The Complete Dorm Shopping Guide for Moms

Everything you need to buy, zone by zone — and what to skip.

If you've spent any time searching for dorm shopping advice, you've probably noticed that most of it is written for your daughter — not for you. This guide is different. After helping thousands of college-bound families navigate move-in season through CampusChickks and Campus.Moms, we've learned exactly what moms need to know: what to actually buy, what's a waste of money, and how to shop smart for a space you've probably never seen.

One important rule before you start: measure before you buy anything. Dorm rooms are smaller than you're imagining, and buying the wrong-sized item is a common mistake that is never fun on move-in day!

A note on our recommendations: Everything in this guide is based on real purchase data from our community of over 100,000 dorm-shopping families. We track what actually gets bought, used, and loved — and what gets left in a corner. With that, here's what you should know!

Before You Buy a Single Thing

The biggest mistake dorm-shopping moms make isn't buying the wrong products — it's buying before they have the information they need. Before you add anything to your cart, make sure you know:

• Your daughter's exact dorm name and room type (single, double, suite-style, or apartment-style)

• Whether the bed is standard twin or Twin XL — this is non-negotiable before buying any bedding

• Bed loft situation — is it fixed, adjustable, or does she choose? This determines under-bed storage options

• Bathroom situation — shared hall bathroom or private/semi-private? This changes everything you buy for bath

• Mini fridge and microwave policy — some dorms provide them, some prohibit personal ones

• Wall policy — most dorms allow only Command Strips, not nails or traditional hooks

• What her roommate is bringing — coordinate before you duplicate expensive items like a fridge or printer

Pro tip: Most colleges post room dimensions on their housing website. Look them up before you shop and write them down. The measurements that matter most: room square footage, bed height from floor (if lofted), closet width and depth, and desk dimensions.

Zone 1: The Bed

The bed is the most important zone to get right. It's where she'll sleep, study, relax, and spend most of her time in her room. It's also the zone where moms most commonly make expensive mistakes.

What you need:

• Twin XL sheets (2 sets) — not standard twin. Dorm beds are longer. This is the most common and most frustrating mistake. Buy two sets so she can have clean sheets without timing laundry perfectly.

• Mattress topper — dorm mattresses are notoriously uncomfortable. A 2-3 inch memory foam topper is one of the best investments you can make. She will thank you.

• Pillow (2) — one for sleeping, one for sitting up against the wall. Dorm beds function as both bed and couch.

• Comforter or duvet — Twin XL size. A duvet with a removable cover is easier to wash. Coordinate with your daughter on color and style — this is one area where her opinion matters.

• Mattress protector — waterproof. Not glamorous, but essential. Spills happen, and you don't want to replace a mattress topper.

• Lap desk — she will eat, study, and scroll in bed. A lap desk protects the mattress and gives her a stable surface.

What to skip:

• Decorative throw pillows — they sound nice but they end up on the floor every night

• A full-size comforter — won't fit a Twin XL bed properly

• Multiple blankets — one comforter, one throw. More than that and the room feels cluttered

Where to shop for bedding: Amazon is our community's top source for Twin XL sheets — Beckham Hotel Collection, Bare Home, and CGK Unlimited consistently top the charts for quality at accessible price points. When it comes to mattress toppers, Sleepyhead is our top recommendation — and for good reason. Dorm mattresses are notoriously uncomfortable, and a quality topper is the difference between a year of restful sleep and a year of waking up sore and tired. Sleepyhead sits at a higher price point, but it's worth every penny if it's within your budget. Few purchases will have a bigger impact on her daily wellbeing.

Zone 2: The Desk

Most dorms come with a desk and chair, so you're not buying furniture — you're equipping a workspace. The goal is to make it functional enough that she actually uses it to study.

What you need:

• Desk lamp — the overhead lighting in dorms is harsh and unflattering. A warm desk lamp is one of the most-loved purchases in our community. Look for one with adjustable brightness and a USB charging port built in.

• Power strip with surge protection — dorm rooms have shockingly few outlets. A power strip with at least 4 outlets and 2 USB ports is non-negotiable. Make sure it's surge protected.

• Desk organizer — pens, highlighters, scissors, and sticky notes need a home. A simple organizer keeps the desk functional.

• Planner or wall calendar — college deadlines come fast. A physical planner helps even the most digitally-oriented students.

• Headphones — for studying in a shared space. Noise-cancelling if your budget allows.

