Back-to-school spending for school-age kids lands mostly in a few weeks between late July and early September, and what a family spends depends on the grade, the school’s supply list and fees, and whether clothes, a backpack or a device need replacing. Timing is the main lever: electronics often go on sale in July, retailers compete on supplies in mid to late August, and seasonal clothing is marked down in the fall. This page covers costs, timing, where to shop and a simple budget for parents of kids in kindergarten to grade 12. Post-secondary students will find their costs on what university costs in Canada and the wider student money guide; money basics for teenagers are on financial literacy for teens.
What back-to-school can cost
The ranges below are an example to plan with, not survey averages; your school’s supply list and fees are the real starting point.
Example 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
Shopping Timeline
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
Strategic Shopping
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
Before Shopping
Action
Benefit
Inventory at home
Fewer duplicate purchases
Get school list
Buy only what’s needed
Set a budget first
Spending stays within it
Compare prices
Know baseline
While Shopping
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
Tax relief for families
The tuition tax credit applies only to post-secondary study, so most back-to-school costs for younger children aren’t deductible. Before- and after-school care and day camps can count as child care expenses: see the child care expense deduction. The Canada Child Benefit is paid monthly for children under 18 (see Canada Child Benefit amounts).
Sales Tax on School Purchases
Item
GST/HST
Notes
Clothing (general)
Taxable
No general federal exemption
Footwear (general)
Taxable
No general federal exemption
School supplies
Taxable
Notebooks, pens, backpacks, etc. all taxable
Children’s clothing and footwear in BC
PST exempt, GST still applies
Clothing and footwear in children's sizes are exempt from BC's PST with no paperwork. The exemption follows the item's size, not the buyer's age, so adult-sized clothing and footwear bought or rented for a child under 15 is exempt only with a signed certificate of exemption.
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
You see an overrun early
Bottom Line
Start with a firm budget, inventory what you already have, and let the sales calendar do the heavy lifting. Mid-August price-matching gets you the best overall value on supplies, while September clearance works for anything you can wait on. Use cashback apps and a rewards credit card to squeeze another 2–5 % off the total, and remember that GST/HST applies to almost all back-to-school clothing and supplies (BC’s PST exemption on children’s clothing and footwear is the main exception).