What to pack for college: 21 essentials every student needs

The start of the fall semester is just weeks away! If you haven’t begun shopping for dorm essentials for your college-bound kid, it’s time to start now. We understand your first-time shopping for dorm supplies can be overwhelming (there’s so much to get!), so we put together a what-to-pack-for-college list to help you navigate this new chapter in your teenager’s life. Check out everything they’ll need below, including comfy bedding, kitchen essentials, tech supplies and more.

What to pack for college in 2024

Working on your back-to-school shopping list? Use these links to help navigate our list so you don’t forget to pack these dorm-room essentials.

Cooking essentials for dorms

Instant Vortex Plus six-quart air fryer

Our bestselling air fryer is perfect for college students who want an all-in-one appliance to make quick and delectable meals or snacks from their dorm. The Instant Vortex Plus air fryer is generous in size, has many useful cooking settings and, unlike many other air fryers, has a window that allows you to see what you’re cooking. The latter may prove helpful in determining the doneness of your dishes (if you’re setting your temperature and time). 

You can adjust the cooking temperature of your food between 95 to 400 degrees, though if you’d prefer to take the guesswork out of cooking entirely, you can choose from six cooking options available. These include air frying, roasting, broiling, baking, reheating and dehydrating. 

With the air fryer, you can cook wings, fries, nuggets and more using 95% less oil than conventional methods. Use the roast setting to cook marinated meats, the bake option for breads, buns and cakes and the broil option for melting cheese on dishes such as nachos.

What’s more, it’s currently on sale for 24% off.

Rubbermaid Brilliance glass food storage containers 

Another one of my favorite cooking essentials is these glass food storage containers from Rubbermaid. I’ve owned Rubbermaid Brilliance food storage containers for years, and have found the glass options to be the most durable. College students will benefit from these greatly, as the glass has proven to be durable enough to survive for days in the freezer. Use these to freeze leftovers and pull them out for a quick meal during busy nights writing papers or studying for tests. 

The airtight seal keeps food quite fresh, and with the additional latches, ensures the food storage containers are leakproof, so you can take these with you as you move around campus. These are safe to put in the microwave and the dishwasher, and each can hold about 3.2 cups of food.

The Rubbermaid Brilliance glass food storage containers have a 4.7-star rating on Amazon. One reviewer wrote, “I love how versatile these are. The lids seal extremely well. The size of these is perfect for meal prep, baking or leftovers. You can use them for baking which is awesome and they do the job well! I’ve dropped one and it flew pretty far and it didn’t even chip! Hold up amazing in the dishwasher and oven. These are definitely worth the money I will absolutely be buying more!” 

Brita Metro water filter pitcher

No dorm room is complete without a Brita filter pitcher. The filter helps remove impurities in water, including chlorine, mercury, copper and cadmium. 

The pitcher comes with a light at the top that alerts you when the filter should be changed (every couple of months). This pitcher can hold six cups of water and comes in three colors.

The Brita Metro water filter pitcher has a 4.6-star rating out of more than 37,000 ratings on Amazon. One reviewer wrote, “I’m trying to increase my water intake but I hate the taste of tap water. This definitely removes the unpleasant taste from my tap water. I can fill my Stanley 40-ounce tumbler twice with ice in it. Filters quickly. No issues with the lid. Fits in my fridge nicely.” 

Right now, you can get this for 23% off for a limited time. 

Threshold stoneware Avesta dinner bowls

Save space in your small dorm kitchen by getting these dinner bowls, which offer the functionality of both a bowl and the generous size of a plate in one. This TikTok sensation is efficient and affordable, priced at only $4 apiece. You can put them in the microwave and dishwasher without getting damaged. Plus, they come in three neutral colors, black, white and gray. 

The Threshold stoneware Avesta dinner bowls have a 4.8-star rating on Target. One reviewer wrote, “I enjoy eating out of dinner bowls since I am eating while sitting on my sofa while watching TV. Love this plate, perfect size. I have these in two colors and am thinking of getting more.” 

Another customer said, “Love these bowls!! they are my favorite. I’ve had them for over 2 years now and I almost never use my plates and only use regular bowls, when necessary, for cereal, soup.”

Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 electric pressure cooker

This handy appliance has all kinds of cooking options that allow you to make meals with little work on your part. These options include one for soup/broth, meat/stew bean/chili, poultry, rice, porridge, multigrain and steam. You can also make yogurt and program the Instant Pot to pressure cook, slow cook, saute and keep already-cooked food warm. 

