The Best Back to School Sales of 2024: Deals on Clothing, Tech, and More

Pencils? Sharpened. Notebooks? Pristine. That end-of-summer feeling is tinged with the exciting (and sometimes daunting) prospect of school supplies shopping. Whether you’re a parent, student, or dorm resident, summer's last hurrah doesn't have to break the bank. Get everything on back-to-school lists with my ultimate guide to the best sales across major retailers. I’ve included fashion finds for classrooms and campuses, included the deepest discounts on backpacks and lunchboxes, and found great deals on laptops, tablets, and dorm room essentials. Whether you’re looking for the best backpacks for college, the best places to buy bedding for that dorm room, or the best laptop bags, I’ve got you covered.

Back-to-school sales from major retailers

Amazon

Get up to 50% off on so many back-to-school items at Amazon — even if you missed out on Prime Day. Look for Amazon’s special shopping pages for Back to School and Off to College, as well.

Target

Target is a great start for your back-to-school shopping, as the retailer is focused on making all kinds of shopping more affordable for its customers. Target is offering 20 essential school supplies that add up to less than $20 to cover all your must-haves for the first time ever. Shop Target-exclusive brands like Cat & Jack, Art Class, Mondo Llama, and more, for just $20.

Walmart

At this big-box retailer, it’s a full-on family affair. Shop mega discounts on things like snacks, supplies, lunchboxes, and backpacks for a range of school ages.

Kohl’s

Kohl’s back-to-school deals can be layered with Kohl’s Cash — so you can rack up even more savings. Kohl’s is offering up to 80% off for back to school.

Back-to-school clothes and shoes sales

Look for clothing deals from a variety of retailers. Check out these impressive discounts.

JCPenney

Score up to 65% off on everything you need — from shoes to jackets to socks and sweats for girls and boys.

Nordstrom

Just on the heels of the retailer’s annual NSale, it’s offering up to 60% off on items for back-to-school. Over a hundred items are under $25, so snag those sale gems quickly.

Old Navy

The retailer for babies, kids, and dorm-destined teens is giving you up to 50% off of clothes and shoes.

The Children's Place

Get up to 30% off on all things for kids from graphic tees to leggings to tops.

Adidas

The athleticwear retailer has tons of savings on sneakers, backpacks, and clothes for boys, girls, men, and women.

Dick's Sporting Goods

Shop back-to-school essentials at Dick’s Sporting Goods, up to 50% off.

PUMA

Save up to 60% on items like shoes under $50, clothing under $30, sports under $100, and more.

Back-to-school supplies sales

Amazon

Score up to 60% off on school supplies. I also like these award-winning Mind Brain Emotion card decks, which help with skill-building and emotional development. From August 1-10, get a 15% discount.

Staples

Shop the sales and get up to a whopping 78% off on Crayola Crayons, Sharpie Highlighters, Purell Gel Hand Sanitizer, Ticonderoga Pencils, and more. One-subject notebooks are only $0.35!

Target

The best of the bunch, Target is offering up to 85% off, which your wallet will love. Save on pens, pencils, sharpeners, notebooks, and more.

Office Depot

Office Depot is offering Office Depot brand glue sticks for $1.99 (a four pack), plus Just Basics spiral notebooks for $0.50, plus more savings on school supplies.

Walmart

Ace the assignment with a wide array of school supplies savings at Walmart. Elmer’s Glue and Paper Mate pens are among the discounted items.

Back-to-school sales on backpacks and lunch boxes

Nordstrom

Nordstrom is offering backpacks, water bottles, and more for back to school. Pick up this cute floral girl’s backpack for only $24.99 or this Hydroflask for just $32.99. Heading back to campus? This structured AllSaints tote is just $78.99.

Target

Target’s Summit Ridge Kids’ 17-Inch Backpacks are the store’s lowest-priced back-to-school backpack in a decade at just $5 each. Look for tons of styles and colors.

Amazon

This Melii 2-Tier Bento Box is the ideal lunchbox because it has two spacious compartments, for the voracious eater in your life. It’s just $14.99 on Amazon.

Lands’ End

Get 50% off backpacks in so many stunning prints for a song with code VERSATILE.

Old Navy

The retailer is a fabulous place to stock up on lunchboxes and bags, with this Mario one priced at just $11.99. You can’t beat that.

