Getting your kids ready for school and shopping back-to-school supplies sales used to be a headache. You’d have to get in the car, drive to Staples, and hope they had the Mead 5-subject spiral notebook your child wanted otherwise you’d be on the end of a public temper tantrum. We’re here to help you with your school supply list by sharing the back-to-school essentials.
Below we’ll cover the following school supply lists:
- Preschool Supply List
- Kindergarten Supply List
- Elementary School Supply List
- Middle School Supply List
- High School Supply List
- College School Supply List
Regardless of the school situation, the school supply list below will work for both in-person schooling, virtual learning, and homeschooling.
Thanks to Amazon and all of the other online retailers, that’s no longer the case! You can click a few buttons online and have everything shipped to your home. We’ve made it even easier by compiling all of the common school supplies your kids will need below. We’ve sectioned everything by grade level so you can quickly find the appropriate school supplies and add them to your cart.
Go ahead and shop away!
Preschool List of Supplies
Preschoolers need supplies that help them explore their creativity and develop hand-eye coordination. Some federally funded early childhood programs and even some states do not allow teachers to ask parents for supplies so we’re here to help you know what supplies your child might need. Below we have captured the most common school supplies that are needed for preschoolers.
- Crayons: Amazon, Target
- Washable markers: Amazon, Target
- Watercolor Paints: Amazon, Target
- Blunt-tipped scissors: Amazon, Target
- Plastic folders: Amazon, Target
- Tissues: Amazon, Target
- Assorted construction paper: Amazon, Target
- Glue sticks: Amazon, Target
- Backpack: Amazon, Target
- Lunchbox: Amazon, Target
- Masks: Amazon, Target
Kindergarten Supply List
Kindergartners mostly need supplies that help them explore their creativity. Since their hand-eye coordination hasn’t fully developed, most of the supplies such as blunt-tipped scissors and wide-ruled paper are designed to give kindergartners a margin of safety during activities during their school days. Below we have captured the most common school supplies that are needed for kindergartners.
Get most of these in this great bundle.
- Pencil box: Amazon, Target
- Crayons: Amazon, Target
- Colored pencils: Amazon, Target
- Washable markers: Amazon, Target
- Blunt-tipped scissors: Amazon, Target
- Wide-ruled notebook or pad: Amazon, Target
- Plastic folders: Amazon, Target
- Tissues: Amazon, Target
- No. 2 pencils: Amazon, Target
- Assorted construction paper: Amazon, Target
- Pencil sharpener: Amazon, Target
- Erasers: Amazon, Target
- Glue sticks: Amazon, Target
- Backpack: Amazon, Target
- Lunchbox: Amazon, Target
- Masks: Amazon, Target
Elementary School: Grades 1-3 School Supplies
As first through third graders begin to develop more skills, their need for supplies increases. While a lot of the supplies are similar to those of kindergartners, the main additions include index cards and pens. This allows for more permanent writing methods and ways to quickly memorize facts.
Get most of these in this great bundle.
- Pencil box: Amazon, Target
- Crayons: Amazon, Target
- Colored pencils: Amazon, Target
- No. 2 pencils: Amazon, Target
- Pencil sharpener: Amazon, Target
- Ballpoint pens: Amazon, Target
- Erasers: Amazon, Target
- Glue sticks: Amazon, Target
- Washable markers: Amazon, Target
- Ruler: Amazon, Target
- Blunt-tipped scissors: Amazon, Target
- Plastic folders: Amazon, Target
- Assorted construction paper: Amazon, Target
- Wide-ruled notebook or pad: Amazon, Target
- Index cards: Amazon, Target
- Tissues: Amazon, Target
- Backpack: Amazon, Target
- Lunchbox*: Amazon, Target
- Masks: Amazon, Target
*send your kids to school with a lunch box note full of love
Elementary School: Grades 4-6 School Supplies
Once students have gotten to fourth through sixth grade, they are a little more mature and will begin to require some more advanced school supplies. Since they are also preparing for middle school, they need graph paper, organizational supplies (such as binders), and planners.
