Heading off to college often means upgrading from the comforts of home to the essentials of dorm life. This list features must-have products designed to elevate the dorm room experience. From making cleaning easier to enhancing comfort, these college dorm room essentials blend functionality with style. We're covering everything from smart home tech to convenient, small-space cooking, ready to help anyone transform a small space into a home-away-from-home.
Amazon Echo Spot
There are countless reasons Amazon Echo products are a sure win in a dorm room. They can deliver powerful audio as a Bluetooth speaker, deliver the time and weather, control lighting, and more. Help your college student learn how to design routines, and create to-do lists and shopping lists. If they're new to Alexa, they'll be amazed by how easily this smart home tech can simplify their home-away-from-home experience.
HumanGear's GoPouch
These reusable, well-sealed pouches can store anything from bathroom accessories to snacks from the dining hall. Forget regular baggies and get your student a sustainable alternative that'll last the whole school year.
Huanuo's Magno ModuleMaster Laptop Stand
Students need an ergonomic solution, too! Magno ModuleMaster Laptop Stand is perfect for dorm rooms where where flexibility and space efficiency often lacks. With its thin, portable design and an easy one-fold setup, it’s also a great option for use in classes, at the library, or for group projects outside the student union Starbucks.
- Ergonomic viewing optimized at five different angles (0, 8, 18, 22, and 30 degrees)
- Its magnetic snap-on attachment holds devices like phones, tablets, and earbuds (no slipping around!)
- It'll support up to a 17-inch laptop
- The set includes a wrist cushion, phone holder, and dust cover
- We mostly love that easily transitions from a desktop surface to a lap surface, and folds flat so your student can take it anywhere to work, on-campus or off.
Tumble Washable Carpets
College floors are notoriously messy, yet we know from experience that most schools often have large washing machines available for students. Washable rugs may be a great solution for families with pets and kids, but they're a clutch accessory for dorm living, too. Tumble prioritizes the use of materials that are free from "forever chemicals," and their rugs are made in a facility with an OEKO-TEX certification. Available in a wide range of designs, colors, and sizes, we think he'll find one he likes for his new space.
Nest Bedding's Cooling Topper
Made from its Energex Temperature Responsive Foam, this signature mattress topper isn't like those egg crate foam toppers you were stuck using. It's 2" tall in height to maximize airflow between the top sheet and the mattress, and supportive, too, factoring in the pressure relief of memory foam and the durability of latex. Plus, it straps in all four corners; no slipping around for this bedroom accessory!
Steelcase's Solo Sit-to-Stand Desk
The Steelcase Solo Sit-to-Stand Desk is a great choice for students who favor a flexible and ergonomic workspace. We like that it comes in a variety of sizes, has easy-to-use height adjustability, and supports both sitting and standing positions. It's perfect for dorms where space is at a premium, and if standing helps your student focus as well as it helps me, well, they'll thank you big-time
- Simple one-touch pneumatic lift mechanism for smooth height adjustment
- Compact design ideal for small dorm rooms
- Allows students to alternate between sitting and standing for better focus and posture
- Durable build, able to withstand daily student use
- No electrical setup required, making it easy to install and move
PlushBeds Cooling Pillow Collection
Dorm rooms can be inexplicably hot, which is why things like cooling pillows make a difference for your students. We tested the Cooling Pillow Collection at home, and it really does feel cooler, thanks to the way it promotes airflow and ventilation. They're available in latex, down, and with FRíO® rapid chill cooling fibers. "Our new Cooling Pillow Collection is a testament to our dedication to enhancing sleep quality," shared a spokesperson from the company. "These pillows offer the necessary support for restful sleep while creating a refreshing and cool sleep surface."
Lasko Pinnacle 40” Tower Fan
This fan is a game-changer for dorm rooms or any space needing powerful, quiet cooling. What wow-ed us most is its 50-foot reach, advanced carbon filtration, and Whisper Force DC Technology. On top of that, Lasko’s groundbreaking AIrsense can adjust the fan speeds based on room temperature, with 12 speeds, 4 wind modes, and a nightlight.
Swiffer® PowerMop Multi-Surface Kit for Floor Cleaning
Laminate, tile, and vinyl floors are common in dorms and apartments, so it's no surprise that students are quick to embrace the convenience of a Swiffer. The Swiffer PowerMop is one of the newest products. It's a time saver, lightweight, and easy to store. If you're not likely to haul out a mop and bucket, add this to your "must have" list and experience for yourself why it was named a 2024 Product of the Year. Its pad design has 300+ scrubbing strips that clean grout lines and cracks in addition to deep cleaning surfaces.
