# Dorm Packing Checklist

> Free interactive dorm packing checklist. Check off bed, bath, desk, tech, clothes, and documents as you pack. Your progress saves in your browser.

Packing for a dorm room is a strange exercise: you are moving your whole life into half a room. This checklist covers the essentials across eight categories. Check items off as you pack; your progress is saved in your browser, and you can print the list when you are done.

*Interactive tool: enter your values at https://toollantern.win/dorm-packing-checklist/ and results update instantly in your browser.*

## How to use this checklist

Go category by category and check off what you own and are bringing. The progress bar at the top tracks how far along you are. Your checks are stored in your browser's local storage, so you can close the tab and come back later. Nothing is uploaded anywhere.

## The biggest packing mistakes

- **Bringing too much.** Dorm rooms are small and most freshmen overpack clothes. If you can do laundry every week or two, you need about two weeks of outfits, not two months.

- **Skipping the boring stuff.** Shower shoes, a power strip, and a mattress topper improve daily life more than decorations. Dorm mattresses are famously thin and hard.

- **Buying everything before move-in.** Coordinate with your roommate on shared items like the mini fridge, microwave, and rug. Many schools also run resale shops where upperclassmen sell dorm gear cheap in the first weeks.

- **Forgetting documents.** Bring your photo ID, insurance card, and banking set up. You will need them for the health center, prescriptions, and campus jobs.

## What not to bring

Check your college's housing page before packing. Most dorms ban candles, incense, halogen lamps, and toaster ovens for fire safety. Some ban mini fridges over a certain size or require microwaves to be rented through the school. When in doubt, leave it home for the first month; your family can ship it later.

## Heading to a small college?

If your school is rural, like [Warren Wilson](/colleges/warren-wilson-college/) or [College of the Ozarks](/colleges/college-of-the-ozarks/), pack sturdy boots and rain gear: you will be outside. If it is a work college like [Berea](/colleges/berea-college/) or [Deep Springs](/colleges/deep-springs-college/), bring work clothes you do not mind ruining. City schools like [Cooper Union](/colleges/cooper-union/) mean small rooms and great thrift stores nearby, so pack light.

## Frequently asked questions
### What size sheets do dorm beds need?

Almost all US dorm beds are Twin XL (38 x 80 inches), longer than a standard twin. Buy Twin XL sheets specifically; regular twin sheets will not fit.

### Should I bring a printer to college?

Usually not. Campus libraries and computer labs have printers, often with a free page quota. A printer takes up precious desk space and ink is expensive.

### How much should I pack for freshman year?

Less than you think. Two weeks of clothes, the essentials in each category of this checklist, and documents. You can buy or have things shipped after you see the room.

### What should I coordinate with my roommate?

Shared items: mini fridge, microwave, rug, TV or monitor, cleaning supplies, and who brings what for the bathroom if you share one. Contact them before move-in to split the list.

### Is my checklist progress saved?

Yes, in your browser's local storage on your own device. It is not sent to any server. Clearing your browser data will reset it.

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Interactive version: https://toollantern.win/dorm-packing-checklist/