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 or College of the Ozarks, pack sturdy boots and rain gear: you will be outside. If it is a work college like Berea or Deep Springs, bring work clothes you do not mind ruining. City schools like Cooper Union mean small rooms and great thrift stores nearby, so pack light.