This can cook up enough food to feed six people, so it’ll yield a lot of leftovers for college students. It has 10 built-in safety features, including overheating protection. Need recipe inspiration? Download the free corresponding app and you’ll be able to access more than 2,000 recipes that are compatible with the cooker. 

The Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 electric pressure cooker is Amazon’s bestselling electric pressure cooker, boasting a 4.7-star rating out of more than 100,000 ratings. One reviewer described the product as “a lifesaver that saves a lot of time,” adding: “There are several nights after work where I just don’t have the energy to cook, so this thing really comes in clutch! Been using it for half a year now at least once a week, and it still holds up well!” 

Black + Decker two-slice toaster

I have owned a Black + Decker toaster for more than a year, and it has managed to make perfect toast with each use. Although this isn’t my exact model, I expect the performance to be the same. This, combined with the affordability, can likely account for the toaster’s 4.5-star rating on Amazon.

A toaster is essential for college students as it provides either a quickie meal to have before class, or a filling snack to have during study breaks. The Black + Decker two-slice toaster has six toasting options as well as selections for bagels and frozen bread. You also get a slide-out crumb tray for easy cleanup. Buy now and get this for 38% off. 

This Black + Decker two-slice toaster has more than 7,900 five-star ratings on Amazon. One reviewer wrote, “Tried several other toasters and this is the first one I am really happy with. I have had it several months and it continues to work well. I bake most of my own bread and it toasts it evenly in both slots when set to dark. It is a little slower to toast than other brands but I suspect that contributes to the even toasting result. Very pleased with this product.” 

Keurig K-Mini single-serve coffee maker

Measuring less than five inches wide, the Keurig K-mini is perfect for college kids living in a small dorm room. This single-serving coffee maker is a bestseller in its category on Amazon, with more than 76,000 five-star ratings on Amazon. 

The Keurig K-Mini can make between six to 12 ounces of coffee fast, perfect for students on the go. It has a one-cup reservoir and comes in plenty of fun colors, including army green, baby blue and light pink. Buy this now and you can take advantage of a 40% discount, which is only available for a limited time. 

One customer called the Keurig K-Mini single-serve coffee maker “amazing!” and “worth it!”, adding: “I saved so much money buying this coffee maker. I used to be a Starbucks everyday girl, but I wanted to cut down on costs and budget more, so I decided to invest in this coffee maker and it makes great hot coffee. I don’t know when the last time was that I had an $8 coffee!”

Bedding essentials for dorms

College dorm room beds are Twin XL size, which means the sheets and blankets you already own won’t fit. Check out these top-rated dorm bedding options, including the best Twin XL mattress pads and best twin XL college dorm bed linens.

California Design Den luxury bed sheets set

You can’t go wrong with cotton sheets. Cotton is strong, breathable and soft, all components that will make for comfortable, long-lasting sheets for your college kid. These sheets offer that and more with their sateen weave, which means they’ll feel thick and well as silky soft against the skin. 

These are a great option for anyone, but especially those who suffer from household allergies (cotton is naturally hypoallergenic) or get overheated at night. The sheet set contains a flat sheet, fitted sheet and pillowcase. 

The California Design Den luxury bed sheet set has a 4.4-star rating on Target. One reviewer wrote, “Really having a difficult time finding good sheets anymore that aren’t microfiber. These are great! They’ve even been washed for several months and still look new. On here buying more now.” 

Becky Cameron cotton flannel sheet set

Flannel is great for cold sleepers, as the fuzz from the brushed fabric creates additional warmth that you won’t get from other types of sheets, such as plain cotton, linen, bamboo and more. 

What we like about this cotton flannel sheet set is that, unlike many other flannel sheet sets, this one doesn’t only come in wintry, Christmas-y or plaid patterns. You get a wide range of solid colors to choose from that’ll work with year-round use. These are also great if your kid is going to college in places like the Northeast or the Midwest, where winters tend to be long and harsh. 

The twin set includes a fitted sheet, flat sheet and two pillowcases, and are 100% cotton. Plus, they’re 35% off for a limited time. 

The Becky Cameron cotton flannel sheet set has a 4.7-star rating on Target. One reviewer wrote, “Soft, comfortable, good quality – rarely do I give a review but these sheets deserved it.” 

The Twillery Co. Newburg ultra plush 3″ mattress pad

College mattresses aren’t known for their comfort. To ensure your kid feels like they are sleeping on clouds while away from home, get them this extra-thick mattress pad from The Twillery Co. 