Walmart

Older kids will want multiples of these cool adult lunch boxes, just $10 and available in three colorways to suit your child’s unique style.

Back-to-school sales on laptops and tablets

Target

Get this HP 15.6" FHD Laptop with Intel Core i5 and 8GB RAM for $599 for all your studying needs.

Best Buy

Best Buy is offering an array of back-to-school deals on everything from Apple products to laptops to tablets to printers.

Walmart

Walmart has lots of back-to-school tech stuff your college student will love. This MacBook Air is just $649, down from $699.

Kohl’s

Score a mega deal on this Android tablet at Kohl’s for just $89.99 (regular price: $119.99).

Lenovo

This ThinkPad is a whopping 68% off, saving you an impressive $1,370 — much more than you’ll even pay.

Dell

Save $250 on this XPS 15 Laptop and score it for just $1,249.

Back-to-school sales for the dorm room

Target

Dorm dwellers should look at the brand’s up&up moving day items, with most items under $30. Plus, there are so many college must-haves under $20. I like this Brightroom Flexible Laundry Hamper for just $7.

Wayfair

The furniture retailer’s Back-to-School page has all sorts of deals on everything from curtains to rugs to storage and organization.

Amazon

Get the Squirrel Bedside Perch for rooms that can’t accommodate a night table, shoe organizers, plus Command hooks, and more.

PBTeen

The upscale retailer has tons of dorm wares, with many included in its summer sale for 50% off.

IKEA

Save 30% on college essentials until July 23rd! Take advantage of the sale on college dorm furniture and save on desks, sofas, futons, rugs, and more.

Muji

The Japanese retailer has tremendous prices on its Compact Living Essentials, which include sheets, under-bed storage, corner racks, and more.

Back-to-school health, wellness, and beauty deals

Amazon

Save on supplements, first-aid products, and more over on Amazon.

Macy’s

Save on snacks from Macy’s (who knew?). Food and gourmet gifts like this popcorn set are discounted now.

Target

From bulk items like multipack snacks and beverages under $9.99, to everyday must-haves like bread, peanut butter, produce, fruit snacks, and more, Target’s got it all.

Walmart

Save on TikTok favorite brand, MaryRuth’s Vitamins, for the ultimate in wellness.

Kohl’s

Kohl’s has so many beauty deals to take advantage of, like the Shark FlexStyle styling blow dryer, now $279.99.

NYX

This brand is always wallet-friendly, but the brand has some great deals on back-to-school makeup.

When do back-to-school sales start?

Back-to-school sales start in mid-July and run through August. Some stores have all of their deals at the same time while others change them out week to week. In North America, our school year start times vary. They can start anywhere from August to September.

What to consider when buying back-to-school supplies

Grade level

Different grade levels often require different supplies. Go over your child's school supply list or consult the school's website to ensure you get exactly what's needed.

Durability

Going for the cheapest option is tempting, but consider the long run. A higher-quality notebook or sturdier backpack might last the entire school year, saving you money in the long run compared to replacing cheaply made items.

Brand recognition

While brand names don't always guarantee quality, familiar brands might offer more peace of mind regarding durability and performance.

Sustainability

Opt for reusable water bottles and lunch boxes instead of disposable options. Consider refillable pens and pencils to minimize waste. Check for recycled materials, too, when it comes to notebooks, binders, and folders.

Organization and style

Let your older students choose supplies that reflect their personal style and organizational preferences. This can help them take more ownership of their schoolwork and supplies.

How I selected the best back-to-school sales

I’m a freelance lifestyles writer with almost two decades of experience covering everything from sales to beauty to home decor tips. I spent hours researching, looking for the best retailer sales and combed through sites to find the best, well-priced gems worth purchasing in the areas of clothing and shoes, tech, dorm accouterments, and more.

To identify the most compelling back-to-school sales, I considered the following.

Discount depth

My primary focus was finding deals that offered substantial savings compared to regular prices. Percentage-based discounts and dollar-off offers were prioritized.

Product range

I took into consideration a variety of products across different categories (clothing, shoes, electronics, and school supplies) to cater to diverse needs.

Retailer reputation

I gave preference to sales from trusted, reputable retailers with good customer service and return policies.