BB-1200 Bidet Seat
Yes, we know that a bidet is going to raise some eyebrows in your college kids' communal bathroom, but hear us out:
- Bidets are clean
- Bidets are efficient
- They'll have to buy less toilet paper
- Your student won't smell as bad (maybe, can't guarantee)
Bio Bidet launched BB-1200L (a very smart bidet seat), but if you want something a bit simpler and more affordable, TUSHY is a winner, too.
Nanoleaf Lines
Nanoleaf manufactures a lot of really cool lighting systems that are ideal for home offices, bedrooms entertainment rooms, and gaming areas. Think of them as the next generation's neon signs, and more durable than string lights. The lighting can be endlessly customized both in design and in color, and would make a great for a great addition for any dorm room decor. (Birthday gift! Bookmark it!).
Other Nanoleaf lights we like:
Tinoco GO Pet Cordless Stick Vacuum
Pet or no pet, we know what kind of mess college students make. That’s why we’re a fan of buying a really great vacuum that’ll help them keep the space free of loose dust and dirt, hair, and everything else. This particular model is both lightweight and powerful, built to include iLoop Sense Technology that adjusts both the suction and brush speed based on the mess detected. Plus, it runs for a full hour on one charge (i.e. it’ll probably be ready for a recharge by Thanksgiving). Psst, the Seafoam Green one shown is exclusive to Target, and you can find a light blue model at Walmart.
Haworth's The Breck Chair
I can still remember how painfully uncomfortable my dorm room's desk chair was, but it doesn't have to be so bad for the next-gen. Consider upgrading to a modern, ergonomic office chair that'll last all four years (and then some). The Breck is Haworth's newest design, and it'll make coursework more tolerable; well, we can't promise that, but I can tell you that it makes my day-to-day work considerably more comfortable. It's available with black or white frames and six different seat colors, meaning you can truly customize this to your tastes. (Plus, you'll sleep better at night knowing it's from a zero-waste-to-landfill facility.)
LG's CordZero Vacuum
This cordless, self-emptying vacuum is compact, easy to use, and just about as low-maintenance as it comes — perfect for busy college students. In fact, we wouldn't be surprised if the whole suite was cleaner thanks to this piece of vacuuming technology. Hands down, a vacuum will be necessary in the dorm room, and if you have to get something that's easy to use and low-maintenance for your college student, consider LG's new CordZero.
Ninja's DoubleStack XL 2 Basket Multi-Rack Air Fryer
The dorm room might come with a microwave, but we all know the benefit that an air fryer can bring to a kitchen. Max out their meal plan and give them a way to make those late-night nuggets without setting off the smoke alarm. We like Ninja's DoubleStack because it's more compact than others, plus, between the two drawers and tiered design, you can cook up to four dishes at once.
Tide Evo Laundry Detergent
Believe me when I say that Tide Evo is the future of laundry detergent. I always hated lugging the value-sized container of detergent down to the laundry room, and I swear that this tightly woven laundry square works better than any dissolvable pod (plus, it's more eco-friendly). 5-stars, will continue to recommend.
PuroAir Air Purifier
Dorm room air doesn't have to be so... stale and/or fragrant. Invest in an air purifier and everyone will enjoy the difference it makes, whether you're trying to avoid smelly air or battling indoor allergies. We've tried a lot of models — including powerhouses Rabbit Air, Dyson, and Airthings Renew — but PuroAir is getting a callout because it's compact, which is very important in the dorms.
Cuisinart Compact Bullet Ice Cube Maker
College students don't have room for bags of ice, and their tiny freezers can barely fit a tray of cubes. Countertop ice makers have been growing in popularity and I can't think of a better use scenario than to outfit a dorm room with on-demand ice. This compact, countertop-friendly machine produces up to 26 pounds of ice in small or large sizes — ideal for chilling lemonade, iced tea, or any favorite beverage. With an ice tray, spoon, self-clean function, and simple illuminated indicators for when the ice is full or water is needed, it’s easy and hassle-free.
Lysol Laundry Sanitizer
You'll be happy that it kills 99.9% of odor-causing bacteria in laundry, and he'll be impressed that A-Rod promotes using it for athletic equipment. During cold and flu season, you'll be glad he has a bottle of this Lysol Laundry Sanitizer alongside his regular detergent. It's an additive that goes in during the rinse cycle, but pro tip: if he forgets to add it (or isn't timing the load of laundry), you can easily pour it in when the cycle finishes and run another rinse-only cycle.
Ninja NeverStick™ Ceramic Pro™ Cookware
Lucky enough to have a kitchen in your dorm or college apartment? There are so many benefits to using ceramic cookware, but this line from Ninja some of the toughest we've seen yet. The aluminum base pan and stainless steel handle are 5x more scratch-resistant and 3x more scrub-resistant than Caraway ceramic-coated cookware. Plus, it's dishwasher, oven, and broiler-safe, and resists scratches from metal spoons and spatulas. Dare we say, it'll probably last more than 4 years? (We have a set and really like it.)
