Back to School: Best School Supplies Sales

It may not feel like it’s time for back-to-school, but stores have their school supplies displays up and ready, and it’s time to start looking out for the best deals to stock up on school supplies!

Grab your class supply lists and start stocking up! Start early and hit the best sales each week until you’ve gathered all of the required and desired items. Don’t forget to get enough to last through the whole school year and/or for stocking stuffers!  

Check back each week to see the most current deals, and let me know if you find a great deal that I’m missing by emailing news@columbusonthecheap.com.

Note: If teachers request brand-specific items, its not just to make you spend more money. Certain brands of markers, pencils, and crayons work better or last longer than others, so it’s worth it to spend slightly more upfront than have to replace them more frequently.

Note: we aren’t including every single deal available – just the ones that we think are best. Click the links for the ads to see all specials. Items in BOLD are at best prices we typically see.

Office Depot/Office Max School Supplies deals

Office Depot/Office Max brand unless otherwise noted. Quantity limits vary. Office Depot/Office Max will match competitor’s prices in-store and online as long as the brand, size, quantity, etc. are all equal. See current deals here.

Low Prices all Summer (some are limit 6) prices may be lower during weekly sales

• 50 cent: Office Depot® Brand Composition Book
• $1.99: Office Depot® Brand 100% Recycled Pen-Style Highlighters, Pack Of 6
• 75 cent: Office Depot® Brand Manual Pencil Sharpeners
• $1.00: Office Depot® Brand Wood Pencils, #2 HB Medium Lead, Yellow, Pack Of 12
• 99 cent: Office Depot® Brand Index Cards, 3″ x 5″, Ruled, White, 100
• 45 cent – 80 cent: Office Depot 2-pocket and prong paper folders
• 50 cent – $1: Just Basics® Spiral Notebook, 140 Pages
• 50 cent: Crayola® Colors Of The World Crayons, Assorted Colors, Pack Of 24 Crayons
• 35 cent: Cra-Z-Art Basic Crayons, Assorted Colors, Box Of 24 Crayons
• $2.50: Cra-Z-Art Classic Colored Pencils, 3.3 mm, Assorted Colors, Pack Of 36 Pencils
• 75 cent: Elmer’s® Washable School Glue, 4 Oz.
• 75 cent: Cra-Z-Art Classic Chalk, Pack Of 16 Pieces
• $1.25: Cra-Z-Art Classic Super Washable Markers, Broad Tip and Fine Tip
• $1.99: Elmer’s® Scented Clear Glue Sticks, 6g, Pack Of 4 Sticks
• $1.99: Avery® Economy View 3-Ring Binder, 1″ Round Rings, 41% Recycled, White
• $1.99: Westcott® Hard Handle Kids Value Scissors, 5″, Blunt, Assorted Colors, Pack Of 2
• $1.99: Westcott® Hard Handle Kids Value Scissors, 5″, Pointed, Assorted Colors, Pack Of 2
• $1.99: Office Depot® Brand Kids’ Scissors, 5″ Handles, Pack of 2
• $2: Office Depot® Brand Pencil Pouch With Mesh Window, 7″ x 9 3/4″
• $3.49: Office Depot® Brand 100% Recycled Low-Odor Dry-Erase Markers

Staples School Supplies deals

If you purchase an item from Staples it goes on sale in-store or online within 14 days, they’ll refund the difference. Some prices may vary in-store, online, and with 1 hr pickup. See deals here.

• Staples and TRU RED™ Composition Book (100 sheets) – 50 cents
• Staples 1-Subject Notebook, 8″ x 10.5″, 70 Sheets, Assorted Color – 35 cents with 1 hr pickup
• TRU RED™ 1-Subject Notebook, 8″ x 10.5″, 70 Sheets, Assorted Color- 69 cents; or 35 cents with 1 hr pickup
• Staples 12″ Imperial Scale Ruler – 50 cents
• Staples 2-Pocket Fasteners Folder – 50-75 cents
• Staples 2-Pocket Folder, Assorted Colors – 50 cents
• TRU RED™ 3″ x 5″ Index Cards – 75 cents
• Elmer’s School Glue, 4 Oz. – 50 cents
• Crayola 24ct Crayons – 50 cents
• Staples Block Erasers, Pink, 3/Pack – 75 cents
• Staples Mechanical Pencil, 0.7mm, #2 Medium Lead, Dozen (29082-CC) – $1.99
• TRU RED™ Wooden Pencil, 2.2mm, #2 Medium Lead, Dozen – $1.00
• Staples® Manual Pencil Sharpener – 50 cents
• Staples Wooden Pencil, 2.2mm, #2 Medium Lead, 8/Pack – 50 cents
• Staples Erasers, Assorted Colors, Dozen (771352) – 50 cents
• Pentel Hi-Polymer Latex Free Block Eraser, White, 3/Pack – $1.99
• TRU RED™ 5″ Kids Stainless Steel Scissors, 2 pk – $1.49
• Fiskars SoftGrip 5″ Steel Kids Scissors, Assorted Colors – $1.49
• Staples School Permanent Glue, 4 oz. – 60 cents
• Staples Permanent Glue Sticks, .28 oz., 4/Pack – $1.49
• Crayola® Colored Pencils, 12/Box – 99 cents
• Crayola Kid’s Markers 10/Pack – 99 cents
• Staples Translucent Snap Cases, Assorted – 99 cents
• Expo® low-odor dry-erase markers, 4/pack – $4.49
• 1 Subject Notebook (70 sheet) – 35 cents
• Staples® 1″ standard view binders – $1.99

