The best college supplies and dorm room essentials

Malarie GokeyAug 1, 2019, 01:23 IST

Sending your kid off to college is nerve wracking.
The best you can do is impart a few life lessons and outfit your kid's dorm room with all the essentials.
We've rounded up everything your kid needs for their dorm room from bedding and decor 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:

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.

Updated on 07/31/2019 by Malarie Gokey: Updated prices and formatting. Removed out-of-stock picks. Added links to relevant buying guides so you have more options.

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The best Twin XL sheets

The Twin XL Mellanni Microfiber Sheet Set feels soft, comes in lots of colors, and doesn't cost much.

The Mellanni Microfiber sheets are made from 100 percent polyester woven into an exceptionally fine thread to be super-soft, lightweight, and wrinkle and stain-resistant. These sheets are also resistant to dust mites and shouldn't shrink on you. You can choose from tons of different colors to suit your style.

These are our top pick for budget sheets because they are soft, attractive, and well priced. We recommend you buy two sets so that you have something to put on your bed when laundry day arrives. If you want an upgrade, get these amazing all-cotton Brooklinen sheets.

Here are our picks for the best twin XL sheets you can buy:

Best high-end sheets: Brooklinen Luxe Core Sheets
Best jersey sheets: AmazonBasics' Heather Jersey Sheet Set
Best patterned sheets: Andres Sheet Set from Viv + Rae
Best colorful sheets: Mellanni Bed Sheet Set

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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.

The best mattress pad

The Dreamfoam Bedding memory foam mattress pad will turn that awful college bed into a plush mattress

College beds are horrible. If you don't put a mattress topper down, you'll never sleep. Luckily, you can get a great one that doesn't look like an egg carton for less than $100. 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 best eye mask

The Nidra Deep Rest Eye Mask will block out your roommate's light so you can sleep.

The Nidra Deep Rest Eye Mask is among the things I should have bought for college. The eye mask will block out your roommate's light during their 2 a.m. study cramming session and it'll also block out other unwanted sights (co-ed dorms, am I right?). The Wirecutter says this mask is as soft and effective as they come, and it's not too pricey.

The best ear plugs

Mack's Ear Care Ultra Soft Foam Earplugs block out noise so you can sleep.

Living with roommates is rough — especially when they want to party and you need to sleep. You'll want to scream in frustration at least once over the next four years, so save yourself and just buy these ear plugs. The Mack's Ear Care Ultra Soft Foam Earplugs come highly recommended.

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 Avalon 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 Avalon fan to make it a small table top fan with a base, no clip required. It's our top pick for a personal electric fan.

The best alarm clock

The Electrohome 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 Electrohome Projection Alarm Clock our top pick.

The best towel

The Fieldcrest Spa Bath Towel is soft, dries fast, and doesn't cost too much.

The Fieldcrest Luxury Solid Bath Towel is made from 100% cotton. It comes in a dozen different colors, and it's sure to dry you off fast. The cotton is soft and durable, too. It's our top pick for the best towel in our full guide.

The best shower caddy

The InterDesign Orbz Shower Tote Holder and Organizer holds all your toiletries as you troop to the communal showers or shared bathroom.

The InterDesign 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. It's our top pick in our guide to the best shower caddy you can buy.

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 fungus (ewwww). Sure, they're expensive, but they'll last for the whole four years and then some.

The best makeup organizer

The Jerrybox 360 Degree Rotation Adjustable 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. The Jerrybox isn't too expensive, either, and you can get it in black or white. It's our top pick in our 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 walk out the door looking #flawless. It's not super expensive, it lights up your face to ensure you don't look orange, and it'll keep you out of the bathroom so your roommate doesn't complain about your hour-long makeup routine.

The best cheap microwave

The AmazonBasics Microwave will nuke all the ramen you can eat.

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 the AmazonBasics Microwave is a great affordable option. It's small enough to store away, and analog so you don't have to worry about cheap electronics.

The best cheap coffee maker

The Hamilton Beach 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker will brew you the coffee you need to survive after an all-nighter.

Coffee is perhaps the most important thing to a college student. The Hamilton Beach 12-cup Programmable Coffee Maker will be a life saver. 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 fairly cheap. And hey, who wouldn't pay a bit more to have great coffee? If you're not sold on this one, check out our full guide to the best coffee makers of all kinds.

The best mini fridge

The Midea Compact Refrigerator will keep a small amount of food cold.

If you want to have milk, drinks, and other perishables in your dorm room, you'll need a mini fridge. The Midea Compact Refrigerator is just the right size for any dorm, measuring 17.7 x 18.6 x 19.4 inches. It has one shelf that divides the fridge in two and more storage in the door that can hold a 1 Liter soda bottle and then some. You can check out more options in our guide to the best mini fridge.

