Best Back to School Deals 2026

Back to school season hits every family's wallet at once — supplies, bags, clothes, shoes and dorm gear, all needed in the same few weeks.

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Below we've grouped the best-known, most trusted back to school retailers by category, so you can go straight to the deals that matter for your list instead of hunting across a dozen tabs.

School & Office Supplies

S

Staples

Staples

The office and school supply staple: notebooks, pens, binders and printer ink all in one stop, with frequent seasonal back to school sales.

O

Office Depot / OfficeMax

Office Depot / OfficeMax

Backpacks, tech accessories and classroom bulk packs alongside the classic supply list essentials.

T

Target

Target

One-stop back to school shopping with strong seasonal deals across supplies, decor and dorm basics.

W

Walmart

Walmart

The budget-friendly default for full supply lists, especially for bulk buying multiple kids' lists at once.

B

Barnes & Noble

Barnes & Noble

Required reading, planners, journals and study accessories for students of every age.

Backpacks & Bags

J

JanSport

JanSport

The classic durable backpack brand that's been a school-hallway staple for decades, with a lifetime warranty on most bags.

H

Herschel

Herschel

Stylish, well-built bags that go from classroom to campus without looking like "school supplies".

V

Vera Bradley

Vera Bradley

Colorful, pattern-driven bags and accessories especially popular for younger students and teens.

Kids & Teen Clothing / Uniforms

O

Old Navy

Old Navy

Affordable everyday basics and uniform-friendly staples that survive a full school year of wear.

T

The Children's Place

The Children's Place

Dedicated kids' clothing with frequent multi-buy deals, great for stocking up a whole wardrobe at once.

G

Gap

Gap

Classic, durable basics for kids and teens that mix and match easily.

K

Kohl's

Kohl's

Wide selection of kids' and teens' clothing with strong seasonal discounts and rewards stacking.

J

JCPenney

JCPenney

Family clothing basics and uniforms with reliable back to school sales every year.

Shoes

V

Vans

Vans

The go-to casual sneaker for teens and tweens, built to survive a full school year.

C

Crocs

Crocs

Comfortable, easy-on shoes that have become a genuine back to school staple for younger kids.

D

DSW

DSW

Huge shoe selection across every kid and teen size, from sneakers to dress shoes for picture day.

Electronics & Dorm / Extras

L

Lenovo

Lenovo

Reliable, affordable laptops built for schoolwork, with frequent student discounts during back to school season.

T

The Container Store

The Container Store

Dorm and locker organization solutions that make small spaces actually livable.

W

Wayfair

Wayfair

Dorm and bedroom furniture, from desks to storage bins, for students setting up a new space.

H

Hydro Flask

Hydro Flask

The durable, insulated water bottle brand practically every student carries.

Frequently asked questions