Davis, CA · Quarter-System Aggies
UC Davis Freshman Dorms 2026
UC Davis guarantees on-campus housing to every eligible incoming fall-quarter 2026 freshman (and to incoming transfer students). Freshmen live in residence halls across three areas -- Segundo (14 buildings, northwest corner of central campus), Tercero (15 halls, southwest corner) and Cuarto (3 halls, one block northwest of Segundo). Every room comes with an extra-long twin bed (36" x 80" x 8" mattress) and a MicroFridge(R) shared by roommates, so families shouldn't pack a mini-fridge or a microwave. Because Davis runs on the quarter system, Fall 2026 Moove-In lands later than most semester schools: September 15-17 -- a Tuesday through Thursday, by scheduled appointment only -- with fall quarter instruction beginning September 23.
- Bed size
- Twin XL · 36"×80"×8" mattress
- Air conditioning
- Varies by hall
- Residence halls
- 3 verified
Pick your residence hall
Every UC Davis residence hall below has verified bed dimensions, AC status, and a checklist sized to that exact room.
What to bring to UC Davisdorms — and what’s already there
Every Davisfreshman hall includes the same base furnishings. Skip anything already in your room, pack what’s missing, and leave the banned items at home.
⚠ Residents may not reconfigure their own beds. Frames have three standard heights, and Student Housing will bunk or loft a bed only by Service Request, which must be submitted within the first two weeks of every quarter -- triple rooms are prioritized, supplies are limited, and not all requests are honored.
⚠ Air conditioning is not uniform. Segundo and Tercero rooms have their own thermostat but are attached to the campus centralized plant, which runs heating or cooling but never both -- cooling comes on only when daytime highs consistently exceed 82F. Only Cuarto halls (Shasta, Tahoe, Yosemite) have independent systems with full year-round control of both modes.
⚠ Overnight guests are capped at seven cumulative nights per academic quarter and are barred entirely during final exams; hosting requires roommate permission, and the host is responsible for the guest's conduct.
⚠ Moove-In is appointment-only through the myHousing Portal; arriving after 6 PM means checking in at the Area Service Desk instead of your area's scheduled check-in station.
⚠ Tampering with fire protection devices -- smoke detectors, sprinklers and sprinkler pipes, extinguishers, exit signs, alarm pull stations -- is a named policy violation, as is blocking hallways, doorways or stairwells with bicycles, scooters or trash.
⚠ UC Davis housing pages still carry a stale 'Move-In Weekend is Saturday, September 21 and Sunday, September 22' line left over from a prior year -- the real 2026 date is September 15-17 per the year-scoped housing calendar; ignore the Sept 21-22 figure if you see it.
✓ In every room
- Extra-long twin bed
- mattress 36" x 80" x 8"
- on a frame with three standard heights (10"
- 19.5" and 31.5" from floor to the bottom of the bed rail); desk and desk chair; dresser or built-in chest of drawers; a closet
- open-closet concept
- or wardrobe; one MicroFridge(R) shared by roommates; a wastebasket (landfill) and a recycling bin; wired and wireless network; coaxial and IPTV cable TV connection
✗ Not provided
- Bedding for an XL twin (sheets
- pillows and pillowcases
- comforter or bedspread
- blankets); washcloths and bath towels; hand towels (not all halls stock paper towels in restrooms); bathrobe and shower shoes for the walk to the community bathroom (not needed in Cuarto
- where bathrooms are inside the suite); shower caddy and toothbrush cover; coat hangers; umbrella
- rain gear and waterproof shoes or boots; a warm coat; alarm clock
- preferably with battery backup; UL-rated smart power strip; computer cable lock; external keyboard and mouse; non-wireless printer; general school supplies; bicycle with helmet
- lock and a light for night riding; laundry and cleaning supplies; reusable water bottle
- utensils and plates; a mirror -- but only if you're assigned to Tahoe Hall
- which UC Davis calls out by name
⊘ Prohibited
- Personal refrigerators and microwaves (a MicroFridge is already in every room); space and portable heaters; torchiere halogen lamps; incandescent string lights; candles
- incense
- hookahs
- cigarettes
- or anything else that produces or requires an open flame; 3D printers
- lasers and related crafting devices; hot plates and burners; power tools
- barbecues and gas grills; humidifiers (exceptions for a documented medical need); weapons of any kind
- including decorative swords and paintball guns; fireworks
- firecrackers
- flammable liquids and other explosive or incendiary devices; large stereo equipment and amplifiers; electrical devices that are not UL/CA listed; modifying or changing electrical wiring
- and octopus adapters
- splices or other plug-adding devices (grounded UL-approved power strips with fuses ARE allowed); home network devices such as Google Home
- Amazon Echo and smart bulbs (they won't join the campus network); a car -- residence hall students may not purchase a parking permit; nails or screws in walls (poster putty
- thumb tacks and push pins are fine); residents reconfiguring their own beds
Top things every Davis freshman needs
The essentials that aren’t in your room — our verified picks, each with a full comparison. Affiliate links; prices and availability shown on Amazon.
