50 Must-Have Back-to-School Supplies for 2025

It’s that time of year again—whether you’re prepping your child for their first day back or heading to campus yourself, having the right back to school supplies can make all the difference. From organizing your schedule to keeping your workspace neat and functional, the right tools help you start the school year feeling confident and in control.

In this post, you’ll find a comprehensive list of 50 essential items for students of all ages—perfect for getting ahead of the chaos and keeping things budget-friendly. Think of it as your ultimate one-stop checklist for everything you need, with convenient links so you can grab it all from Amazon without stepping foot in a store.

Backpacks & Lunch Essentials

1. Stylish backpack with laptop compartment
2. Insulated lunch bag
3. Reusable water bottle
4. Leak-proof bento box
5. Ice packs for lunch boxes

Writing Tools

6. Mechanical pencils
7. No. 2 pencils
8. Erasers (pencil top and block style)
9. Ballpoint pens (blue, black, red)
10. Gel pens (colorful set)
11. Highlighters (multi-color)
12. Dry erase markers
13. Sharpie permanent markers
14. Pencil sharpener (manual or electric)
15. Correction tape or fluid

Notebooks & Paper

16. Spiral notebooks (college ruled)
17. Composition notebooks
18. Loose-leaf notebook paper
19. Graph paper pad
20. Index cards (ruled & unruled)

Folders & Binders

21. 3-ring binders
22. Binder dividers with tabs
23. Pocket folders (with and without prongs)
24. Expanding file folder
25. Sheet protectors

Desk Supplies & Accessories

26. Ruler (wooden or plastic)
27. Scissors (blunt tip or pointed)
28. Stapler with staples
29. Tape dispenser with tape
30. Paper clips and binder clips
31. Sticky notes (various sizes)
32. Desk organizer or caddy
33. Clipboard

Arts & Crafts Supplies

34. Colored pencils
35. Crayons (Crayola or twistables)
36. Washable markers
37. Watercolor paints
38. Glue sticks
39. Liquid glue (Elmer’s)
40. Construction paper
41. Safety scissors for kids

Math & Tech Tools

42. Scientific calculator
43. Protractor
44. Compass for geometry
45. USB flash drive
46. Headphones or earbuds
47. Mouse (wired or wireless)
48. Laptop cooling pad

Personal & Hygiene Items

49. Hand sanitizer
50. Tissues (travel packs for backpacks)

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