College packing list spreadsheet

All the things you might ever possibly want to bring with you to college

Find out exactly what to bring to college and grab a FREE college packing list PDF!

You and I both know why youre here, so Im going to cut right to the chase

What I have for you today in this post is a college freshman checklist.

Both over and under packing are a worry for most new students, but this list will show you exactly what to bring to college.

Plus, Ill clue you in on the stuff you can leave at home and just not bring all together.

Now:

I want to point out that this a GENERAL college dorm packing list.

The list includes a broad selection of items. Which is why its a great a starting point for ideas!

To minimize the risk of anyone accidentally forgetting something important on move-in day, I went over EVERYTHING [room, bathroom, kitchen, clothing, etc.]. I made it versatile enough to work as a college packing list for guys and girls.

But, we all have our own personal preferences. Tweak it as needed to make it work for you.

Download the college packing list PDF version by clicking below.

⟶ FREE printable college dorm checklist for girls and for guys!

What to Bring to College

Real quick there are two things I want to explain.

Key:

1. * Ive marked items with an asterisk to indicate that I think its a better idea to get these things after moving into your dorm room.

Because those items are either

• bulky to pack
• might spill on your way there
• may be prohibited by your college
• you might not need it right away [or ever]
• its a shared item that you should touch bases with your roommate before buying
• or its generally something thats better decided on after physically being in your new digs [such as organizational stuff]

2. If something is highlighted that just means that its an item that I wouldnt consider to be absolutely necessary or essential to college living.

They are nice to have, but theyre totally optional items to add to a college packing checklist. These items can make a dorm room more comfortable or make your life a little easier.

• College Packing List
  • Dorm Room
  • Clothing/Shoes/Accessories
  • Desk/School Items
  • Documents/IDs
  • Bathroom
  • Toiletries
  • Electronics/Tech Stuff
  • Cleaning & Laundry Supplies
  • Kitchen Stuff
  • Miscellaneous Items
• What NOT to Bring to College [And Why]
• Free printable dorm checklists

College Packing List

What to bring to collegean all inclusive list for freshman!

First things first, when youre putting together your own college packing list [girl or guy version]:

Make sure you know what is and isnt allowed in your dorm, BEFORE you start packing.

Each school has specific residence hall guidelines and provides different things [like a trash can or mini fridge] in rooms. Check your schools website for their recommended packing list as it should tell you what NOT to bring, as well.

Dorm Room

Pillow/s
Comforter
Duvet cover [SO much easier to fit in a washer than a whole comforter]
Sheets [1 set is good, typically twin XL size]
Pillowcases
Desk lamp
Extra blanket
Laundry basket
Snacks* [here are some healthy dorm-friendly ideas]
Hangers*
Small trash can*
Humidifier
Dry erase/cork board
Dry erase markers
Thumbtacks/sticky putty
Wall calendar
Makeup mirror
Fan*
Mattress pad
Mattress cover
Command hooks
Full-length mirror*
Shoe organizer/over-the-door storage*
Under the bed storage*
Drawer organizers*
Storage ottoman*
Lockbox*
String lights
Pictures/posters/art
Plants
Other decor
Rolling cart*

Hold off until you check with your roommate

Rug
Coffeemaker
Blackout curtains

Clothing/Shoes/Accessories

Which clothing youll bring with you to college will depend on different factors.

Like where your campus is located, which seasons youll be attending classes, and how you generally like to dress.

Just use your best judgment for your final college packing list decision.

Underwear
Socks
Jeans
Pants
Sweatpants
PJs
Shorts
T-shirts
Long sleeveshirts
Formal tops
Tank tops
Workout clothing
Professional attire [1 full outfit]
Belt
Waterproof jacket
Sweatshirts/hoodies
Heavy winter coat
Light jacket
Gloves/mittens
Swimsuit [1]
Casual everyday shoes
Running shoes
Rain boots
Snow boots
Formal shoes
Slippers
Flip-flops/sandals
Sunglasses
Watch
Scarf
Hat

College packing list girl specific clothing

Bras
Leggings/yoga pants
Tights
Casual & formal dresses
Skirts
Cardigans
Jewelry
Purse/s
Clutch
Flats
Heels

Desk/School Items

For college school supplies, your class syllabi will give you a more in-depth look at what you need.

But:

Ive included some general items that are used in most courses. To get the lowest prices on this stuff be sure to take advantage of back-school-sales!

Backpack
Lunchbox
Notebooks
Notebook paper
Academic Planner
Or a bullet journal
Binder
Folders
Pens & pencils
Highlighters
Calculator [or just use an app on your phone]
Ruler
Paperclips & binder clips
Sticky notes
Index cards
Stapler & staples
Scissors
Whiteout
Tape
Desk organizer
Glue

Documents/IDs

Birth certificate
Driver License
Student ID
Social security card
Debit & credit cards
Checks
Passport
Banking information
Car registration & insurance information
Medical & dental cards
File box or fireproof safe to keep the documents in

Bathroom

Bath towels [2]
Washcloths [2]
Shower flip-flops
Loofah
Shower caddy [mesh works best]
Shower cap
Robe

For rooms with a separate bathroom, you may also want

Note that most of these are things that youll want to chat with your roommate about first. Wait to buy them until after you talk so you can avoid having doubles and save some money.