• Laptop stand — raises the screen to eye level and prevents neck strain during long study sessions.

• Cable organizer or cable clips — desk cable chaos is real. Simple clips keep everything manageable.

What to skip:

• A printer — the library has one, and most professors accept digital submissions

• A large desk mat — sounds useful, takes up space she doesn't have

• Excessive desk decor — one or two personal items, then stop

Zone 3: The Bathroom

The bathroom setup depends entirely on her situation. A shared hall bathroom requires very different supplies than a private or suite-style bathroom. Confirm which she has before shopping.

For shared hall bathrooms:

• Shower caddy — she'll be walking down the hall to shower. Get one with drainage holes, a handle, and enough compartments for shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and face wash. This is not optional.

• Shower flip flops — non-negotiable for shared bathrooms. Any cheap pair will do.

• Microfiber towels (3-4) — dry faster than regular towels, which matters when laundry day is once a week.

• Robe — for walking to and from the bathroom.

• Shower-safe toiletry bottles — she can't leave her products in a shared shower. Refillable bottles she brings back and forth.

For all bathroom situations:

• Over-door hooks — for towels, robes, and bags. Command Strip hooks that won't damage the door.

• Toiletry organizer — a small basket or bag for personal care items keeps everything from spreading across a shared sink.

• Hair dryer and straightener/curling iron — confirm she needs these before packing them. Many girls already own them.

• First aid kit — pain reliever, cold medicine, bandages, antacids, thermometer. She will not buy these herself until she desperately needs them.

• Feminine hygiene products — enough for 2-3 months. She'll appreciate not having to find a store when it's urgent.

Zone 4: Storage & Organization

Storage is the most underestimated category in dorm shopping — and the one that determines whether the room functions or descends into chaos. Dorm rooms have very little built-in storage, and what they do have is rarely well-designed. Your job is to create storage solutions that use every inch of available space.

Think in zones:

• Under the bed — the most valuable real estate in a dorm room. Low-profile bins with lids and wheels are best. Measure the clearance under the bed before buying.

• Closet — most dorm closets are small and poorly organized. A double hang closet organizer instantly doubles hanging space. Add shelf dividers, a shoe rack, and over-door hooks for the inside of the closet door.

• Dresser drawers — drawer organizers keep clothes from becoming a jumbled mess. Buy before she moves in.

• Wall space — Command Strips and adhesive hooks are your best friend. Over-door organizers, hanging shelves, and pegboards (where allowed) all expand storage without taking floor space.

• Desk surface — a small shelf riser creates a second level on the desk, effectively doubling usable surface area.

• Nightstand area — if there's no nightstand, a small bedside caddy that clips onto the bed frame holds her phone, glasses, and anything else she needs at arm's reach.

What our community buys most: Based on our Amazon affiliate data tracking thousands of dorm purchases, the top storage products are: under-bed rolling bins (mDesign, IRIS USA), over-door organizers (SimpleHouseware), closet doubler bars, drawer dividers, and Command Strip hooks. Buy these before you buy anything decorative.

Zone 5: The Walls

Walls are where personality comes in — but most dorms have strict rules about what you can and cannot do to them. Before buying anything, confirm the wall policy with the college. Most allow only Command Strips or adhesive products. Nails and traditional picture hooks are almost always prohibited.

What works:

• Command Strips and hooks — the most purchased dorm product on Amazon for good reason. Buy more than you think you need.

• Washi tape and removable wallpaper — for adding color and pattern without damaging walls.

• Adhesive LED strip lights — one of the most popular dorm purchases in our community. Creates ambiance and adds soft lighting beyond the harsh overhead.

• Hanging photo display — string lights with photo clips, or a grid of photos with Command Strips. A piece of home she can look at every day.

• Removable wall decals or posters with adhesive strips — avoid tape that leaves residue.

What to avoid:

• Nails or screws — she will lose her security deposit

• Double-sided tape — damages paint when removed

• Heavy frames — even Command Strips have weight limits

• Buying too much wall decor before she sees the room — wait until move-in and let her decide

Important: Tell your daughter to photograph the walls before she puts anything up. If there are pre-existing marks or damage, document it immediately so she isn't charged for it when she moves out.

Zone 6: Floor & Common Space

Dorm floors are often cold, hard, and uninviting. A rug transforms the feel of the entire room — and it also doubles as a place to sit when friends come over, since floor space is usually the only option.

