The Complete Student Room Packing List

Packing for university sounds simple until you’re surrounded by boxes, wondering whether you really need three frying pans but somehow still haven’t packed a towel.

This uni packing list is designed to be worked through as you pack, with the things you’ll actually need, useful quantities and a few items you can confidently leave at home. Most halls already provide the bigger furniture, so there’s no need to recreate your entire bedroom from scratch.

Heading into first year? Start at the top. Returning for second or third year? You’ll probably already own plenty of the basics, so use the list as a quick reminder and skip what you have.

The Complete Uni Packing List

Before you start filling bags, check your accommodation details. What’s included varies between universities and room types, and five minutes spent checking now could save you arriving with a kettle you have absolutely nowhere to put.

Here’s the university checklist to work through before move-in day.

Documents and admin

• Photo ID

• Passport

• Bank details

• Student finance details

• Accommodation contract

• University documents

• NHS number

• Prescription details

• Insurance details

Bedroom

• Duvet

• Pillows

• Duvet covers

• Fitted sheets

• Pillowcases

• Mattress protector

• Mattress topper

• Throw or blanket

• Clothes hangers

• Bedside lamp

• Laundry basket

• Small storage baskets

Bathroom

• Bath towels

• Hand towels

• Bathrobe

• Wash bag

• Toiletries

• Sliders

• Toilet roll

• First aid kit

• Laundry detergent

• Small bin (if not included)

Kitchen

• Plates

• Bowls

• Cutlery

• Mugs

• Glasses

• Saucepan

• Frying pan

• Chopping board

• Kitchen knife

• Cooking utensils

• Tea towels

• Food containers

• Washing-up liquid

• Store cupboard basics

Study and tech

• Laptop

• Laptop charger

• Phone charger

• Extension lead

• Headphones

• Desk lamp

• Notebooks

• Pens

• Course books

• Backpack

Clothing

• Everyday clothes

• Sportswear

• Shoes

• Smart clothes

• Pyjamas

• Underwear

• Coat

• Waterproof jacket

• Dressing gown

• Slippers

Usually already in your room

Most student halls come furnished, so you’re unlikely to need to bring a bed, mattress, desk, chair or wardrobe. Curtains, a bin and some shelving are also commonly included, although every accommodation provider is different.

Check before you buy. It’s much easier than trying to wedge an unnecessary desk chair into the car.

Bedroom and Bedding

Your bed will take up a good portion of your student room, and it’s also one of the places where packing the right amount makes a real difference.

First, check the mattress size. A standard UK single mattress is 90 x 190cm, but not every student room has one. Some halls use small double or 4ft beds, so confirm the dimensions with your accommodation provider before ordering anything.

For most students, we’d recommend taking:

• Two duvet cover sets

• Two fitted sheets

• One duvet

• Two pillows

• Two sets of pillowcases

• One mattress protector

• One mattress topper

• One throw or extra blanket

Two sets of duvet covers might sound generous until your washing is sitting in a communal machine, then drying somewhere in your room for the next day or two. Having a fresh set ready to go makes life considerably easier.

Add a comfortable duvet, pillows, fitted sheets and, importantly, a mattress protector. It creates a washable layer between you and the mattress, and helps protect it from accidental spills and marks. For extra comfort, a mattress topper can make your bed feel completely different.

A throw is optional, but worth considering. Student room temperatures can be unpredictable, and an extra layer is much easier than trying to sleep in your coat.

Bathroom and Laundry

Whether you have an en suite or you’re sharing with the rest of the corridor, bathroom essentials are best kept simple.

Two bath towels and two hand towels should be enough for most students. One bath towel alone tends to become a problem surprisingly quickly, particularly when it’s damp, in the wash, or hanging over a door refusing to dry. Having a second means you’re never caught short.

Choose soft, absorbent towels that can handle being washed regularly. If your bathroom is shared, a bathrobe is also well worth the suitcase space.

A few easily forgotten essentials:

• Wash bag

• Flip flops or sliders

• Laundry bag or basket

• Laundry detergent

• Small first aid kit

• Small drying rack, if one isn’t provided

Drying racks and laundry products aren’t always supplied, so check before move-in day.

Kitchen and Food

Shared student kitchens have limited cupboards, limited fridge shelves and, somehow, an unlimited ability to collect mugs.

You don’t need a dinner service for six. Start with enough tableware for one or two people, perhaps a couple of plates, bowls, mugs and glasses, alongside a basic set of cutlery. A simple dinner set gives you the essentials without taking over your cupboard.

For cooking, bring the things you know you’ll use. One 3 tier steamer and one frying pan will get most students surprisingly far.

Before buying larger shared items, message your flatmates if you can. There’s not much point arriving with five chopping boards, four colanders and enough pans to open a small restaurant. You can always buy anything missing once you’ve settled in.

