Whether you are heading to a dorm for the first time, moving into off-campus housing, or relocating for a summer internship, student moves have unique constraints. Tight budgets, small spaces, and limited vehicle access make planning essential.
Dorm rooms are small, typically 12x12 feet shared with a roommate. Coordinate with your roommate beforehand to avoid duplicates on shared items like mini-fridges, microwaves, and TVs. Most dorms provide a bed frame, mattress, desk, and closet. Bring a mattress topper, bedding, desk lamp, power strip, and shower caddy. Skip full-size furniture, extensive kitchen equipment, and anything you would not use daily. Check your school's prohibited items list since many dorms ban candles, space heaters, and extension cords without surge protectors.
Off-campus apartments require more stuff but also more budget planning. You will need to furnish a kitchen, bathroom, and potentially a living room. Check Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and your school's student exchange groups for affordable used furniture. Ikea and thrift stores are student staples. Before signing a lease, confirm what utilities are included in rent and budget $100-200 per month for those that are not. Consider whether you need parking since many college towns charge separately for it.
Students rarely need professional movers. For dorm moves, most students can fit everything in a family SUV or minivan. For apartment moves, rent a cargo van for $20-40 per day from U-Haul or Home Depot for a fraction of the cost of full-service movers. Ask friends to help in exchange for pizza and drinks. Use free boxes from liquor stores, grocery stores, and campus recycling centers. Ship heavy items like books via USPS Media Mail at roughly $3-4 per box, which is cheaper than checking extra luggage on a flight.
If you are returning home for summer, you have three options: take everything home, store it locally, or sublet your apartment. Campus storage programs cost $200-500 for the summer and keep your stuff close. Off-campus storage units run $50-150 per month for a small unit. If subletting, confirm your lease allows it and find a subletter through your school's housing board. For international students or those far from home, shipping a few boxes via UPS or FedEx Ground is often cheaper than checking extra bags on a flight.
Kitchen: plates, bowls, cups, utensils, one pot, one pan, cutting board, knife, can opener. Bathroom: towels, shower curtain, toiletries, plunger, toilet brush. Bedroom: bedding, hangers, laundry basket, alarm clock. General: cleaning supplies, trash bags, first aid kit, tool kit (screwdriver, hammer, tape measure). Do not buy everything at once since you will discover what you actually need in the first few weeks. Use our moving cost calculator to set a realistic budget for your student move.
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Most student moves cost between $50 and $300 depending on distance and method. A DIY move with a rented van costs $20-60 plus gas. Shipping boxes via USPS or UPS runs $50-150. Only long-distance moves with furniture typically exceed $500.
Start planning 4-6 weeks before move-in and begin packing 1-2 weeks before. Coordinate with your roommate on shared items and check your school's move-in schedule for your assigned time slot.
It depends on your campus. Many urban colleges have limited and expensive parking ($500-$2,000 per year). If your campus has good public transit and is walkable, skip the car and save on insurance, gas, and parking. Rural campuses typically require a vehicle.
Ship heavy items via USPS Media Mail or UPS Ground 1-2 weeks before your move-in date. Pack essentials and clothes in checked luggage. Buy bulky items like bedding and storage bins locally after arrival. Many stores near colleges run back-to-school sales in August.
