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When it comes time for back-to-school season, get ready to open those wallets. According to global data company Statista, last back-to-school season, families in the United States spent a total of 40 billion dollars on school shopping (electronics and clothing included) — which averaged out to about $875 per household.

Surely, families are looking for ways to keep that number as low as possible. To do that, advanced planning is key, along with hunting around for deals on the most-needed supplies. But that means knowing the necessary school supplies in advance. 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 2025-2026 school year.

Of course, each school typically provides a specific checklist for your child's grade — eventually. But early birds and bargain-hunters can feel good knowing that 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

Thicker pencils, safety scissors, backpacks that aren't too big for their tiny little frames — kindergarteners often have to have school supplies that are sized just for them. (And parents have their own needs — add an extra box of tissues to the list.)

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Donate These Back-to-School Supplies to the Classroom (You'll Make a Teacher Happy)
On Sale
Multi-Purpose Wipes
Clorox Multi-Purpose Wipes
Now 18% Off
$16 $13 at Amazon
Credit: Clorox
On Sale
Paper Towels
Seventh Generation Paper Towels
Now 19% Off
$36 $29 at Amazon
Credit: Seventh Generation
Facial Tissues
Kleenex Facial Tissues
$13 at Amazon
Credit: Kleenex

Elementary School Supplies: Grades 1– 3

Once they move on from kindergarten, the work gets a little more serious. In addition to looking cute, the elementary school supplies have to be a little more functional, and withstand the daily use of young, not-all-that-careful kids.

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Top-Tested School Gear
Best Overall Backpack
Kids Original Backpack
L.L. Bean Kids Original Backpack
$40 at L.L.Bean
Credit: L.L. Bean

MORE BACKPACKS

Best Overall Lunch Box
On Sale
Freezable Playtime Lunch Box
PackIt Freezable Playtime Lunch Box
Now 36% Off
$30 $19 at Amazon
Credit: PackIt

MORE LUNCH BOXES

Best Overall Water Bottle
Kids' Water Bottle
Hydro Flask Kids' Water Bottle
$30 at Amazon
Credit: Hydro Flask

MORE WATER BOTTLES

Elementary School Supplies: Grades 4 – 5

Here, the real work begins. The pencil points and marker tips get finer, the composition lines get smaller and school supplies need to support their bigger assignments and projects.

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School Supplies, but Make Them Cute
x Peanuts Black Ink Gel Pens
OOLY x Peanuts Black Ink Gel Pens
Now 35% Off
$9 $6 at ooly.com
Credit: Ooly
Little Letters Confetti Lunch Bag
Packed Party Little Letters Confetti Lunch Bag
$15 at Amazon
Credit: Packed Party
x SmileyWorld Wide-Ruled Notebook
Yoobi x SmileyWorld Wide-Ruled Notebook
$4 at Target
Credit: Yoobi
x LEGO Garden Floral Backpack
Herschel x LEGO Garden Floral Backpack
$75 at Target
Credit: Herschel

Middle School & High School Supplies

By the time they get to middle school and high school, they'll have many more responsibilities. They could be using lockers, switching classes and keeping track of their schedules and extra-curricular activities. Keeping organized is key, especially for middle schoolers who are used to just keeping everything in one school desk.

school shopping lists
Upgrade Their Workstations
Bedside Shelf
BedShelfie Bedside Shelf
$45 at Amazon
Credit: BedShelfie
Compact Lap Desk
LapGear Compact Lap Desk
$15 at Amazon
Credit: LapGear
Gooseneck Phone Holder
Lamicall Gooseneck Phone Holder
$28 at Amazon
Credit: Lamicall

College Supplies

When it comes time for a scholar to go off to college, pens and pencils are the least of their worries. If they're going away also have to keep track of everything they need to survive dorm life. (Be sure to double-check what appliances are allowed, since some colleges have strict restrictions.) 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.)

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Academic Supplies

Cleaning Supplies

Dorm Furnishings

Dorm Supplies

Toiletries

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.

Headshot of Marisa LaScala
Marisa LaScala
Senior Parenting & Relationships Editor

Marisa (she/her) has covered all things parenting, from the postpartum period through the empty nest, for Good Housekeeping since 2018; previously, she wrote about parents and families at Parents and Working Mother. She lives with her toy-collecting husband and daughter in Brooklyn, where she can be found helping out her team at bar trivia or posting about movies on Twitter and Bluesky.