Florida Dorm Move-In Checklist (Printable) for Daytona-Area Colleges
Short answer: For a Florida dorm, pack Twin XL sheets, a fan, a dehumidifying routine, a small hurricane kit and a surge-protected power strip, and leave candles, hot plates and extension cords at home. Start sorting three to four weeks before move-in. Most single-student dorm moves fit in about 20 totes.
Moving into a dorm in Daytona Beach, DeLand or anywhere in Volusia County is not quite like moving in up north. Fall move-in lands in the middle of hurricane season, rooms stay humid, and every school bans a slightly different list of appliances.
This checklist is grouped by category so you can print it and tick items off. It draws on the official residence-life pages at Embry-Riddle, Bethune-Cookman, Stetson and Daytona State. Rules change each year, so check your own school's current list before you buy anything.
Researched and checked October 28, 2026. Prices and rules change, so confirm with the source before you rely on them.
What should I bring with me when moving into a dorm?
Start with the things you will use the first night. Then add comfort, study and Florida-specific items. Coordinate shared items like a mini-fridge, microwave or TV with your roommate before you buy, as Stetson and Embry-Riddle both advise.
Do Florida dorms use Twin XL beds?
Yes, at the schools we checked. Embry-Riddle says its mattresses are extra-long, measuring 36 by 80 inches, and that extra-long bedding is required. Embry-Riddle's Apollo Hall lists a Twin XL bed in each bedroom. Bethune-Cookman's packing list also calls for extra-long twin sheets.
Standard twin sheets are shorter and pop off the corners. Buy two sets so one can be in the wash. Bring a light comforter rather than a heavy one, because air conditioning settings in shared halls vary.
What Florida heat and humidity items should be on a dorm checklist?
August move-in in Volusia County is hot, and you will carry loads in and out for hours. Humidity also follows you indoors, so small habits matter more than gadgets. Check your school's appliance rules before buying a dehumidifier.
What hurricane-season items should students pack?
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, with most activity from mid-August to mid-October. That covers fall move-in and most of the fall semester. Your school will run its own emergency plan, but you still want a small personal kit.
Ready.gov recommends about one gallon of water per person per day for several days, plus non-perishable food. A dorm-sized version fits in one tote under the bed. Daytona State also requires residents to complete a Resident Emergency Evacuation Plan before move-in.
What should you not bring to a dorm in Daytona Beach?
Every school publishes its own list, and the lists differ. A coffee maker is fine at one school and banned at another. Here is what four local schools say, as of Oct 2026.
Embry-Riddle bans halogen lamps, satellite dishes, lofts and raised platforms. It also bans cooking appliances with exposed heating elements or open flames, and personal fridges over 4 feet tall. It allows rice cookers, crock pots and coffee makers. Its full list sits on a login-only Community Standards page.
Bethune-Cookman bans extension cords, routers, amplifiers, hoverboards, and cooking appliances including toasters, coffee makers, blenders, air fryers and rice cookers. It also bans candles, wax warmers, incense, extra furniture and weightlifting equipment. A personal fridge must be 3.5 cubic feet or smaller and draw no more than 1.5 running amps.
Daytona State's residence hall bans candles and open-flame devices, hot plates, air fryers, toaster ovens, Instant Pots and crock pots. It also bans e-scooters, e-bikes, hoverboards and waterbeds. Each suite already has a small microwave and a mini-fridge, and you may add one more fridge up to 3.2 cubic feet. Stetson says it keeps a prohibited items list and may charge policy violation fees, so check it before you pack.
| Item | Embry-Riddle | Bethune-Cookman | Daytona State |
|---|---|---|---|
| Candles, incense, wax warmers | Banned (open flame) | Banned | Banned |
| Coffee maker | Allowed | Banned | Not listed |
| Rice cooker or crock pot | Allowed | Banned | Crock pots banned |
| Air fryer, hot plate, toaster | Banned if exposed element | Banned | Banned |
| Extension cords | Not listed | Banned (bring a surge protector) | Not listed |
| Hoverboards, e-scooters | Not listed | Hoverboards banned | Banned |
| Personal mini-fridge | Up to 4 ft tall | Up to 3.5 cu ft, 1.5 amps | One extra, up to 3.2 cu ft |
How far in advance should I start packing for college?
U-Haul suggests assessing what you need and packing about three to four weeks before move-in day. Buying and packing often takes longer than expected. A simple timeline keeps it calm.
Embry-Riddle also sets its own deadline for its linen partner: Daytona orders must be placed by July 22 for on-time delivery. If you want bedding waiting in the room, that date matters more than your packing schedule.
How many totes does a dorm move take?
A typical single-student dorm move fits in about 20 of our 27-gallon totes. Clothes and bedding take roughly half. The rest covers books, desk gear, bathroom items, food and the hurricane kit. Two roommates moving together usually need more, but not double, if you share the fridge and TV.
Stetson asks you to label belongings with your building and room number, and that habit helps at any school. Label two sides of every tote so it reads in a stack. Some halls, including some at Bethune-Cookman, have no elevators, so keep heavy items like books spread across several totes.
When do rental totes make sense for a dorm move, and when don't they?
Totes make sense if you live in the Daytona area or are coming from a local family home. They stack in a car, keep rain off your things and come back to us empty, so nothing piles up in your room. Students get 15% off with a valid student ID.
They make less sense if you are flying in from out of state. Shipping or buying a few storage bins near campus is simpler, and you keep them under the bed all year. If you only have a carload of duffel bags, you may not need totes at all.
How tote rental works
1We deliverClean totes, lids, labels and a dolly at your door. 
2You pack and moveSnap the lids on, stack, and load your truck or car. 
3We pick up the emptiesStack the empty totes by the door and text us.
Questions people ask
Is there a free printable dorm move-in checklist for Florida?
Yes, this page is built to print. Use your browser's print option and tick off each category. Then compare it with your own school's official what-to-bring and prohibited lists.
Can I bring a mini-fridge to a Daytona-area dorm?
Usually, but sizes vary. Bethune-Cookman allows up to 3.5 cubic feet and 1.5 running amps, and Daytona State allows one extra fridge up to 3.2 cubic feet. Embry-Riddle bans personal fridges over 4 feet tall, and some suites already include one.
Does Daytona State College have dorms?
Yes. Daytona State runs an on-campus residence hall, the DSC Residence Hall, with a required meal plan. Its Fall 2026 move-in was August 21, 2026. Check the housing guide for the spring date.
Are extension cords allowed in Florida dorms?
Often not. Bethune-Cookman bans extension cords and lists a surge protector instead. Embry-Riddle recommends a power strip with a surge protector. A surge-protected strip is the safe choice at any school.
What should I pack separately for move-in day?
Keep your ID, medications, chargers, a change of clothes and your bedding in a bag you carry. Stetson also asks new students to bring a government-issued ID and their student ID number to check-in.