Moving out of your college dorm or apartment can be both exciting and overwhelming. Whether you’re heading home for the summer, studying abroad, or transitioning to off-campus housing, proper planning is key to a smooth move-out experience.
This guide provides essential tips, a checklist of supplies, and storage solutions to help you navigate the process with ease.
Understand your college’s move-out policies
Before packing, familiarize yourself with your institution’s specific move-out procedures. These may include:
- Move-out dates: Know the exact dates and times by which you must vacate.
- Cleaning requirements: Understand the standards for room cleanliness to secure your deposit.
- Room inspections: Schedule a walk-through with your Resident Advisor (RA) to avoid potential fines.
- Key returns: Ensure you return all keys, access cards, and other university property.
From empty to fully packed, how Lugg handles college and dorm move-outs, one box at a time.
Start early and create a packing plan
Procrastination can lead to unnecessary stress. Start by decluttering your space and sorting items into categories: keep, sell, donate, or discard.
If you have textbooks or furniture you no longer need, try selling them through campus groups, Facebook Marketplace, or local buy/sell apps — a few extra dollars never hurt, especially at the end of the semester.
For clothes or smaller items, consider donating to places like Goodwill or a nearby donation center instead of tossing them. And for anything that’s truly at the end of its life — broken, stained, or unusable — it might be time to dispose of it properly.
Not everything can be resold or repurposed, and that’s okay. If you’re short on time or don’t have a car, you can book a Lugg to haul those heavier items to a donation center, resale shop, or even the dump.
Essential packing supplies
Ensure you have the following durable, reusable items on hand:
- The heavy-duty "blue" bags: Affordable, foldable, and shockingly spacious. Heavy-duty bags are perfect for bedding, clothes, and anything bulky.
- Bonus: you can reuse them next move-out season.
- Sturdy boxes: Ideal for books, kitchen items, and anything you want to keep neatly stacked in storage.
- Packing tape: Reinforced tape = less regret later.
- Bubble wrap or towels: Great for wrapping fragile items or protecting electronics.
- Markers + labels: Label everything. Yes, even your “miscellaneous” box.
- Furniture covers (optional): A must if you’re moving mattresses or upholstered items into storage.
Blue bags, tape, and sharpies: the real college move-out essentials.
Utilize efficient packing techniques
Packing isn’t just about getting things into boxes — it’s about keeping your sanity intact. When you’re short on time and space (and who isn’t at the end of a semester?), using smart packing methods can make your move smoother and faster.
- Roll your clothes to save space and avoid the wrinkle chaos.
- Use towels and bedding to cushion fragile items — double duty, less waste.
- Keep a “first night” bag with essentials like chargers, toiletries, and your comfiest clothes so you’re not digging through boxes.
It’s less about perfection and more about making sure everything gets there intact and ready to use.
Consider professional moving services
Let’s be real — not everyone has a car, let alone friends available to help lug furniture down three flights of stairs between finals. And even if you do… do you really want to spend your last few college days sweating through a mattress move?
Professional movers take the stress (and the stairs) out of the equation. With services like Lugg, you can book help on your own schedule — whether you’re moving across campus, into storage, or back home. Let Lugg do the heavy lifting for you.
Wrapped, secured, and handled with care: professional movers in action with Lugg
Store your stuff until next semester
You don’t always need to get rid of your stuff — sometimes, you just need somewhere to put it for a little while. That’s where storage units comes in.
- Short-term storage is great if you’re heading home for the summer or studying abroad.
- Long-term storage works well if you’re not sure where you’ll land next semester, or you just don’t want to bring it all with you.
Storage is especially helpful if you’re switching apartments, heading home for the summer, or waiting on your next move-in date. It’s a smart way to hold onto your things without cluttering your space or dragging everything across the country.
And if you don’t have a truck or car, Lugg can transport your items to a nearby storage facility for you. In fact, we partner with trusted storage providers in major college cities to make your move even smoother.
Storage facilities in major college cities
Lugg partners with top storage facilities in major college cities across the U.S. — from Boston, New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, and more college cities across the U.S. Whether you’re headed home for the summer or just clearing space, we’ve likely got a partner nearby.
We partner with leading storage providers like U-Haul, Public Storage, Extra Space Storage, CubeSmart, Life Storage, and PODS — plus regional favorites like Manhattan Mini Storage and Neighbor.
Explore our full list of storage partners and locations here. And if your preferred storage facility isn’t on this list, no worries. We can still deliver your items wherever you need them to go.
Final checklist before leaving your dorm
Ensure you’ve completed the following:
- Cleaned your space: Vacuum, dust, and wipe down surfaces.
- Returned all university property: Books, equipment, and keys.
- Checked for personal items: Look in drawers, closets, and under furniture.
- Confirmed transportation arrangements: Whether you’re driving or using a moving service.
Make your college move-out easier with Lugg
Moving out doesn’t have to be a solo mission. Whether you’re heading home for summer, relocating across town, or just need help getting your stuff into storage, Lugg makes it easy.
Save time with on-demand movers, get up-front estimates, with services in major college cities. Book a Lugg and move smarter this semester.
