A good university toiletries checklist covers six things: a shower caddy with shampoo, conditioner and body wash; oral care (toothbrush, toothpaste and floss); skincare and deodorant; a small first aid kit; shared-bathroom extras like flip-flops and a dressing gown; and a few spares so you're not paying corner-shop prices in week three. Pack those and you're set for halls, whether your bathroom is en-suite or shared down the corridor.
Below you'll find the full checklist in one table, what's worth buying before you go, and practical ways to make your toiletries budget last the whole term.
The university toiletries checklist at a glance
Screenshot this table or print it off for packing day.
| Category | Pack this | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Shower | Shampoo, conditioner, body wash, sponge or flannel | Your daily basics from day one |
| Shower extras | Shower caddy, flip-flops, dressing gown | Essential for shared bathrooms |
| Towels | Two bath towels, one hand towel | One in use, one in the wash |
| Oral care | Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss or interdental brushes | Two minutes, twice a day |
| Face and body | Face wash, moisturiser, deodorant, lip balm | Keeps your routine the same as at home |
| Hair | Hairbrush or comb, hair ties, styling products | Whatever your usual routine needs |
| Grooming | Razor, spare blades, shaving gel, tweezers, nail clippers | Easy to forget, annoying to replace |
| Periods | Pads, tampons, a menstrual cup or period pants | Stock up before you go |
| First aid | Plasters, painkillers, cold and flu remedies, thermometer | For freshers' flu and small scrapes |
| Shared spaces | Hand wash, toilet roll, a small bin | Often not supplied in shared flats |
Shower and haircare essentials
If your bathroom is shared, a shower caddy is the most useful thing you'll buy. It carries everything to the shower and back in one trip and keeps your things separate from everyone else's. Choose one with drainage holes so water doesn't pool at the bottom.
Flip-flops or sliders are the other must for shared showers. They're easy to wipe down and far nicer than bare feet on a floor used by a whole corridor.
Keep your haircare simple
Halls are not the place for a 12-step routine. A shampoo and conditioner that suit your hair type cover most people. If your hair tends to feel dry, look for a conditioner with a bit more nourishment. Not sure how often you should be washing? Our guide on how often you should wash your hair has a simple answer for each hair type.
The XHC Argan Oil Shampoo & Conditioner Set is one tidy answer: a 300ml argan oil shampoo and a 300ml argan oil conditioner in one set. Both are made with Moroccan argan oil to help hydrate and smooth hair and restore natural shine, and they're vegan friendly, paraben-free and suitable for all hair types. When we checked in September 2026, the set was £9.99, which works out at £5.00 per bottle.
Oral care: easy to forget, pricey to neglect
Toothpaste is the item most likely to be left behind in the bathroom at home, so put it on your list twice.
The NHS recommends brushing for about two minutes, twice a day: last thing at night and at one other time. Spit out the toothpaste afterwards rather than rinsing with water, so the fluoride keeps working. Adults should use a toothpaste containing 1,350 to 1,500ppm fluoride, so check the pack when you buy.
A few extras make student life easier:
- A spare toothbrush. The NHS recommends replacing yours every three months, which is roughly once a term. Our guide on when to replace your toothbrush explains the signs to look for.
- Floss or interdental brushes for cleaning between your teeth.
- A travel cover for trips home, but let your brush air-dry in your room the rest of the time.
If you fancy something fruitier than mint, the Nice Smile 3 Pack gives you three 60g tubes of whitening fluoride toothpaste in Watermelon Fresh, Feelin' Grape and Peachy Clean. It's vegan, cruelty-free and enamel-safe. At £12.99 when we checked in September 2026 (£4.33 per tube), it's an easy way to pack your spares in one go.
Health and first aid basics
Freshers' week is famous for one thing apart from the parties: freshers' flu, the colds that do the rounds when lots of new people meet at once. A small kit means you won't be hunting for a pharmacy when you feel rough.
- Plasters and antiseptic wipes
- Paracetamol or ibuprofen (read the label and never exceed the stated dose)
- Cold and flu remedies, throat lozenges and tissues
- A digital thermometer
- Rehydration sachets
- Any regular prescription medicines, plus a note of what you take
Register with a GP near your university as soon as you can after you arrive. The NHS advises students to do this so you can get care quickly during term. For minor illnesses, a local pharmacist is a great first stop for advice.
Shared bathroom and flat extras
Halls and shared houses vary a lot. Some supply toilet roll and cleaning products; many don't. Check with your accommodation before you go, then pack:
- Hand wash and a hand towel for the sink in your room, if you have one.
- A small bin for your room.
- A dressing gown for the walk to shared showers.
- A microfibre cloth to give the sink a quick wipe after you've used it.
- An over-door hook for towels and your dressing gown (check your hall's rules before sticking adhesive hooks to walls).
How to buy toiletries on a student budget
Your student loan has to cover a lot, and toiletries are a cost that comes back every few weeks. A few habits keep it under control.
Stock up before term
Buying a term's worth of basics before you leave home means you won't be paying convenience-store prices near campus. Multipacks and bundles work well here because you buy once and forget about it until the holidays.
Compare the price per item
The shelf price only tells half the story. Divide the price by the number of items (or by the millilitres) and compare. Here's how that looks with prices we checked in September 2026:
| Product | Price | Price per item |
|---|---|---|
| Nice Smile Watermelon Fresh, single 60g tube | £7.95 | £7.95 per tube |
| Nice Smile 3 Pack (Watermelon, Grape, Peach) | £12.99 | £4.33 per tube |
| XHC Argan Oil Shampoo & Conditioner Set | £9.99 | £5.00 per 300ml bottle |
Our guide to reading unit prices shows how to do this quickly on any shopping site.
Split the shared stuff
Toilet roll, hand wash and cleaning products tend to be better value in bigger packs. If your flat gets on, a shared kitty for these saves everyone money and stops arguments about whose turn it is.
Your final pre-move checklist
The night before you leave, run through this list:
- Shower caddy packed with shampoo, conditioner and body wash
- Toothbrush, spare toothbrush, toothpaste and floss
- Deodorant, face wash, moisturiser and lip balm
- Towels, dressing gown and flip-flops
- Razor, period products and any grooming kit you use
- First aid kit and regular medicines
- A few spares for a stock drawer under your bed
At PoundMart, we bundle everyday essentials into value multipacks, so you can sort a term's worth of basics in one order. Browse the haircare collection and the toothpaste collection to see what's in stock.
Frequently asked questions
What toiletries do I need for university?
The essentials are shampoo, conditioner, body wash, a toothbrush and toothpaste, deodorant, face wash, moisturiser, a razor or grooming kit, period products if you need them and a small first aid kit. For shared bathrooms, add a shower caddy, flip-flops and a dressing gown. Pack a few spares so you don't run out in the first busy weeks.
Should I buy toiletries before I go to uni or when I get there?
Buying before you go usually makes the first weeks easier, as freshers' week is busy and shops near campus can be pricey. Bring enough to cover at least the first few weeks, including spares of the things you use every day. Bulky shared items like toilet roll can be bought with flatmates once you arrive.
Do I need a shower caddy for university halls?
If your bathroom is shared, a shower caddy is one of the most useful things you can pack. It lets you carry everything to and from the shower in one trip and keeps your products separate from everyone else's. Even with an en-suite, it helps keep a small shower tidy.
How often should students replace their toothbrush?
The NHS recommends replacing your toothbrush every three months, or sooner if the bristles are worn. For most students that's about once a term. Packing a spare means you can swap it on time without a special trip to the shops.
