GITNUXREPORT 2026

Back To School Shopping Statistics

Inflation drove back-to-school spending to record highs in 2023, straining family budgets.

Sarah Mitchell

Senior Researcher specializing in consumer behavior and market trends.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

Our Commitment to Accuracy

Rigorous fact-checking · Reputable sources · Regular updatesLearn more

Statistic 1

Back-to-school clothing spending averaged $287 per K-12 student in 2023, up 7%

Statistic 2

Girls' apparel BTS sales reached $4.1 billion in 2023, 12% growth

Statistic 3

Sneakers topped BTS footwear at 32% share, $2.2 billion total spend

Statistic 4

Backpacks sales volume 45 million units BTS 2023, averaging $42 each

Statistic 5

59% of BTS clothing bought on sale, average discount 28%

Statistic 6

Jeans and denim BTS sales up 5% to $1.3 billion in 2023

Statistic 7

Activewear for school 22% of apparel BTS spend, $3.2 billion

Statistic 8

Boys' shirts BTS category $890 million, graphic tees 41% share

Statistic 9

Winter jackets early BTS purchases up 14% amid weather prep

Statistic 10

Socks and underwear BTS $680 million, multipacks popular 67%

Statistic 11

Dresses for girls BTS sales 1.8 million units, $450 million

Statistic 12

Hoodies and sweatshirts 28% BTS apparel growth, $1.9 billion

Statistic 13

Belts and accessories added $210 million to BTS clothing in 2023

Statistic 14

Leggings BTS sales 3.1 million pairs, athleisure trend driver

Statistic 15

Boys' shorts summer-to-fall transition 890,000 units BTS

Statistic 16

School uniforms BTS spend $2.4 billion, private schools 55% share

Statistic 17

Hats and beanies niche BTS $120 million, logo styles lead

Statistic 18

Girls' boots early BTS 670,000 pairs sold

Statistic 19

Polo shirts for school uniforms 2.2 million units, $340 million

Statistic 20

Sleepwear BTS add-on $95 million, character prints 39%

Statistic 21

Swimsuits back-to-school sales 450,000 units for PE classes

Statistic 22

Gloves and mittens prep BTS $78 million in northern states

Statistic 23

Scarves fashion BTS $56 million, up 9%

Statistic 24

Boys' vests utility style 210,000 units BTS 2023

Statistic 25

Girls' skirts pleated trend 1.1 million units

Statistic 26

In 2023, U.S. families planned to spend an average of $890.62 on back-to-school items for K-12 students, marking a 6% increase from 2022

Statistic 27

Total back-to-school spending in the U.S. for 2023 reached $41.5 billion across K-12 and college, up 8% from the previous year

Statistic 28

55% of back-to-school shoppers in 2023 spent more than planned due to inflation-driven price increases

Statistic 29

Average spending per household on college back-to-school items hit $1,381 in 2023, a 3.2% rise year-over-year

Statistic 30

62% of parents reported budgeting specifically for back-to-school shopping, with an average budget of $875

Statistic 31

Back-to-school sales accounted for 7.5% of annual retail sales in the U.S. during August-September 2023

Statistic 32

Inflation adjusted, back-to-school spending grew by 2.1% in real terms for 2023 compared to 2022

Statistic 33

41% of families spent over $1,000 on back-to-school in 2023, highest in five years

Statistic 34

K-12 back-to-school spending totaled $36.6 billion in 2023, with electronics leading at $19.5 billion

Statistic 35

Average per-student spending on back-to-school reached $367 for elementary students in 2023

Statistic 36

68% of shoppers used credit cards for back-to-school purchases in 2023, averaging $450 per transaction

Statistic 37

Back-to-school spending per capita in the U.S. was $127 in 2023, up from $118 in 2022

Statistic 38

Hispanic families spent 12% more on average ($1,023) for back-to-school in 2023 than non-Hispanic ($912)

Statistic 39

Online back-to-school spending hit $14.2 billion in 2023, 35% of total category spend