Walgreens School Supplies Sales

All prices listed are with Walgreens card. Check limits before purchase. See weekly ad.

Weekly ad: July 24-30 (note: some deals may run multiple weeks). Most deals require myWalgreens

• Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, 3 pk – $3.49
• Wexford® Backpacks – $5
• Wexford Supplies: variety – .99 cents (notebook, stapler, index dividers, filler paper)
• Wexford Supplies: variety – .49 (Index cards, memo book, erasers, ruler)
• BOGO free Wexford Binders
• Bic Highlighters or Pens – 2/ $3 or $1.99
• Expo, Paper Mate or Sharpie Pens or Markers – BOGO 50%
• BOGO Free Elmers Glue/Gluesticks
• Crayola Art Supplies – BOGO 50%

Target School Supplies Sales

Match the weekly deals with Target printable, mobile, or Cartwheel coupons for the biggest savings. See weekly ad.

Cat & Jack Brand of clothing, shoes, and other gear are guaranteed to last for 1 year, or your money back with receipt, so if you have kids that are rough on their stuff, you may want to purchase this brand. Separates are often on sale at $4-$8 through the back-to-school weeks.

• Crayola® Crayons 24ct – 50 cents (low all season)
• Crayola 10-ct. broad- and fine-line markers or 12-ct. colored pencils – 99 cents (low all season)
• up & up 2-pocket folder – 50 cents (low all season)
• Avery 1-inch round ring binder – 99 cents
• up & up 1-subject wide- or college-ruled notebook – 50-99 cents
• Norcom 175-sheet wide-ruled filler paper – 99 cents
• BIC Xtra Life 10-ct. ballpoint pens – 99 cents
• BIC 5-pk. highlighters – $1.59
• Expo 4-pk. dry erase markers – $4.89
• up & up 12-inch wood ruler – 55 cents
• up & up 8-pk. #2 wood pencils – 50 cents
• up & up 2-ct. erasers – 49 cents
• up & up 8-pk. wood pencils with rainbow core – $1
• Elmer’s 2-ct. glue sticks – 55 cents
• Fiskars kids’ blunt- or pointed-tip scissors – $1.49
• Sterilite pencil box – $1.29

July 17-Sept 10 – 15% off Select school supplies for teachers

Kroger School Supplies Sales

Prices listed may require Kroger card. Check limits before purchase. See weekly ad.

Weekly Ad: Through July 26 (some deals may last all season)

• Crayola Markers, erasers, pencil case, filler paper, 2pk glue sticks – 10/$10 (thru Aug 2)
• Slider Pencil Box, Sharpies Highlighters 2 pk, Crayola 12 pk colored pencils, Elmer’s 3 pk purple glue sticks – 10/$10
• Top Flight 2 pocket poly folder – 50 cents
• Office Works 5″ Scissors or 10 pk pencils – 50 cents
• Everyday Living lunch bags and water bottles – $5.99

Amazon Back to School Deals

An obvious benefit of shopping for school supplies at Amazon is free 2-day shipping right to your door (if you have Prime). But you can also find some deals at Amazon. (The deals change frequently, so keep checking back.) Amazon prices are subject to change at any time. 

