Backpacks and lunch bags and pencils — oh my! Getting all of those fresh school supplies ready for a new school year can add up quick. According to global data company Statista, last back-to-school season, families in the United States spent a total of 41.5 billion dollars on school shopping — which averaged about $890 per household. Why so high? While the figure does include school supplies, it also factors in clothing and, more importantly, electronics and accessories that are increasingly necessary as schools take more and more advantage of digital technology in the classroom.
One way to ensure that you will not save money on school supplies for this year? Doing it all the night before, when you're at the mercy of whatever is left in stock. With the first day of school rapidly approaching, you can consult these lists of the best back-to-school supplies for every grade for the 2024/2025 school year.
Of course, each school typically provides a specific checklist for your child's grade, so be sure to review that — but these essentials are likely to be included, since they're the most-asked-for school supplies for elementary school, middle school, high school and college.
Kindergarten Supplies
After those momentous first-day-of-school photos are taken, it's time to send them off to begin their learning journey. These supplies will get them started on the right foot. (And just make sure you have the supplies you need, too — maybe get an extra set of those tissues.)
- Pencil case ($8, amazon.com)
- Crayons ($6 for three boxes of 24, amazon.com)
- Colored pencils ($6 for one box of 36, amazon.com)
- Washable markers ($9 for one box of 13, amazon.com)
- Jumbo No. 2 pencils ($9 for one box of 10, amazon.com)
- Pencil grips ($5 for four, amazon.com)
- Pencil sharpener ($9, amazon.com)
- Glue sticks ($3 for three, amazon.com)
- Erasers ($6 for 12, amazon.com)
- Blunt-tipped scissors ($4, amazon.com)
- Plastic folders ($6 for four, amazon.com)
- Wide-ruled notebook or pad ($12 for three, amazon.com)
- Personal tissues ($7 for eight packets, amazon.com)
- Backpack ($18, amazon.com)
- Assorted construction paper ($17 for two packs of 240 sheets each, amazon.com)
- Lunch box or bag ($28.50, potterybarnkids.com)
Elementary School Supplies: Grades 1– 3
Kindergarten supplies mostly have to look cute. Elementary school supplies have to take care of business as little students become young scholars.
- Pencil box ($10, amazon.com)
- Crayons ($6 for three boxes of 24, amazon.com)
- Colored pencils ($6 for one box of 36, amazon.com)
- Washable markers ($13 for two boxes of 10, amazon.com)
- No. 2 pencils ($5 for one box of 24, amazon.com)
- Pencil grips ($5 for four, amazon.com)
- Pencil sharpener ($4 for four, amazon.com)
- Glue sticks ($3 for three, amazon.com)
- Erasers ($6 for 12, amazon.com)
- Index cards ($3 for a pack of 100, amazon.com)
- Blunt-tipped scissors ($8, amazon.com)
- Plastic folders ($10 for 6, amazon.com)
- Wide-ruled notebook or pad ($12 for six, amazon.com)
- Personal tissues ($7 for eight packets, amazon.com)
- Backpack ($40, llbean.com)
- Assorted construction paper ($17 for two packs of 240 sheets each, amazon.com)
- Lunch box or bag ($20, amazon.com)
- Ruler ($5 for six, amazon.com)
Elementary School Supplies: Grades 4 – 5
As they get into the upper elementary years, the real work begins. They'll need supplies that support them through the bigger projects, help them study for those harder tests and keep them going day to day.
