Back-to-School Budget-Friendly Shopping List

Takeaways About Back-to-School Shopping

• On average, parents expect to spend about the same on back-to-school purchases in 2026, while looking for ways to save.
• Consumers are expecting to make more cost-conscious choices regarding their school shopping lists, with many people cutting back on tech purchases.
• Back-to-school supplies can be expensive, but regional resources are available for struggling families.

Many families of K-12 kids start planning school-year purchases in summer. An early start ensures you have everything you need and that you have more time to shop for deals and save money. But it can be tough to figure out what you need, when you need it and how to prioritize.

A 2026 Deloitte survey found that parents plan to spend $557 per child on back-to-school shopping in 2026, slightly less than in 2025. But that's at the lower end for shopping costs.

The National Retail Federation notes parents estimate they'll spend $864 on average for K-12 kids, and PwC's 2026 U.S. Consumer Poll estimates almost $1,000.

The two most expensive categories, parents say, are technology and clothing. Next comes after-school equipment and school supplies.

Use our handy school supply checklist to ensure you have everything you need. You can print the full list and take it with you when you go shopping: Printable school supplies checklist (PDF).

Electronics Checklist

Electronics are the most expensive category of back-to-school shopping. Parents planned to spend an average of $293 on electronics, according to the National Retail Federation study. PwC estimates a total closer to $222. Most studies indicate parents plan to spend less if possible this year by deferring tech purchases, but around one in four parents say they need to upgrade their child's tech this year.

Electronics that a school may ask you to get include:

• Headphones
• Laptop
• iPad or other tablet
• Cellphone
• Digital subscriptions
• Printer
• Software

Clothing Checklist

Parents expect to spend 22% more on back-to-school clothing, according to the Deloitte survey, with clothes taking up 54% of the budget. Kids' shoe prices in 2026 are at their highest prices ever.

Parents surveyed by the National Retail Federation estimated around $250 on clothing and $174 on shoes, while PwC estimated $278 for clothing and shoes combined.

Look for good values because you might return to clothing and shoe departments sooner than you think. Children's feet grow faster than the rest of their bodies, so you might go up in shoe sizes in just a few months. Think about the year's total costs when shopping for clothes.

Everyday Clothing Checklist

• 1-2 jackets or flannels
• 5-7 jeans, pants or skirts
• 7-10 long-sleeved and short-sleeved shirts
• 2-4 sweaters or sweatshirts
• 2 sets of gym clothes (shirt, shorts, socks), one for washing and one for wearing

Basics Clothing Checklist

• 7-10 pairs of socks
• 2-4 bras (white, black, skin tone, sports)
• 7-10 pairs of underwear
• Belt

Outerwear Checklist

• Raincoat or windbreaker
• Winter coat
• Jackets
• Scarf
• Gloves or mittens
• Warm hat

Shoes Checklist

• Athletic shoes
• Casual everyday shoes
• Rain boots or waterproof shoes

Extracurricular Activities

The PwC survey found that parents expect to spend about $161 on equipment for after-school activities, among the most expensive back-to-school categories. The checklist for supplies will vary based on the activity, some extras costing far less than others. In general, you'll need to prep your budget for:

• Participation fees
• Apparel for the activity (jerseys, dancewear, uniforms)
• Equipment (art supplies, racket, cleats, mouthguard, dance shoes)
• Supporting items (hair supplies, stage makeup, resistance bands, foam rollers)
• Out-of-pocket sports physical check-up costs, including copays or coinsurance
• Costs for travel to games, events and competitions

School Supplies Checklist

Most parents are buying school supplies this year, even if cutting back elsewhere. Parents surveyed by the National Retail Federation estimated around $146 for school supplies, while PwC estimated $122, and another $95 for books and materials.

Organization Tools Checklist

School organization supplies help contain clutter and tools for everyday use. These include:

• Folders of different sizes and colors
• Binders, either D-ring, Velcro or zippered
• Supply box
• Pencil box or pouch
• Dividers
• Planner

Paper Checklist

Depending on your child's age and grade, you may be asked to get various lined and unlined paper. Be sure you know whether your child's teacher asks for wide-ruled or college-ruled paper before you buy it. Paper supplies might include:

• One-subject spiral notebooks
• Composition books
• Sticky notes
• Loose-leaf lined paper
• Index cards

Writing Supplies Checklist

Mechanical pencils are often a coveted item. But the teacher may prefer old-fashioned No. 2 pencils that require a sharpener instead. You may be asked to buy the following:

• Ball-point pens
• Pencils
• Highlighters
• Pencil sharpeners (usually handheld)
• Dry-erase markers
• Felt-tip pens
• Erasers

Art Supplies Checklist

Art supplies are often on the school supply list for elementary grades, particularly kindergarten through third grade. These include:

• Glue and glue sticks
• Tape
• Coloring supplies (colored pencils, crayons, markers)
• Scissors

Math Supplies Checklist

Elementary schools may ask for rulers and protractors. Pay attention to calculator specifications by the time your child reaches middle school because required features can differ by course. A few math supplies that may be needed include:

• Calculator or graphing calculator
• Graph paper
• Protractor
• Ruler

Personal Supplies Checklist

Many of the items below are optional or depend on whether your child qualifies for free or reduced lunch, wants to buy school lunch or can reuse last year's backpack, water bottle and lunchbox.

• Backpack
• Insulated lunchbox or lunch bag
• Reusable water bottle
• Reusable freezer pack
• Hair care (comb, hair ties, or styling products)
• Tissues
• Sunglasses
• Hand sanitizer or sanitizing wipes
• Period supplies

Gold Star Bonus: Class Supplies Checklist

Some teachers depend on or appreciate parent help to support everyday needs for the whole class.

• Disinfecting wipes
• Hand sanitizer
• Resealable, zipper-to gallon bags
• Reams of white copy paper
• Glue, tape or masking tape
• Snacks
• Boxes of markers, crayons, colored pencils and writing pencils

Other Surprise Expenses

While you may not add these items to your shopping list, you might budget for some extras. Parents expect to spend an additional $635 per month (per household) on recurring expenses once school starts, PwC found. This includes $260 on school fees (such as field trips) and $235 on meals and snacks:

• Lunchbox ingredients or snack duty for the class
• Field trips
• After-school clubs, tutoring and programs
• Online resources
• Safety supplies
• Donations

Get Help With Back-to-School Expenses

Depending on income and location, your family may qualify for free school supplies and back-to-school clothing. A few organizations offering free supplies, clothing and vouchers:

• Hopelink
• FamilyWorks
• Assistance League

In general, a good place to start for financial help with school supplies is with your child's school or school district. Some districts such as Shoreline offer help via the PTA and school foundation.

If you want to help others in our community, The Seattle Times School Drive raises funds for Hopelink, YWCA Seattle-King-Snohomish and the Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness to provide students with backpacks, hygiene items, educational electronics and gift cards.

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