31+ best back-to-school deals for students, teachers and parents, plus what not to buy right now

NBC Selected independently determines what we cover and recommend. When you click on or buy through our links, we earn a commission. Learn more.Deals and SalesHow to save on back-to-school supplies, according to experts — plus, 31+ deals for students, teachers and parentsBefore the first day, stick to filling your cart with essentials instead of overspending by getting everything at once.Aug. 7, 2026, 11:56 AM EDTZoe MalinReporterSkip to table of contentsRetailers are currently discounting classroom supplies, dorm essentials, backpacks, clothes and more to help students, teachers and parents save before school starts.Amazon; Abercrombie & FitchBack-to-school shopping is the best part of a new academic year (in my opinion, at least). But adding pens, pencils, notebooks, tablets, calculators, clothes and dorm essentials to your cart adds up: Families with students in elementary through high school plan to spend an average of $863.86 on supplies, while families with college students plan to spend an average of $1,437.79, according to the National Retail Federation. Its data shows that total expected back-to-school spending will be higher than ever this year, and everybody is looking for deals to offset costs.To help you save while shopping for back-to-school supplies, I talked to experts about what to buy now versus what to save for later, how to find exclusive discounts and strategies that can help you pay as little as possible at checkout. I also rounded up a handful of the best deals for students, teachers and parents that you can shop right now. Selected.Our top picksBest sneaker dealAdidas VL Court 3.0 Shoe$56.25$80.00AmazonLearn moreBest water bottle deal Owala FreeSip 24-oz, Water Bottle$23.99$29.99AmazonLearn moreBest classroom supplies dealExpo Dry Erase Markers$9.87$16.99AmazonLearn moreBest lunchbox dealCrock-Pot Electric Lunch Box$29.99$39.99AmazonLearn moreBest smart calendar dealSkylight Calendar$249.99$319.99AmazonLearn moreBest home essential dealTi...