25 Dorm Room Essentials You Can Find on Amazon Now – CNET

This story is part of Gift Guide , our year-round collection of the best gift ideas. Dorm life can be a lot to handle for incoming college students. From sharing a new space with roommates, to laundry and the general hazards of “adulting,” it can be a lot to navigate.

With this new setting comes a need for new supplies and dorm room essentials. It also often comes with budget restrictions . The right goods at the right price can set a dorm-dweller up for success.

That’s why we’ve rounded up the best Amazon picks for the job. Some of these items are necessary — a laundry hamper and a shower caddy, for instance. But some are creature comforts, like a record player or a dorm smart speaker.

We’ve got recommendations for decor (a washable rug! A USB lamp!) as well as smart basics including under-bed storage and noise-canceling headphones. Take a look and score some dorm essentials for cheap on Amazon. An online shopping spree could provide a first lesson on budgeting for the college student.

Want even more options? CNET has partnered with Amazon to select more than 60 other dorm room essentials that we recommend. The list is a mixture of products we’ve reviewed or personally tested, along with some promising household basics with high user ratings. See at Amazon David Carnoy/CNET JBL Live Pro 2 noise-canceling earbuds A budget-friendly way to escape background noise This hot AirPods Pro alternative will help students avoid the daily dorm racket with active noise cancellation technology.

Bonus: A pair of JBL Live Pro 2 earbuds boasts a budget-friendly price. Read CNET’s guide to the best noise-canceling true wireless earbuds for 2022 for more info on our picks. $100 at Amazon Amazon Portable shower caddy tote A college classic: the shower The shower caddy is a small but mighty addition to the dorm room shopping list.

Students can stock it with their favorite products and haul it to and fro. (OK, just to the bathroom and back. ) This one has plenty of room for shampoo, lotion and other toiletries.

Bonus: Color combos include teal and orange, navy and mustard, or the more subdued solid apricot or gray. $13 at Amazon Victrola Victrola Revolution Go Record Player Play your vinyl collection anywhere A Bluetooth-enabled rechargeable record player that’s also portable? Perfect. Victrola’s Revolution Go record player is a great pick for college-bound kids.

It’s compact enough for dorm life, and it can be set up anywhere with help from the removable carrying strap. No plugs necessary. Record collection not included.

$130 at Amazon Amazon Mengersi Cow twin XL sheets A comfy, trendy sheet set sized for dorm beds An inconvenient fact about dorm beds: they are generally twin XL size, which means normal twin sheets won’t fit. This cotton-blend set conforms to dorm sizing, and as an added bonus, it comes in a trendy cow print! Other prints, including plain gray and blue butterfly, are also available. The three-piece set includes a fitted sheet, flat sheet and pillowcase.

$32 at Amazon Reef Reef Water Court sandals Shower sandals are a dorm must-have A pair of shower sandals is a staple of dorm living. This Reef pair goes above and beyond — they’ve got traction to prevent slipping and they’re nice enough to wear outside the bathroom! Quality construction means your Water Court sandals will last beyond dorm life. Available in black, olive, pink and white on Amazon.

$30 at Amazon Chris Monroe/CNET Amazon Echo (4th Gen) smart speaker A smart speaker for a smart dorm Oct 2021 Ranked CNET’s best smart speaker overall , the Amazon Echo is a helpful addition to any dorm. Students can ask Amazon’s smart assistant Alexa about the weather, create shopping lists, set alarms for class and more. The Echo also boasts a quality speaker and connects to smart devices.

Read our Amazon Echo (2020) review . $100 at Amazon Amazon Ruggable rug in Absida Sage A washable rug! Perfect for dorm life Even a 2×3-foot rug can work wonders in a dorm room, both for decor and comfort. Ruggable’s fun rainbow prints liven up even drab spaces.

And even better, Ruggable rugs are stain- and water-resistant and can be washed in any laundry facility. Spills? No problem. Peel the top layer from the rug pad and just toss it in the wash.

$99 at Amazon Amazon Minghe Morden desk lamp A desk lamp that does it all This popular Amazon desk lamp has a modern look and a very useful design. It’s adjustable and it can charge devices when outlets are in short supply — perfect for a dorm desk. Bonus: A dual-USB port and LED light bulb are included.

