We’re continuing our list of dorm room essentials that you might not have considered with 7 more on our list. (Plus a few bonuses.) If you’re sending a student off to college for the first time — or maybe you’re a rising freshman yourself — be sure to start with part 1 in our guide to college dorm room essentials you might not have considered. Then, hit this list for even more inspiration from a mom who’s sent kids to college 3 times — plus input from a few other BTDT college parents on our team.
While of course you want a good pair of noise-cancelling headphones and your freshman may have those ever-popular twinkle lights with photo clips on their back to school shopping list, there are a few more essentials we don’t want you to forget. Especially with so many sales now.
And of course, all these ideas are approved by our own college students. How could we even think to make this list with out them?
We all hope these suggestions for college dorm essentials help you feel like you are sending your student off to school with the stuff they need to make that transition into adulthood a little less bumpy. For both of you.
This post contains affiliate links, which means we may receive a small commission from certain purchases to help support the work we do at no additional cost to you. Updated for 2024
Â
8. A Small Portable Fan: 3 Choices
Even in New England, those first few weeks of school can be brutally hot in the dorms, and many are not air-conditioned. Since not all roommates agree on temperature, a personal fan is a must-have dorm room essential. There are a few options we can recommend:
A hard-working fan that’s built to last: Vornado makes this Mini Modern Personal Vintage Circulator, that Liz has by her own bedside and recommended as one of her favorite cool picks of the year. It’s not only stylish, but super efficient at moving air around a single person, it’s sturdy, while the price isn’t dollar-store (I mean, it is Vornado) it is built to last — and that includes all the moves a student will make for the next 4 years and beyond.
A portable fan at a great price: This well-rated USB-charged SmartDevil Desk Fan is a great deal, a conveniently small size for cluttered desks, and kids can even tote it to a common area or the library. For under $20, it’s a terrific deal if you’re on a budget.
A 3-in-1 convertible fan with remote control: Liz’s daughter loved her convertible USB-charged Primevolve fan (below), which got her through freshman year in one of those aforementioned, no-AC dorm rooms. It comes in black, white, forest and pink, and converts from tilting desk fan, to standing fan with a telescoping handle, to floor fan. It folds compactly enough to take on the go, and the oscillation really helped on hot days.
Â
9. A Filtered Water Pitcher (in Addition to That Reusable Water Bottle)
A reusable water bottle (perhaps in their new school colors?) is essential gear for college students these days — but they probably already know that. More and more schools are adding filtered water bottle stations to academic buildings to cut back on plastic bottle waste, for our eco-conscious Gen Z students.
But when they head back to the dorm, things may be different; not all dorms have easy access to filtered water on the floor. If your kid is used to refilling a water bottle all day long at the kitchen fridge at home like mine were, I would definitely call the 5-Cup Brita Water Pitcher the perfect dorm room essential. It’s small enough to fit in a mini fridge — one you buy or one you rent through your school — or can just be stashed bedside so they always have fresh water.
Tip: Ship a pack of Brita replacement filters after they’ve moved in; personally, I feel better knowing my kids aren’t drinking unfiltered bathroom water because the one filter’s stopped working.
10. A Hanging Closet Organizer
Dorms rarely have enough drawers — or space in general — for college students to stash all their stuff, and it will accumulate as the school year rolls on. A hanging closet organizer like this one from Navaris (also featured at top of part 1 of our college dorm room essentials guide) folds flat for transporting to school, then attaches easily to a closet rod to provide more shelves and drawers.
Unless your student is packing lots of blazers and dress shirts, they’ll probably prefer more of that limited closet space for tees, sweatshirts, socks, caps…the stuff that folds. Or uh, crumples.
11. A Starter Tool Set
Things in dorms are going to break and need fixing, and your student will not always have someone close by to do it for them. A small, affordable Stalwart 6-Piece Tool Set (on sale under $20) is a perfect starter set and has been a real help for my kids. Think of it like a first-aid kit, but for small home projects. Plus, they’ll use it for years as they move out of the dorms; it’s not like you ever stop needing tools.
12. A First Aid Kit
Speaking of which, an actual first aid kit is a dorm room essential in my book. Unless you want to put together your own, which you can totally do. But this one from J&J is under $15, and covers the basics — and beats hoping the RA has a Band-Aid and some Neosporin in the middle of the night.
13. Space-Saving Hangers
You surely have hangers on your college dorm room shopping list, but I have to warn you not not waste money on that huge pack of plastic or wooden hangers. They take up far too much room in small closets. While you can use the wire ones from the dry cleaner at home, I suggest investing in a set of 20, 40, or 60 flocked, velvety no-slip felt hangers. They are not only compact, but they hold clothes in place so they don’t end up in a heap on the floor.
Alternately, check out the selection of flocked hangers at Target and compare prices. Either way, they’re quite affordable — and It’s one more college dorm room essential that students will have for life.
14. A Handheld Vacuum
Dorms tend to have one clunky vacuum that residents can borrow — if it’s working and not hiding in some other kid’s room when it’s needed. Honestly, even if the dorm has more than one vacuum, it’s a hassle to borrow, so smart roommates coordinate to make sure someone brings a vacuum.
If your student is tasked with this, skip the upright and save space with the Black + Decker Cordless Handheld Vacuum shown above, or alternately the Black + Decker Dustbuster Advanced Clean. Either is the perfect size to store under a bed or desk, and powerful enough to pick up dirt and the many (many) spills they’ll have. It will also help minimize the dust buildup for kids with allergies.
Finally, be sure grab some Ultra-Soft Kleenex. That’s for you, though, parents. (You got this!)
Also see 14 college dorm room essentials you might not have considered: Part I