College Packing List Free Printable

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Originally published August 1, 2014. Updated July 9, 2020 and again June 7, 2021.

Getting ready for your college student’s first year is easier with this ultimate college packing list pdf. It’s a free printable you can use now to know exactly the things you’ll need as a college freshman and throughout your entire college experience.

I’ve sent three of my “babies” off to college and we created this dorm room essentials list to make our shopping much easier.  Easier is good because so that you can spend quality family time together rather than stressful shopping time.

top image - girl with backpack looking at college building, bottom - 3 images of college shopping lists.

There is so much to think about when it comes to packing your child for college. Getting them ready for freshman year can be overwhelming and emotional, making it easy to forget something.

The last thing you want is for your child to get to the dorm and realize something important was forgotten. It’s a good idea to start gathering the necessary items early to reduce stress. The College Packing List will help you make sure you don’t forget any of the things you need for college. 

close up of 3 college shopping list pages.

College Shopping List

Using the Back to College Shopping List helped us shop sales and save money, which is a huge help with the college budget.

How to print the college shopping List

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Here is your printable College Shopping List pdf.

As a special opportunity for Organized 31 Exclusive subscribers, if you want or need organizing printables, you definitely want to check out this limited time low price offer on my Creative Care Package Tags featuring 48 pages of care package signs and notes for all occasions. Includes:

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Print it out for your personal use as many times as you’d like.

How to use college packing lists

  • Go through the list with your college student and determine how many of each item you have and how many of each item you need to buy.
  • Scratch off items that don’t apply to you and add items that you’ll want.
  • Then go through and determine which items you already have and check them off.
  • We staged college dorm items in the guest room as we acquired them. It kept the rest of the house organized and it was easy to pack the items since they were all in one place.
two images of dorm items grouped around in a bedroom prepared to be taken to college.

Things You Need for College

When it comes time for your child to start asking this question, it may seem daunting to gather all the things you need for college. The College Packing List pdf will make it easier for you and your college student to know what to purchase and pack for college life.

Items everyone needs for college that you’ll want to make sure your student fall into several categories.

Bedding and Linens for College

  • Bedding – Your student will need bed sheetsfor an XL twin bed, a pillow, a mattress pad, and a quilt, blanket, or comforter for the bed. The vast majority of college dorm beds are twin XL size. Be sure to check so that you purchase the correct size of bedding for the college dorm room.
    • Additionally, I always purchased a mattress encasement protector. These provide allergen and bedbug protection in addition to being waterproof. I put this on the mattress first and then a regular mattress pad and then the sheets.
stack of white bedsheets displayed in front of white pillow.
mattress cover to keep out moisture and bed bugs shown in its packaging.
  • Linens – Make sure your student has bath towels, hand towels, washcloths, dish towels, and dish cloths. I always send 2 beach towels, too. In addition to swimming, these come in handy for picnics, if they get caught in the rain, and if they just don’t get their laundry done and need a back up.

Bathroom Items

  • Bathroom Supplies – Whatever bathroom situation your student’s dorm has, a shower tote, toothbrush holder, and soap holder are all necessary items.  
  • I highly recommend a locking shower caddy if your student will be sharing a bathroom. It allows you to lock up your personal care items so no one can mess with them. One of my children had a friend who found blood (not her own) on her toothbrush one weekend.
lockable shower caddy with personal care items inside.
standing travel toothbrush holder in grey.
black mesh shower caddy filled with toiletries like hairbrush and shower poufs.
  • You can find more tips specifically for the shower caddy and personal care items.
  • Check and see whether your student will need to bring a shower curtain and hooks for the dorm room shower. Some dorm rooms require you bring your own and some don’t.
  • Be sure you start your student off with several months supply of personal care essential items, particularly feminine care items. They will be busy with studies and may not be familiar with planning ahead to replenish personal care supplies.

Technology

Technology is crucial for every college student in today’s world. Before you purchase anything, be sure to check your college’s specific recommendations and requirements. Also check if your student’s program of study has unique requirements.

Items your student will most like require:

  • A laptop
  • Surge protector – Find a power strip with the longest cord you can. There are usually few outlets placed in a dorm room and a longer cord gives you more flexibility in furniture placement and your use.
  • Printer – While a printer is not required at most schools, it is definitely nice to have for late night papers and projects when you don’t want to leave the dorm during inclement weather just to use a printer.
  • Calculator – Your student may require a specific calculator depending upon the course of study.
  • Noise cancelling headphones – They are a nice to have item for some students and a must-have for others to be able to focus and study with so many people and distractions around. Your student may also use them to be able to sleep if a roommate snores or there are loud parties down the hall.
  • External hard drive or cloud storage – Or possibly both depending on your student’s course of study. Check if your college provides cloud storage for students before making any purchases.
  • Ethernet cable – check and see if your student will be able to use it. It’s helpful to have a back up if wifi starts acting up, especially during exceptionally high use times, like finals.
  • This free College Technology Shopping List will help you make sure all of your student’s technology needs are taken care of. 

