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Where are you guaranteed to have a bad time? The school-supply emporium of your choice on the night before school starts. (Although you may run into friends and neighbors, so you might have a pleasant chat while you wait on a long, long line.) So even though it may seem like last school year just ended, you can never be too diligent about refreshing the stash of school supplies for next year. Doing your back-to-school routine early means you won't have to deal as much with out-of-stock items, and — who knows? — you might even score some out-of-season deals.
According to Pattern Data Science, at the beginning of last school year, markers, mechanical pencils and spiral notebooks were the most in-demand school supplies, so it might be wise to stock up on those first. In addition, calculators and lunch boxes/bags saw huge year-over-year gain in demands (thought it could be because kids weren't using them so much during the height of the pandemic, so everyone had to go out and buy new ones before the start of the 2022 school year).
But whenever you do your back-to-school shopping, be it far in advance or at the last minute, no one wants to make multiple trips. Be sure to consult this list of the best back-to-school supplies for every grade in 2023 before you head out, so you don't leave anything behind.
Where to Get School Supplies for Free
Pro tip: You can get free school supplies, backpacks and uniforms if you don't have the resources to get your own. Contact your school district, who can help lead you to the right contacts or let you know about upcoming supply drives and events. Also, teachers can apply to charity organizations like The Kids in Need Foundation to help supplement items in the classroom.
How to Donate to a Classroom
If you have the means to give to a classroom in need, teachers will be greatly appreciative of your donation. DonorsChoose makes it easy: Teachers can describe supplies the need or projects they're looking to fund, and families can give right through the website. You can search for your school, see what's happening nearby or give to someone across the country. It's especially rewarding knowing exactly how the funds are going to be used.
Kindergarten Supplies
Ah, the school journey begins! Make sure they're prepared right off the bat with these most-requested kindergarten school supplies. (And you, too? Make sure you put aside some of those tissues for yourself.) And while first-day-of-school signs and letter boards (with extra school-themed symbols) aren't technically a school supply, you might want to make sure you have those on-hand, too.
- Pencil bag ($7, amazon.com)
- Crayons ($6 for two, amazon.com)
- Colored pencils ($6, amazon.com)
- Washable markers ($9 for two, amazon.com)
- Jumbo No. 2 pencils ($8, amazon.com)
- Pencil grips ($4, amazon.com)
- Pencil sharpener ($6, amazon.com)
- Glue sticks ($3 for three, amazon.com)
- Erasers ($10 for 12, amazon.com)
- Blunt-tipped scissors ($4, amazon.com)
- Plastic folders ($12 for six, amazon.com)
- Wide-ruled notebook or pad ($12 for three, amazon.com)
- Tissues ($7 for pack of eight, amazon.com)
- Backpack ($20 and up, amazon.com)
- Assorted construction paper ($17 for two, amazon.com)
- Lunch box or bag ($18, amazon.com)
Elementary School Supplies: Grades 1– 3
Bigger kids, bigger backpacks, more supplies. As they transition from school newbies to more serious scholars, they're going to need more supplies to help them out. (And the old ones from kindergarten? They can probably use a refresh.)
- Pencil box ($10, amazon.com)
- Crayons ($6 for two, amazon.com)
- Colored pencils ($6, amazon.com)
- Washable markers ($9 for two, amazon.com)
- No. 2 pencils ($4, amazon.com)
- Pencil grips ($4, amazon.com)
- Pencil sharpener ($5 for four, amazon.com)
- Glue sticks ($3 for three, amazon.com)
- Erasers ($10 for 12, amazon.com)
- Index cards ($3, amazon.com)
- Blunt-tipped scissors ($5, amazon.com)
- Plastic folders ($12 for 6, amazon.com)
- Wide-ruled notebook or pad ($15 for six, amazon.com)
- Tissues ($7 for pack of 8, amazon.com)
- Backpack ($40 and up, llbean.com)
- Assorted construction paper ($17 for two, amazon.com)
- Lunch box or bag ($24, amazon.com)
- Ruler ($6 for four, amazon.com)
Elementary School Supplies: Grades 4 – 5
As they get into the upper elementary years, their subjects get some more specialized. They might need different folders for different classes — and they might even start switching teachers. They'll need supplies that'll keep them organized as they tackle more involved homework, bigger projects and specialized classes.
- Pencil pouch ($7 for six, amazon.com)
- No. 2 pencils ($4, amazon.com)
- Pencil sharpener ($6 for three, amazon.com)
- Highlighters ($7, amazon.com)
- Washable markers ($10, amazon.com)
- Erasers ($10 for 12, amazon.com)
- Personal organizer/planner ($12, amazon.com)
- Three-ring binder ($23 for four, amazon.com)
- Three-hole-punch ($7, amazon.com)
- Wide-ruled, one-subject notebooks ($15 for six, amazon.com)
- Plastic folders ($15 for 6, amazon.com)
- Glue ($7 for four, amazon.com)
- Scissors ($6 for three, amazon.com)
- Standard calculator ($8, amazon.com)
- Blue or black pens ($7 for 36, amazon.com)
- Book covers ($9 for 3, amazon.com)
- Index cards ($3, amazon.com)
- Ruler ($6 for four, amazon.com)
- Subject dividers ($7, amazon.com)
- Backpack ($22 and up, amazon.com)
- Lunch box or bag ($25 amazon.com)
Middle School & High School Supplies
Middle schoolers are hard on their school supplies. They need rugged kind that will last the whole year. And high schoolers need supplies that will last through all those big projects, cram sessions and heavy daily use.
