We created this list of best places to buy school supplies by comparing major retailers and small businesses and considering key factors such as price, convenience, and product selection. We also looked at rewards programs, shipping costs, and return policies and spoke to budgeting expert Andrea Woroch to find the best tips and tools to save you money. Here are the best places to buy school supplies.
Our Picks
Best Eco-Friendly: EarthHero Back to School Best Budget: Walmart Back to School Best for Bulk Shopping: Costco Back to School Best for Name Labels: Mabel’s Labels Best Unique: Etsy Best Sensory: Ark Therapeutic Best for Art Supplies: Michaels Best for College Students: Bed, Bath & Beyond The site stocks supplies like pens made from cork, beeswax crayons, and 100 percent post-consumer waste recycled notebook paper, as well as organic cotton book bags and pencil cases, a vast array of reusable metal and silicone lunch containers, and phone charging docks made of wood. If basic supplies are what you need, Walmart is the place to get them. The website is organized by grade level to make browsing easier. The giant retailer also offers a wide selection of computers and tech accessories, and you can stock up on any other name-brand essentials, from clothing to first aid and beyond, all in one place. Browse Costco’s office supplies section, and you’ll find notebooks, art supplies, and writing tools. Explore the clothing department to shop for fashion and uniforms. In the toys and books department, you’ll find educational options such as Highlights box sets and complete chapter book collections. And markdowns on laptops and computers abound in the electronics section. Of course, as with everything in Costco, you’ll have to go big or go home. Although a 12-pack of wide-ruled notebooks might be just what you need if you’re buying supplies for multiple kids, it may be too much for one or two students—but you can always stock up on snacks. The company also offers bag tags, allergy alert labels, ID bracelets, and specialty packs for sports with specifically sized labels that will fit equipment like bats, balls, and other gear, too. First-time customers can get a 20 percent discount by signing up for the Mabel’s Labels newsletter. On Etsy, you can personalize just about any school item you might need, from pencils to backpacks to laptop cases. For high school and college-aged students, you can also find a large selection of beautiful, unique items like leather-bound planners, care package-style boxes that contain essentials like laundry detergent, shower supplies and snacks, and unique dorm room gear like embroidered bedding, clever small-space storage solutions, and customizable charging stations. While fidget toys work great for some kids, others find comfort in oral sensory stimulation. There’s a whole industry of therapeutic chewables for kids of all ages. These therapist-designed products are made to be worn as jewelry, used as pencil toppers, or just played with to provide stress relief to kids with sensory issues. Your child does not need to be diagnosed with a sensory issue for you to try out one of ARK’s products. Many kids who have a tendency to chew on their toys or clothes or who like to fidget can benefit from oral stimulation toys in and out of the classroom. MichaelsPro is also an amazing resource for teachers and anyone else who needs to buy items in bulk, with loads of art supplies, adhesives, paper, and more available at wholesale prices—and it’s free to join. The online shop also offers a surprising selection of non-crafty items, which makes it well worth your time if you’re comparison shopping to save money on things like keyboards, calculators, children’s headphones, or flash drives. There are dozens of online-only items at Michaels that you might not have realized, all at competitive prices, and with its coupons and rewards program, you might end up saving some serious cash. College students can take advantage of the store’s College Savings Pass, which offers 20 percent off all purchases—no coupon required—and three times the rewards points. The pass is only available to enrolled college students during the summer (this year, it’s good through September 30, 2022) and can be used online, via the app, and in stores. Bed Bath & Beyond also offers a “Pack and Hold” service, which allows students to make purchases anywhere (online, via the app, or at any store), and a Bed Bath & Beyond location near their college will hold the items until the student arrives on campus and can pick them up. The Bed Bath & Beyond website and app also curate dorm room collections for easy shopping. This tool allows students to shop from a preselected assortment of bestselling items, taking the guesswork and thinking out of a process that can be quite overwhelming. In addition to large retailers, we considered small businesses that offer unique goods and added value, such as personalized items, environmentally friendly products, and supplies designed for children with specific needs. We also asked budgeting expert Andrea Woroch for tips on saving money and how to maximize savings during back-to-school shopping.