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. 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.

The best water bottle

The Hydro Flask Wide Mouth keeps water ice cold for hours.

Staying hydrated is really important, 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.

The best fun mugs

The Unemployed Philosopher's Guild makes the kind of mugs that you'll be proud to bring to college.

Who wants a set of matching mugs in college? I certainly didn't. My collection was totally mismatched, so I always knew which mugs were mine. One of my first picks was a mug from the Unemployed Philosopher's Guild. I got the Shakespearean Insults one, in case you're curious. These snarky, intellectual mugs are perfect for college. You can even pick one that matches your major.

The best drinking glasses

The Libbey Diamond Swirl 12-Piece Glassware Set will have you drinking orange juice in style.

Libbey makes great glasses for drinking all kinds of beverages. These classic drinking glasses are perfect for everything from orange juice to soda. They're fairly light, comfortable to hold, and they look pretty. Just don't drop them or let your klutzy friend hold one during a party. We have a lot more great options in our guide to the best drinking glasses you can buy.

The best dinnerware set

The Corelle Livingware 12 Piece Dinnerware Set won't break and it looks classy.

The Corelle Livingware 12 Piece Dinnerware Set is just perfect for college kids. It's hard to break, it's affordable, and it should last beyond the four years it takes to finish your degree. You get four big dinner plates, four small plates, and four bowls in the set, so you can have a dinner with friends. The big plates measure 10-1/4 inches, the smaller ones measure 6-3/4 inches, and the bowls hold 18 ounces of liquid. The entire set is made from Corelle's break and chip resistant glass with a three-year replacement warranty. Corelle makes everything in America, too, which is neat. You can find fancier dinnerware in our guide to the best dinnerware sets.

The best flatware

The Threshold Jovita 20 Piece Flatware Set is simple and attractive.

Target's Threshold Jovita Flatware Set comes with 20 pieces, so you'll have forks, spoons, and knives for four people. It's a nice simple set that ought to last you for years. Each utensil is made out of stainless steel. Buyers say they're happy with the set, the pieces are comfortable to hold, and they're well priced. You can find fancier options in our guide to the best flatware.

The best cookware set

The T-fal Simply Cook Nonstick C518SC Dishwasher Safe Cookware 12 Pc Set has everything you need to cook at home.

T-fal's cookware set comes with everything you need to prepare a meal. You get two pans, three 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 and get a job, you can contemplate a fancier, high-quality set.

The best clothes hangers

The AmazonBasics Wood Suit Hangers are sturdy, attractive, and so versatile that you can use them for everything.

Solid wood hangers are sturdy, attractive, and practical. Although these AmazonBasics Wood Suit Hangers aren't the most high-end wooden hangers you can buy, they are perfect for your dorm room and your first apartment. The 30-pack of these hangers is probably the perfect amount of hangers to store all your clothes. Amazon also sells a 16-pack for those of you who don't own that many clothes or simply have a very small closet in your dorm. Each hanger has a wooden rod for hanging pants, notches to accommodate strappy tanks and dresses, and a broad enough design to hold blazers, shirts, and most coats. That's why they're our top hanger pick.

The best over-the-door rack

The Liberty Over-The-Door Smooth Hook Rack holds lots of bags, scarves, hats, coats, and more.

The Liberty Over-the-Door Hook rail in Satin Nickel has four hooks it's made for your average door with a thickness between 2-1/16 inches. It can hold up to ten pounds and it's made of steel. the company even offers a limited lifetime warranty in case something goes wrong. It's a sturdy rack that will hold tons of bags, scarves, hats, coats, and so on.

The best under-bed storage

The Studio 3B Underbed Storage Bags fit right under your bed to maximize storage.

Dorm rooms are small, and you need to make the most of your storage. The Studio 3B Underbed Storage Bags are perfect for keeping your winter clothes or what have you stored safely under the bed. There are two bags in the set and they have clear top panels so you can see what's in them. They're fairly sturdy and the zippers work well. Pro tip: If you need more storage, use your suitcase — that's what I did.

The best laundry hamper

For lightweight duty, the Household Essentials Pop-Up Mesh Hamper can't be beat.

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. That's why it's our favorite pop-up laundry hamper.

The best laundry detergent

The Method 4x Concentrated Laundry Detergent will get your clothes clean and last a long time.

Method makes great eco-friendly products for cleaning, which we highly recommend. The company doesn't use weird chemicals or test its products on animals. It's a green alternative to other more common laundry detergents, and it's super concentrated, so you only need a little bit to do a full load. This bottle is good for 66 loads, even though it looks like a small container. It's also easy to store in your dorm.

