A college move happens twice a year, and each one has a deadline. Move-in day is crowded, parking is short, and dorm rooms are small. This list covers what to buy for the drive in, what a dorm room actually needs, and how to handle summer storage. LiteMovers has moved students to and from schools across the Philadelphia area since 2007.
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Dorm or Off-Campus: Start With the Rules
Before you buy anything, read the school’s housing list of allowed and banned items. Rules differ from school to school and sometimes from building to building.
- ✓Electrical items. Many dorms ban candles, space heaters, and some cooking appliances, and some allow only surge-protected power strips.
- ✓Bed size. Many dorm beds are Twin XL. Confirm before you buy sheets and a mattress topper.
- ✓Move-in time slots. Most schools assign a move-in window and a short unloading time at the curb.
- ✓Off-campus apartments. These follow normal lease rules. Our first apartment supply list covers them in more detail.
Packing Supplies for the Trip
Dorm moves are one of the few times plastic bins make sense. The loads are light, the bins stack in a car, and they become storage under the bed. Keep heavy items like books in small boxes.
Packing and carrying
Enough for a typical dorm room. Add boxes for an off-campus apartment.
- ✓Stackable bins with lids — clothes, shoes, and school supplies. They slide under a lofted bed.
- ✓Vacuum storage bags — shrink comforters, pillows, and winter coats to a fraction of their size.
- ✓U-Haul Box Variety Pack, 25 boxes — small boxes for books and anything heavy.
- ✓U-Haul Paper Box Tape, 3 rolls — for boxes that go into storage over the summer.
- ✓U-Haul Shorty Wardrobe Boxes, 3-pack — clothes stay on hangers from home to the dorm closet.
- ✓Folding hand truck — schools often run short of carts on move-in day.
Need a truck and crew for an apartment or a summer storage pickup? Request a LiteMovers estimate or call (610) 755-5535.
What a Dorm Room Actually Needs
Most first-year students overpack. Start with this list and add after the first week, once you see the room and meet your roommate.
Bed and bath
Check the bed size and the building’s bathroom setup first.
- ✓Twin XL sheet set — regular twin sheets are too short for many dorm mattresses.
- ✓Twin XL mattress topper — the most-thanked purchase on this list.
- ✓Portable shower caddy and shower shoes for shared bathrooms.
Power, storage, and small fixes
Make a small room work without damaging the walls.
- ✓Surge-protected power strip — check the school’s rules on type and cord length.
- ✓Removable adhesive hooks and strips — most schools ban nails and tape on walls.
- ✓Over-the-door hooks — towels, coats, and backpacks.
- ✓Bed risers — only if the bed does not loft. They add storage room underneath.
- ✓LED desk lamp — overhead dorm lighting is rarely enough for studying.
Mover’s tip: Label every bin with the student’s name, building, and room number. On move-in day, volunteers and roommates’ families carry things too, and unlabeled bins end up in the wrong room.
End of Year: Moving Out and Summer Storage
Move-out is harder than move-in. Finals, a firm checkout time, and a long drive home all land in the same week. Storing over the summer is often cheaper than hauling everything home and back.
- ✓Keep the bins and vacuum bags from move-in. They pack the room back up in an hour.
- ✓Buy a few fresh boxes and a roll of tape in April. Campus stores often sell out.
- ✓Take photos of any furniture you disassemble so it goes back together in the fall.
- ✓Ask about student storage. See our storage for college students page and college student moving services.
What to Skip
- ✓Anything on the school’s banned list. Resident advisors do remove banned items.
- ✓Duplicate appliances. Talk with your roommate before buying a mini-fridge or microwave.
- ✓A full year of clothes. Bring one season and swap at a break.
- ✓Large furniture for a dorm. The school supplies the bed, desk, and dresser.
Where LiteMovers Fits In
LiteMovers helps students and parents with off-campus apartment moves, summer storage, and pickups at the end of the year. Our crews bring the truck, blankets, and dollies, so parents do not have to rent a van or lift heavy items. For the full supply list, see the moving supplies guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size sheets do college dorm beds use?
Many dorm beds are Twin XL, which is about five inches longer than a standard twin. Check your school’s housing page before buying.
Are plastic bins or boxes better for a dorm move?
For a dorm, bins usually win. The loads are light, bins stack in a car, and they become storage under the bed. Use small cardboard boxes for books and anything heavy.
Should I store my things over the summer or bring them home?
If home is more than a short drive, storage is often cheaper than two long trips. It also saves space in the car for the drive home.
Can LiteMovers move students to an off-campus apartment?
Yes. We move students and recent graduates to apartments across Philadelphia and the suburbs, and we offer storage between leases.
More Moving Supply Guides
- ✓First Apartment Move-In Supplies — packing, move-in day, and first-week gear for a studio or one-bedroom.
- ✓Senior Downsizing Supplies — sorting, heirlooms, air beds, and safety gear for a smaller home.
- ✓Moving Supplies Buying Checklist — the full list and how much to order.
- ✓Moving Box Calculator — box counts by home size.
Moving to school or storing for the summer?
LiteMovers moves students and families across the Philadelphia area. Get a real estimate from a real local mover.
Call (610) 755-5535 · Toll-free 1-877-798-8989
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