Available in black and white with a wood accent. $47 at Amazon Amazon MCleanPin laundry hamper Collect dirty clothes with ease Spare future roommates from stumbling on your dirty socks! A clothes hamper is a must-buy when it comes to dorm living because everyone needs to collect their laundry. This one is great because it comes with two removable bags — genius for rotating out laundry loads.

The handles and lid are helpful, too. $34 at Amazon Amazon Amazon Basics 5-piece bedding set A practical bed-in-a-bag at a great price This set from Amazon Basics contains everything needed to make up a dorm bed. Comforter, sheets, sham and pillowcase, conveniently sized in Twin XL.

The coral medallion print is particularly nice, but if that’s not your style, there are 16 additional colors. Bonus: The set is Made in Green by Oeko-Tex, which means it meets environmental standards. $49 at Amazon Amazon Uber Appliance Mini fridge Stash drinks, snacks or even skincare A tiny fridge, how convenient! College students will love keeping beverages, food and skincare cool in their own fridge.

This one from Uber Appliance has a removable shelf and holds up to six cans or four bottles of water. It comes in red, silver or black and comes with power cords for a car or home. $60 at Amazon Amazon Big Blanket Co.

giant throw blanket Snuggle up with friends This blanket has room for everyone! Big Blanket Co. makes huge blankets (100 square feet of blanket) so the whole crew can cozy up for movie night or picnics in the quad. Whatever the occasion, your college newbie will be ready for friends.

Bonus: Despite its size, you can still toss this blanket in a standard washing machine. $159 at Amazon Amazon Blueair Blue Pure 411 Auto air purifier Clean, fresh air in a dorm? It’s possible! Blueair makes a dorm-size air filter that removes 99. 97% of harmful particles — a smart pandemic purchase.

This Blue Pure 411 covers rooms up to 190 square feet (other models also available), filtering out odors, smoke, pollen, allergens, COVID-19 and other irritants. It even has an indicator light that shows air quality status. $105 at Amazon Amazon Richards Homewares underbed storage Pro tip for dorm-dwellers: Use the space under the bed Even if you have to raise your bed, maximizing dorm room space with under-bed storage is a great idea.

This trio of drawers makes perfect use of that empty space. Each molded plastic drawer has a lid and slides out of the metal frame for convenient access. Also available in a two-drawer set.

$43 at Amazon Amazon Linenspa Gel Infused Memory Foam Mattress Topper, Twin XL For a better night’s sleep Dorm mattresses are unbearably uncomfortable, and this mattress topper is exactly what dorm dwellers need to transform a sleeping experience. Two inches of memory foam add extra cushioning and provide pressure relief. Plus, cooling gel beads help regulate body temperature at night.

Be sure to buy a Twin XL since that’s the standard size mattress for most dorm rooms and residence halls. $43 at Amazon Amazon JollyVogue Plush Pillows Super-comfy pillows College students need plenty of rest, which means a comfortable pillow (or two) is a must. Not only are these JollyVogue pillows budget-friendly, but they’re also incredibly fluffy, soft and supportive.

A bonus is that they’re machine-washable too. CNET’s Dawnthea Price Lisco says, “After months of using these pillows, they’ve retained their fluffy shape and are still comfortable and comforting. I can’t recommend these pillows enough.

” $31 at Amazon Amazon Huanuo Lap Desk For working comfortably While most campuses have been open for a while, Zoom and asynchronous classes haven’t completely gone away. While it’s great to be able to work from your bed or a couch, holding a computer on your lap for hours on end gets uncomfortable fast. Buying a laptop desk allows you to work from anywhere in your dorm.

$38 at Amazon Amazon Americanflat Over the Door Mirror An easy-to-hang full-length mirror Getting ready for a night out and need to see the whole fit? Having a full-length mirror eliminates the struggle that comes along with not having a bathroom of your own. A full-length mirror that hangs over your door is the best, most convenient way to test out different outfits and get ready for a night out. $60 at Amazon Amazon Bedside Storage Caddy Keep everything within reach Space is tight in most dorm rooms, and a night stand is a luxury only few are given.