- Pencil pouch: Amazon, Target
- Blue or black ballpoint pens: Amazon, Target
- No. 2 pencils: Amazon, Target
- Pencil sharpener: Amazon, Target
- Highlighters: Amazon, Target
- Washable markers: Amazon, Target
- Loose-leaf paper or spiral notebooks (Wide Ruled): Amazon, Target
- Graph paper: Amazon, Target
- Subject dividers: Amazon, Target
- Index cards: Amazon, Target
- Plastic folders: Amazon, Target
- Glue: Amazon, Target
- Erasers: Amazon, Target
- Three-ring binder: Amazon, Target
- Three-hole-punch: Amazon, Target
- Ruler: Amazon, Target
- Scissors: Amazon, Target
- Calculator: Amazon, Target
- Personal organizer/ planner: Amazon, Target
- Book covers: Amazon, Target
- Backpack: Amazon, Target
- Lunchbox*: Amazon, Target
- Masks: Amazon, Target
*send your kids to school with a lunch box note full of love
Middle School Back-to-School Supply List
Middle school is where students transition from kids to teenagers. Since middle school years are formative in a teenager’s life, the school supplies you buy will likely define your student’s status in the social hierarchy at school. They’ll likely need a lock for their locker. They will also need more advanced supplies for math classes such as a protractor and graphic calculator as well as college-ruled notebook paper for essays.
Get a free six-month trial of Amazon Prime for Students.
- Laptop: See our favorites
- Pencil pouch: Amazon, Target
- Blue or black ballpoint pens: Amazon, Target
- No. 2 pencils: Amazon, Target
- Pencil sharpener: Amazon, Target
- Graph paper: Amazon, Target
- Permanent markers: Amazon, Target
- Erasers: Amazon, Target
- Three-ring binder: Amazon, Target
- Three-hole-punch: Amazon, Target
- Loose-leaf paper or spiral notebooks (College-Ruled): Amazon, Target
- Ruler: Amazon, Target
- Subject dividers: Amazon, Target
- Index cards: Amazon, Target
- Plastic folders: Amazon, Target
- Glue: Amazon, Target
- Highlighters: Amazon, Target
- Post-Its: Amazon, Target
- White-Out: Amazon, Target
- Protractor: Amazon, Target
- Scissors: Amazon, Target
- Graphing calculator: Amazon, Target
- Combination lock: Amazon, Target
- Personal organizer/ planner: Amazon, Target
- Book covers: Amazon, Target
- Backpack: Amazon, Target
- Lunchbox or bag: Amazon, Target
- Masks: Amazon, Target
High School School Supplies List
High school prepares students for college so they likely will need a step up in their school supplies. They’ll be taking multiple classes with multiple teachers so organization is key. Many of the advanced classes will have their own list of required supplies that are teacher-dependent and you may need to buy textbooks as well.
Get a free six-month trial of Amazon Prime for Students.
- Laptop: See our favorites
- Pencil pouch: Amazon, Target
- Blue or black ballpoint pens: Amazon, Target
- No. 2 pencils: Amazon, Target
- Pencil sharpener: Amazon, Target
- Graph paper: Amazon, Target
- Permanent markers: Amazon, Target
- Erasers: Amazon, Target
- Three-ring binder: Amazon, Target
- Three-hole-punch: Amazon, Target
- Loose-leaf paper or spiral notebooks (College-Ruled): Amazon, Target
- Graph paper notebook: Amazon, Target
- Ruler: Amazon, Target
- Subject dividers: Amazon, Target
- Index cards: Amazon, Target
- Plastic folders: Amazon, Target
- Glue: Amazon, Target
- Highlighters: Amazon, Target
- Post-Its: Amazon, Target
- White-Out: Amazon, Target
- Protractor: Amazon, Target
- Scissors: Amazon, Target
- Graphing calculator: Amazon, Target
- Combination lock: Amazon, Target
- Personal organizer/ planner: Amazon, Target
- Book covers: Amazon, Target
- Backpack: Amazon, Target
- Lunchbox: Amazon, Target
- Masks: Amazon, Target
College School Supply List
College supplies vary widely and is mostly dependent on the student’s preferences. We’ve listed some of the basic supplies that are common for new dorm life and college classroom life, but what you actually need will probably be defined by your student.