The best cleaning products

Method makes all of our favorite cleaning products from all-purpose cleaners to dish soap.

Method makes wonderful, eco-friendly products that are affordable and effective. Whether you need dish soap, hand soap, or an all-purpose cleaner, Method has you covered. I use Method products almost exclusively in my home. All of the products are non-toxic, cruelty-free, and made from naturally derived ingredients. Here are some of our personal favorites:

You can also check out our guide to the best dish soap, the best bathroom cleaning products, and the best scrubbing brushes.

The best hand vacuum

The BLACK + DECKER Cordless Hand Vac cleans up any mess quickly.

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 cordless 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.

The TaoTronics LED desk lamp has a cool contemporary 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. Its CRI is 90 and those LEDs should last for 50,000 hours, so you won't have to replace this lamp anytime soon. Our top budget desk lamp pick will keep your homework illuminated during your first all-nighter.

The best college supplies and dorm room essentials

The Quartet Glass Dry Erase Board fits perfectly on a desktop, and you can use it for notes, reminders, and more.

Dry erase boards can be very helpful for jotting down quick notes, and this one from Quartet fits perfectly on your desk, plus, it has room for storing dry erase markers inside.

The best posters and poster hangers

The Command Poster Hanging Strips Value-Pack will help you decorate your dorm room with great posters from Etsy,many of which are made by artists.

Dorm rooms can look sterile and uninviting until you add some flair. The Command Poster Hanging Strips Value-Pack will help you hang tons of posters and art to personalize your space. Best of all, they won't destroy the walls.

If you're looking for cool posters that are super unique, you should take a gander at Etsy. The site has tons of cool posters, art, and prints made by original artists. We particularly dig the travel ones, but you can search for posters in a bunch of categories, including bands, music, retro, vintage, quotes, movies, and more.

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The best cheap Bluetooth speaker

The DOSS SoundBox Touch is a decent speaker in its own right, but the best thing about it is that it only costs $30.

The DOSS speaker offers an intuitive touch panel for controlling the device and can produce a generally loud volume. It also offers 360-degree sound, so you can put it in the center of a room and still hear what's going on all around it. You can get the DOSS speaker in a few different colors, including black, blue, red, and white. It's our budget pick in the guide to the best Bluetooth speakers.

The best power strip

The BESTEK 8-Outlet Power Strip and Surge Protector will help you charge everything and avoid damaged electronics.

We live in a tech obsessed world, so chances are, you'll have a ton of things to plug in. The Bestek 8-Outlet Power Strip and Surge Protector has eight outlets and six USB charging ports. It protects against surges and power spikes so your devices don't get fried. The power strip is in a tower shape, but it's only 5.7 inches tall, so it can fit just about anywhere, and the 6-foot cord has a lot of reach to get to far away outlets.

The best printer for $50

The Epson XP-340 has a built-in scanner and easy-to-use interface, but best of all, it costs less than $50.

The Epson XP-340 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

These are the best backpacks you can bring to college with you.

In college, a backpack serves two purposes. It's a practical place to toss your books, pens, laptop, phone, and lunch; but it's also a fashion statement.

Here are the best backpacks you can buy:

Best overall: Herschel Supply Co. Little America Backpack, $70 - $99
Best storage: Incase Icon Backpack, $97.95
Best for bad weather: Fjällräven Kanken Classic Pack, $80
Best stylish: Everlane Modern Snap Backpack, $68
Best for techies: KOPACK Slim Business Laptop Backpack, $32.99

The best lunch box

The L.L. Bean Insulated Lunch Box looks cool, 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.

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The best college supplies and dorm room essentials

Before we get into our picks, here are some tips on what to buy:

The best Twin XL sheets

The best affordable comforter

The best pillow

The best mattress pad

The best eye mask

The best ear plugs

The best mini desk fan

The best alarm clock

The best towel

The best shower caddy

The best flip flops

The best makeup organizer

The best makeup mirror

The best cheap microwave

The best cheap coffee maker

The best mini fridge

The best travel mug

The best water bottle

The best fun mugs

The best drinking glasses

The best dinnerware set

The best flatware

The best cookware set

The best clothes hangers

The best over-the-door rack

The best under-bed storage

The best laundry hamper

The best laundry detergent

The best cleaning products

The best hand vacuum

The best desk lamp

The best college supplies and dorm room essentials

The best posters and poster hangers

The best cheap Bluetooth speaker

The best power strip

The best printer for $50

The best backpacks

The best lunch box