Back to School Sales: Complete Guide to Best Deals in 2026
Sarah Mitchell ·
Back to school sales guide for 2026. Find the best deals on school supplies, laptops, clothing, and dorm essentials from top retailers.
Back to school spending ranks as the second-largest consumer shopping event in the United States, trailing only the winter holidays. Families with K-12 children spend an average of $890 per student, while college families budget over $1,360. Knowing when and where to shop during back to school sales cuts those numbers significantly.
When Do Back to School Sales Start and End?
Early promotions begin in June with Amazon Prime Day offering steep discounts on electronics and school tech. July sees the first wave of supply sales at office supply stores and big-box retailers. The main event runs from mid-July through early September with peak discounts concentrated in the last two weeks of July.
Post-season clearance deals appear in September and October when retailers slash remaining inventory. If your shopping list is flexible, waiting until mid-September can save an additional 30 to 50 percent on supplies and clothing that did not sell during peak season.
Where to Find the Cheapest School Supplies?
Walmart and Target run aggressive loss-leader pricing on basic school supplies starting in late June. Notebooks drop to 25 cents, folders hit 15 cents, and crayons sell for under a dollar. These penny deals rotate weekly, so check ads each week throughout July and August.
- Walmart — Lowest prices on basic supplies like notebooks, pens, and folders
- Target — Competitive supply prices plus 5% RedCard discount stacks on top
- Staples — Price match guarantee and penny deals on select items weekly
- Amazon — Best prices on bulk supplies and specialty items with Prime shipping
- Dollar Tree — Fixed $1.25 pricing on basic supplies year-round
- Five Below — Trendy supplies and accessories under $5
What Are the Best Back to School Laptop Deals?
Amazon Prime Day in July consistently offers the best laptop deals of the summer. Chromebooks drop below $150, mid-range Windows laptops hit $300 to $400, and MacBooks see $100 to $200 discounts. Best Buy matches Amazon's pricing during Prime Day and runs its own competitive promotions throughout August.
Apple's education pricing saves $100 on MacBooks and $50 on iPads through their online education store, available to all current and accepted college students. Apple typically sweetens the deal with free AirPods during their summer back to school promotion running from June through September.
How Can Families Save on Back to School Clothing?
Children's clothing sales peak during the last two weeks of July at retailers like Old Navy, Gap, and Carter's. Old Navy runs their famous 50 percent off everything sale multiple times during back to school season. Target's Cat and Jack brand offers durable basics at low prices with a one-year quality guarantee.
Consignment and thrift shopping provides the deepest clothing savings, especially for growing children who outgrow sizes quickly. ThredUp and Poshmark offer gently used branded clothing at 50 to 80 percent below retail. Local consignment events like Just Between Friends sell children's clothing by the bag.
Do Tax-Free Weekends Help With Back to School Shopping?
Many states offer sales tax holidays during back to school season, eliminating sales tax on qualifying purchases like clothing, school supplies, and computers. Tax-free weekends typically fall in late July or early August, saving shoppers 4 to 9 percent depending on their state's sales tax rate.
States like Texas, Florida, Ohio, and Connecticut run annual tax-free periods. Item limits apply — most states cap clothing exemptions at $100 to $200 per item and computer exemptions at $750 to $1,500. Plan your biggest purchases for these weekends to maximize the tax savings.
What Should College Students Buy During Back to School Sales?
College students benefit most from tech deals and dorm essentials during back to school sales. Laptops, tablets, and headphones reach their lowest summer prices during Prime Day and competing sales events. Dorm bedding, storage, and kitchen basics go on deep discount at Target, Bed Bath and Beyond alternatives, and Amazon.
Textbook costs hit harder than most school supplies. Rent rather than buy textbooks through Chegg, Amazon Textbook Rental, or your campus bookstore rental program. Digital textbook options from publishers often cost 40 to 60 percent less than physical copies.
How Does Amazon Prime Day Fit Into Back to School Shopping?
Amazon Prime Day in July kicks off the back to school shopping season with aggressive discounts on electronics, school supplies in bulk, and dorm room essentials. Echo devices, Fire tablets, and Kindle readers drop to their lowest prices of the year during Prime Day.
Target, Walmart, and Best Buy all run competing sales events during Prime Day to capture comparison shoppers. Checking all four retailers during the Prime Day window ensures you catch the actual lowest price on each item rather than assuming Amazon always wins.
Are Store Price Match Policies Useful for Back to School?
Price matching saves time and gas during the hectic back to school season. Target matches prices from Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, and several other retailers both in-store and online. Staples price matches most competitors on identical school supply items.
Use a price comparison app like ShopSavvy or Google Shopping to quickly verify whether a competitor offers a lower price before requesting a match. Some stores also match their own online prices in-store, which can differ during promotional events.
What Back to School Items Should You Skip?
Avoid buying trendy backpacks and lunch boxes at full price in July. These items go on clearance by mid-September at 50 to 70 percent off. Basic backpacks from brands like JanSport with lifetime warranties hold up for years without needing the latest design.
Skip branded organizational supplies like expensive planners and binder systems. Dollar stores carry identical functionality at a fraction of the price. Your student probably will not maintain an elaborate organizational system anyway — basic folders and a simple planner work better in practice.
How to Use Coupons During Back to School Sales
Layer store coupons on top of sale prices for the deepest discounts. Target Circle offers, Cartwheel deals, and the 5 percent RedCard discount all stack during back to school events. Staples accepts manufacturer coupons alongside their weekly sale prices.
Sign up for email lists at your preferred retailers one month before back to school shopping. Welcome emails frequently include 10 to 20 percent off coupons that apply to school supply purchases. These one-time signup discounts combine with sale prices for additional savings.
Creating Your Back to School Shopping Timeline
June: research prices and set budget targets. Buy electronics during Prime Day in July. Shop supplies during penny-deal weeks in late July and early August. Purchase clothing during August promotions. Fill in remaining needs during September clearance events.
Spreading purchases across the full summer season catches each product category at its lowest price point rather than buying everything in one expensive trip. This phased approach consistently saves families 20 to 35 percent compared to single-trip shopping.