A storage caddy that hangs on the side of your bed allows you to use your laptop, read and snack before bed without the inconvenience of getting up and putting everything away. Now you can do it all without ever leaving your bed! $12 at Amazon Amazon Long Charging Cable For easy charging Outlets can be a scarcity in dorm rooms and there’s nothing worse than not keeping your phone nearby while it’s charging. Speaking from personal experience, having to sit near the nearest outlet while your phone is charging, rather than comfortably scrolling in bed, is awful.

Long phone chargers fix the obstacles that lofted dorm beds and limited outlets raise. $12 at Amazon Angela Lang/CNET Homedics Sound Spa A white noise machine Whether your roommate snores or your neighbors are late-night partiers, dorm life is loud. So if you don’t want to spend the night tossing and turning, a white noise machine can make all the difference in the world.

The Homedics Sound Spa is our top pick for the best white noise machine overall — and for good reason: It’s inexpensive, portable and it plays six calming nature and sleep sounds. $22 at Amazon Amazon Vornado VFAN Jr. Vintage Air Circulator Fan, Green For keeping cool Most dorms don’t have AC, which means they can get uncomfortably stuffy in the fall and spring.

The solution? Vornado fans, which have a reputation for being powerful and reliable. This stylish table fan is small enough to stow away but big enough to circulate all the air in your room. Bonus points for the neat vintage vibe.

$60 at Amazon $60 at Target $60 at Best Buy Amazon Hossejoy Wood Adjustable Desktop Storage Organizer For a tidy desk Dorm rooms are notoriously narrow, which is why vertical storage is so important. This affordable desktop organizer will maximize your space and help keep your desk neat and tidy. It’s easy to assemble, and it can be set up in varying shapes and lengths, in case you’d rather use it on a dresser or countertop.

It comes in both black and white. $25 at Amazon Pendleton Pendleton Bath Towel A big, plush towel in a colorful print Pendleton’s towels are known for their quality — this one will outlast the college years and beyond. This 100% cotton towel is a generous 30×58-inch size and meets Made in Green by Oeko-Tex environmental standards.

Plus, it just looks cool. Don’t let your roommate steal it! Coordinating sizes are also available. $42 at Amazon Amazon Black+Decker cordless handheld vacuum For easy cleaning No one likes a filthy living space.

Between high foot traffic and late-night snacking, a dorm room can get gross quickly. This Black+Decker handheld vacuum is affordable, reliable and easier to store away than an upright vacuum. Plus, it comes with a pull-out crevice tool for hard-to-reach places and icky crumbs.

$50 at Amazon This story was originally published earlier and has been updated with additional picks. Find The Perfect Gift All Under $10 Under $20 Under $50 Under $100 Under $250 all moms dads grandparents fitness travelers teens preteens tech gaming foodies romantic jewelry home kids 107 results Five S Kneading Massager $35 at Amazon Hydro Flask $35 at Hyrdo Flask Nintendo eShop Gift Card $50 at Amazon Fox in the Forest $12 at Amazon SteelSeries Arctis 1 $50 at Amazon Jacques Torres bonbons $55 at Jacque Torres A bouquet of exotic meats $90 at Man Crates Sarah Chloe diamond locket $145 at Sarah Chloe The Bouqs Co. Pixie bouquet $99 at The Bouqs Co.