The mattress pad is three inches thick and provides cushioning with a down alternative fill, so it’s like sleeping on top of a duvet insert. What’s more, it can be cleaned in the washer and dryer. 

The Twillery Co. Newburg has a 4.5-star rating on Wayfair. One reviewer wrote, “I’ve had this topper for a month so far and it’s definitely helped me get a more comfortable night’s sleep. Would recommend!” 

Another customer said: “So comfortable. Feels like sleeping in the clouds.” 

Madison Park heavenly soft waterproof mattress pad

This waterproof mattress pad is filled with an alternative down, which will provide a nice layer of padding for sleepers. Plus, it’s hypoallergenic, which may provide some relief to those with household allergies. 

The Madison Park heavenly waterproof mattress pad has a 4.3-star rating on Target. One reviewer wrote, “I got this mattress cover for my daughter’s bed. She has slept on it now for almost a month and says that it is very comfortable. It’s just enough extra padding for her without taking away from the firmness of her mattress. She loves it so much I have caught her sleeping on it without a sheet. It’s super soft. Definitely recommend.”

Find it at Target for $26 for the Twin XL size.

Tech essentials for college

From the best noise-canceling headphones that drown out distracting noise to a new Apple MacBook to get all those papers written, here are our must-have picks for college students.

Apple 2023 14″ MacBook Pro (M3 Pro processor)

While most students can get away with using the smaller 2023 13″ MacBook Air, if you plan on doing anything extensive with your new laptop, you might want to opt for something beefier. Anyone who wants a bit more processing power and a better display should really consider the mid-priced 2023 Apple MacBook Pro with an M3 Pro processor. That makes this option the best laptop for students who plan on using their new MacBook every day for just about everything. 

The laptop’s 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display is gorgeous. This means that anytime you’re streaming video, gaming, editing video or working with photos, what you’ll see will be extremely detailed — with plenty of contrast and vibrancy. The display offers a maximum brightness of 1,000 nits.

We’re big fans of this laptop’s up-to-18-hour battery life. You also get plenty of connectivity options and ports, plus faster processing power than what a MacBook Air can do. Choose between 512 gigabytes or 1 terabyte of storage and a space gray or silver housing.

While all of the MacBook Pro laptops are more powerful than any of the MacBook Air models, this particular 14-inch MacBook Pro falls in the middle when it comes to hardware configuration and cost. It’ll easily handle just about any task and could potentially replace your desktop computer, too. Plus, a MacBook Pro is a great idea for students working in art or visual mediums, since it can handle rendering much more capably than other models. 

Looking for a more affordable option? Check out our roundup of the best budget laptops under $500, the best laptops under $1,000 and the best Chromebooks for back to school.

Apple iPad (10th generation)

The iPad (10th generation) is a budget-friendly tablet option for college students. It takes advantage of a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display and runs using Apple’s older A14 Bionic processor. The tablet supports the first-generation Apple Pencil ($80) or Apple Pencil USB-C ($69), along with the Magic Keyboard Folio ($239).

This version of the iPad comes in four colors — blue, pink, yellow or silver. It works with a wide range of note-taking, personal productivity and time-management apps. Built into the tablet are stereo speakers, along with microphones and a 12MP front- and 8MP rear-facing camera, which together make it easy to participate in video calls.

For wireless connectivity, the 10th generation iPad supports Wi-Fi 6. Beyond just using it for school work, the tablet can also be used for playing games, streaming TV shows and movies, and much more. Along with the apps that come preinstalled, several million more are available from the App Store, so a user can truly customize their tablet.

Considering this is an entry-level iPad, this model comes with just two internal storage capacity options — 64GB or 256GB. For many college students, 64GB won’t allow the tablet to hold enough content, so the 256GB version ($450) may be a more viable option. As with all iPad models, for slightly more money, a WI-Fi + Cellular version is also available, but since most college campuses, libraries and dorms have good Wi-Fi coverage, the cellular option shouldn’t be needed.

Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Gen (with USB-C)

Apple AirPods Pro are excellent additions to any array of back-to-school tech, and a must-have for college students.

These earbuds offer superior noise cancellation, spatial audio with dynamic head tracking, support for Apple’s Find My feature, a long battery life, a wireless charging case, a water-resistant design and so much more. They’re also comfortable to wear and instantly pair with whichever Apple device you’re using.

Whether you’re listening to music, podcasts or audiobooks; playing games; or on a hands-free call, these Bluetooth earbuds offer the high-quality audio you want. And they’ve just been updated with a new voice-clarifying feature.