Twin XL sheet setDorm beds are extra-long — a standard twin sheet won't fit.
Mattress topperDorm mattresses are thin and firm — a topper is the biggest comfort upgrade.
Surge protectorRequired at most schools — plain extension cords are banned.
Shower caddyCommunal bathrooms — you carry everything to and from the shower.
Under-bed storage binsThe space under the bed is the only real storage a dorm gives you.
LED desk lampNot provided in most halls — you'll want your own light for late study nights.
Which halls have air conditioning?
AC status varies by hall — useful to know before your assignment arrives.
| Hall | AC | Under-bed |
|---|---|---|
| Miller Hall | Partial | 10", 19.5", or 31.5" (3 frame heights) |
| Laben Hall | Partial | 10", 19.5", or 31.5" (3 frame heights) |
| Tahoe Hall | Yes | 10", 19.5", or 31.5" (3 frame heights) |
Common questions about UC Davis dorms
- What size is the bed in UC Davis residence hall rooms?
- Every hall uses the same extra-long twin: the mattress measures 36" x 80" x 8", so you need XL twin sheets. The frame has three standard heights -- 10", 19.5" and 31.5" from the floor to the bottom of the bed rail (add about 10" for the top of the mattress). Residents may not reconfigure beds themselves, but Student Housing will bunk or loft one on request.
- Can I bring my own mini-fridge or microwave?
- No. Every room already includes a MicroFridge(R) -- a combined refrigerator/microwave unit shared by roommates -- and personal refrigerators and microwaves are on the official What Not To Bring list.
- Do UC Davis dorms have air conditioning?
- It depends on your area. Segundo and Tercero rooms have their own thermostat, but the buildings run off the campus central plant, which operates heating or cooling but never both -- cooling only starts once daytime highs consistently exceed 82F. Cuarto halls (Shasta, Tahoe, Yosemite) are not on the central plant and give residents full control of both heating and cooling year-round.
- What are the biggest dorm rules to know before move-in?
- No open flames of any kind (candles, incense, hookahs), no space heaters or torchiere halogen lamps, no reconfiguring your own bed, no car (hall residents can't buy a parking permit), and overnight guests are capped at seven cumulative nights per quarter and banned during finals.
- When is Fall 2026 move-in at UC Davis?
- Residence Hall Moove-In runs Tuesday, September 15 through Thursday, September 17, 2026, by scheduled appointment only through the myHousing Portal after your room assignment email arrives. Fall quarter instruction begins September 23.
- Do all incoming freshmen get guaranteed on-campus housing?
- Yes -- UC Davis guarantees on-campus housing for all incoming fall-quarter 2026 freshmen who are under age 24 and who meet eligibility requirements and deadlines. Incoming transfer students are guaranteed too. Freshmen who live in the halls their first year are then offered on-campus housing for a second year based on availability, while transfers who maintain continuous residence get a firm second-year guarantee.
Planning your move-in? See the full Davis packing guide →
More guides: Dorm move-in checklist · Best dorm fans (no AC) · Best shower caddy
Dorm shopping guides: Mini fridge · Surge protector · Storage bins · Mattress topper · Desk lamp · Bedding sets · Twin XL sheets · Shower caddy · Towels · Shower shoes · Laundry hamper · Area rug · Mirror · Over-door organizer · Closet organizers · Fans (no AC) · Loft bed setup