Back to School Costs 2026
Average Spending by Grade
| Grade Level |
Typical Cost |
| Elementary (K-5) |
$300-$500 |
| Middle school (6-8) |
$400-$700 |
| High school (9-12) |
$500-$1,000 |
| Post-secondary |
$1,000-$3,000+ |
Cost Breakdown
| Category |
Budget Range |
| Clothing/shoes |
$200-$500 |
| Supplies |
$50-$150 |
| Backpack/lunch gear |
$50-$150 |
| Electronics |
$0-$1,000+ |
| Fees/activities |
$100-$300 |
Best Times to Buy
| When |
What to Buy |
Discount |
| July |
Early electronics sales |
10-20% |
| Early August |
Main sales week |
20-40% |
| Mid-August |
Price matching |
Best overall |
| Late August |
Supplies clearance |
30-50% |
| September |
Deep clearance |
50%+ |
Category Timing
| Item |
Best Time |
| Laptops/tablets |
July or late August |
| Basic supplies |
Late August |
| Clothing |
August sales |
| Backpacks |
August sales |
| Winter gear |
Wait until fall |
Where to Shop
Best Prices by Category
| Category |
Best Retailers |
| Supplies |
Walmart, Dollar stores, Staples |
| Clothing |
Winners, Gap, Old Navy |
| Electronics |
Best Buy, Amazon, Costco |
| Backpacks |
Costco, Canadian Tire, Amazon |
Dollar Store Basics
| Get Here |
Skip |
| Pencils/pens |
Quality backpack |
| Erasers |
Good scissors |
| Basic folders |
Binders (weak) |
| Glue sticks |
Electronics |
| Rulers |
Art supplies |
Supplies Checklist
Elementary School
| Item |
Quantity |
Est. Cost |
| Backpack |
1 |
$30-$60 |
| Pencils |
24+ |
$5-$10 |
| Crayons/markers |
2 packs |
$5-$15 |
| Notebooks |
5-10 |
$5-$15 |
| Folders |
5-10 |
$5-$10 |
| Glue sticks |
5+ |
$5-$10 |
| Scissors |
1 |
$3-$8 |
| Pencil case |
1 |
$5-$15 |
| Lunch bag |
1 |
$15-$30 |
Middle/High School
| Item |
Quantity |
Est. Cost |
| Backpack |
1 |
$40-$80 |
| Binders |
3-5 |
$15-$30 |
| Notebooks |
5-10 |
$10-$20 |
| Dividers |
2 packs |
$5-$10 |
| Calculator |
1 |
$15-$100 |
| Pens/pencils |
Bulk |
$10-$20 |
| Highlighters |
5+ |
$5-$10 |
| USB drive |
1-2 |
$10-$20 |
| Locker items |
Varies |
$20-$50 |
Clothing Budget
| Strategy |
Savings |
| Basic vs. brand |
50-70% |
| Previous season |
30-50% |
| Buy to grow |
Fewer replacements |
| Quality basics |
Last longer |
What to Buy Now
| Buy Now |
Wait |
| Fall clothing |
Winter coat |
| Indoor shoes |
Winter boots |
| Basic layers |
Heavy sweaters |
| Jeans/pants |
Snow pants |
Clothing Cost Savers
| Approach |
Savings |
| Consignment stores |
50-80% |
| Buy-sell-trade groups |
50-80% |
| End-of-season clearance |
60-80% |
| Hand-me-downs |
100% |
Electronics for Students
Do They Need It?
| Grade |
Laptop Need |
| K-6 |
Usually not |
| 7-9 |
Increasingly yes |
| 10-12 |
Yes, usually |
| Post-secondary |
Essential |
Budget Options
| Device |
Budget Option |
Cost |
| Laptop |
Chromebook |
$300-$500 |
| Laptop |
Used/refurbished |
$300-$600 |
| Laptop |
Budget Windows |
$500-$800 |
| Tablet |
Budget Android |
$200-$400 |
When to Buy Electronics
| Timing |
Discount |
| July 4 (US sales) |
10-15% |
| Prime Day |
15-25% |
| Back-to-school sales |
10-20% |
| Black Friday |
20-30% best |
| Boxing Day |
Similar |
Money-Saving Strategies
| Action |
Benefit |
| Inventory at home |
Avoid duplicates |
| Get school list |
Buy only what’s needed |
| Set firm budget |
Avoid overspending |
| Compare prices |
Know baseline |
| Strategy |
How |
| Price match |
Walmart, Staples |
| Stack coupons |
Flyer + coupon |
| Cashback apps |
Rakuten, Checkout 51 |
| Credit card rewards |
Right card |
Save for Next Year
| Tactic |
When |
| Buy clearance supplies |
September |
| Note what lasted |
For next year |
| Buy slightly larger |
Clothes, backpack |
School Fees and Activities
Common School Fees
| Fee Type |
Typical Cost |
| School fees |
$30-$100 |
| Agenda |
$10-$20 |
| Art supplies |
$20-$50 |
| Tech/lab fees |
$20-$75 |
| Field trips |
$50-$200/year |
Fee Assistance
| If Struggling |
Option |
| Talk to school |
Subsidy programs |
| Payment plans |
Often available |
| Community programs |
May help |
| Prioritize |
Essential vs. optional |
Lunch and Snacks
Lunch Budget
| Approach |
Weekly Cost |
| Packed lunch |
$15-$25 |
| School cafeteria |
$30-$50 |
| Hybrid |
In between |
Lunch Savings
| Strategy |
Savings |
| Meal prep Sunday |
Time and money |
| Buy in bulk |
Snacks, drinks |
| Use leftovers |
Creative repurposing |
| Thermos meals |
Hot lunch cheap |
Healthy Budget Foods
| Category |
Budget Options |
| Protein |
Eggs, beans, deli meat |
| Grains |
Bread, wraps, crackers |
| Fruit |
Seasonal, bananas |
| Veggies |
Carrots, cucumbers |
| Snacks |
Popcorn, homemade |
Tax Considerations
Education Deductions
| Deduction |
Eligibility |
| Tuition credit |
Post-secondary |
| Canada Training Credit |
Age 26-65, working |
| Interest on student loans |
Anyone paying |
| Childcare |
School-age programs |
GST/HST Exempt
| Exempt (No Tax) |
Taxable |
| Basic clothing |
Expensive clothing |
| Footwear (basic) |
Designer shoes |
| School supplies (most) |
Electronics |
Budget Template
Sample Back to School Budget
| Category |
Budgeted |
Actual |
| Supplies |
$75 |
|
| Clothing |
$200 |
|
| Shoes |
$75 |
|
| Backpack |
$50 |
|
| Lunch gear |
$30 |
|
| School fees |
$75 |
|
| Total |
$505 |
|
Tracking Tips
| Tip |
Why |
| Use one card |
Easy tracking |
| Save receipts |
Returns, tax |
| Track as you go |
Avoid overrun |