Back-to-School Spending By the Numbers
September 8, 2026
Back-to-school season has begun, and families everywhere are filling their shopping carts with classroom essentials. In 2026, families with students in elementary through high school expect to spend an average of $863.86 on clothing, shoes, school supplies, and electronics, up slightly from $858.07 in 2025.
Specifically, K-12 shoppers spend about $293 on average for electronics ($14.7 billion total), $250.29 for clothing and accessories ($12.5 billion total), $174.01 for shoes ($8.7 billion total), and $146.45 for school supplies ($7.3 billion total).
As in past years, the most popular destination for back-to-school shopping is online, with 50% of families taking advantage of this convenient option.
Back-to-school expected total spending for K-12
2020: $33.9 B
2021: $37.1 B
2022: $36.9 B
2023: $41.5 B
2024: $38.8 B
2025: $39.4 B
2026: $43.3 B
Source: National Retail Federation, 2026
Disclaimers:
Prepared by Broadridge Advisor Solutions. © 2025 Broadridge Financial Services, Inc
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