Back-to-school shopping is one of those expenses that seems to get bigger every year. Between school supplies, backpacks, lunch boxes, shoes, and new clothes, it’s easy to spend hundreds of dollars before the first day of school even arrives. The good news? You don’t have to pay full price.
I’ve spent years tracking back-to-school sales, comparing prices, and figuring out which deals are actually worth waiting for. I’ve also learned that the “best” deal isn’t always at the same store. One week, Walmart might have the cheapest notebooks, while another store might have the best price on crayons or backpacks. That’s why I rarely do all of my shopping in one place.
In this guide, I’ve put together the average prices I see each year, the lowest prices I’ve found, my favorite store brands, and a few name brands that I think are worth the extra money. Whether you’re shopping for one child or several, my hope is that this guide helps you stretch your budget and makes back-to-school shopping a little less stressful. After all, living the good life for less is what Wichita on the Cheap is all about.
School Supplies Comparison Price List
The table below shows some average prices during the school supply shopping season and what you might want to consider as your “goal” price. The important thing to understand about using this table is that you aren’t going to get the goal prices by shopping all at one place, or even all in the same week.
| School Supply | Typical Price | Lowest Price Found |
|---|---|---|
| Crayola Crayons (24 ct) | $1.49 | 25¢ |
| Glue Sticks (2-pack) | $2.29 | 50¢ |
| Elmer’s Glue (4 oz) | $1.59 | 50¢ |
| Composition Notebook | $2.49 | 50¢ |
| Wide-Ruled Notebook | $1.49 | 35¢ |
| College-Ruled Notebook | $1.49 | 35¢ |
| Folders | $1.00 | 15¢ |
| Index Cards | $1.49 | 50¢ |
| Mechanical Pencils | $3.99 | $1.49 |
| No. 2 Pencils (24 ct) | $4.99 | $1.49 |
| Colored Pencils | $4.99 | 97¢ |
| Washable Markers | $5.49 | 97¢ |
| Highlighters | $3.99 | $1.00 |
| Pens (10-pack) | $3.49 | $1.00 |
| Pencil Sharpener | $2.99 | 97¢ |
| Pencil Box | $3.99 | 97¢ |
| Pencil Pouch | $5.99 | $1.99 |
| Scissors | $3.99 | $1.49 |
| Dry Erase Markers | $5.99 | $2.49 |
| Binder (1-inch) | $6.99 | $2.00 |
| Binder Dividers | $3.99 | $1.25 |
| Loose Leaf Paper | $4.99 | $1.99 |
| Backpack | $29.99 | $9.98 |
| Lunch Box | $19.99 | $7.98 |
| Headphones | $19.99 | $4.88 |
*A note about athletic shoes: many schools ask that your student bring a pair of gym shoes to school to keep there. That’s what this item is referring to. For gym shoes, they should be well-fitting, flexible, and sturdy, but they probably don’t have to be anything special since kids are only wearing them for an hour a day. (Obviously, specialty shoes for various sports are going to cost more, and that’s probably also the case for shoes your child wears all day, every day.)
Cheapest School Supplies by Unit Price
I don’t break everything down by exact unit price, but different package sizes can sometimes make comparison shopping really challenging (for the math-challenged). So before I head out, I have certain unit prices memorized or written down on my list.
Comparing school supply prices isn’t always easy. Different package sizes can make it hard to tell whether you’re actually saving money. I don’t calculate the unit price for everything, but I do keep these target prices in mind when I shop.
Ticonderoga Pencils
- Great price: Under 10¢ per pencil
- Good sale: 10–20¢ per pencil
Expo Dry Erase Markers
- Great price: 75¢–$1 per marker
- Watch for starter kits that include cleaner and an eraser—they’re often one of the best values.
Sharpies
- Great price: Under $1 per marker
- Multi-color packs are fun, but compare the price per marker before buying.
Copy Paper
- Great price: $3.50–$5.00 for a 500-sheet ream
- Double-check the sheet count—some “reams” contain fewer than 500 sheets.
Facial Tissues
- Great price: Under $1 per box (80+ tissues)
Paper Towels
- Great price: Around $1 per roll, especially when buying larger packs.
Disinfecting Wipes
- Great price: 3.5–5¢ per wipe
- Store brands are often just as good and can save you even more.
Wichita on the Cheap Tip: Don’t let big sale signs fool you! The best way to know if you’re getting a bargain is to compare the price per item (or per sheet, per marker, or per wipe). A little math can save you a lot of money during back-to-school shopping.
Name Brands: When They Matter (and When They Don’t)
Personal Note: I’m all for saving money, and I love buying store brands when the quality is just as good. In fact, Walmart’s Pen+Gear and Target’s Mondo Llama brands are great ways to cut your back-to-school bill. That said, there are a few supplies where I think the name brand is worth it because they simply perform better. If you’re focused on spending as little as possible, though, don’t hesitate to grab the store brands; they’ll get the job done and can save you quite a bit.
Supplies Where Brand Matters
| Supply Type | Brand | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Crayons, Markers, Watercolors | Crayola | Smooth wax, true color, strong pigmentation; generics often skip or smear |
| Dry Erase Markers | Expo | Writes cleanly, shows up better, lasts longer than generics |
| Permanent Markers | Sharpie | Deep ink, clean writing, better tip quality |
| Tape | Scotch | Cuts cleanly, applies smoothly, tangles less |
| #2 Pencils | Ticonderoga (or Office Depot) | Sharpen evenly, write better, have real erasers that work |
| Watercolor Paints | Crayola (or similar) | Generic paints lack pigmentation and don’t blend well |
What is DN?
DN is Dillons.