam mattress pad will turn that awful college bed into a plush mattress.
College beds are notoriously horrible, but a good mattress pad can make it much easier to get a good night's sleep. Luckily, you can get a great one at a relatively affordable price. The Dreamfoam Bedding mattress pad is our top pick for a mattress topper because it adds softness and comfort to any mattress without breaking the bank. The integrated cooling gel is also a big help for regulating your sleep temperature.
Check out our full guide to the best mattress toppers.
The best eye mask
The Alaska Bear Natural Silk Sleep Mask is made of high-quality mulberry silk and will block plenty of light to keep you asleep.
While a sleep mask may not seem like a college essential, consider the fact that your sleep schedule might become a bit irregular. With late-night study sessions and early morning classes, you'll want to be able to sleep whenever you can. This silk sleep mask from Alaska Bear is our pick for the best sleep mask on a budget.
The pure mulberry silk makes it exceedingly comfy, and it won't break the bank. It may just turn out to be your smartest college prep purchase.
Check out our full guide to the best sleep masks.
The best mini desk fan
The Genesis Convertible Table-Top Clip fan is small, portable, and easy to attach to your bed.
Most clip-on products carry a stigma of geekdom with them. Clip-on necktie? Geeky. Sunglasses that clip over your prescription glasses? Really geeky. Clip-on electric fan? It may look geeky, but the Genesis Convertible Table-Top and Clip Fan works so well that you'll put up with any sarcastic comments sent your way. Plus, you have the option of reconfiguring your fan to make it a small tabletop fan with a base, no clip required. It's our top pick for a personal electric fan.
Check out our full guide to the best electric fans.
The best alarm clock
The Magnasonic Projection Alarm Clock projects the time onto the ceiling, gives you the temperature, automatically sets itself, and wakes you up.
Waking up might be a little bit more pleasant when you can choose between a buzzer, the radio, or your favorite songs streaming from your smartphone to nudge you out of dreamland. Add to that the fun of seeing the time of day (or night) projected in large, red numerals onto your ceiling and the large LCD display on the clock's face, and you have just some of the features that make the Magnasonic Projection Alarm Clock our top pick.
Check out our full guide to the best alarm clocks.
The best towel
Wamsutta Hygro Duet Bath Towels are double-sided for absorbency and softness, and they come in a ton of colors so you'll never mix yours up with your roommate's.
There's no greater nightmare than mixing up your towel with someone else's in a communal bathroom, so we advise grabbing one in a unique color that you can be sure is yours. Wamsutta makes great towels in a wide array of shades, and they're really affordable. They're soft and absorbent, but they may not hold up to a ton of washes - that's why you should grab a few.
Check out our full guide to the best towels.
The best shower caddy
The iDesign Orbz Shower Tote Holder and Organizer holds all your toiletries as you troop to the communal showers or shared bathroom.
The iDesign Orbz Shower Tote Holder and Organizer keeps all your shampoo, conditioner, face wash, and so on in place so you can carry it along with you into the communal showers or shared bathroom. It's important to have one of these and to remove it from the shared bathroom (if you have one) when you're done each time so that you're never without your toothbrush in case your roommate stays in the shower for ten years.
Check out our full guide to the best shower caddies.
The best flip-flops
The OOFOS OOriginal Unisex Thong Sandals are comfortable shower and house shoes.
The OOFOS OOriginal Unisex Thong Sandals are one of my favorite things. These Korean sandals are so soft and comfortable it feels like you're walking on a cloud. They're great as house shoes to give your feet support and they're even better shower shoes to protect your feet from whatever's going on in those communal showers. Sure, they're expensive, but they'll last for the whole four years and then some.
Check out our full guide to the best flip-flops.
The best makeup organizer
The Jerrybox Multi-Function Cosmetic Storage Box holds all your makeup.
Jerrybox makes our favorite makeup organizer. It's got tons of adjustable compartments for every cosmetic you own, it rotates so you can see it all, and it'll keep you in order. It's a great thing to have when space is at a premium. The Jerrybox isn't too expensive, either, and you can get it in black, white, or clear.
Check out our full guide to the best makeup organizers.
The best makeup mirror
The Conair Oval Shaped Double-Sided Lighted Makeup Mirror will help you do your makeup in peace outside of the bathroom.
