Sheets
Top pick
Our favorite affordable cotton-sateen sheets are impressively durable and come in an assortment of solids and prints.
Target’s Threshold Performance 400 Thread Count Sheet Set has been a longtime dorm pick in our guide to sheets, and our test samples have lasted for years. Made from 100% cotton sateen, they get softer with each wash, without shrinking, pilling, wrinkling, or fading. These sheets sell out quickly in the twin-XL size, though, so if you see them, grab them. Target offers a generous one-year return policy.
Top pick
These cheerful, well-constructed sheets are taut and densely woven, and they wrinkle less than other similarly priced percale sheets we tested. A good shake is all you need to get them bed-ready.
Garnet Hill’s Polka-Dot Percale Sheet Sets, a favorite in our printed-sheets guide, comes in fun, bright color options that go with anything. Made of 100% percale cotton, these twin-XL sheets feel crisper and lighter than our Target sateen recommendation. Our student tester took the sheets to college in the fall, and by spring they felt softer, with no signs of damage. The catch: These sheets are more than three times the price of the Target Threshold sheets, though frequent sales bring down the cost. (Target also sells a percale sheet that we like, but the prints aren’t as fun.)
Comforter
Top pick
The Utopia comforter is a warm yet relatively breathable down-alternative choice that’s ideal if you don’t want to splurge on bedding.
The Utopia Bedding Quilted Comforter (shown above) kept us warm without making us sweaty, and its outer shell — which is softer than that of other budget comforters we’ve tested — comes in a range of colors. The stitching is sturdy, and the fiber-filled boxes are lofty, but because the fabric isn’t as thick, we recommend using a duvet cover to protect it from wear and tear. All sizes cost less than $50, and you can save even more by opting for the twin (as opposed to twin XL) size, which is an ample 88 inches long.
Duvet cover
Top pick
This soft, comfortable percale cover comes in stylish, interesting prints. It’s one of the least expensive covers we tried, but it feels like nice hotel bedding.
A favorite since 2016, the Brooklinen Classic Duvet Cover is made from 100% long-staple percale cotton fabric, and it’s one of the softest, airiest duvet covers we’ve tested. It comes in solid colors and fun prints that are sophisticated enough to grace a bed post-graduation. The twin size is 90 inches long, enough to fit an 80-inch twin XL bed just fine.
Blanket
Top pick
This plush, ultra-warm cover is a longtime favorite of Wirecutter staffers and their kids. Perfect for cold nights, it’s durable and easy to clean.
The Garnet Hill Plush-Loft Blanket (shown above) is cool quilted sateen on one side and super-soft faux fur on the other. It kept its shape better than other heavy blankets we tested, and it didn’t pill or snag. There is no twin XL version, but the twin size is 86 inches long — not enough to entirely cover or tuck under an 80-inch dorm bed, but plenty to snuggle under. The Plush-Loft also comes in a throw size.
Pillow
Top pick
This adjustable pillow is one of the most affordable shredded-foam pillows we’ve tried, and it offers firm support for back, side, and some stomach sleepers.
Comfort is subjective; that’s why we like adjustable pillows such as the Xtreme Comforts Shredded Memory Foam Pillow. You can add or subtract as much foam as you need to get the height and feel that works best for you. In our tests, back and side sleepers in particular liked the Xtreme Comforts pillow, but a few stomach sleepers slept easily with it too. Both the pillow and its cover are machine-washable, and at well under $50, this pillow is a particularly good choice if you’re on a budget. (For an even cheaper option, we recommend the Weekender Gel Memory Foam Pillow, but it isn’t adjustable.)
Mattress topper
Many dorm mattresses are hard and unforgiving. A mattress topper can fix that. The ViscoSoft 3 Inch Memory Foam Mattress Topper adds dense body-conforming cushioning without feeling like quicksand or a pile of fluff. In our tests, back and stomach sleepers particularly liked this pick; so did a few side sleepers looking for only mild cradling. The ViscoSoft topper is available in three thicknesses (2, 3, or 4 inches) and comes with a removable, washable cover plus corner straps to keep it in place on your mattress. However, like most memory-foam toppers, it retains heat. (If you’d prefer a springy, buoyant feel, the Sleep On Latex Pure Green Natural Latex Topper is more breathable and costs less than most latex options but is still much pricier than memory-foam toppers.)
Eye mask
Top pick
A flat design and an adjustable strap make this mask a fit for almost any face, but like any non-contoured mask, it puts pressure on the eyes.
Of all the sleep masks we tested, the Alaska Bear Natural Silk Sleep Mask (shown above) was the most popular among testers across all sleeping positions. Lined with silk on both sides, the mask stays snug with an adjustable strap and blocks light well, yet it’s breathable against the skin. It’s hand-wash-only, however. (If you prefer a contoured mask that lets your eyes move more freely, we like the Mzoo Sleep Mask.)
Earplugs
Top pick
These earplugs blocked the most noise in our controlled testing, and our sleep panel found them more comfortable and secure.
After spending a dozen hours researching earplugs, we landed on Mack’s Slim Fit Soft Foam Earplugs as the best earplugs for most people. Their 37.1-decibel noise-reduction rating was one of the highest among the models we tried, and their tapered cylindrical design made them easier to insert. What’s more, they stay put once they’re inserted.
Alarm clock
Top pick
This budget clock has the largest numerical display among those we tested, plus two USB ports and user-friendly tactile controls that take the guesswork out of changing settings.
Experts agree that for better sleep, you should resist the urge to check your phone late at night. Keep track of time with an actual alarm clock instead. The DreamSky Compact Digital Alarm Clock (shown above) is also a charging station, with two USB ports in the back: one to charge most mobile devices with 5V output, and the other to power the clock. (Two backup AA batteries keep the time and the programmed alarm in case of a power outage.) In our tests, a nearsighted writer reported that the 2-inch-high display was easy to see even without his glasses or contact lenses. Yes, this clock is light and plasticky, and it wakes you up with a basic beep, but the settings are easy to customize, and it costs only $15 or so.
Condoms
Top pick
Widely available and affordable, Skyn condoms have a more-natural feel than other condoms we tested, and they’re safe for people with latex allergies.
To find the best condoms, we read hundreds of buyer reviews, interviewed almost a dozen experts, and tested 32 different varieties. LifeStyles Skyn condoms are our top picks. They’re made of polyisoprene, a synthetic rubber that multiple testers found to be better at transferring heat and sensation than natural latex. Skyn condoms are available in more sizes and styles than others we’ve considered, and they’re often less expensive, too. The LifeStyles Skyn Original, for instance, costs less than $15 for a pack of 24. (For an even thinner option, there’s the LifeStyles Skyn Supreme Feel, but it costs a bit more.)
