Sheets
Choose the top
Our favorite affordable cotton sheets are available in one size to fit a dorm bed, and come in a variety of solids and prints. Don’t wait to buy it, it sells fast.
Target’s Threshold 400 Thread Count Performance Sheet Set has been a top budget pick in our cotton sheet guide for years, and the Twin/Twin XL should fit your Twin XL sleeper.
These sheets get softer with every wash, and retain their color – over years of testing, they’ve stood up to all the wear and tear we’ve put them through. We don’t recommend spending a lot on dorm sheets because you will only use them for a year or two. But we recommend getting 100% cotton sheets over jersey or microfiber fabric (both are hot for sleeping). And these are the best affordable cotton sheets we’ve ever tried. They sell out very quickly in the dorm size, so don’t wait to buy these. Target also offers a one-year return policy for these sheets, if they don’t work out.
Choose the top
These well-made, colorful sheets are tight and densely woven, and they wrinkle less than other similarly priced sheets we’ve tested. A good shake should be all you need to get him ready for bed.
For a fun printed sheet, we love Garnet Hill’s Polka-Dot Percale Bedding because it’s bright, and the color options go with anything. We have also observed that these papers are stored more reliably throughout the year than target threshold sets in dorm sizes.
After being tested for an entire school year, these sheets showed no sign of wear, and our university lab said they were comfortable to sleep on. She said it took several washes for it to become very soft, but it became softer. However, they are more than three times the price of Target Threshold papers. If you’re looking for other fun options, some of the picks in our favorite printable sheets guide are also available in Twin XL. Garnet Hill has frequent sales, which drives the price down. It offers lifetime returns, which may compensate for the higher price.
comforter
Choose the top
The Utopia Comforter is a relatively warm and breathable alternative, perfect if you don’t want to splurge on bedding.
Buying a comforter for college is a tricky proposition: If you’re in a dorm with a twin or two XL beds, you may only need a comforter in that size for a few years. So it generally doesn’t make sense to invest in a down comforter (or in a comforter made of another high-quality material, such as wool).
We love the Utopia Duvet Cover, Twin for dormitory use. (Utopia makes the comforter in a Twin XL, but the company’s regular twin size is 88 inches long, so it should fit either size bed.) You may eventually want to move to a down-filled comforter, so Utopia is the perfect solution. The cheapest down alternative duvet we recommend. In our tests, we found that it outperformed all lower-end competitors and kept us warm but not sweaty.
Duvet cover
Choose the top
This soft and cozy throw comes in the most stylish and interesting prints we’ve seen. It’s one of the less expensive covers we’ve tried, but it feels like a nice hotel bedding.
The Brooklinen Classic Duvet Cover has been one of our all-time favorites since 2016. Made from long-staple cotton fabric, it’s one of the most durable, soft, and comfortable options we’ve tested. We’re always impressed with its quality and construction – it should easily last through years of abuse during your residential years. It comes in solid colors and prints, and the options are sophisticated, fun, and more modern than those of most competitors we’ve tried.
Styles tend to change frequently, so if you see something you like, don’t wait. Although this duvet cover is only available in twin size, it is still 90″ long and should fit an 80″ XL twin bed well. If you want your sheets to match your duvet cover, or if you tend to get hot while sleeping, look for a more breathable sheet set: We recommend Brooklinen’s Classic Core sheet set, available in Twin XL.
Blankets and bed covers
Choose the top
This is the most comfortable blanket we’ve tried, and it’s durable and easy to clean, so it’s perfect for college dorm life.
We’ve spent over 500 hours researching and testing blankets and another 70 hours on throws, and the Garnet Hill Plush-Loft Blanket and Throw is a perennial favorite. It’s reversible, with gorgeous, quilted satin on one side and super soft faux fur on the other, which made it the most comfortable option we tried.
The Garnet Hill blanket kept its shape better than other heavy blankets we tested, and didn’t bunch or snag. We think the throw size is perfect for relaxing in your bedroom or enjoying watching TV. However, the twin size is only 86 inches long (twin XL beds are typically 80 inches long), so it may be on the shorter side as a bed blanket.
Choose the top
This delicate throw is warm and inviting, and is durable enough to last for years. It’s one of our favorite throws under $50.
The LLBean Wicked Plush Blanket is plushly soft and thick but still light as air. It’s affordable, durable, and softer and warmer than any other throw we’ve tested (except the Garnet Hill Plush mentioned above).
The extra large size is 60 x 80 inches, so it will not work as a bed cover. But it’s the perfect one to keep for lounging on the couch or when you need a quick nap between classes but don’t feel like getting under the sheets.
