Budget-friendly dorm essentials: Snag last-minute deals for college students

We've rounded up the best last-minute deals on dorm room must-haves like the Amazon Echo, Nespresso coffee makers, projectors, and more.

Budget-friendly dorm essentials: Snag last-minute deals for college students
Female student sitting on floor, reading books, studying for final exam at university. Beautiful student at home eating cereals.

UP TO 50% OFF: Get up to 50% off dorm essentials at Amazon. Shop smart devices, compact coffee makers, and more.


Our top picks:

Best smart speaker deal
Amazon Echo (4th gen)
$64.99 at Amazon (save $35)
Amazon Echo (4th gen)

Best coffee maker deal
Nespresso Vertuo POP+ by Breville
$99 at Amazon (save $26.96 )
Nespresso Vertuo POP+ by Breville

Best entertainment deal
INSIGNIA 32-inch Class F20 Series Smart HD Fire TV (NS-32F201NA23)

Best cleaning supplies deal
MRS. MEYER'S CLEAN DAY Kitchen Basics Set
$14.48 at Amazon (save $6.72)
MRS. MEYER'S CLEAN DAY Kitchen Basics Set

College can be one of the best experiences of a lifetime — but it'll be even better if you have the right essentials to really make a dorm room feel like home.

Here are some of the best deals we could find on dorm essentials — from a smart speaker to coffee makers and cleaning supplies — you’ll want to snag at the start of this school year.

Best smart speaker deal

Our pick: Amazon Echo (4th gen)
$64.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $35.00

Why we like it

The Amazon Echo (4th gen) is a dorm room must-have. This smart speaker can play music, set alarms, timers, and reminders, control compatible smart home devices (if you have a smart plug), and even make calls and get news and weather updates — all with just your voice or the Alexa app.

The Echo Dot (5th gen) and Sengled Smart Color Bulb bundle is a great alternative if you're trying to save even more money and space. It’s on sale for $49.99 at Amazon, so it's about 20 bucks less than buying the devices separately.

Best coffee maker deal

Nespresso Vertuo POP+ by Breville
Credit: Nespresso

Why we like it

The Nespresso Vertuo POP+ by Breville is compact enough to fit on a dorm room desk, but it has the power to brew both coffee and espresso. It has a 25-ounce water reservoir and brews five cup sizes, including five-, eight-, and 12-ounce coffees and single or double shots of espresso. This little machine could save you at least 15 minutes standing in line at the campus coffee shop every day. (It also comes in a variety of colors and is the same price as a Keurig, but brews better-tasting coffee.)

Best entertainment deal

Why we like it

The INSIGNIA 32-inch Class F20 Series Smart HD Fire TV (NS-32F201NA23) is big enough to stream and game on from your bed, but small enough to fit on a dorm room desk. (It’s also way better than streaming on your laptop.) At just $79, this Fire TV is a steal and will make your dorm room feel more like home.

If you don't have room for a TV, you might want to consider getting a projector like this mini portable projector by Magcubic. Just hop in bed and use the ceiling as your screen!

Best cleaning supplies deal

Why we like it

The Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Kitchen Basics Set includes a multi-surface cleaner, hand soap, and dish soap. This specific bundle features the lavender scent, but you can get it in others like basil or lemon verbena. Mrs. Meyer's is a cleaner option that won’t cost you an arm and a leg — you can also save up to 15% when you subscribe.

If you want something even more eco-friendly, I recommend anything from Cleancult. They’re a little pricier but anti-plastic and have refillable cleaners and hand soaps. (I use Cleancult all the time. They’re the only cleaner I have under the sink besides white vinegar and Windex, and the basil scent smells so good.)