24″ Koorui business computer monitor

Sometimes you don’t need much from your monitor if you’re mainly concerned with checking email, getting your assignments finished, and browsing online. This is one affordable monitor option that can give you that. 

It offers full HD at 1920 x 1080p resolution with a 60Hz refresh rate, which means it’s good for viewing documents like the materials you need for class, but it can also serve up delicious visuals in-game or make your favorite TV show pop. 

Additionally, it boasts a flicker-free display, blue light filter and adjustable tilting screen for improved comfort. This helps you limit eye and neck strain when working on the computer for long periods. Whether you’re studying or busting loose, it can help you achieve anything you’d like. 

Sony wireless noise-cancelling headphones (WH1000XM4)

If you want Sony-quality sound and superior noise cancelation for less than $300, we recommend the slightly older WH-1000XM4 noise-canceling headphones. They’re $100 off at Best Buy now ahead of the back-to-school season.

The Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones offer up to a 30-hour battery life and a quick charge feature that gives you five extra hours of listening with just a 10-minute charge. You also get touch-sensitive controls on the ear cups and a handy speak-to-chat feature that reduces the volume of what you’re listening to when you need to communicate with people around you.

When you just want to focus on the audio you’re listening to, Sony’s noise cancelation technology is top-notch. And we love the audio quality these headphones offer during hands-free calls, even when you’re in a noisy environment. These headphones automatically upscale compressed digital music files in real time so streaming audio will sound even more robust and clear.

Samsung Q60D QLED 4K TV

Looking for a great visual experience in a small package? This TV comes with a great-looking backlight system that can adapt to what’s onscreen for a more realistic picture. It also offers great color thanks to its Quantum Dot tech that can serve up over a billion hues. That’s why this is our favorite TV for dorms. 

Its quantum processor can automatically upscale content into 4K, plus it can provide smooth, lag-free motion with reduced blur if you plan on watching a lot of sports or fast-paced shows. Object Tracking Sound Lite makes an immersive 3D surround sound experience as well with top channel audio that follows the on-screen movement.

You’ll also love how small this dorm room television is. Its AirSlim design means it can blend seamlessly into a dorm for a TV upgrade anyone can appreciate in a smaller space. With all these features, it’s definitely worth the extra cash. 

More dorm necessities

American Soft Linen six-piece towel set

It’s surprising how expensive towels can get, which is why we are so into the discount on this set from American Soft Linen. The set includes two bath towels, two hand towels and two wash clothes. Each is made of Turkish cotton, a premium cotton known for being soft, absorbent and long-lasting. The towel set also boasts an OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification, meaning that this product has been verified to have been made without harmful substances. 

You can get this set in your choice of 20 color options. These range from neutrals such as white and gray to vibrant colors such as yellow and lilac. 

The American Soft Linen six-piece towel set has a 4.6-star rating on Target. One reviewer wrote, “They are a nice shade of gray, have a good texture and are very comfortable. Highly recommend them and I might get a second set for my other bathroom!!”

Shark Navigator Lift-Away upright vacuum

What we love most about this Shark vacuum is that you can detach the handle and canister from the base, transforming it into a handheld vacuum instantly. With this functionality, you’ll be able to reach dust and debris around your dorm with ease. 

This Shark upright has separate modes for hard floors and rugs, comes with a HEPA filter and has a 0.9 quarts (about 3.5 cups) capacity in the dust cup. It also boasts a 4.5-star rating on Amazon, with more than 86,500 ratings. (Note that the discount only applies to the silver NV356E model.)

One reviewer wrote, “I was literally blown away at how good this vacuum worked. I’ve got kids, a husband and a dog and this vacuum did such a good job it looked like I hadn’t vacuumed in years. You can feel how strong the suction is and as a mom, I need a good vacuum. If you don’t want to spend hundreds on a great vacuum I highly suggest this one.”

Mercury Row metal-framed mirror

Your dorm room might not come equipped with a mirror. To get a better view of your outfits, get this affordable floor mirror from Wayfair. 

The mirror is freestanding and comes with a mount, so you don’t have to lean it directly against your wall for it to stand up. It’s made of shatterproof glass and comes in a wide variety of colors, including black and gold. You can get this in three sizes, with two reaching almost six feet in height. Prices vary by size and color.

The Mercury Row metal-framed mirror has a 4.8-star rating on Wayfair out of more than 10,900 ratings. One reviewer wrote, “Great mirror and so much less expensive than other brands and companies! Looks classy!” 

Another customer said, “It’s taller and wider than some and I like that. The mirror itself is also nice. Does not distort the image.”