Sweet heart bamboo $35 at Plants. com Max Brenner chocolates $37 at Max Brenner Ingarden microgreens garden $100 at Amazon Shun Sora Japanese petty knife $70 at Amazon Wolf Circus Toni gold bracelet $95 at Wolf Circus Champagne Gummy Bears $9 at Sugarfina MakiMaki sushi roll kit for 2 $125 at MakiMaki Cote des Roses rosé $16 at Wine. com Flavored Truffle Gift Box $38 at La Maison du Chocolat Barrel Aged Hot Hive Honey and Reaper Salt Series $40 at Fuego Box Carrie Hoffman X studs earrings $290 at Carrie Hoffman Wanna Date? sweet date spread $12 at Uncommon Goods Italian olivewood serving board $17 at Sur la table Three-piece cheese knife set $20 at CB2 A delivery of fresh pasta $25 at Goldbelly Maison Miru heart nap earrings $75 at Maison Bokksu Japanese snack box See at Amazon State cashmere blanket throw blanket See at Amazon HyperChiller See at Amazon Nixplay smart digital photo frame $20 at CB2 Online cooking classes See at Online Cooking School Washable Silk Tee & Shorts See at Quince Ouai Chill Pill Bath Bombs See at Ulta 60 Hour Candle See at TheraBox Dyson Supersonic hair dryer See at Dyson Mint & Lily Mama necklace See at Mint & Lily Sephora gift card See at Sephora Google Nest Hub See at Google Theragun Prime See at Therabody Matador NanoDry Towel See at REI Mixbook See at Mixbook Tiki fire pit See at Amazon Mario Badescu face spray set See at Ulta Flower delivery from BloomsyBox See at BloomsyBox Slip silk pillowcase See at Amazon Aarke water carbonator $230 at Bed Bath & Beyond Disney Plus Gift Subscription $80 at Disney DJI Minin 2 Fly More Combo $600 at Amazon Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 Instant Camera $69 at Amazon ThisWorx Portable Car Vacuum Cleaner $36 at Amazon Perfect Pot $165 at Our Place Letterfolk Customizable Tile Mat $75 at West Elm Parks Project Candle $36 at Parks Project iPad Mini 2021 $500 at Best Buy Crown & Paw Pet Canvas $50 at Crown & Paw Coravin Wine Preservation System $150 at Target Botley 2.

0 $47 at Amazon Arcade1Up Arcade Machine $600 at Best Buy Biolite TraveLight 135 $40 at Biolite Blockaroo Blocks $40 at Amazon Gloomhaven: Jaws of The Lion Board Game $32 at Amazon JBL Go 3 $50 at Amazon Illy Y3. 3 Espresso and Coffee Machine $149 at Amazon Lenovo Smart Clock $35 at Best Buy Keurig K-Slim Coffee Maker $79 at Amazon Lego Speed Champions Corvette $30 at Amazon Madewell Transport Tote $178 at Madewell Lunya Silk Sleep Mask $48 at Lunya Lite-Brite $13 at Target Lodge Cast-Iron Grill Pan $20 at Amazon EarFun Air Pro 2 $80 at Amazon Sony WF-1000XM4 $250 at Walmart Sony PlayStation 5 $499 at Amazon Roku Express 4K Plus $39 at Amazon Apple iPad 2021 (9th generation) $299 at Amazon Acer Chromebook Spin 713 $530 at Amazon MacBook Air M1 $1,000 at Best Buy Bose SoundLink Flex $150 at Best Buy Dell G15 $1,100 at Best Buy HP Pavilion Aero 13 $1,000 at HP Lenovo Yoga 7i (2-in-1) $850 at Best Buy Mosaic Plant-Based Meal Delivery $70 at Mosaic Trade Coffee Subscription $40 at Trade Vizio MQ7 65-inch $1,000 at Amazon Apple Watch SE $269 at Amazon Apple Watch Series 7 $399 at Best Buy Atlas Tea Club $199 at Atlas Tea Club iPhone 11 $499 at Apple iPhone 13 $799 at Apple Fitbit Charge 5 $179 at Amazon Google Pixel 6 $599 at Amazon iPhone 13 Pro $999 at Apple LG C1 OLED 65-inch $1,797 at Amazon Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra $1,166 at Amazon Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 $722 at Amazon TCL Series 4 TV 65-inch $529 at Amazon TCL Series 6 TV 65-inch $999 at Amazon Theragun Mini $199 at Amazon Best of Dylan’s Candy Bar Gift Basket $100 at Dylan’s Candy Bar The Mirror $1,495 at Mirror Echo Dot with Clock $60 at Amazon Croissant Light $19 at Amazon Spanish-style Wine Glasses $20 at Amazon Nintendo Switch OLED $350 at Target Xbox Series X $499 at Amazon.