Ultimate University Packing List with Free Printable

Congratulations – you (or your child) are off to Uni which is why you may have landed on this page! it can be tempting to pack all bar the kitchen sink, but we are here to help you with our ultimate university packing list and tell you to leave the mixer at home and what is essential to pack.

Packing for University can seem really daunting and also really expensive, so before we move on to the list (and yes, you can print it for free) let’s start with two top tips for budgeting and getting all you need.

Top Tips for Shopping for University

Shop Second Hand – Plates, bowls, towels, utensils, cutlery, knives, mugs, and clothes airers are all so much less expensive if you get them from a charity shop or from the likes of eBay. Plus you are doing the world a favour by reusing and helping with over-consumerism and climate change, which brings us on to tip two…….

Start Shopping Early – Trust us, places like Ikea, Dunelm and Wilkos sell out of all the university stuff early on in the summer, so do not leave it until the last minute. Check out our top tips for budgeting at University here.

Right now you can get Amazon Prime Student free for six months! That gives you unlimited free next-day deliveries (+ Prime Video). Then you get Prime for just £4.49/month or £47.49/year (that is a 50% saving on regular Prime).

How to Download Our University Packing List

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All you need to do is add click on add to cart and they will be added to your shopping cart. When you are finished click on the orange shopping trolley at the top right of your page and follow the instructions on the screen. You will not be charged and the free pdf file will be available for you to download immediately and will also be emailed to your inbox.

The Ultimate University Packing List

We have split our list into the following categories:

• Bedroom
• Important documents
• Tech & Electronics
• Kitchen
• Bedroom items
• Bathroom
• Clothing
• Shoes/Bags
• Stationery
• Personal
• Miscellaneous

The list has boxes for you to tick off when you have them or have packed them, but don’t worry if you don’t have everything you can always buy it when you arrive. I have worked with my mate Stamptastic on this fab list as she has done it all before and knows the temptation to pack too much and exactly what are the essentials.

When it comes to your room in the residence halls it will usually be kitted out with some basics, including a bed and mattress, a wardrobe, desk and chair (sometimes a bin too but that is worth checking as is the size of the bed so you get the right size linens). However, you need to pack the things that make it feel like home and for decoration such as a rug, fairy lights, pictures, and your alarm clock – for my boys that will be a me-made quilt and of course their Xbox! You do need to check out your halls list of rules as some don’t allow candles or incense for safety reasons.

Feed Me!

Even if you are in catered halls, there is usually a small kitchen with appliances such as a kettle, microwave, toaster and refrigerator, however, I know my eldest will want to take his own Mini-fridge for drinks.

Clean Me!

When it comes to laundry, they can be in halls like the kitchen but some are on campus instead, however, you will learn that doing laundry isn’t cheap and it works better to do a fuller load, but I would recommend finding a mate and sharing the laundry with them and use the same laundry detergent as at home especially if like Maxi you suffer from eczema. Make sure all your stuff has your name on it – this is where Stamptastic comes in.

Make me Look Good!

Do you have an ensuite or are you sharing a bathroom? Our top tip if you are sharing is to have a bathroom caddy (like a plastic cleaning caddy or mesh basket) that you can pop your toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, flipflops, razor showed gel and shower cleaner in to take too and from the showers. it keeps everything you need in one place and contained.

Power me

It is essential to take extension cords (power strip) with you for all your electrical items and chargers and ideally one with a surge protector for your laptop. It is surprising just how many things you will need to plug in your room including your hair dryer, desk lamp and that Xbox. You may also decide to take a printer with you rather than use one on campus (but in all honesty, you can always take one later in the year).

Miscellaneous

Yes, those bits that just don’t fit into any of the categories and you think why? So passport-sized photos for ID (so much cheaper to print some at home before you go), Command Strips or Blu tack for sticking things to your walls without ruining them. Coat hangers for your closet, first aid kit including copies of prescriptions and contraception for that in-between period until your register with a local doctor.

Don’t Ditch your Parents at the Door

It can be tempting to ditch the embarrassing olds at the door and start on the good impression with your fellow students but don’t forget who helped you pack the car and drove you halfway across the country for this. They might not be showing it but they are feeling pretty emotional that you’re flying the nest.

So why not let them help and then take you out for a meal to celebrate (it may be the last decent thing you eat all week) it will also give you the chance once to say goodbye without everyone seeing!