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Your dorm room is the perfect place to let your personality shine, whether you're into a modern, neutral look or a color-drenched, maximalist vibe. The bed easily becomes the focal point; as it should — it's where you need to get the highest quality sleep to take on all your college adventures. However, the best dorm bedding isn't just functional; it should match your style, too.
I've had my fill of living in dorms and student housing, and now I get to test bedding as part of my job. I think I have a handle on what good dorm bedding looks like, and I've realized you don't need to spend a ton to find great pieces.
I've compiled all the best products to build out a bed that is as comfy, if not better, than yours at home— from breathable twin XL sheet sets to plush and supportive mattress toppers. I prioritized affordable, budget bedding that should last you the next four years.
For more on dorm coverage, our dorm essentials guide has a comprehensive look at what to bring to campus; our team has extensively tested essentials like mattress toppers, shower caddies, mini-fridges, and fans.
Sheets
Sheets should be at the top of your bedding shopping list. In almost every dorm room, you'll find a twin extra-long mattress. Twin XL mattresses are 80 inches long, a whole 5 inches longer than your typical twin mattress. You'll likely need to buy twin XL sheets to go with your new bed. I recommend considering picking up an extra set, too, so you always have a backup set of sheets for laundry day — because, yes, you really should wash your sheets weekly.
These are some of my favorite sheet sets for dorm rooms, including patterned, cooling, and bamboo options. For more sheet recommendations, check out our best sheets guide.
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The best budget sheetsTarget's Threshold Performance Sheets are silky soft and easy to care for. They have a handy elastic strap on the corner so they won't budge. For a bolder look, they're also offered in prints. -
Affordable cooling sheetsWith 45 different colors and patterns, you can show your school spirit with a school color or keep it neutral with white or gray. They're smooth, soft, and cooling.
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Fun, trendy printsUrban Outfitters is the go-to for the design-conscious college student. Its fun patterns include strawberry cats, leopard print, and unique toiles.
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Our favorite sheets of all timeCrisp and cool, L.L.Bean's percale sheets are the best we've ever tested. Keep in mind that the fitted sheet, top sheet, and pillowcases are sold separately.
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Bamboo on a budgetBamboo sheets can be pricey, but Bedsure's set is affordable, even for college students. Think the softness of a cotton sateen sheet with enhanced breathability and cooling.
Mattress toppers
I wouldn't bank on your dorm-provided mattress being comfortable. I remember moving into my room, sitting on my mattress for the first time, and dreading sleeping on that spring-filled monstrosity for a year. Thankfully, the best mattress toppers can turn any uncomfortable bed into a soft, sleepy paradise.
Mattress toppers aren't all about comfort, either. They can help support your body as you sleep, so you don't wake up stiff with neck and back pain in the morning. Getting a good night's rest is imperative, especially in college, so you can wake up ready to tackle the day of classes, football games, and club meetings.
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The best budget mattress topperThe Lucid Bamboo Charcoal Mattress Topper is a sheet of memory foam with ventilation holes for enhanced breathability. It softens up a firm mattress.
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Machine-washable cover for easy careViscoSoft's high-density memory foam topper has unparalleled support, so you can wake up pain-free and well rested. It's sold in 2, 3, and 4-inch varieties.
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For a super soft feather bedYou'll feel like you're waking up on a cloud with this topper. It uses polyester fill instead of real down, lowering the cost and making it hypoallergenic.
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Great for hot sleepersThe GhostBed Memory foam topper is a little pricier than the other toppers on our list, but if you run hot, it's a lifesaver. It has a cooling cover and breathable, gel-infused memory foam to wick away moisture.
Pillows
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Affordable and comfortableThe down alternative pillow from the Beckham Hotel Collection is our favorite budget pillow. It's sold in a 2-pack, and its soft feel is suitable for stomach, side, and back sleepers.
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The best pillow everCoop's adjustable pillow is our best pillow overall, and for good reason — it comes with a bag of additional fill to customize the feel to your sleep style and comfort preferences.
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Surprising quality on a budgetThe Lauren Ralph Lauren Logo pillow is sold as a two-pack and is often on sale for as low as $10 a pillow. It's available in multiple densities depending on your sleeping position.
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A body pillowFor a little extra support, we recommend a body pillow. Like Coop's original pillow, the body pillow is fully adjustable for the perfect feel. Use it for extra back support at night, or during the day, it can line the side of your bed to turn it into a daybed.