- Pencil pouch ($10, amazon.com)
- Blue or black ballpoint pens ($7 for five, amazon.com)
- No. 2 pencils ($4, amazon.com)
- Pencil sharpener ($16, amazon.com)
- Highlighters ($7, amazon.com)
- Permanent markers ($7, amazon.com)
- Personal organizer/planner ($11, amazon.com)
- Erasers ($7 for 12, amazon.com)
- Three-ring binder ($24 for four, amazon.com)
- Three-hole-punch ($7, amazon.com)
- Loose-leaf paper or spiral notebooks ($19 for 6, amazon.com)
- Graph paper ($9, amazon.com)
- White-Out ($6 for two, amazon.com)
- Protractor ($6, amazon.com)
- Ruler ($3, amazon.com)
- Scissors ($7, amazon.com)
- Graphing calculator ($104, amazon.com)
- Combination lock ($17 for two, amazon.com)
- Book covers ($8 for 2, amazon.com)
- Plastic folders ($15 for 6, amazon.com)
- Glue ($7 for four, amazon.com)
- Post-it Notes ($15 for 15, amazon.com)
- Subject dividers ($16 for four sets, amazon.com)
- Index cards ($2, amazon.com)
- Backpack ($55 and up, amazon.com)
- Lunch box or bag ($20, amazon.com)
College Supplies
College students need more than just pencils, pens and notebooks. Now they have to have all their dorm essentials they need for living out on their own. (Maybe send them off with a gift card in case they realize they need something they hadn't packed.)
Academic Supplies
- Three-ring binder ($28 for four, amazon.com)
- Three-hole-punch ($7, amazon.com)
- Loose-leaf paper or spiral notebooks ($18 for 6, amazon.com)
- Graph paper ($9, amazon.com)
- Subject dividers ($12 for three sets, amazon.com)
- Index cards ($10, amazon.com)
- Plastic folders ($15 for 6, amazon.com)
- Blue or black pens ($6, amazon.com)
- Mechanical pencils ($7, amazon.com)
- Permanent markers ($17, amazon.com)
- Highlighters ($7, amazon.com)
- Erasers ($10 for 12, amazon.com)
- Pencil pouch ($10, amazon.com)
- Scissors ($7, amazon.com)
- Stapler and staples ($8, amazon.com)
- Tape or tape dispenser ($6, amazon.com)
- Post-it Notes ($15 for 12, amazon.com)
- White-Out ($7 for four, amazon.com)
- Personal organizer/planner ($11, amazon.com)
- Graphing calculator ($104, amazon.com)
- Backpack ($60 and up, amazon.com)
- Laptop ($400, amazon.com)
- Wireless printer ($80, amazon.com)
- Computer paper ($17, amazon.com)
- Ink cartridges ($50, amazon.com)
Cleaning Supplies
- Swiffer ($19, amazon.com)
- Trash bags ($9, amazon.com)
- Air freshener ($12 for three, amazon.com)
- Disinfectant wipes ($17 for three, amazon.com)
- Laundry bag ($17, amazon.com)
- Detergent ($12, amazon.com)
- Fabric softener ($10, amazon.com)
- Stain remover ($14, amazon.com)
- Quarters for laundry
Dorm Furnishings
- Mattress cover ($22, amazon.com)
- Mattress pad ($37, amazon.com)
- Pillows ($38, amazon.com)
- Twin XL sheet sets ($38, amazon.com)
- Twin XL comforter ($35, amazon.com)
- Bed risers ($20, amazon.com)
- Full-length mirror ($40, amazon.com)
- Plastic storage bins ($45 for six, amazon.com)
- Shelving, ($25, amazon.com)
- Closet organizer/shoe rack ($12, amazon.com)
- Trash can ($16, amazon.com)
- Desk or floor lamp ($22, amazon.com)
- Fan ($17, amazon.com)
- Space heater ($33, amazon.com)
- Air purifier, ($99, amazon.com)
- Extension cords ($7, amazon.com)
- Alarm clock ($40, amazon.com)
Dorm Supplies
- Towels ($22, amazon.com)
- Shower caddy ($7, amazon.com)
- Flip-flops or shower shoes ($25, amazon.com)
- Hangers ($25, amazon.com)
- Duct tape ($5, amazon.com)
- Adhesive hooks ($15, amazon.com)
- Batteries ($16, amazon.com)
- Mini fridge ($125, bestbuy.com)
- Microwave ($100, walmart.com)
- Coffeemaker ($35, amazon.com)
- Utensils ($24, walmart.com)
- Reusable water bottle ($17, amazon.com)
- Travel mug ($10, amazon.com)
- Resealable sandwich bags ($12, amazon.com)
- Headphones ($25, amazon.com)
- Earplugs ($14, amazon.com)
- Eye mask ($15, amazon.com)
Toiletries
- Toothpaste ($13 for three, amazon.com)
- Toothbrush ($11 for two, amazon.com)
- Floss ($7, amazon.com)
- Body wash ($7 for three, walmart.com)
- Shampoo ($29 for four, amazon.com)
- Conditioner ($25 for three, amazon.com)
- Women's deodorant ($7, walmart.com)
- Men's deodorant ($13 for two, amazon.com)
Looking for more tech items a college student might need? Check out these Good Housekeeping Institute guides:
Best Laptops for Students | Best Macbooks | Best Tablets | Best Smart Notebooks | Best Wireless Speakers | Best Computer Monitors | Best TV Brands | Best Handheld Vacuum
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.