30 Obvious Dorm Essentials You're Probably Forgetting, Per the Mom of a College Student
Take it from someone who learned the hard way freshman year!
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Two summers ago, I prepped my daughter for college—and despite thoughtfully researching and creating a packing list in advance, we still didn't have everything she needed. Of course, my list included standard dorm necessities like a mini fridge, twin XL bedding, storage solutions, and decor, but she still spent her first year of school asking for items that hadn't been on my radar.
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At the time, I was so focused on the basics and making her dorm look cute that I overlooked some true essentials she’d need, and I’m here to ensure you don’t make the same mistake. These picks might seem obvious at first glance—command strips, a first-aid kit, snacks, and more—but they might have fallen off your radar (like mine) if you’re busy juggling all the other responsibilities that come with dropping your child off at college for the first time.
Pro tip: If they’re going to school far away, you might want to order items and ship them directly to their dorm and avoid packing them altogether.
It's impossible to have too many Command strips for dorm life. This set has an assortment of hooks and strips that can handle everything from holding their towel to hanging up decor on their walls.
I got my daughter a rolling cart, but it was too wide for her small shared space. Try this one instead that's taller and narrower; it’ll be great for stowing snacks or beauty products.
While your child may not drop their phone into the river during rowing practice like mine, there's a strong chance something will get misplaced—whether it's a wallet, keycard, or a backpack. Grab a pack of AirTags so they can locate their items before they're gone for good.
My kid can sleep through anything, but her roommate woke up to any sound. These earplugs are soft, made to be slept in, and will help drown out music from the party down the hall.
Most college mattresses are notoriously uncomfortable. To help them sleep a little easier at night, grab a mattress topper in a twin XL size. I especially like this one because it offers a cooling blend of fabrics to help wick away heat.
Outlets are at a premium in dorms and shared spaces, but your student can replace three separate chargers with this one stand. It has space for AirPods, a phone, and an Apple Watch, all without separate cords.
This might be their first time on their own doing laundry, and well, they might not be the most vigilant about doing it frequently. It’s time to stock them up with a heavy-duty detergent, like these Tide Power Pods that help minimize odors and stains.
Don’t forget shower shoes! This popular slip-on pair from Adidas dries quickly and will keep them from having bare feet on a communal space.
Keep their stuff from falling into that gap in the middle of the night with a wedge pillow that fits right up against a standard headboard. This even has side pockets to stow their phone or gadgets.
Though they’ll probably be taking notes on their laptop, you can still grab them some pretty pens they can use to journal with. Grab some Post-it notes, a pretty notebook, or even a coloring book for something to do in their downtime.
They’ll definitely want a cozy throw to curl up in during late-night study sessions. If you’re looking for a more affordable alternative to the viral Lola blanket, this bed-sized throw feels a lot more expensive than it is.
Digital cameras are back and huge among the Gen Z crowd. My daughter and I have tried a few, and we love the Camp Snap camera for its ease of use and screen-free design. This model can hold up to 500 pics before downloading to a phone or laptop, so they’ll be able to capture all the fun they are having on campus.
Late-night study sessions will require some extra energy. Help them finish their papers on time with these Bloom drinks that have zero sugar and are only 10 calories. The female-founded brand has so many yummy flavors, like cherry lime, glacier crush, and crisp apple.
Sure, their phone has an alarm feature, but that's simply too easy to snooze before an 8 a.m. class. This pretty wooden clock comes in multiple colors and has a battery backup in case the power goes out.
We used a lot of plastic bins to move my daughter into her freshman-year dorm, thinking she could use them for storage. Instead, they took up too much space. I'd recommend these durable moving bags, which can hold a ton, are easy to carry, and have a spot for labels. Bonus: They're foldable, making them easy to store once moving day is over.
Smart TVs and devices aren't allowed at my daughter's school, so we skipped sending her with a TV, assuming she'd watch streaming services on her laptop. Eventually, however, we got her a small projector so she could host movie nights or watch parties with her friends.
If they have carpet or a rug, they won't have room for a full-size vacuum (even stick vacuums usually have a pretty sizable charging port). A handheld option like this pick is a great choice that can be tucked away in a closet until they need it.
They'll get bumps and bruises along the way. Since trekking to the wellness center on campus might be a hike, grab them a small first-aid kit to tuck in a desk drawer.
Even if they have the best cafeteria food on the planet, every college student wants snacks. My self-assembled care packages to school were always filled with her favorite goodies, but this box has a huge assortment of treats—both salty and sweet—to get them started.
A small tool kit can come in handy. My daughter said she used the screwdriver, scissors, and measuring tape the most. This will also be helpful on move-in day if you've purchased any furniture that needs to be assembled.
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