Pillows
Choose the top
This adjustable pillow is more affordable than other shredded foam pillows we’ve tried, and provides firm support for back, side, and some stomach sleepers.
If you’re looking to buy new pillows for college, in our testing we found that the Xtreme Comforts Shredded Memory Foam Pillow is one of the best budget pillows for back and side sleepers (and even some stomach sleepers). It’s one of the most comfortable shredded foam pillows we’ve found. The downside is that you can’t wash this pillow, only the cover.
The Xtreme Comforts pillow tends to go in and out of stock. If you need one right away and have a flexible budget, we recommend the Nest Bedding Easy Breather Pillow from our pillow guide; It’s the best choice of adjustable shredded foam for side and back sleepers.
For more pillow options, check out our complete guide to the best pillows.
Excellent mattress
Choose the top
This latex topper is more resilient than memory foam, and comes in a wide range of thicknesses and densities to suit all sleeping positions. It’s one of the most affordable latex covers we’ve found, and gets consistently high owner reviews.
Many sleeping beds are hard and unforgiving. The best way to fix this (without ordering your own twin XL mattress) is to add a mattress topper. At the beginning of the school year, most colleges will give you the option to purchase a foam cover for your egg crates for a few dollars, and we think this is a great route.
But if you want something a little more luxurious, the Sleep On Latex Pure Green Natural Latex Topper is a good, affordable latex mattress topper that we recommend in our guide. Latex has a similar texture to memory foam, but is more flexible, so your body will rest on the surface without sinking into it. Many latex covers are expensive, but Sleep on Latex is the least expensive and well-reviewed option we’ve found.
It’s available in three thicknesses and three densities: soft, medium, and firm — more levels of customization than any other top layer we looked at. You can also purchase a separate washable shell for this topper, so it’s easier to keep clean over time.
Eye mask
Choose the top
Silky outer material, flat design, and adjustable strap make this mask suitable for almost any face, but puts pressure on the eyes.
If your roommate is a frequent night owl, we recommend the Alaska Bear Natural Silk Light Blocking Sleep Mask to keep light out of your eyes. Of all the sleeping masks we tested, the Alaska Silk was the most popular. It is suitable for all sleeping styles and blocks light well. If you prefer a contoured mask that allows your eyes to move more freely, we like the Mzoo Sleep Mask.
Earplugs
Choose the top
These earplugs blocked out the most noise in our controlled tests, and our sleep pad found them most comfortable and secure.
Disposable earplugs can help block out the sound of noisy neighbors (or your roommate’s personal business) while you study or sleep. We spent about twelve hours researching competing earplugs and tested three top-rated models before deciding that Mack’s Soft Foam Earplugs are the best earplugs for most people. The noise reduction rating of 37.1 dB was one of the highest among the models we tested. Mack’s earplugs are particularly effective because they stay in place once inserted.
Headlamp for night reading (and more)
Choose a budget
Although as bright as our top pick at half the price, this headlight weighs less. But it’s not exactly comfortable to wear and lacks some useful features.
When you’re in college, a reading light can be helpful, especially if your roommate goes to bed early. Instead of getting a dedicated book light, consider using a headlamp. We like headlamps even more because you can also use them for many other purposes: camping, navigating in a dark bedroom, walking at night on campus, and biking. The Black Diamond Astro 300, our budget pick, is cheap and reliable.
Condom
Choose the top
Skyn condoms provide a great skin-like feel and great heat transfer, are widely available and affordable, and are safe for people with latex allergies.
After we spent 40 hours researching, read hundreds of reviews of more than 50 types of condoms, interviewed nine experts (including a chemical engineer and two sex workers), and had 40 volunteers try 32 different types, LifeStyles condoms won Skyn in our group. Tests for average sized penis. It is made of polyisoprene, which is hypoallergenic and better at transferring allergies than natural latex.
alarm clock
Choose the top
This budget digital alarm clock does a lot for very little. It has the largest digital display we’ve tested, two USB ports, and easy-to-use touch controls that take the guesswork out of changing settings.
There are bound to be mornings when you need a reliable alarm. The DreamSky Compact Digital Alarm Clock offers a lot for a great price. It’s both an alarm clock and a USB charging station, and the huge display is easy to read from a distance. And a wide range of customization options make it easy to adjust.
The DreamSky is not fully battery operated, but two AAA backup batteries keep time in the event of a power outage. There are two USB ports on the back, one for charging most mobile devices with a 5V output and the other for powering the clock via USB (or you can plug it directly into the wall). If you prefer a different aesthetic, check out the other picks in our alarm clock guide.