The Conair Oval Shaped Double-Sided Lighted Makeup Mirror makes it easy to find a quiet place to do your makeup. Plus it lights up your face to ensure you nail your look, even in subpar lighting. Plus, it'll keep you out of the bathroom so your roommate doesn't complain about your hour-long makeup routine. It's a bit pricey, but it'll easily transition to your first apartment.
Check out our full guide to the best makeup mirrors.
The best cheap microwave
The Commercial Chef 0.6-Cubic-Foot Microwave will nuke all the microwave dinners you can eat and keep you from relying on expensive takeout.
Most dorm rooms don't exactly have kitchens, but that doesn't mean you have to survive on dining hall food and takeout exclusively. Most colleges let you have a microwave, and this one from Commercial Chef is our top pick for the best affordable microwave. It's small enough to store away and analog so you don't have to worry about cheap electronics.
Check out our full guide to the best microwaves.
The best cheap coffee maker
The Mr. Coffee 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker is so affordable it'll pretty much pay for itself after just one pot.
Coffee is perhaps the most important thing to a college student. The Mr. Coffee 12-cup Programmable Coffee Maker will be a lifesaver. You can pre-set a brewing time with the programmable clock so that you don't have to make coffee bleary-eyed in the morning before your 8 a.m. class (pro tip: don't sign up for those). It's easy to clean, easy to use, and cheap. And it'll churn out a pretty good cup of coffee that won't set you back $5 a cup.
Check out our full guide to the best coffee makers of all kinds.
The best mini fridge
The Frigidaire 3.3 Cubic Foot Mini Fridge is the perfect size for two or three roommates, it won't take up a ton of space, and it's the right price.
These days, some colleges provide mini fridges in their dorm rooms, but if you're school doesn't, it's pretty much a necessity. You'll want it for milk for coffee, leftovers, beverages, and the occasional pint of ice cream that you don't finish in one sitting. The Frigidaire 3.3 Cubic Foot Mini Fridge is a mid-size mini fridges, making it a good size for two or three roommates to share. It's also available for a student-friendly price, especially if you split it with the folks you'll be rooming with.
Check out our full guide to the best mini fridges.
The best travel mug
The Contigo Autoseal West Loop won't spill and it keeps your coffee hot.
After that all-nighter, you're going to need a vat of coffee, and thanks to your coffee machine, you can make your own in your room. Take it with you in the Contigo Autoseal West Loop as you stumble to class. It's our favorite travel mug overall because it keeps drinks hot for hours and never spills. You can get it in tons of fun colors, too.
Check out our full guide to the best travel mugs.
The best water bottle
The Hydro Flask Wide Mouth keeps water ice cold for hours.
Staying hydrated is really important, especially after a late night out, so you need a great water bottle. The Hydro Flask Wide Mouth is our top water bottle pick overall, because it keeps drinks icy cold for hours, is easy to clean, and comes in tons of colors. You don't have to worry about breaking it, either.
Check out our full guide to the best water bottles.
The best cookware set
The Vremi 15-Piece Nonstick Cookware Set has everything you need to cook at home.
Upperclassmen may have the advantage of a small kitchen in their dorms. If you're one of those lucky ones, you'll need some basic cookware. Vremi's cookware set comes with everything you need to prepare a meal. You get two pans, four pots, the corresponding lids, and some cooking utensils like a spatula, ladle, slotted spoon, and spoon. The pots and pans are non-stick and should last you at least the four years in college. Once you graduate, you can contemplate a fancier, high-quality set.
Check out our full guide to the best cookware.
The best clothes hangers
Joy Mangano Huggable Hangers are slim and grippy so y0u can fit more of your clothes into your tiny closet.
Yes, you really do have to bring everything with you to college, including clothes hangers. But it's likely that your closet space is pretty tight, so you'll want ones that are pretty compact. The Joy Mangano Huggable Hangers are super thin, letting you fit more of your clothes into a small space. The strong plastic is coated in velvet, so clothes won't slip off. They come in packs of ten.
Check out our full guide to the best hangers.
The best laundry hamper
The Household Essentials Pop-Up Mesh Hamper is heavy-duty but lightweight, and its large handles make it easy to carry to the laundry room.
