New survey data shows back-to-school costs climbing again in 2026, with pricier basics and ongoing extracurricular fees that outlast the shopping trip.
Families with kids in kindergarten through 12th grade are spending an average of $863.86 on back-to-school shopping this year, up from $858.07 in 2025, according to survey data from the National Retail Federation and Deloitte's 2026 back-to-school report. Nationally, that adds up to roughly $43.3 billion in K-12 back-to-school spending, up from $39.4 billion last year.
Where the money goes
- Electronics: $293.11 average per K-12 family
- Clothing and accessories: $250.29
- Shoes: $174.01
- School supplies: $146.45
College families are spending even more — an average of $1,437.79 per student, pushing total college-related back-to-school spending to an estimated $103.5 billion. The biggest college line items are electronics ($341.95), dorm and apartment furnishings ($194), clothing ($182.39), food ($153.91), and personal care items ($133.34).
Basic supplies got noticeably pricier
Some of the most common school-supply items saw sharp price increases this year: lunch boxes are up 27%, notebooks are up 23%, index cards are up 22%, and notebook paper is up 20%, according to the survey data cited in the report.
The spending doesn't stop when school starts
Several of the surveys cited in the report — including data tied to the Aspen Institute's Project Play, Northwestern Mutual, and Qualtrics/Credit Karma — point to costs that continue well past the first week of classes: sports and extracurricular fees, field trips, technology and lab fees, and activity fees. Families with a child in a primary sport spent an average of $1,016 annually on that sport alone, a 46% increase over the past five years. Music lessons alone can run $280 to $400 or more per month.
How families are paying for it
The report found 45% of parents expect to take on some debt for school-related costs this year, 48% say they've opened or plan to open a new credit card, and 45% say they're using buy-now-pay-later services to cover expenses.
The upshot for budgeting: back-to-school season isn't a single expense that ends in August. Building in room for ongoing extracurricular, technology, and supply costs through the school year can help families avoid last-minute debt.