- Pencil pouch ($10, amazon.com)
- No. 2 pencils ($5 for 24, amazon.com)
- Pencil sharpener ($7 for three, amazon.com)
- Highlighters ($10 for six, amazon.com)
- Washable markers ($17 for 10, amazon.com)
- Erasers ($6 for 12, amazon.com)
- Personal organizer/planner ($8, amazon.com)
- Three-ring binder ($22 for four, amazon.com)
- Three-hole-punch ($7, amazon.com)
- Wide-ruled, one-subject notebooks ($10 for six, amazon.com)
- Plastic folders ($16 for six, amazon.com)
- Glue ($1, target.com)
- Scissors ($6 for three, amazon.com)
- Standard calculator ($10, amazon.com)
- Blue or black pens ($7 for five, amazon.com)
- Book covers ($10 for three, amazon.com)
- Index cards ($2 for 100, amazon.com)
- Ruler ($5 for seven, amazon.com)
- Subject dividers ($5 for eight tabs, amazon.com)
- Backpack ($5, target.com)
- Lunch box or bag ($24, amazon.com)
Middle School & High School Supplies
Middle school is a huge step! Some students will be changing classes or using lockers for the first time, meaning they need different supplies for each of their individual subjects. And yet, middle school students are not as practiced with keeping everything organized, so they need durable supplies that will last, even after being crammed into desk drawers or the bottoms of backpacks. And high schoolers are certain to need a refresh for their notebooks and binders.
- Pencil pouch ($7 for six, amazon.com)
- Blue or black pens ($6 for two, amazon.com)
- No. 2 pencils ($5 for 24, amazon.com)
- Electric pencil sharpener ($15, amazon.com)
- Highlighters ($10 for six, amazon.com)
- Permanent markers ($15 for 12, amazon.com)
- Personal organizer/planner ($10, amazon.com)
- Erasers ($6 for 12, amazon.com)
- Three-ring binder ($24 for four, amazon.com)
- Three-hole-punch ($7, amazon.com)
- Loose-leaf paper or spiral notebooks ($24 for 6, amazon.com)
- Graph paper ($8, amazon.com)
- White-Out ($5 for two, amazon.com)
- Protractor ($3, amazon.com)
- Ruler ($0.55, amazon.com)
- Scissors ($7, amazon.com)
- Graphing calculator ($100, amazon.com)
- Combination lock ($12 for two, amazon.com)
- Book covers ($8 for 2, amazon.com)
- Plastic folders ($14 for 6, amazon.com)
- Glue ($9 for three, amazon.com)
- Post-it Notes ($14 for 15, amazon.com)
- Subject dividers ($16 for 15 pads, amazon.com)
- Index cards ($3 for 100, amazon.com)
- Backpack ($45, amazon.com)
- Lunch box or bag ($24, amazon.com)
College Supplies
By the time they get to college, the need more than they can fit in a backpack. In addition to all the supplies they use in class, if they're boarding they also need to bring everything they need to live on their own, including all the stuff they need to cook, clean and do laundry. Note: If they're living on campus, check the housing rules before you go shopping — some appliances may be prohibited in dorms. And one last supply that's good to have on-hand? A gift card that'll help them get anything they didn't realize they needed. (Like extra chargers. Always the extra chargers.)
Academic Supplies
- Three-ring binders ($28 for four, amazon.com)
- Three-hole-punch ($7, amazon.com)
- Loose-leaf paper or spiral notebooks ($24 for 6, amazon.com)
- Graph paper ($7, amazon.com)
- Subject dividers ($3 for eight tabs, amazon.com)
- Index cards ($8 for 100, amazon.com)
- Plastic folders ($14 for 6, amazon.com)
- Blue or black pens ($15 for 10, amazon.com)
- Mechanical pencils ($7 for four, amazon.com)
- Permanent markers ($22 for 24, amazon.com)
- Highlighters ($10 for six, amazon.com)
- Erasers ($6 for 12, amazon.com)
- Pencil pouch ($9, amazon.com)
- Scissors ($7, amazon.com)
- Stapler and staples ($8, amazon.com)
- Tape or tape dispenser ($6 for two, amazon.com)
- Post-it Notes ($12 for 12 pads, amazon.com)
- White-Out ($7 for four, amazon.com)
- Personal organizer/planner ($10, amazon.com)
- Graphing calculator ($100, amazon.com)
- Backpack ($99, amazon.com)