General Office Supplies

  • School Supplies – The school supplies your student will need will vary depending on what classes he or she is taking and personal preference, but these items are a good starting point: a notepad, pencils, pens, a USB drive, a pencil sharpener, a stapler, scissors, paper clips, and a 3 hole punch. 
  • I also send clear packing tape, some cards and envelopes, stamps and a couple of gift bags (they’ll forget to buy wrapping paper for the gifts they buy friends).

College Dorm Room Organization

full-length mirror with black frame and hooks to hang from door shown from two angles.
two collapsible laundry baskets in teal and white.
white desk lamp shown with stand that can charge cell phone.
  • Kitchen Supplies – Your student will need a set of plates, bowls, cups, and silverware for meals in his or her dorm. A sharp knife, can opener, and hot pad will come in handy too.
    • Check if you’re allowed to bring your own dorm fridge and microwave or if you’re required to rent from an approved vendor.

Unexpected things to bring to college

Items you may not think to pack until that moment your student really needs it.

  • umbrella or rain coat – it’s going to rain at some point and you’ll have to walk to class or the dining hall
  • flashlight – let’s hope the power never goes out, but….. let’s be prepared, just in case
  • sewing kit – there will be a button, a hem or a tear that will need to be repaired. Be sure to give your student a couple of lessons on how to repair basic sewing needs.
  • first aid kit– you have one at home, your student will need it at some point and you can even make this easy DIY first aid kit.
  • laundry supplies – make sure your student starts the year off with several months supply of laundry detergent and fabric softener or dryer sheets.
  • small ironing board and a small iron or a fabric steamer– especially if your student will be making presentations in business clothes
  • quality stick vacuum and my free dorm room cleaning checklist – there may be a vacuum in the dorm that can be borrowed, but you often have to spend time tracking it down. It’s so much more convenient to have your own.
  • personal safety alarm – it will make you feel better knowing your student has a personal alarm with them.
  • alarm clock – an alarm clock with a battery backup can be a life saver when used as a back-up to a cell phone. I highly recommend using a back up alarm, particularly during exam time. Even a small travel alarm clock provides that extra measure of security.

More top tips for college success:

Pin for later so you can find this college packing list whenever you need it for younger children or to share with friends.

See all my tips, ideas, printables and care packages in the table below. You can scroll though the table and look for ideas or search for specific ideas with the magnifying glass in the upper right-hand corner (on desktop). Click on the topic and then click through the specific article.

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11 Comments

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  2. I used to be an administrator at universities and one of my responsibilities was over residence halls. I highly recommend double checking that list with someone from the school. Sometimes odd things are not permitted at some schools. Also, I recommend Mr. Clean Magic Eraser! Sometimes weird things happen on campus and only Mr. Clean can get rid of them. 😛 That way you don’t get fined when you move out of the residence hall at the end of the year!

    1. Liz, thanks for the great tips. You must have some stories to tell having been responsible for residence halls!

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  4. I recommend an extension cord- in rooms that were built before the computer age, sometimes the outlets are in really strange spots & so it’s better to have an extension cord.

    Get a shower caddy that has holes in the bottom, or is made of some kind of easy-clean fabric. They get pretty gunky.

    I also brought a hot pot for making tea with a pour-over for making coffee. A coffee maker takes up too much space for something which only performs one function!

    Bed risers don’t work on every college bed, but they worked well for me.

    Decent plug-in speakers are good too if their laptop speakers are crummy like mine were.

    Bringing a full length mirror seems a bit silly, there’s usually one mounted on the door of the room.

    I also recommend a swiffer duster or something similar, because those rooms get really dusty really quickly for some reason! However, things like that could be added to an “on the day” shopping list. If you’re driving your student to school, figure out where the Target or whatever is in the college town, and then buy those items after you’ve moved them in. Surely you are going to think of some other things “baby” needs as you move them in!

    Oh dear, I’ve written all this and now I see that this post is more than a month old! I got so excited reflecting on what I used at college. I graduated four years ago, but I can remember with absolute clarity every room I lived in! Funny what sticks with us.

    1. Beth, I agree that I can remember every dorm room I lived in (and it was way longer than 4 years ago!). Thanks for the great tips. I’ll be sure to update this post next year and point to your suggestions.

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