For your first couple of days, it’s also worth packing a few cupboard basics:

• Pasta or rice

• Tea or coffee

• Cooking oil

• Salt and pepper

• Cereal

• A couple of easy meals or snacks

Move-in day is tiring enough without realising at 9pm that the only thing in your cupboard is a box of tea bags and you haven’t bought milk.

Add a favourite mug and a couple of glasses, then build up the rest once you know how much space you actually have.

What to Take to Uni for Study, Tech and Admin

Some of the most important things to bring to uni aren’t particularly exciting, but you’ll be very glad you packed them.

Keep your essential documents together in one folder rather than scattering them between three different bags. Bring photo ID, your passport if you have one, accommodation paperwork, student finance information, bank details, your NHS number and details of any prescriptions or regular medication.

For studying, you don’t need to recreate an entire stationery shop.

Start with:

• Laptop and charger

• Phone charger

• Headphones

• Extension lead or multi-plug

• Pens and notebooks

• Backpack or laptop bag

• Course-specific equipment

• Any essential reading

An extension lead is particularly handy in halls, where the nearest plug socket may not be anywhere near the place you actually want to sit.

A table lamp is another small addition that earns its place. Overhead lighting can feel a little stark in the evening, while a lamp gives you more focused light for reading and makes the room feel cosier once studying is done.

As for a printer, we’d leave it at home unless your course genuinely requires one. University libraries and study spaces usually have printing facilities, and a printer is a bulky thing to sacrifice valuable desk space to.

If you’re moving into private accommodation without furniture, you may need a desk, but check what’s supplied before ordering one.

What to Leave at Home

A good uni packing list should tell you what to bring. A great one should also stop you taking half the house with you.

Start with your wardrobe. You do not need every coat, shoe and jumper you own. Take what suits the season, plus a few useful extras, then swap things over when you next go home.

We’d also think twice about packing:

• A printer

• A television

• Duplicate furniture

• Huge kitchen sets

• Every pan you own

• Bulky decorative pieces

• Too many storage boxes

• Candles

Candles and other open flames are commonly prohibited in halls, so check your accommodation rules before packing anything similar.

Storage is the other thing to keep in mind. Every box you bring has to live somewhere in your room for the next year, then make the return journey home again.

The reassuring part? You’re not moving to a desert island. If you forget a laundry basket, need another pan or discover your room could actually use some extra storage, you can sort it once you’re there.

Sometimes the smartest thing to pack is less, then figure out what you actually need.

How to Pack and When to Shop

There’s no need to have your entire uni shopping list bought by the beginning of summer.

A few weeks before move-in, confirm the practical details first. Check your bed size, what furniture is supplied, whether your bathroom is shared and what appliances are already in the kitchen. Then buy the things you know you’ll need from day one, particularly bedding, towels and everyday toiletries.

Leave more room-specific purchases until later. Storage baskets might look essential online, then you arrive and discover your room has more shelves than expected. The same goes for decorative pieces and kitchen equipment.

When packing, separate your belongings by room or category rather than filling bags at random. Soft holdalls are easier to squeeze into awkward gaps in a car, while vacuum bags can reduce the space taken up by duvets, pillows and bulky bedding.

Most importantly, pack a first-night bag and keep it somewhere accessible.

Include:

• Fresh bedding

• Towel

• Toiletries

• Medication

• Phone charger

• Pyjamas

• Change of clothes

• Mug

• Tea or coffee

You do not want to be opening six identical boxes looking for your fitted sheet after a long move-in day.

If your accommodation accepts parcels, you could also arrange for some bulkier items to arrive once you’ve moved in. Check the parcel policy first, particularly if you’re ordering before your tenancy officially starts.

For bedding, towels and those useful finishing touches, browse our Student Essentials before move-in day.

FAQs

What should I pack for my first year at uni?

Start with the things you’ll need immediately, including bedding, towels, toiletries, basic kitchenware, clothes, study essentials, chargers, medication and important documents. Check what your halls already provide before you start buying, as furniture and some kitchen appliances are often included.

What size bedding do I need for university halls?

Many university halls use a standard UK single bed, measuring 90 x 190cm, but some have small double or 4ft beds. Always check your accommodation details before buying sheets or a duvet so you know exactly what size you need.

How many towels and bedding sets should I take?

Two bath towels and two sets of bedding are a practical starting point. It means you still have a clean set to use while the other is being washed or dried, particularly useful when you’re relying on shared laundry facilities.

When should I start buying things for uni?

Start with the essentials a few weeks before move-in, once your accommodation is confirmed and you know what is provided. Bedding, towels and toiletries are worth sorting early, while storage, décor and shared kitchen items can usually wait until you’ve seen the space.

What should I not take to uni?

Avoid packing things your accommodation already provides, along with bulky items you’re unlikely to use. A full wardrobe, printer, big television, duplicate furniture and oversized kitchen sets can all take up valuable room, and items such as candles may not be permitted in halls.