The Minimalist College Packing List

no joke…this is what my son’s college closet looked like when he was all moved in…he took a small capsule wardrobe and was very happy.

Less really is almost always more.

Everything you buy has to be stored, moved, shipped, or hauled back home.

A simple, practical college packing list based on what my kids actually used — and what we could have skipped.

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Driving to College List

Getting There

  • heavy-duty moving bags

  • vacuum storage bags

    we got the “multiple” size bags which worked great!

  • dolly

    My kids gave me such grief about this purchase, but it saved us. It packs small, holds a lot, and kept us from making multiple trips from the car to the dorm. We’ve used it over and over.

Bedding


Laundry

Bath & Shower

  • bath towels

  • washcloths

  • shower shoes

  • shower caddy

  • hand towels

  • toothbrush & charger

    sometimes it’s easier to have one at home and one at school

  • toothpaste

  • mouthwash

  • floss

  • tweezers

  • body wash/soap

  • face soap

  • shampoo & conditioner

  • hairbrush

  • deodorant

  • nail clippers

  • q-tips

  • lotion

  • face moisturizer

  • hair products

  • razor

  • chapstick/lip balm

  • sunscreen


Desk & School Supplies

  • desk lamp (can wait & see)

  • command hooks

    this multi-pack served both my boys well…it has a little of everything.

  • backpack

  • pens & highlighters

  • calculator (& charger)

  • index cards

  • scissors

Closet

Medicine & First Aid

  • small first aid kit

    I added in a few meds as well, some Advil, Tylenol, NyQuil…his personal favorites…really helpful because if/when they get sick, they may not have the time/energy to get to the store!

  • thermometer

    really helpful if/when they get sick and you know “how sick” they are!

  • prescription meds

  • insurance card (keep a copy at home, too)


Tech & Charging

  • extension cord - multiple outlets

  • extension cord

  • cell phone/computer charger

    Almost immediately on first trips home, they were left at school, so pretty quickly we had doubles, chargers “here” and “there”

  • laptop/computer

    Yes…I put this on the list because my son left his home for his sophomore year trip to school! Luckily a friend was driving up the next day and could drop it off for him!

Cleaning

  • wipes

  • air purifier

    Okay…hear me out. With a kid living in a 100-year-old dorm, I decided to splurge on the gold standard for air purifiers. It fit easily under his bed, ran 24/7, and was super quiet. I felt better knowing the old-building air wasn’t just circulating around the room.

Move-In Day Supplies

  • wipes

  • paper towels & spray soap (I love this one and it comes in good scent options)

  • masking tape

  • snacks

  • water bottle

  • scissors

Clothing

This one is pretty personal. Here’s what I’d suggest: If your kid is going to do laundry weekly, a few pairs of pants/shorts/shirts are probably good. If you know laundry may be “few and far between,” I may suggest packing more. Go heavy on things like underwear, socks. Beyond that, here are a few things to remember to pack:

  • rain jacket

  • warm coat (sometimes hard to remember in August!)

  • dress shoes/suit/fancy dress? both my kids needed a suit first semester

One of my boys took pretty much all of his clothes. The other took a super small “capsule” wardrobe. Both were happy with their decision.

Wait and See

  • desk lamp

  • kitchen supplies (bowls, plates, cups, silverware)

Important Papers

  • driver’s license

  • birth certificate?

    Both of my boys needed theirs in the first month to apply for a job. Not something I really wanted them to take, but it was necessary.

  • car registration & insurance information — keep a copy at home just in case!

  • medical & dental cards

Flying? Use the flying list.