Get a free six-month trial of Amazon Prime for Students.
Academic School Supply List
- Three-ring binder: Amazon, Target
- Three-hole-punch: Amazon, Target
- Loose-leaf paper or spiral notebooks: Amazon, Target
- Tape: Amazon, Target
- Graph paper: Amazon, Target
- Subject dividers: Amazon, Target
- Index cards: Amazon, Target
- Blue or black ballpoint pens: Amazon, Target
- Mechanical pencils: Amazon, Target
- Permanent markers: Amazon, Target
- Highlighters: Amazon, Target
- Erasers: Amazon, Target
- Pencil pouch: Amazon, Target
- Plastic folders: Amazon, Target
- Scissors: Amazon, Target
- Stapler and staples: Amazon, Target
- Post-Its: Amazon, Target
- White-Out: Amazon, Target
- Personal organizer/ planner: Amazon, Target
- Masks: Amazon, Target
Essential Electronics
Get a free six-month trial of Amazon Prime for Students.
- Graphing calculator: Amazon, Target
- Power Bank: Amazon, Target
- Backpack: Amazon, Target
- Headphones: Amazon, Target
- Laptop: Amazon (our favorites), Target
- Printer: Amazon, Target
- Computer paper: Amazon, Target
- Ink cartridges: Amazon, Target
Apps
Apartment & Dorm Cleaning Supplies
Get a free six-month trial of Amazon Prime for Students.
- Swiffer: Amazon, Target
- Trash bags: Amazon, Target
- Air freshener: Amazon, Target
- Disinfectant wipes: Amazon, Target
- Laundry bag: Amazon, Target
- Detergent: Amazon, Target
- Fabric softener: Amazon, Target
- Stain remover: Amazon, Target
- Quarters for laundry
Dorm Furnishings
Get a free six-month trial of Amazon Prime for Students.
- Mattress cover: Amazon, Target
- Mattress pad: Amazon, Target
- Pillow: Amazon, Target
- Twin XL sheet set: Amazon, Target
- Twin XL comforter set: Amazon, Target
- Bed risers: Amazon, Target
- Full-length mirror: Amazon, Target
- Plastic storage bins: Amazon, Target
- Buildable racks and shelving: Amazon, Target
- Mini Fridge: Amazon, Target
- Futon: Amazon, Target
- Closet organizer/shoe rack: Amazon, Target
- Trash can: Amazon, Target
- Desk and floor lamp: Amazon, Target
- Fan: Amazon, Target
- Extension cords: Amazon, Target
- Alarm clock: Amazon, Target
Related Content:
Dorm Bathroom Supplies
Get a free six-month trial of Amazon Prime for Students.
Toiletries
Get a free six-month trial of Amazon Prime for Students.
- Hangers: Amazon, Target
- Duct tape: Amazon, Target
- Adhesive hooks: Amazon, Target
- Batteries: Amazon, Target
- Earplugs: Amazon, Target
- Eye mask: Amazon, Target
- Microwave: Amazon, Target
- Coffeemaker: Amazon, Target
- Utensils: Amazon, Target
- Reusable water bottle: Amazon, Target
- Travel mug: Amazon, Target
- Resealable plastic bags: Amazon, Target
Virtual school has always been around for years and it wasn’t until last year that I even considered reading about virtual/online back to school list. Thank you for sharing your list.