Top back-to-school deals to save you time and money in 2026

Back-to-school season has a way of sneaking up on us. One minute we’re sipping iced coffee in July, the next we’re frantically scanning Amazon for backpacks that might actually last more than one year.

The good news? You don’t need to spend September broke and frazzled. This year’s best back-to-school deals are designed to save you both time and money, whether you’re stocking up for dorm life, a home office refresh, or a last-minute school supply scramble.

Tech is where the biggest wins are hiding, especially with brands like HP rolling out major discounts on classroom (and work-from-home) essentials. But the savings don’t stop there, because Amazon is serving up markdowns on everything from laptops and tablets to headphones, lunch gear, and even clothing (can’t forget that).

Below, we’ve rounded up a select few back-to-school deals you’ll probably wish you’d taken advantage of just a few weeks from now.

Product Spotlight

If there’s one back-to-school item that can actually save you money all year long, it’s this: the HP Smart Tank 6001. Forget those old-school printers that constantly run out of ink or cost a fortune to refill. This HP printer (much like this other one we love) comes with up to 2 years of ink included in the box (yep, you read that right). That means you can print thousands of pages before even thinking about restocking. 

It’s an all-in-one, so you’re covered for printing, scanning, and copying, whether it’s a 15-page research paper, a permission slip that’s due tomorrow, or those “just for fun” color projects that somehow eat up half a cartridge. 

The wireless setup is quick and painless (no crawling under desks with a USB cable), and you can print directly from your phone with the HP app. Translation: no more sprinting to the library at midnight because your laptop died halfway through hitting “print.” Right now, it’s $110 off on Amazon — a deal that feels like it was made for both students and parents who are overpaying full price for ink.

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Stitch Fix makes back-to-school style easy with curated clothing delivered straight to your door — just take a quick style quiz, schedule your Fix, and try everything on at home. New customers score $20 off their first Fix plus a waived styling fee, while kids get an extra 20% off and teachers enjoy an exclusive 25% discount. It’s a stress-free way to refresh wardrobes for the whole family, with only the pieces you love (and actually wear) staying in your closet.

There’s a reason AirPods still top the charts year after year: they just make life easier. With quick one-tap pairing to Apple devices, rich sound quality, and a lightweight fit that doesn’t slip out during a library marathon or gym session, they’re practically designed for students. 

The charging case offers more than 24 hours of listening time, so you won’t be tethered to an outlet when you’re running between classes. Whether you’re streaming a lecture, zoning out with music, or FaceTiming home, these are the little white earbuds that do it all — and they’re almost never this affordable.

Slim, lightweight, and budget-friendly, the Acer Gateway Chromebook 311 is a back-to-school essential that doesn’t skimp on function. Designed for everyday use, it runs on Chrome OS, making it ideal for word processing, Google Classroom, and streaming during downtime. 

With an 11.6-inch HD display, reliable battery life, and fast startup, it’s built to handle schoolwork without weighing down your backpack. At just over 2.5 pounds, this Chromebook is travel-ready for students constantly on the move, and the sale price makes it an easy win for parents too.

Blending performance with polish, the lululemon Evolution Polo is made with four-way stretch, sweat-wicking fabric that keeps you cool through long days, whether you’re heading to class, a presentation, or straight to dinner. The slim, tailored fit looks sharp without feeling stuffy, and its wrinkle-resistant finish makes it a grab-and-go staple for busy mornings. In time for back-to-school season, it’s also 33% off.

Upgrade from a basic backpack to something that actually looks good in a classroom and a boardroom. This Colombian leather messenger bag from Kenneth Cole REACTION has a professional polish while still being practical for students and young professionals alike. It fits most 16″ laptops, includes multiple interior compartments for books, chargers, and notebooks, and has an adjustable shoulder strap for all-day comfort. 

The full-grain leather softens with age, meaning it’ll only look better the more you use it. At more than 50% off, it’s a back-to-school investment piece that pulls double duty as both a carryall and a style upgrade.

HelloFresh is serving up serious savings for new subscribers right now. New customers can snag 50% off their first box plus a free item each week, which could feel like up to 10 free meals depending on your plan — this is applied as a discount on your first auto-renewing box. Students verified through UNiDAYS get even more: 55% off the first box, free shipping, and 15% off every box for a full year.

Educators and school staff aren’t left out either — they qualify for up to 12 free meals across three boxes, plus free shipping. On top of that, HelloFresh’s referral program gives $40 off to friends who sign up, and your account earns $10 credit per referral.

Packing a lunch doesn’t have to feel like a chore when the container itself does half the work for you. The Bentgo Fresh is a sleek, bento-style lunch box with four compartments, including one that’s removable to fit larger meals or sandwiches. Its leak-resistant design means you can toss it in a backpack or messenger bag without worrying about spills, and it’s both dishwasher- and microwave-safe for easy cleanup and reheating. 

Parents love it for portion control, students love it for style, and anyone who’s tired of sad, soggy takeout loves it for saving money in the long run. At 25% off, it’s the back-to-school upgrade your lunch routine deserves.

Made for students and busy mornings, the Ninja Pods & Grounds Single-Serve Coffee Maker brews both coffee pods and traditional grounds, giving you flexibility in one compact machine. It features multiple brew sizes, including an over-ice option for café-style iced coffee that won’t taste watered down, and a built-in frother for lattes or cappuccinos on demand. Perfect for dorm rooms or apartments, it delivers barista-level coffee without the daily cafe bill.

Sony makes some of the best headphones in the world, and the deal on this best-selling pair proves you don’t need to blow your whole back-to-school budget to get great sound. The WH-CH520 model is lightweight enough for all-day wear, with plush ear pads and a streamlined design that won’t make you look like a wannabe DJ. 

The sound quality is clear and balanced for everything from podcasts to playlists, and the insane 50-hour battery life means you can basically forget where your charger is for a week at a time. Built-in microphones make virtual classes and calls a breeze, and the Bluetooth connection is solid across devices.

Qustodio is a parental control app built to keep kids safe online while giving parents peace of mind during the busy school year. From setting screen-time limits and blocking inappropriate content to monitoring app usage and tracking location, it puts digital safety in your hands through one easy-to-use dashboard. Compatible with phones, tablets, and computers, it’s perfect for helping kids stay focused on homework while maintaining healthy online habits. 

Right now, Qustodio is offering a free trial, so you can test it out before committing.

Designed in collaboration with Peloton instructor Ally Love, this Contigo travel mug keeps drinks hot for up to 5 hours or cold for up to 15, thanks to its vacuum-insulated stainless steel body. It features Contigo’s signature AUTOSEAL lid, which seals between sips to prevent spills, and a sleek, modern design that actually looks good in class, at the gym, or on the go.

The second edition Clever Fox Planner is built to keep students organized and motivated, combining weekly and monthly layouts with goal-setting pages and habit trackers. Its undated format means you can start any time of year, while the durable cover and premium paper stand up to daily use. With sections for priorities, to-dos, and reflection, it’s more than just a planner — it’s a productivity tool designed to make the school year less chaotic and more intentional.

For over 200 years, the New York Post has been America’s go-to source for bold news, engaging stories, in-depth reporting, and now, insightful shopping guidance. We’re not just thorough reporters – we sift through mountains of information, test and compare products, and consult experts on any topics we aren’t already schooled specialists in to deliver useful, realistic product recommendations based on our extensive and hands-on analysis. Here at The Post, we’re known for being brutally honest – we clearly label partnership content, and whether we receive anything from affiliate links, so you always know where we stand. We routinely update content to reflect current research and expert advice, provide context (and wit) and ensure our links work. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.