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Back To School
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Back to school stationery
Fill your children's backpacks with cool and colorful gear this school year.
Kids love trendy stationery, and finding the right set for back to school is sure to put a smile on their faces (and earn you serious brownie points). If you’re on a budget, find deals that offer impressive value and eye-catching style.
Shopping for back to school stationery
You’ve probably already got a checklist of all the items your child needs to be ready for the new school year. If not, here are some essentials they’ll likely need.
Stationery sets
Pencils and pens
Petite Point Gel Pen Set
Urban Outfitters
Twistable Colored Pencils
Walmart
Top retailers for back to school stationery
These retailers all sell stationery in every color of the rainbow and style that’s sure to please any kid.
Where to find the best deals
It pays to compare retailers and shop around. We found total costs for an eighth grader’s back-to-school supply list in 2019 were $220.64 at Staples, $220.78 at Walmart, and $197.66 at Amazon. But by strategically shopping around at all three, you could save up to $59:
| Item | Amount | Store | Cost per unit (USD) | Total cost per required items | Go to store |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Backpack | 1 | Walmart | $32.90 | $32.90 | Shop now |
| 3-Ring Binder (500 sheets) | 1 | Staples or Amazon | $7.99 | $7.99 | Shop now |
| Composition Notebook | 3 | Walmart | $1.91 | $5.73 | Shop now |
| Binder Divider (1 pack, 8 tabs) | 1 | Walmart | $3.07 | $3.07 | Shop now |
| 2 Pocket Folders (6 pack) | 1 | Staples | $12.09 | $12.09 | Shop now |
| Highlighters (6 pack) | 1 | Staples | $5.79 | $5.79 | Shop now |
| #2 Pencils (18 pack) | 1 | Staples | $5.69 | $5.69 | Shop now |
| Pencil Sharpener | 1 | Walmart | $1.19 | $1.19 | Shop now |
| Pens (24 pack blue, black, and red) | 1 | Amazon | $10.23 | $10.23 | Shop now |
| Loose Leaf Paper – College Ruled 200 sheets | 2 | Amazon | $7.09 | $14.18 | Shop now |
| Ruler | 1 | Amazon | $3.91 | $3.91 | Shop now |
| Glue Stick (3 pack) | 1 | Staples | $4.49 | $4.49 | Shop now |
| Colored Pencils 12 pack | 1 | Walmart | $1.84 | $1.84 | Shop now |
| Colored Markers | 1 | Walmart of Amazon | $5.32 | $5.32 | Shop now |
| Kleenex Tissues (4 boxes) | 1 | Walmart | $5.97 | $5.97 | Shop now |
| Calculator | 1 | Amazon | $3.99 | $3.99 | Shop now |
| Pencil Case | 1 | Staples | $2.99 | $2.99 | Shop now |
| Combination Lock | 1 | Walmart | $3.64 | $3.64 | Shop now |
| Scissors | 1 | Staples | $2.39 | $2.39 | Shop now |
| Post Its (12 pack) | 1 | Walmart | $9.97 | $9.97 | Shop now |
| Erasers (3 pack) | 1 | Walmart | $1.85 | $1.85 | Shop now |
| Dry Erase Marker (4 pack) | 1 | Walmart | $4.46 | $4.46 | Shop now |
| Earbuds | 1 | Amazon | $11.93 | $11.93 | Shop now |
Price data obtained August 2019 and is subject to change.
How we compared retailers
We compared the cost of an average eighth grade school supply list at three major retailers: Walmart , Staples and Amazon. Prices were obtained from store websites on Aug. 2, 2019.
Where prices were on sale, we used the original list price. Where there were multiple products available at the same retailer at different price points, we chose the mid-priced item or best match across retailers.
We based our stationery list on back-to-school lists from five public schools in the West, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast and Southwest.
Stationery buying guide
Follow these three simple steps to find stationery your kids will love:
- Choose colorful items. Kids are attracted to bright colors, so choose stationery that features cartoon characters or their favorite color — it might even encourage them to open their notebooks to do their homework.
- Get quality items. Purchase products that will last, so you don’t have to replace any broken spiral notebooks or misaligned binders.
- Find a reputable shop. Countless retailers sell stationery, so look for one that provides a combination of affordability, style and quality. The amount you need to shell out for pencils, pencil cases, notebooks and staplers adds up, so you want items that will withstand everyday use.
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