What you need:

• Area rug — measure the room first. A rug that's too small looks like a bath mat. A rug that's too large overwhelms the space. For most dorm rooms, a 5x7 or 6x9 works well. Ruggable (washable rugs) are extremely popular in our community — spills happen.

• Rug pad — keeps the rug from sliding on hard floors.

• Floor lamp — overhead lighting in dorms is rarely pleasant. A warm floor lamp creates a much more livable atmosphere.

• Mini fan — dorm HVAC is notoriously unreliable. A small desk or tower fan she controls herself is one of the most-used items in any dorm room.

• Mini fridge (if permitted) — coordinate with her roommate. Only one is needed per room. Check the college's wattage restrictions before purchasing.

• Mini Keurig or coffee maker — the single-cup Keurig Mini is consistently one of the best-selling appliances in dorm content. Coffee is non-negotiable for most college students.

Zone 7: Laundry & Cleaning

This is the zone moms pack perfectly and daughters ignore most — at least at first. Pack it anyway. When she gets sick, runs out of clean clothes, or notices her bathroom needs attention, she'll be glad it's there.

Laundry essentials:

• Laundry hamper with handles or a laundry bag — she'll be carrying it down a hallway or across a campus. Wheels are a bonus.

• Detergent pods — not liquid detergent. Pods are easier to transport, measure, and use. Tide Pods and Dropps are community favorites.

• Dryer sheets or dryer balls — reduces static and keeps clothes smelling fresh.

• Mesh laundry bags — for delicates. Saves her from ruining her favorite items.

• Stain remover pen — she will not do laundry the moment something gets stained. A stain pen buys time.

• Spare set of sheets — laundry day is always further away than planned. A second set means she's never sleeping in a bare bed.

Cleaning essentials:

• Clorox wipes — for surfaces, the desk, the bathroom counter, and everything in between.

• Febreze or room spray — small rooms need fresh air.

• Hand sanitizer — in bulk. College is a petri dish.

• Mini vacuum or dustbuster — for the rug and floor. A full-size vacuum is too much. A small handheld is sufficient.

• Dish soap and a sponge — even if she's on a meal plan, she'll have cups and mugs that need washing.

The Things No Packing List Includes

Every packing list covers the obvious. These are the items our community consistently says they wish they'd thought to pack — the things your daughter won't know to ask for until she desperately needs them.

• A plunger — don't ask, just pack one quietly

• A sewing kit — buttons fall off, straps break, hems come undone

• Extra phone chargers — one for the desk, one for the nightstand, one in her bag

• A can opener — dining halls close and late-night hunger is real

• Batteries — for remotes, alarm clocks, and anything else that needs them

• A small toolkit — screwdriver, hammer, measuring tape, and a level

• Pain reliever, cold medicine, antacids, and allergy medication — enough for a semester

• A thermometer — so she knows whether she's sick enough to call you

• Ziplock bags in multiple sizes — for food, for organizing, for everything

• A surge protector for her TV or monitor if she's bringing one

• Extra towels — one more than you think she needs

• A reusable water bottle — she'll use it every single day

Where to Shop — and What to Buy Where

Not all stores are created equal for dorm shopping. Here's where our community consistently gets the best value:

• Amazon — the best overall destination for dorm shopping. The widest selection, the most competitive prices, and the fastest shipping. Best for bedding, storage, desk accessories, power strips, LED lights, and small appliances. Set up a dorm shopping list and add to it over time.

• Target — excellent for a one-stop dorm run. Their Room Essentials line offers great quality at accessible prices. Best for rugs, bedding, bathroom supplies, and décor.

• Walmart — the most budget-friendly option for basics. Best for cleaning supplies, laundry products, and storage bins.

• The Container Store — worth a visit for closet organization specifically. Their elfa system components can transform a small dorm closet. Pricier, but the quality is exceptional.

• TJ Maxx / HomeGoods — excellent for rugs, decorative items, and bath accessories at significant discounts. Go in person — the inventory changes daily and you'll find things you didn't know you needed.

• Bed Bath & Beyond (now Overstock) — still a solid online resource for dorm-specific bundles and Twin XL bedding sets.

One Last Thing

After helping thousands of families through dorm shopping season, the piece of advice we give every mom is this: buy less than you think you need before move-in, and more after. The room will tell her what it needs once she's in it. The biggest waste of money in dorm shopping isn't buying the wrong product — it's buying too much of the right one.

What she actually needs most is a comfortable place to sleep, a functional place to study, and a space that feels like hers. Everything else is secondary.