- Laptop ($179, walmart.com)
- Wireless printer ($84, amazon.com)
- Computer paper ($18 for 500 sheets, amazon.com)
- Ink cartridges ($54 for two, amazon.com)
Cleaning Supplies
- Swiffer ($19, amazon.com)
- Trash bags ($9 for 40, amazon.com)
- Air freshener ($12 for three, amazon.com)
- Disinfectant wipes ($18 for three, amazon.com)
- Laundry bag ($10, amazon.com)
- Detergent ($28 for 63 pods, amazon.com)
- Fabric softener ($5 for one bottle, amazon.com)
- Stain remover ($14 for three, amazon.com)
- Quarters for laundry or laundry card
Dorm Furnishings
- Mattress cover ($33, amazon.com)
- Mattress pad ($23, amazon.com)
- Pillows ($26 for two, amazon.com)
- Twin XL sheet sets ($38, amazon.com)
- Twin XL comforter ($35, amazon.com)
- Bed risers ($20 for four, amazon.com)
- Full-length mirror ($33, amazon.com)
- Plastic storage bins ($32 for six, amazon.com)
- Shelving, ($30, amazon.com)
- Closet organizer/shoe rack ($13, amazon.com)
- Trash can ($18, amazon.com)
- Desk lamp or floor lamp ($20, amazon.com)
- Fan ($16, amazon.com)
- Space heater ($25, amazon.com)
- Air purifier, ($109, amazon.com)
- Extension cords ($12, amazon.com)
- Alarm clock ($23, amazon.com)
Dorm Supplies
- Towels ($19 for two, amazon.com)
- Shower caddy ($9, amazon.com)
- Flip-flops or shower shoes ($25, amazon.com)
- Hangers ($8, amazon.com)
- Duct tape ($5, amazon.com)
- Adhesive hooks ($12 for a pack of nine hooks, amazon.com)
- Batteries ($16 for 48, amazon.com)
- Mini fridge ($80, bestbuy.com)
- Microwave ($90, amazon.com)
- Coffeemaker ($35, amazon.com)
- Utensils ($27 for 20-piece set, amazon.com)
- Insulated water bottle ($35, amazon.com)
- Travel mug ($13, amazon.com)
- Resealable sandwich bags ($10, amazon.com)
- Noise-cancelling headphones ($99, amazon.com)
- Earplugs ($15 for 50, amazon.com)
- Eye mask ($10, amazon.com)
Toiletries
- Toothpaste ($5, amazon.com)
- Toothbrush ($11 for two, amazon.com)
- Floss ($4 for two, amazon.com)
- Body wash ($10, amazon.com)
- Shampoo ($29 for four, amazon.com)
- Conditioner ($25 for three, amazon.com)
- Women's deodorant ($18 for four, amazon.com)
- Men's deodorant ($13 for two, amazon.com)
Looking for more tech items a college student might need? Check out these Good Housekeeping guides: Best Laptops for Students | Best Macbooks | Best Tablets | Best Smart Notebooks | Best Wireless Speakers | Best Computer Monitors | Best TV Brands | Best Handheld Vacuum
How to Donate to a Classroom
Look, we've never met a teacher who would say no to a tote bag full of supplies or a gift card to help out when the tissues and paper towels start running low. But if you have the means and want to go the extra mile in supporting teachers, DonorsChoose makes it easy. Teachers sign up for specific projects they're looking to fund, be it active seating for a classroom, a set of ukuleles for a music room or a sensory path for a hallway. Donors can then give to those projects directly. You can search by teacher, by school or by area. It's especially rewarding knowing exactly how the funds are going to be used.
Where to Get School Supplies for Free
When you browse the lists, you can see how easily it all adds up. For families or school districts that are struggling to get it all, as your school to apply to organizations like The Kids in Need Foundation, which helps students in under-resourced schools. There might also be local backpack drives and other supply-donation events; contact your local school district for more information.
Marisa (she/her) has covered all things parenting, from the postpartum period through the empty nest, for Good Housekeeping since 2018; she previously wrote about parents and families at Parents and Working Mother. She lives with her husband and daughter in Brooklyn, where she can be found dominating the audio round at her local bar trivia night or tweeting about movies.