Hand towels [2]
Hand soap
Bath mat
Shower curtain & curtain rings
Curtain rod
Air freshener*
Toilet scrubber*
Toilet plunger*
Bathroom cleaner*
Pumice stone*
Glass cleaner*
Sponge or scrubber brush*
Toilet paper*
Scale
Hanging shower caddy*

Toiletries

Toothbrush & toothpaste
Mouthwash
Floss
Tweezers
Body wash or soap
Face wash
Shampoo & conditioner
Hairbrush/comb
Deodorant/antiperspirant
Nail clippers
Q-Tips
Lotion
Face moisturizer
Hair products
Hair dryer
Razor & shaving cream
Medicine over the counter [like Advil, Midol, Tylenol] & prescriptions
Melatonin
Benadryl or other allergy relief
Band-aids
Vitamins
Eyeglasses
Eyeglass cleaning wipes or cloth
Contacts + contact solution
Chapstick/lip balm
Birth control/condoms
Sunscreen*

College packing list girl specific things to bring

Hair straightener
Curling iron
Tampons/pads/feminine hygiene products
Makeup
Makeup remover
Cotton pads
Toner
Face scrub
Body scrub/exfoliator
Bobby pins
Hair ties & accessories
Hair mask/treatment
Nail polish
Nail polish remover
Nail file
Face masks
Self-tanner
Wax strips

[Download the FREE College packing list PDF at the end of this post!]

Electronics/Tech Stuff

Laptop, charger, and/or carrying case
Flash drive
Mouse
Earbuds/headphones
Phone charger
6 ft+ charging cable
Portable speaker
Power strip/surge protector
Batteries
Router*
Ethernet cable*
Camera
Lapdesk
Kindle reader
Tablet
Portable charger
Extension cord*
Printer*
Printer paper*
Printer ink*
HDMI cable*

Shared items [coordinate with your roomie]

Roku/streaming device
DVD player
TV*

Cleaning & Laundry Supplies

Laundry detergent*
Stain remover*
Fabric softener*
Dryer sheets or dryer balls
Paper towels
Small broom & dustpan*
Disinfecting wipes
Small trash bags
Wrinkle spray
Lint roller
Handheld vacuum

Kitchen Stuff

Water bottle
Coffee mug
Insulated tumbler
Ziploc bags
Can opener
Tupperware
Brita filter pitcher
A few utensils
Bowl
Plate
Cup

Discuss these with your roommate before buying

Electric kettle*
Microwave*
Mini fridge*
Blender*
Toaster*

Miscellaneous Items for Your College Packing List

Kleenex
Ice scraper [for your car]
Umbrella
Earplugs
Luggage
Duffel bag
Weekender bag
Board games
Sleeping bag

What NOT to Bring to College [And Why]

Now you know what to bring to college, but what about what not to bring?

This is all:

Stuff to bring to college that you can get along just fine without. Or at the very least, I suggest waiting until youre moved in to get these things.

Now, of course:

What not to bring to college is a subjective topic. I strove for my ultimate college packing list to be inclusive, but everyone is different.

This list is just here to give you some general guidelines.

Here are items that students often dont end up needing/using, or even cant have at college:

Textbooks
Window AC units
Bed risers
Sewing kit
Iron
Ironing board
Alarm clock
Light bulbs
TV
DVD player
Printer & printer supplies
Pets
An excessive amount of decorative pillows
Dishes & utensils

Some of what to bring to college was listed in earlier sections and thats because some items are debatable. Some students might want to have them and some will find them completely unnecessary.

It all just depends on preferences and lifestyle.

If you want to know WHY Im suggesting leaving these things off of your college freshman checklist, read on below.

The reasoning for skipping this stuff

Of all the freshman mistakes there are to make, buying textbooks ahead of time is the biggest one youll want to avoid.

Textbooks are not required on the first day of class. Go to class first to find out which ones youll actually need for each course.

And at all costs, DONT pay full sticker price at the campus bookstore. Textbooks can always be found for cheaper elsewhere.

Plain and simple, these are almost always not permitted in dorms.

Dorm room beds sit pretty high off of the ground, to begin with, so chances are that you wont even need these. But if you do want the extra height, its easy enough to get a set from a local retailer [like Target].

The likelihood of actually needing to use this item is low. If a button does end up coming off, box stores have mini-sewing kits for cheap.

If youre like me, you never iron your clothing anyway. Plus, a wrinkle releaser spray will do the trick for less effort.

While its important to make it to class on time, buying an alarm clock can be an unneeded expense when your phone already has an alarm function.

These can break in the college move-in day process, but mainly I think you should hold off on buying light bulbs until you need them.

Theres no reason to keep some lying around when you can pick a pack of light bulbs at most stores.

With limited dorm space, a TV can make your small room feel cramped. Instead of bringing a TV, stream your favorite shows on your laptop, table, or phone.

But if you still end up wanting one, you do you! Because theyre bulky to pack, its a good idea to pick one up after youve moved in.

On campus, there will be places where you can print. Plus, some colleges let you print out a certain number of pages for free as a student.

Find out your schools printing policy before making up your mind!

Sadly, unless youre lucky enough to be attending a pet-friendly college, furry friends are banned from campus housing.

Just try to not go overboard, you still need a place to sleep!

If you have a meal plan everything you need for eating will be in the cafeteria. Keeping around some paper or plastic ones makes clean up quicker anyway.

Final thoughts on what stuff to bring to college

I believe that solves the mystery of what to bring to college!

I covered just about everything that should be considered when creating your own college freshman checklist, and even what not to bring college.

But, if youre worried about forgetting something important when move-in day rolls around

I made a printable version to help keep it all fresh in your mind. Download the college pack list PDF below!

Free printable dorm checklists

• college packing list girls [PDF]
• college packing list guys [PDF]

Did I miss any big stuff for this ultimate college packing list? Are there any things to bring to college that wish you had or hadnt brought?

More helpful articles for college freshmen:

• The BEST laptop backpacks for college
• Easy ways to organize your dorm room
• 9 insanely useful cheap things college students need
• The top 5 best mini fridge with freezer choices for your dorm
• Where to get textbooks for cheap
• 14 Things you need for college that are absolutely crucial

Exactly What to Bring to College as a Freshman Girl & Guy