• Dixon Ticonderoga #2 pencils, 96-ct. These are considered the best pencils, and a box this large will last you a couple of years
• TICONDEROGA Pencils, Wood-Cased #2 HB Soft, Pre-Sharpened with Eraser, Yellow, 18-Pack 
• Ticonderoga Pencils, Wood-Cased Graphite #2 HB Soft, Pre-Sharpened, Yellow, 30-Pack 
• Elmer’s All Purpose School Glue Sticks, Washable, 30 Count
• Elmer’s Disappearing Purple School Glue, Washable, 30 Pack 
• Paper Mate Pink Pearl Erasers, Large, 12 Count 
• Expo dry-erase markers, 6-piece starter set with eraser and cleaning liquid 
• Crayola Mini Twistables Crayons, Amazon Exclusive, 50 Count 
• BIC Xtra-Life Mechanical Pencil, Medium Point (0.7 mm), 40-Count 
• Crayola Washable Dry-Erase Fine Line Markers, 6 Classic Colors Non-Toxic Art Tools for Kids & Toddlers 
• Expo fine tip dry erase markers, multi, 8-pack 
• Sharpie highlighters, 12-ct 
• Kids character backpacks (Disney, Star Wars, Hello Kitty, etc.)

Walmart School Supplies

The current Walmart school supply prices are going on throughout summer, although they may do special deals or rollbacks from time to time. Find details here.

• Pen + Gear 3-Prong Paper Folder – 25 cents
• Pen+Gear Washable School Glue, 4 oz – 25 cents
• Pen+Gear Disappearing Purple School Glue Sticks, Washable, 2 ct – 25 cents
• Pen + Gear Classic Crayons, 24 ct – 25 cents
• Pen+Gear Memo Book, 3×5, Narrow Ruled Notebook, 80 Sheets – 28 cents
• Cra-Z-Art Crayons, 24 count – 35 cents
• Pen+Gear 1-Subject Notebook, College Ruled, 70 Sheets – 35 cents
• Pen + Gear 2-in-1 Plastic Sharpener – 47 cents
• Pen + Gear Classic Colored Pencils, 12 ct – 50 cents
• Pen+Gear 2 Pocket Poly Folders – 50 cents
• Crayola crayons – 50 cents
• Fiskars Wooden Ruler, 12″ – 54 cents
• Elmer’s glue sticks, 2-pk, – 54 cents
• Pen+Gear Composition Notebook, 100 sheets – 56 cents
• Pen+Gear Ruled Index Cards, 3″ x 5″, 100 Count – 72 cents
• Pen + Gear 1-Subject Wide Rule Notebook, 80 Sheets – 77 cents
• Norcom Filler Paper, 150 ct – 84 cents
• Cra-Z-Art Washable Glue Sticks, Disappearing Purple, 2 Count or 40 oz glue – 84-98 cents
• Pen + Gear Legal Pad, 8.5″ x 11.75″, 50 Sheets – 88 cents
• Pen+Gear No. 2 Wood Pencils Unsharpened, 24 count – 97 cents
• Pentel Hi-Polymer Eraser Caps, 10pk – 97 cents
• Crayola markers, 10-ct – 97 cents
• Crayola colored pencils, 12-pk – 97 cents
• Pen + Gear Solid Polyester Binder Pouch Pencil Case – 97 cents
• BIC Cristal® Xtra Smooth Stic Ball Pen, 1.0 mm, Black, 10 Pack – 97 cents
• Pen + Gear Sticky Notes, 3″ x 3″, Orange, 100 Sheets, 1 Pad – 97 cents
• Sterilite Small Pencil Box Plastic – 97 cents
• Pen+Gear No. 2 Wood Pencils, Pastel, 12 ct – 97 cents
• Paper Mate Pink Erasers, 3 count – $1.44
• Fiskars Pointed-tip Kids Scissors with Sheath, 5″ – $1.47 ea

Lakeshore Learning School Supplies

Lakeshore Learning is running a Back to School sale where 1000’s of items in the store are 20% off during back to school season, plus 50% off doorbusters. Lakeshore Learning is located at 2148 Polaris Parkway, Columbus.

Back to school deals and event

Back to school deals and events for Columbus and Central Ohio

Teacher discounts

Target Teacher Prep Event – 20% off classroom supplies

80+ Teacher Discounts on back to school, food, shopping, and entertainment

Clothing, Consignment sales, and cheap haircuts

Save on back to school shopping during Ohio’s Tax Free Back to School Shopping weekend. 

Ohio Sales Tax Holiday for Tax Free Back-to-school Shopping

Consignment sales are one of the best ways to save on back-to-school clothing! The sales include good condition, seasonal appropriate clothing, shoes, backpacks, and more.

Upcoming Consignment Sales in Columbus (plus consignment stores)

Charity Newsies School Clothing Program

Back to school deal: $12 haircuts for kids at JCP Salons

Want to save more?

Check out Wichita on the Cheap Tips for Saving on School Supplies. The tips are an accumulation of things she’s learned by experience and from other smart people!