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The 9 Best Utility Carts for Your Dorm

Trust us, you’ll need plenty of extra space to stash your stuff—and these wheeled shelves can go a long way.

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best utility carts
Staff, Courtesy of Simple Housewares

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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.

1
Editors’ Choice

SimpleHouseware 3-Tier Utility Cart

On Sale
SimpleHouseware 3-Tier Utility Cart
1
Editors’ Choice

SimpleHouseware 3-Tier Utility Cart

Now 26% Off
$37 at Amazon

Dimensions: 32 x 16.75 x 12.5 inches
• Weight: 10 pounds
Locking Castors: Yes, two

This three-tier cart comes in several shades and bright hues—including the red, which we adore—and is a perfect choice if you want something with an industrial look that’s heavy-duty and built to last. It features rolling castors, two of which lock, and three deep metal baskets to hold everything from pens and notebooks to chargers to books. The cart gets high marks from customers, too, with an average 4.7 stars from more than 1,300 buyer

2
Our Budget Pick

U-Kiss Utility Cart

U-Kiss Utility Cart
2
Our Budget Pick

U-Kiss Utility Cart

Dimensions: 33.7 x 16.7 x 14.2 inches
Weight: 8.2 pounds
• Locking Castors: Yes, two

If you’re looking for a utility cart that’s functional, affordable, and still has top features found on pricier options, this one is your best bet. 

The baskets are shallower than similar three-tier metal carts we cover, but they’re also wider, plus it features rolling castors with two that lock. There’s also a handy handle on top if you’re planning to push it over to multiple spaces around the room, plus you can’t beat the price—a mere $20 at the time of this writing. 

The only drawback (though likely not a dealbreaker) is that it’s only available in black.

3
A Step Up

Azmall Utility Cart

Amazon’s Choice
Azmall Utility Cart
3
A Step Up

Azmall Utility Cart

Dimensions: 33.27 x 16.53 x 13.97 inches
• Weight: 7 pounds
Locking Castors: Yes, two

This option is ideal to use as an in-room vanity to store shampoo, makeup, and other items you’ll need to carry down the dorm’s hall to a shared bathroom. The three-tier metal cart features three hanging cups that are perfect for hair brushes and flatirons, along with four hooks for hanging wet washcloths or mesh sponges. There are four rolling castors—two that lock—plus the trays are made of waterproof ABS plastic so they won’t rust.

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4
Our Premium Pick

Kingrack Kingrack Utility Cart

Kingrack Utility Cart
4
Our Premium Pick

Kingrack Kingrack Utility Cart

Dimensions: 29.9 x 17.8 x 11. 8 inches
Weight: 12.6 pounds
Locking Castors: Yes, two

If your budget desk has minimal or zero drawer space, this metal utility cart is the answer to all your storage needs, with a solid lineup of value-added features that make it well worth the higher price tag. There are two deep bottom bins with mesh at the base to increase airflow, along with a shallower top tier ideal for displaying framed photos and curios to spark conversation with roommates. 

One of its best features is a customizable peg-board that runs the length of the back, with hooks for keys and mobile phone cases, as well as mesh storage bins for remote controls, tablets, and other supplies. The cart sits on four castors, two of which lock. 

5
Best for Slim Spaces

Spacekeeper Spacekeeper Utility Cart

Spacekeeper Utility Cart
5
Best for Slim Spaces

Spacekeeper Spacekeeper Utility Cart

Now 15% Off

Dimensions: 24 x 15.7 x 5.1
Weight: 2.3 pounds 
Locking Castors: No

If you have some extra space between your nightstand and bed or a narrow closet that could use low, easy access pull-out bins—for socks and other items you’d rather keep hidden behind a door—look no further than this slim utility cart. 

It’s only about 5 inches narrow, made with steel rods and durable plastic shelves with slits on the bottom to increase airflow. There are also four castors on the bottom that rotate 360 degrees though they don’t lock, plus several hooks to attach to the sides of bins to hang lightweight items.

6
Most Stylish

Kate and Laurel Kate and Laurel Utility Cart

Kate and Laurel Utility Cart
6
Most Stylish

Kate and Laurel Kate and Laurel Utility Cart

Now 26% Off

Dimensions: 28.35 x 14.57 x 9.84 inches
• Weight: 10 pounds 
Locking Castors: No 

This utility cart may be on the pricey side, but it’s the kind of piece you’ll surely want to transition from your dorm room to your first apartment’s bedroom, living area, or — gasp! — a private bathroom. The sides of the industrial-chic shelves are made of solid natural wood and each have a substantial 25-pound capacity. The utility cart comes fully assembled and features four rolling castors; the only drawback is that they don’t lock.

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7
Best for Paper Control

Simple Houseware Simple Houseware 6-Tier Utility Cart

Simple Houseware 6-Tier Utility Cart
7
Best for Paper Control

Simple Houseware Simple Houseware 6-Tier Utility Cart

Dimensions: 36.75 x 15.6 x 13 inches
Weight: 17 pounds 
Locking Castors: Yes, two

Sure, you may work in a paperless office, but that doesn’t mean your home office is paper-free, with client invoices, notepads, and months of Elle Decor on your must-read list—all of which needs to be in eyesight for you to tackle. If that’s your stitch, this utility cart is the answer. 

It features six wire grid drawers and a bin on top to hold pencils and Post-its. It's set on four rolling castors, two of which lock, and has a tall, narrow profile with a bright chrome finish, perfect to tuck into a corner.  

8
Best With Drawers

Seville Classics Seville Classics Utility Cart

Seville Classics Utility Cart
8
Best With Drawers

Seville Classics Seville Classics Utility Cart

Dimensions: 38.2 x 15.5 x 15.4 inches
Weight: 13 pounds
Locking Castors: Yes, two

Sometimes a utility cart that offers more privacy for its contents is the way to go, especially if it’s a makeshift bedside table or place to store undergarments or jewelry. Alternatively, if you aren’t a neat freak and need an easy space to throw pocket change, your phone, and other assorted nicknacks, going for something with opaque drawers will hide the mess. 

This cart is a customer favorite and comes in several color and configuration options, but the six-drawer size is ideal for a dorm room. The removable drawers are made of semi-transparent frosted white polypropylene and it features four castors, two of which lock. 

9
For a Ton of Stuff

Jane Eyre Jane Eyre Utility Cart

Jane Eyre Utility Cart
9
For a Ton of Stuff

Jane Eyre Jane Eyre Utility Cart

• Dimensions: 41.6 x 17.8 x 10.6  inches
Weight: 9.4 pounds
Locking Castors: Yes, two

If you’re headed to college this fall and simply can’t part with the entire contents of your wardrobe at home, this five-shelf utility cart has you covered. It may look tall but it’s only about 3.5 feet high, yet the mesh shelves are wide, great to double as an open-shelf dresser for folded sweaters, shirts, and jeans, plus there are four hooks to hang scarves and belts. It also works well for a variety of other uses, like holding tech equipment, books, or anything else you want to store up out of the way.

Headshot of Rachel Klein
Rachel Klein
Senior Commerce Editor

Rachel Klein is a Senior Commerce Editor for Popular Mechanics, where she writes about everything from garden hose reels and patio furniture to mesh wifi systems and robot vacuums. She started her career as a daily newspaper reporter and was a travel editor for more than a decade before she started testing and reviewing luggage, noise-cancelling headphones, and other travel-related products. Fast-forward another five years and her area of expertise includes home decor, appliances, tech, and outdoor adventure gear. In her spare time, you'll find her planning her next trip, reading historical fiction, and seeing as much art as she can squeeze into a weekend. 

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