These Are the Best School Supplies for 2025

These thin and sleek Japanese notebooks are really easy to use and they’re the perfect size pages. Unlike with a spiral notebook, the pages never rip out. The notebooks are also very thin so you can easily fit them in your backpack (6 notebooks have the same thickness as 2 spirals!). With 60 pages, each notebook still contains enough pages for each subject.

If you like the looks of Japanese-style notebooks, but need something with pockets, these have more function with included pockets. Why do they look different than the typical five-star? A colored spiral, premium paper, and muted colors help a lot. There’s multiple sizes and types of interior lines available. Make sure you choose the right type!

The best #2 pencils (enough to last the year, or to fill the pencil case for multiple children)

Compared to 0.5 mm lead pencils, these 0.7 mm lead pencils break less often while writing and have a steady grip.

If you prefer a finer point, these are the popular choice.

If you have lots of kids in preschool and early grades.

This is the classic pen that is the best and easiest to use. And there’s enough in the box to last the whole year!

Our kids love being able to erase and keep their notes neat.

These erasable pens are their favorite.

Note that the pen ink is sensitive to heat.

The best and easiest-to-use erasers!

These erasers by Pentel also work great.

You don’t need to wait for it to dry and it blends right in!

One of the most popular highlighter sets because of their soft, calming colors that are pleasant to the eye.

With almost 40,000 reviews, why are these highlighters to popular? Great colors, high quality, comfortable to use, and they seem to last a really long time without drying out.

These are great! They have a window so you can see exactly what you’re highlighting, and it’s actually really helpful.

Somethings are not the practical, but the little fun features that make a child excited for school.

No more tears when they color outside the lines.

We love these. No more searching for the matching cap!

Binders are pricey. But with these, at least, you get what you pay for and they will stay strong throughout the year.

The best alternative to cumbersome binders.

Super durable too.

They might not be “cool,” but these plastic dividers simply work the best. The pocket comes in very handy for storing test paper.

These have lots of holes, so they’ll fit in a variety of types of looseleafs. They also come the A5 size so you can fill your mini looseleafs as well.

Once you go reinforced, you don’t go back to regular paper.

These are great for holding those papers that you don’t know where to store. And they fit nicely in any loose leaf.

Don’t get stuck with one of those bulky, heavy hole punchers. These are so light and easy to keep handy.

This one is mini but mighty. It’s often all they need for small stapling jobs. So much more convenient than the heavier options (also perfect for the junk drawer).

These can be used for paper or supplies and offer another great, flexible storage space inside a binder.

Kids love this fun style of sticky-notes over the standard versions because of the creative way they dispense.

Always so practical!

Always so practical!

These sticky notes are brilliant. They come in a variety of colors so you can easily divide your notes into any subjects you choose.

These sticky notes are brilliant. They come in a variety of colors so you can easily divide your notes into any subjects you choose.

This set from Label Land comes ready with personalized labels and the basic supplies they’ll need.

It’s a great value!

Avoid having all their stuff end up in the lost and found. This pack of labels is just what they’ll need to stay organized for the school year.

This is fun.

This supply box comes pre-filled with lots of coordinating supplies.

This is also a great deal, complete with the pencil case.

We’ve explored lots of pencil case options over the years, and these by Cicimelon always seem to be the most practical, with lots of good storage space. They’re also very well priced. This smaller one is great for teens (lots of nice colors) and we like this larger capacity one for younger kids who still need to store crayons, markers, and glue.

Great neutral colors, and super functional–we like the pockets and space in this new pencil case too (but it’s a new product so we’ve yet to try it). 

Some of our children prefer the standup style pencil case.

Really, you’ll underestimate how much this little shelf will help your teen organize his locker and create more space.

Especially great if your allergic child is starting in a new school.

Tried and true!