20 Great Dorm Room Necessities You Can Order Right on Amazon

It's never too early to start planning for one of the biggest days of a teen's life: college move-in day. Now is a great time to start shopping for all the must-haves, from organizational supplies to space-saving wonders. While some things are best bought in person, there are plenty of dorm room and back-to-school essentials to be found right now on Amazon.

In an effort to find the best of the best, we scrolled through the Amazon organization options and rounded up some of our faves. From laundry day accessories to everything needed to pull an all-nighter (studying), here are a few products from Amazon we think every college student should have for the year ahead.

Space Saving Hangers

Most pro organizers will tell you that the chunky, wooden hangers most schools provide are not the best for saving space. Instead, opt for an actual hanging storage solution, like this shirt hanger. It's designed to make the most of vertical space and maximize the amount of clothes you can fit.

Hanging Purse Organizer

Dorm rooms are notoriously small, which means every spare space needs to be maximized as a storage possibility. This hanging purse organizer is a great option for the back of any door, and while it’s designed for purses, the pockets are a perfect size for so many things, from clothing accessories to toiletries to snacks.

Storage Organizer Caddy

Dorm life is in constant motion. It seems as though everyone is always coming and going, and things are often shuffled around—to the bathroom, to common areas, or to a shared kitchen. These portable storage caddies are a great alternative to a more traditional shower caddy because they’re chic enough to leave out and on display, but incredibly easy to bring along wherever you need to go.

Microfiber Cleaning Cloths

Unless a college offers maid service, students are solely responsible for keeping their dorm room clean. Obviously, this means they should bring the usual, go-to cleaning supplies, but the most important things to pack are microfiber cleaning cloths. They're great for using dry to quickly dust off surface areas or with a spray solution for a more thorough deep clean.

Under-Bed Shoe Storage Organizer

Unfortunately, dorm rooms aren’t known for their spacious closets—which means you’ll need to think strategically about where to store everything. Lofted beds are a great way to maximize space and seating areas, but raised beds are ideal for creating a whole new storage zone.

This shoe storage is a great option if you go that route, and you don’t even need to use it to store shoes. The compartments are an excellent size for stowing away all kinds of necessities when they’re not in use.

Under-Bed Storage Containers

Whether you raise your bed or not, these under-bed storage containers are designed to fit under any standard-sized bed, and they can be stacked if you have more height to fill. Though the ideal situation is to leave your out-of-season clothes and bedding at home until it’s needed, that’s not always feasible. Yhese are a great alternative to keep things on hand but stashed away.

Wall Mount Necklace Holder

Jewelry boxes are often a recipe for tangled necklace chains and disorganized chaos, and surface area is already tight in a dorm room. This acrylic wall-mounted necklace holder is a great alternative, and the no-drill design means you won’t have to deal with patching any holes at the end of the year. 

Organizer Drawer Divider Set

A dorm room will likely come with a dresser, but expect it to be very simple (and probably not that big). Drawer organizers like this cloth set are a great way to make the most of each drawer and keep everything as easy to find as possible.

Stackable Clear Drawer Organizer Set

Considering just how much studying takes place in college dorms, it’s a good idea to keep desks as organized as possible. These clear, stackable organizers are a fabulous solution, and we love that they can be used elsewhere, too. They’d also work well on top of a dresser to keep smaller items like jewelry and perfume contained, or in the bathroom for makeup storage.

Collapsible Laundry Hamper with Washable & Breathable Mesh Liner

A laundry hamper is a dorm room must, and finding the right one is key. We love that this one is designed to fit into a compact space, so it can easily slide into an available closet slot. Plus, it has a removable mesh liner that’s perfect for lugging clothes to and from the laundry room.

ECOS Laundry Detergent Sheets

Giant jugs of laundry detergent might work well in an at-home laundry room, but in a college dorm, every space counts. These laundry sheets come in boxes that are space efficient and easy to store, plus they’re far more eco-friendly than your standard plastic detergent containers. 

Cord and Cable Organizer

College calls for so many electronics—and that means so many cords, cables, and wires hanging around. Even narrowing it down to the essentials, you’re still looking at a variety of charging stations that get unwieldy, fast. These cord and cable organizers are a must for keeping any desk as tidy as possible.

Bedside Shelf for Bunk Bed and Top Bunk

Bunked and lofted beds are common in dorm rooms, as they can truly help save space—but a major downside is the loss of an accessible bedside table. This bedside shelf is the perfect solution, and it’s designed to attach to any standard bed. Plus, it uses a tension clamp so no drilling or damage is required. 

Dimmable Table Lamp

In terms of lighting, dorms aren't equipped with much more than a few overhead lights or strategically placed track lighting. A desk lamp is a great idea, especially if a potential roommate is awake at slightly different hours.

To keep a desk from feeling too crowded, we love this sleek, dimmable reading lamp that features a USB charging station and tons of settings. It's sure to help study sessions transition easily from day to night.

Vanity Mirror with Lights

If the only bathroom option is a shared space for the whole floor, it’s a good idea to make sure a dorm room has a few mirrors. Most do come with full-length mirrors attached to the closet or the back of a door, but a vanity mirror is also helpful, especially if it has built-in lighting like this one.

Smart Design Mini Fridge Organizer

This fridge organizer will make use of space in a way you might never have considered. We especially love that there are pockets for snacks, condiments, plates, and flatware.

Wire Wall Grid for Photo Display and Organizers

Bulletin boards and whiteboards are great, but this wire wall grid has a fun aesthetic that’s easy to dress up, swap around, and change seasonally. It can easily be attached to the wall with command hooks and is great for displaying photos and other small decor items.

Fairy String Lights with Clear Clips for Hanging Pictures

There are two decor and accent pieces that always look great in college dorm rooms: string lights and pictures from home. This cute idea combines both and would look especially sweet strung above a bed or next to a desk. Plus, the clips make it easy to swap in new photos and rotate memories on display.

Adhesive Towel Rack

Some dorms have towel hooks or racks already installed, but this no-drill adhesive towel rack is another possible option—and extremely versatile. It can be used to hang a damp towel, or it can double as a holder for necklaces, scarves, or other lightweight accessories.

Weekly Planner Pad

You can never have too many to-do lists and notepads. Though a portable planner to tote around for classes or a phone's calendar feature work great, there’s something effective about having a weekly rundown on display. This tear-off pad is sure to keep you motivated and on track.