What to Bring to College: The Best College Packing List EVER

Click here to download a printable version of this list!

We at HC know there are few things more daunting than packing up your life to move into your (really tiny) dorm or apartment at college, especially if you’re a freshman. What do you need to bring with you? What sounds like a great idea to pack now, but will just end up unused and taking up precious closet space? What if you forget something important (hello, health insurance card) and you can’t get it until Thanksgiving?

Lucky for you, we know exactly what you need to bring to college. Just use this all-inclusive checklist that covers everything from bedding to food to medicine, and you’re guaranteed to not have any of those awful “oh-no-I-forgot-X-important-thing” moments on move-in day.

Click here to download a printable version of this list!

Bedding

Bedbug-protecting mattress cover
Duvet and duvet cover or comforter set (HC Pick: IKEA SMÖRBOLL)
Foam topper
Mattress pad
Pillowcases
Pillows
Sleeping bag or air mattress
Throw blanket (HC Pick: IKEA EIVOR)
Throw pillows (HC Pick: IKEA MATTRAM)
Twin XL bed skirt
Twin XL sheet set (and an extra set) (HC Pick: IKEA DVALA)

Room

Additional seating (beanbag chair, folding chair, comfy chair, etc.) (HC Pick: IKEA TOBIAS)
Adhesive hooks and strips (that come off cleanly)
Alarm clock (HC Pick: IKEA VÄCKIS)
Area rug (HC Pick: IKEA SÖFTEN)
Bed risers (HC Pick: IKEA ANDFISKÅ)
Bedside table (HC Pick: IKEA RAST)
Bulletin board and/or dry erase board (HC Pick: IKEA VÄGGIS)
Closet organizer
Coffee table (HC Pick: IKEA LACK)
Curtain rods (if needed)
Curtains (HC Pick: IKEA VIVAN)
Dorm trunk
Floor lamp (HC Pick: IKEA SVIRVEL)
Full-length mirror
Futon
Hangers (HC Pick: IKEA BUMERANG)
Jewelry organizer (HC Pick: IKEA PALLRA)
Jewelry safe
Over-the-door storage units
Photos
Picture frames or photo clips (HC Pick: IKEA FISKBO)
Push pins/magnets/whiteboard markers
Shoe rack
Skirt hangers
Space bags
Stepladder
Trashcan (HC Pick: IKEA FNISS)
Underbed storage (HC Pick: IKEA SKUBB)
Wall art (posters, wall decals, etc.) (HC Pick: IKEA PJÄTTERYD)
Wonder Hangers

Laundry

Bleach
Color catchers
Drying rack
Fabric softener
Garment bag
Iron
Ironing board (HC Pick: IKEA JÄLL)
Laundry detergent
Laundry hamper or bag (HC Pick: IKEA FYLLEN)
Lingerie bag
Lint brush (HC Pick: IKEA BÄSTIS)
Portable stain remover pen
Quarters
Sewing kit
Stain remover

Food

Bottled water
Bread
Bulk snacks (candy, granola, dried fruit, etc.)
Cereal
Coffee
Coffee creamer
Easy Mac
Granola bars
Instant hot chocolate
Instant oatmeal
Peanut butter and jelly
Popcorn
Ramen
SK Energy Shots
Soup
SpaghettiOs
Sugar

Desk/School Supplies - Want more HC picks? Shop our faves at Office Depot!

Address book
Backpack or tote bag
Binder clips
Binders
Business cards
Calculator
Calendar
Cards/notes to send home
Clicker (if you need one for class)
Desk chair
Desk lamp
Desk organizer
Envelopes
Erasers
File folder for important documents
Folders
Glue
Highlighters
Hole punch
Index cards
Journal
Laptop fan/stand
Leisure books (one or two)
Letter opener
Notebook paper
Notebooks
Notepads
Paper clips
Pencil case
Pencil sharpener
Pencils
Pens/colored pens (HC Pick: Paper Mate® InkJoy® Gel Pens)
Planner
Portfolio/portfolio case for interviews
Post-it notes
Rubber bands
Ruler
Scissors
Stamps
Staple remover
Stapler (HC Pick: See Jane Work® Stapler)
Staples
Tape
Textbooks
Three-hole punch
Wite-Out