The Household Essentials Pop-Up Mesh Hamper is perfect for a college dorm room. This simple round hamper is made of heavy polyester mesh and pops up for use or collapses flat for storage. The hamper has two large handles, making it easy to carry out to the car or down to the laundry room when it's time to come clean. The solid polyester bottom gives the bag a bit of stability, as does the spring wire frame.
Check out our full guide to the best hampers.
The best laundry detergent
Tide Free & Gentle won't irritate your skin, gets clothes clean, and it's pretty affordable.
Doing your laundry is an annoying chore, especially in a shared college laundry room. But Tide Free & Gentle is a great detergent that's free of scents and dyes so it won't irritate your skin. It's a high-efficiency detergent, so you don't need a lot to do a full load. That means one bottle could last you the whole semester or longer.
Check out our full guide to the best laundry detergents.
The best hand vacuum
The Black + Decker Cordless Hand Vac cleans up any mess quickly and doesn't take up a ton of space.
Dorm life is messy and it's easy to forget to clean up after yourself. If you have the Black + Decker Cordless Hand Vac, you're more likely to clean up your messes because it works so well. The hand vac holds a charge for up to 18 months and it has long battery life so you don't have to charge it all the time. It's powerful enough to clean up big messes, and the cyclonic action keeps the filter clean. It's easy to empty the clear bin when it's full, too.
Check out our guide to the best affordable vacuums.
The best desk lamp
The TaoTronics LED desk lamp will light up your work area for much less than the competition with its energy-efficient LEDs.
You'll likely be studying at all hours of the night, so a good desk lamp will keep you from straining your eyes. The TaoTronics LED desk lamp has a sleek design and a great low price. The lamp has a brightness of 410 Lumen, which is adjustable, and a variable color temperature that ranges from 2,700K to 6,000K. The LEDs should last for 50,000 hours, so you won't have to replace this lamp anytime soon.
Check out our full guide to the best desk lamps.
The best cheap Bluetooth speaker
The Anker Soundcore Flare Mini is a decent speaker in its own right, but the best thing about it is its low price.
The Flare Mini offers 360-degree sound, so you'll get pretty good sound no matter where you place it in a room and it gets decently loud. It's got a 12-hour battery life, so you're set for a long night of partying or a full day on the quad. The Bluetooth range is also pretty impressive at around 30 feet with obstructions or 100 feet with a clear line of sight. Five color modes also sync to the beat of your music for an added bonus.
The sound quality of this speaker is just alright, though, so if you're a real audiophile, you might want to invest in a better one.
Check out our guide to the best Bluetooth speakers.
The best printer for $50
The Canon PIXMA TR4520 has a built-in scanner, easy-to-use interface, and it's wireless, so you won't have to run to the library every time you need to print something.
The Canon PIXMA TR4520 has all the features you need for an incredible price. It has a built-in scanner, so you won't need to buy one separately, and it's wireless, so you can print from anywhere nearby, as long as you're connected to the same Wi-Fi network as the printer. It's an inkjet printer, but the ink isn't too expensive if you only print in black.
Check out our full guide to the best printers under $100.
The best backpacks
The Bellroy Classic Backpack has plenty of room for books and a 15-inch laptop, and it's got a specialized document pocket so you won't be turning in wrinkled papers.
College means leaving the days of the good old Jansport behind. You'll want something a bit sleeker and more fashionable, but something durable enough that you can beat it up. The Bellroy Classic Backpack isn't oversized, but it's got plenty of capacity for carrying your books, laptop, pens, and notebook. It's also got a unique pocket sized specifically for documents, so your papers won't get ripped or wrinkled on your way to turn them in.
Check out our full guide to the best backpacks.
The best lunch box
The L.L.Bean Insulated Lunch Box looks unoffensive, and it has a super sturdy, practical design.
Ditch the dining hall and pack your lunch every now and then - your waistline will thank you. The L.L.Bean Insulated Lunch Box is well-designed with an outer mesh pocket for utensils or small snacks, an inner mesh pocket on the box's lid for sandwiches, chips, or other goodies that might otherwise be easily smashed, and a roomy lower section that's big enough for drinks, plastic food containers, fruit, sandwiches, or whatever else you enjoy at lunchtime.
For more choices, check out our guide to the best lunch boxes.