Comforters, quilts, and duvet covers
Topping off your dorm bed, comforters and quilts are where your design sensibilities can really shine. There are a ton of colorful quilts and comforters to match your personal style, plus basic neutral colors, too. Bonus points if they're washable. You can also pair a basic white comforter (aka a duvet insert) with a removable duvet cover (typically sold separately) that comes apart for washing to make laundry day a little bit easier.
Our senior home editor, Jaclyn Turner, also recommends getting a full or queen size comforter to drape over your bed and hide any storage underneath. It can grow with you to be used in your first apartment, too.
For more, read our best comforters guide.
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The best budget comforterThe Room Essentials Down Alternative Comforter is filled with hypoallergenic polyester fill for a fluffy, down-like feel without the risk of aggravating down allergies. It's washable and has loops to add a duvet cover, which we recommend.
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An affordable, breathable comforterFor a slight upgrade, Silk & Snow's Down Alternative Comforter is sold in three weights: lightweight, all-season, and winter. This helps you choose a comforter that works best in your dorm room — whether it's stuffy, frigid, or somewhere in between.
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A duvet cover in your favorite colorA duvet cover in your favorite color is a must. This set comes in 32 colors with a matching sham.
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Hot sleeper essentialA cooling comforter is perfect for stuffy dorm rooms. This one is made with a proprietary cooling fabric that is cool to the touch and breathable to keep you from overheating.
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A puffy quiltThis textured, puffy quilt brings a texturally interesting look to your dorm room without being too busy.
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Pretty, preppy beddingSocial media has recently gone wild for the Armoire Collection, which many people are taking as a dupe for Love Shack Fancy bedding. The comforter is available in pink and blue for the ultimate coquette look.
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An ethically made quiltThis quilt is a more expensive option on our list — it's just under $170 — but it's fair trade, handmade, and reversible. The yellow is perfect if you love vibrant colors.
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A classic bed-in-a-bagThis bed-in-a-bag has everything you need for your dorm room: sheets, pillowcases, a comforter, and shams. It's available in a range of bright and neutral colors.
Mattress protectors
Mattress protectors add an extra barrier between you and the mattress and simplify cleaning up spills or stains.
There are two main types of mattress protectors. The first protects the top and sides of the mattress, while mattress encasements zip around the entire mattress. Traditional mattress protectors are good if you're looking for general waterproofing, but if you're worried about dust mites or bedbugs, opt for the mattress encasement. In a communal living space such as a dorm, a bedbug outbreak could be your worst nightmare. It's a little more hassle to take on and off, but it provides the most advanced protection.
For more, read our best mattress protector guide.
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The best budget mattress protectorThe SafeRest Premium Mattress Protector keeps your mattress safe from liquid and dust mites. At just over $25 for a twin XL, it's the most affordable option on our list.
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Total bedbug protectionEncasements zip around your mattress for extra protection. In the unfortunate event of bedbugs, the Utopia encasement keeps infestations away from your bedding.
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A deep-pocket optionIf you're planning on getting a lofty mattress topper, you'll need a protector that can handle the height of your mattress and your topper. Lucid's protector fits mattresses up to 22 inches.
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Protects from allergensIf you're allergy-sensitive, AllerEase's mattress protector stops allergens from gathering on your mattress, so you can (hopefully) wake up sneeze-free.
Throw blankets and pillows
Once you've crossed all the bedding essentials off your list, make your room truly your own with decorative throw blankets and pillows. I've compiled some of my favorites, but you're sure to find other affordable options that fit your vibe at stores like Target and T.J.Maxx.
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Perfect stripesThis classic striped pillow has beachy vibes and adds a little color to your dorm bed.
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A fun shaped additionI know I'd feel better coming home from a long day at class if I had this goose pillow waiting for me. It's made of satin with embroidery details and a pretty blue bow around its neck.
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The softest throw blanketThe L.L. Bean Wicked Plush Throw is the go-to if you're looking for a ridiculously soft throw blanket in neutral tones. It'll keep you warm during cold nights.
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An oversized blanket in fun printsThis oversize fleece blanket comes in a plethora of fun patterns. I love the moody cats and mushroom designs, but there's also basic gray, too.
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Pleasantly puffyThe Marshmallow Cloud Fleece Throw Blanket has a unique, puffy design that will bring some extra flair to your dorm room.
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Show your school spiritThis oversize throw, emblazoned with one of 70 top colleges, is made with sweatshirt material that feels like your favorite worn hoodie. Toss it on your bed with pride.
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A weighted blanketOur favorite budget weighted blanket is available in a range of sizes, weights, and colors. The even weight distribution helps you feel calm for peaceful sleep.
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