The Best Dorm Bedding Sets for College

Don't sleep on these dreamy deals and outfit your dorm bed to perfection.

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July 13, 2023

Let's face it: When it comes between hitting the snooze button for "10 more minutes!" or waking up in time to make the bed before class, a college freshman is going to choose extra shut-eye every time. Just because you will, inevitably, leave your bed unmade, that doesn't mean you should skimp on your college dorm bedding.

Choosing the Best Dorm Bedding

So, what do you need to set the scene for restful sleep in your dorm room? Think beyond the sheets and include mattress pads, bed skirts and down-alternative duvet inserts on your shopping list. A throw at your toes adds a cozy touch and a reversible comforter will be your best friend when you spill your coffee in bed at 2 a.m.

With coffee stains in mind, it's easy to see the importance of outfitting your bed with durable, machine-washable materials. Cotton and microfiber are popular picks, and if you can throw bleach on them, that's even better.

Perhaps the most important takeaway from our crash course on college bedding is that size matters. Most college dorms come with elongated twin beds to accommodate taller students and, as such, require twin XL bedding for a seamless fit. (Twin XL sheets measure 39-by-80 inches.)

Outfit your dorm room with our picks for the best college bedding in the links down below.

$39.99

This cozy brown and white comforter set will check all your dorm-design boxes — pun intended. The graphic bundle includes a buttery-soft reversible comforter with a playful checkerboard pattern on one side and a solid cocoa brown hue on the other. A matching high-contrast pillow sham rounds out the set and provides a welcoming spot to lay your head for a cat nap between classes.

Set the stage for rejuvenating slumber with this organic cotton Under the Canopy Twin XL bundle. The set comes with a down-alternative-filled comforter and a single pillow insert. Each piece comes filled and fluffy with 100 percent recycled polyester fill, with shells crafted from 100 percent organic cotton. Pair the crisp-white comforter with a duvet of your choice or use it solo for a pared-down and plush look.

$53.99

Cut your dorm shopping list and spending in half with this budget-friendly bed-in-a-bag comforter set. The five-piece bundle includes a twin XL comforter, flat sheet, fitted sheet, sham and pillowcase in your choice of 14 unique colors.

$9.50 $7.6

Sleep comes easy when you stay under budget on your back-to-school shopping. This three-piece sheet set comes in six trendy prints and rings in under 10 bucks. Yes, really. Do yourself a favor and snag multiple sets so you always have a clean set on hand between laundry days.

$299

Skip the back-to-school crowds and have your dorm bedding (and everything else you need) delivered to your doorstep with this 23-piece set. The expansive set includes bedding essentials like a reversible comforter, two microfiber sheet sets, two machine-washable pillows, a fleece throw and a plush blanket. Even better? Each set also comes with a quilted mattress pad, a mattress topper and a slew of other dorm essentials like bath towels, a bedside storage caddy, a laundry bag and more.

This natural cotton duvet cover features a simple retro design in shades of orange and brown by Society6 creator Circa78Designs. The lightweight cotton is breathable and keeps you cool in the summer and toasty in the winter. Plus, it gets softer after each wash (so don't hesitate to actually wash it).

Just like the retro cutie above, this natural 100-percent cotton comforter is lightweight, breathable and gets softer with every wash. We're obsessed with fun, retro patterns like this golden daisy print by Society6 creator colour poems.

Nap between study sessions with this dreamy cloud comforter and sham set by West Elm for Pottery Barn Teen. The 100-percent organic cotton set is reversible, boasting a subtle line motif on one side and a solid hue on the other. Each Twin XL kit includes a single sham and a plush comforter filled with 100-percent polyester and 40-percent REPREVE® polyester that's derived from recycled plastic water bottles. Scoop up the comforter set in a classic navy, heather gray or a stone white hue to best suit your dorm design.

$27.99

Budget-friendly and beloved? The Bare Home Twin XL Sheet Set checks out on both accounts. The hypoallergenic microfiber set has more than 40,000 rave reviews on Amazon and comes in 35 colors to fit any dorm room aesthetic you have in mind. Each set includes one standard pillowcase, one fitted sheet and one flat sheet. The sheets are made from wrinkle-resistant brushed microfiber for unmatched softness and long-lasting comfort.

Add free-spirited style to your freshman digs with this Chambray Tassel Duvet Bundle from Pottery Barn Teen. The crisp three-piece set comes in a periwinkle blue and white hue combination and includes a duvet cover, standard sham and organic sheets.

$20 $16

Looking for bedding that requires as little maintenance as possible? This duvet and sham set literally has "easy care" in its name. Plus, at $20 a pop, you can afford to buy two and rotate between laundry days. The lightweight cotton-blend set comes with a single twin XL duvet cover and a matching standard sham. The set is available in eight eye-catching hues including navy, gray, olive green and light purple.

$43.25

Make use of under-the-bed storage without adding visual clutter to your space with this handy dorm bed skirt. The genius design is crafted specifically for twin XL beds and comes in a variety of colors and lengths to suit your needs. Plus, we love that these bed skirts are machine-washable and will look fresh throughout your fall and spring semesters.

$60.99 $35.99

Put down the sheets and step away from the duvet. Don't even think about making that bed without a proper mattress cover in place. This machine-washable option is our top pick because it combines coziness with cleanliness. It even has more than 18,000 positive reviews on Amazon. The cushioned mattress cover is a pull-on, elasticized style that molds to the bed for a tidy look. Oh, and it rings in under $40!

$27.99

Knock out your dorm bedding shopping with this top-rated set from Amazon. The duvet cover and pillow sham set boasts 52,000 customer reviews and a 4.5-star global rating, so you can feel confident treating yourself. Grab the pre-washed microfiber bedding in your pick of 29 eye-catching colors including olive green, navy, teal or powder pink.

This three-piece set includes all your dorm bedding essentials: twin XL sheets, a twin XL comforter and a standard sham. Bonus: The faded navy color story and horizontal stripes are versatile and lay the groundwork for a streamlined, modern dorm room design.

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