Your Dorm Won’t Be Complete Without a Stylish and Practical Utility Cart

College-bound kids are gearing up for a shopping spree (while parents and guardians groan) to buy bedding, towels, closet organizers, TVs, beanbag chairs, and plants to outfit their new dorm rooms. Some are essentials, others are nice to have. But the single most versatile accessory—that'll last well beyond dorm years to college apartment living—is a utility cart. They have endless uses, from holding toiletries to haul to shared bathrooms to stashing books and desk supplies to storing bulky sweaters and sweatshirts. Whether you're looking for a budget buy or want something stylish that can (eventually) double as a side table or bar cart for post-dorm years, read on for our top recommendations.

What to Consider

If you happen to have your dorm room’s dimensions before your move-in date, it’ll be easier to shop for a utility cart in advance. If not, no worries, as most have three or four-tiers with similar footprint dimensions, and trust us: They’re so incredibly handy for holding a variety of items—from desk supplies and toiletries to socks and jewelry—that you’ll figure out a place to put it no matter what your setup.

Once you’ve moved in you’ll have a better idea of its ideal purpose, but start off by thinking about how you’ll likely use it. Are you a desk supply fanatic with Post-its and pens sure to fill your tiny dorm computer table? Will you need extra storage space for clothing and jewelry? Or books and computer equipment?

Of course, you’ll also want to think about style, and utility carts run the gamut from utilitarian to industrial-chic, plus come in sizes to accommodate narrow or extra-tall spaces. In terms of features, almost all have castors—though not all lock—and some come with special add-ons like bins, hooks, peg-boards, and slide-out opaque drawers for storing items you’d rather keep out of sight.

How We Chose

All of the utility carts below have average ratings of four stars or more, with the majority raking 4.5 stars or higher. During our research, we read through scores of user reviews and combed through comments on quality and overall satisfaction that factored in to making our final selection. We features a range of popular styles—options with drawers, sliding bins, locking castors, and more—and offer utility carts across multiple price points, from budget to premium picks worth the splurge for extra add-ons or high-end design.