What to Look for in a School Supply Retailer
Price
A typical school supply list can include anywhere between 10 and 30 items depending on the grade level and school requirements. Pencils and composition books may not be a big expense, but the cost of school supplies can add up quickly if you need to purchase backpacks, water bottles, lunch boxes, clothes, shoes, and laptops. And if you have multiple children, back-to-school shopping can become a major yearly expense. If budgeting is a priority, keep in mind that large stores often offer the most competitive prices. “Large retailers have more sales volume and, as a result, can push more sales and offer bigger discounts than smaller, independently owned retailers. They may also carry more brands and a bigger selection,” Woroch tells Verywell Family. Back-to-school shopping can also be a wonderful opportunity to get your kids excited about the new school year and teach them about financial responsibility and saving money. Woroch recommends setting a budget and letting them participate in the decision-making process. Allow them to “shop sales, opt for store brands, and compare prices with name brands,” she says. “If your child really wants a nicer brand name item, start a savings plan and set them up with chores and an allowance, perhaps even offering to meet them halfway on the cost to teach them the value of the purchase. They will appreciate it much more if they have to work for it!”
Store Inventory
For convenience, many of us tend to hit up box stores or online retailers for most basics. Keep in mind, though, that with high demand and supply shortages, some items may be out of stock or on back order. Before adding your school supplies to your cart, make sure that they will be available when you need them. Consider also how long your items will take to ship, or your kids may find themselves without a backpack on the first day of school.
Uniqueness
If you’d like your kids’ school supplies to stand out or you cringe at the idea of supporting retail giants, smaller stores may have hand-made, personalized, or specialty items you may not find elsewhere—and you can rest well knowing you’re supporting a small business.
Why Trust Verywell Family
Elizabeth Kocan is a writer, product tester, and parent of two boys, ages 9 and 4. A dedicated bargain shopper, she has spent years of her life scanning the shelves of box stores, local businesses, thrift shops, and online marketplaces to find the best deals on school supplies, clothes, and home decor. Of course, the risk of waiting until the last minute is that the specific items you want may sell out, but if you’re flexible, you can get the best deals once the shopping rush is over. And if you want to stock up for next year, school supplies usually go on clearance in September once school is in session. And if you miss a sale, don’t despair. “Just because there are some good sales now and through the start of school doesn’t mean you need to stock up now or miss out. Retailers will regularly run different sales throughout the year. Buy what you need now or whatever your budget allows, and then wait for another sale. This way, you don’t overwhelm your budget or take on debt,” says Woroch. You can also wait a week or two after school starts to score steep discounts on school supplies. “Remember, your child doesn’t need everything for the first day of school,” says Woroch. “You may find better deals on merchandise in September as retailers clear out inventory. So send them to school with what you could get now, using what you already have at home.” An easy way to save money on electronic devices is to look for refurbished tablets and laptops. Refurbished devices are products that were sold and returned shortly after. The manufacturer then thoroughly checks the device and remediates any problems before putting it on sale at a discounted price. Refurbished devices are covered under the same warranty as a new product. Woroch also recommends using apps to save time and money. “Begin by comparing prices before you head to the store using a circular aggregator like Flipp to see who has the items on your list for the best price.” A circular aggregator is a website that gathers sales flyers and promotions for easy browsing, so you can see the sales at many different stores in one place. And when shopping online, be sure to look for promo codes before buying anything. “Deal sites like CouponCabin.com organize coupon codes by store name or category, making it easy to find savings quickly. Or download the Sidekick browser extension, which automatically searches for coupons when shopping at a retailer online and applies the code with the biggest discount to your online cart,” recommends Woroch. Online shopping makes it easy to compare prices, so be sure to take the time to explore the different stores, discounts, and products. You can do this as a first step, even if you want to visit the brick-and-mortar stores to do your shopping with your kids. Some states also hold tax-free holidays in the weeks leading up to back to school, which can save you money on school supplies as well as clothing and some electronic devices.