Kitchen Supplies

Blender
Bottle opener
Broom
Can opener
Chip clips
Coffee maker (if your school allows it) (HC Pick: IKEA UPPHETTA)
Dish towels
Dishes (bowls, plates, cups)
Dishwashing soap
Disinfecting wipes
Duster
Dustpan
Glass cleaner
Hand soap
Microwave (if your school allows it)
Mini fridge (if your school allows it)
Mini vacuum
Mugs
Oven mitt
Paper plates
Paper towels
Plastic wrap
Reusable water bottle
Sealable plastic bags
Sponges
Swiffer
Tinfoil
Toaster (if your school allows it)
Trash bags
Travel mug (HC Pick: IKEA EFTERSÖKT)
Tupperware
Utensils (HC Pick: IKEA DITO)
Water boiler
Water filter pitcher

Tech

Batteries
Camera
Chargers (phone, laptop, camera, etc.)
DVD player
DVDs
E-reader
Ethernet cable
Extension cords
External hard drive
Flash drives (HC Pick: EMTEC Wallpaper USB 2.0 Flash Drive)
HDMI cable
Headphones and spare headphones (HC Pick: JLab JBuds Diego Earbuds)
iPod/MP3 player
Keyboard
Lap desk
Laptop
Laptop Case
Microsoft Office
Portable phone charger
Printer
Printer ink
Printer paper
Recording device for lectures
Router
SD card for camera
Spare cables
Speakers
Surge protectors
Tablet
TV
TV stand
Video game consoles
Video games
Wireless mouse

Bathroom

Air freshener
Bath pouf
Bath towels
Bathrobe
Bathroom cleaning supplies (if you need them for your dorm: i.e., drain cleaner, glass cleaner, rubber gloves, shower cleaner, sponges, toilet brush, toilet cleaner)
Bathroom rug
Hand towels
Loofah
Scale
Shower caddy
Shower cap
Shower curtain and rings (if needed)
Shower mat
Shower organizer (if your school allows it)
Shower shoes
Tumbler/cup
Upgraded showerhead (if your school allows it)
Washcloths

Toiletries

Products

Acne medicine/cream
Antibacterial gel
Bar soap
Body wash
Conditioner
Deodorant
Eye cream
Face wash
Hair gel
Hair mousse
Hairspray
Lip balm
Lotion (HC Pick: Vera Bradley Body Lotion)
Makeup
Makeup remover
Moisturizer
Mouthwash
Nail polish
Nail polish remover
Shampoo
Shaving Cream
Sunscreen
Toothpaste
Wax

Supplies

Blow dryer
Bobby pins
Comb
Contacts, solution, and case
Cotton balls
Cotton swabs
Curling iron
Diffusers
Eyeglass cleaner
Eyeglasses and case
Floss
Hair clips
Hair curlers
Hair straightener
Hair ties (HC Pick: Vera Bradley Shimmery Stretch Hair Ties)
Hairbrush
Hand mirror
Headbands
Nail clippers
Nail files
Pumice stone
Razor
Round brush
Sunglasses
Sweatbands
Tampons and pads
Tissues
Toilet paper
Toothbrush
Toothbrush holder
Tweezers

Clothing

Athletic sneakers
Bathing suits
Belts
Bras
Casual dresses
Casual shoes
Costume clothing for theme parties/extracurricular events
Dress tape
Everyday purse (HC Pick: Vera Bradley Satchel)
Flats
Flip-flops (HC Pick: Vera Bradley Flip Flops)
Formal clutch
Formal dress
Gloves
Going-out clothes
Going-out purse (HC Pick: Vera Bradley Ultimate Crossbody)
Gym bag (HC Pick: Vera Bradley Preppy Poly Yoga Sport Bag)
Hats
Heels
Jeans
Jackets
Jewelry
Leggings
Little black dress
Long-sleeve shirts
Pajamas (HC Pick: Vera Bradley Summer Pajamas)
Pants
Pea coat
Professional clothing (dress, dress pants, button-down shirts, skirts, blazers, shoes, purse)
Rain boots
Raincoat
Regular boots
Scarves (HC Pick: Vera Bradley Oversized Scarf)
Semi-formal dresses
Short-sleeve shirts
Shorts
Skirts
Slippers
Snow boots
Socks
Socks for rain boots
Spanx
Sports bras
Sweaters
Sweatpants
Sweatshirts
T-shirts
Tank tops
Tights
Underwear
Watch
Winter coat
Workout clothes
Wristlet (HC Pick: Vera Bradley Smartphone Wristlet for iPhone 6)
Yoga pants