Seattle, WA · Dawgs on Campus Parkway
University of Washington Freshman Dorms 2026
UW runs on the quarter system, and 2026 Autumn Quarter move-in for first-year (9-Month) housing runs September 22–25, with a specific check-in appointment sent alongside each student's room assignment. Every room ships with a twin XL bed, and in buildings with metal frames the height is adjustable so the bed can be lofted. Seattle's mild summers mean HFS residence halls are not air-conditioned, so a fan matters more than a fridge on the packing list. On-campus housing isn't required — HFS's Facts & Figures page reports 72.6% of first-years lived on campus in 2025 — and room types span everything from shared-cluster bathrooms in North Campus's McMahon Hall to fully private-bath rooms in the newer West Campus buildings.
- Bed size
- Twin XL (inches not published)
- Air conditioning
- No halls — pack a fan
- Residence halls
- 4 verified
Pick your residence hall
Every University of Washington residence hall below has verified bed dimensions, AC status, and a checklist sized to that exact room.
Elm Hall
- Bed
- Twin XL (inches not published)
- Under-bed
- Adjustable-height frame, loftable
- AC
- No
Maple Hall
- Bed
- Twin XL (inches not published)
- Under-bed
- Adjustable-height frame, loftable
- AC
- No
McMahon Hall
- Bed
- Twin XL (inches not published)
- Under-bed
- Not published — confirm with Res Life
- AC
- No
Alder Hall
- Bed
- Twin XL (inches not published)
- Under-bed
- Adjustable-height frame, loftable
- AC
- No
What to bring to University of Washingtondorms — and what’s already there
Every UWfreshman hall includes the same base furnishings. Skip anything already in your room, pack what’s missing, and leave the banned items at home.
⚠ Residence halls have no air conditioning — HFS's own move-in checklist article says "Residence halls don't have air conditioning" and recommends a fan or two, especially for move-in and finals week. The 9-Month Move-In page separately lists air conditioners among items not to bring.
⚠ Overnight guests are capped at three consecutive nights and seven total nights for the ENTIRE Occupancy Period (Sept 22, 2026 – noon June 12, 2027) — not seven per quarter. Guests may not stay overnight at all without prior roommate consent, and the host answers for the guest's conduct.
⚠ Lending your room key or Husky Card to anyone — including a roommate's guest — is itself a Community Standards violation, not just a security risk. So is possessing or using someone else's key or card.
⚠ Checking out of a 9-Month Housing agreement early is expensive: a $500 early-termination charge, responsibility for room charges for the ENTIRE Agreement Period through June 12, 2027 (relief only if you qualify for First-Out/First-In proration under Section 18.6), dining charges for the quarter you check out in, and a $15/day late-notice charge if notice comes after the quarter's deadline (Oct 31, 2026 for autumn).
✓ In every room
- Wi-Fi and wired internet
- electricity
- gas
- water
- sewer
- and garbage service bundled into the room rate; laundry included in the room rate — machines take no coins and there is no per-load payment (HFS's Just Like Home program replaced metered laundry with a $36/quarter fee that the 9-month room rate covers); twin XL bed
- height-adjustable and loftable in buildings with metal frames; one HFS-issued 72-hour emergency kit — a red emergency backpack handed out at check-in
- and a one-time required purchase under Section 12.1 of the housing agreement
✗ Not provided
- Twin XL sheets/blanket/comforter
- pillows and pillowcases
- towels
- surge protector and extension cords
- toilet paper (except in Hansee and McMahon halls — HFS's move-in checklist lists toilet paper as bring-your-own "except Hansee and McMahon")
- cleaning supplies
- kitchen supplies for apartment-style residents
- a fan (no residence hall has A/C)
- and a mini-fridge/microwave (bring your own within size limits or rent a Danby fridge-microwave combo through MicroFridge)
⊘ Prohibited
- Candles
- incense and anything with an open flame
- halogen lamps
- space heaters
- personal/portable air conditioners
- open-flame or open-coil appliances
- full-size appliances
- dishwashers
- bidets
- fireworks
- ammunition
- explosives
- flammable liquids
- propane
- compressed gases
- spray paint
- firearms
- electroshock weapons and air-powered guns (BB/airsoft/pellet/paint)
- swords (including stage and decorative swords) and weapon replicas
- any non-culinary knife with a blade over 3 inches
- switchblades
- and pets other than fish
Top things every UW 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.
Common questions about University of Washington dorms
- What size are the beds in UW residence halls?
- Twin extra-long (XL), per HFS's official 9-Month Move-In checklist, which specifies "size: twin extra-long/XL" for sheets, blankets and comforter. HFS does not publish exact mattress dimensions in inches anywhere on hfs.uw.edu — confirm your assigned building's specifics on the Student Housing Portal or with HFS.
- When is Fall 2026 move-in for first-year students?
- Autumn Quarter check-in runs September 22–25, 2026 — confirmed both on HFS's 9-Month Move-In page and in Section 4 of the signed 2026-27 9-Month Housing Agreement. HFS assigns each student a specific appointment window that arrives with the room-assignment information, and says to plan on roughly 2–3 hours to check in and drop off your items.
- Do UW dorms have air conditioning?
- No. HFS's move-in checklist article states plainly that "Residence halls don't have air conditioning" and recommends bringing a fan (or two) for warmer days around move-in and finals. Portable air conditioners are also on the do-not-bring list. Heat is the only climate control: most buildings have heat-only Eco Thermostats, while McMahon and Hansee run on central heating with individual radiators.
- Can I bring a mini-fridge and microwave?
- Yes, within limits: a mini-fridge up to 4.4 cubic feet and a microwave up to 700 watts, per HFS's 9-Month Move-In page. You can also rent a Danby fridge-microwave combo through MicroFridge, delivered to your room before move-in.
- Is on-campus housing required for first-year students?
- No. UW doesn't require first-years to live on campus. HFS's Facts & Figures page reports 72.6% of first-years lived on campus in 2025 (5,173 of 7,129 enrolled) — down from 74.0% in 2024 and 76.6% in 2023, so treat it as a trend, not a fixed rate.
Planning your move-in? See the full UW 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