Statistic 40

73% of back-to-school budgets exceeded expectations by at least 10% in 2023 due to supply costs

Statistic 41

Total BTS spending forecast for 2024 projected at $42.8 billion, a 3.1% increase

Statistic 42

Average family spent $250 on clothing alone for BTS 2023, up 8% YoY

Statistic 43

29% of BTS shoppers used buy-now-pay-later services, averaging $200 per installment plan

Statistic 44

Back-to-school spending in California totaled $4.7 billion in 2023, highest state total

Statistic 45

Millennial parents spent $1,150 average on BTS for kids in 2023, 15% above Gen X

Statistic 46

51% of BTS budgets allocated to essentials only, averaging $650 per family

Statistic 47

BTS spending on groceries and lunch prep added $180 average per household in 2023

Statistic 48

Credit card debt from BTS shopping rose 11% to $2.3 billion in Q3 2023

Statistic 49

Rural families spent 18% less ($732) on BTS than urban ($892) in 2023

Statistic 50

64% of single-parent households spent under $600 on BTS 2023 due to budget constraints

Statistic 51

Corporate BTS promotions influenced 42% of spending decisions, adding $120 average extra spend

Statistic 52

BTS spending via mobile apps reached $8.1 billion in 2023, 22% growth

Statistic 53

Average BTS overspend was $165 per family in 2023, per post-purchase surveys

Statistic 54

Gen Z college students self-spent $512 average on BTS 2023, up 9%

Statistic 55

Total BTS footwear spend hit $2.8 billion nationally in 2023

Statistic 56

U.S. families with multiple K-12 students spent $1,420 average on BTS 2023

Statistic 57

Laptops accounted for 28% of BTS electronics budget, averaging $450 per purchase in 2023

Statistic 58

67% of college students bought new laptops for BTS 2023, up from 59% in 2022

Statistic 59

Tablets saw 14% sales growth in BTS period 2023, totaling $1.2 billion

Statistic 60

Smartphones were purchased by 41% of BTS shoppers, average price $620

Statistic 61

Headphones and earbuds BTS sales reached 22 million units in 2023, $1.8 billion value

Statistic 62

53% of parents bought devices under $500 for kids' BTS tech in 2023

Statistic 63

Gaming consoles saw 9% BTS uptick, with Nintendo Switch leading at 1.5 million units

Statistic 64

E-readers purchased by 12% of college BTS shoppers, Kindle dominating 65% share

Statistic 65

Smartwatches BTS sales grew 21% to $650 million in 2023

Statistic 66

Printers and scanners totaled $380 million BTS spend, 7% YoY growth

Statistic 67

71% of BTS electronics bought online, Amazon capturing 38% market share

Statistic 68

Chromebooks outsold Windows laptops 3:1 in K-12 BTS 2023, 4.2 million units

Statistic 69

External storage drives saw 16% sales increase, averaging $85 per unit

Statistic 70

Webcams purchased by 29% of college students for hybrid learning, $120 average

Statistic 71

Bluetooth speakers BTS volume hit 8.7 million units, $420 million revenue

Statistic 72

Monitors over 24-inch grew 11% in BTS sales to remote learners

Statistic 73

Fitness trackers for students rose 24% in BTS 2023, $180 million category

Statistic 74

Drones as BTS gifts totaled 150,000 units sold, $90 million

Statistic 75

Projectors for home study up 8%, averaging $250 per BTS purchase

Statistic 76

Streaming devices like Roku sold 2.3 million in BTS window 2023

Statistic 77

Keyboards and mice combo packs up 13%, $95 average BTS price

Statistic 78

VR headsets niche BTS growth 31%, 120,000 units to students

Statistic 79

Power banks sold 5.6 million during BTS 2023, $220 million total

Statistic 80

Smart pens for note-taking up 19%, Livescribe leading

Statistic 81

Routers upgraded by 17% of families for BTS online learning, $140 avg

Statistic 82

E-ink tablets like Remarkable sold 80,000 BTS units

Statistic 83

Action cameras GoPro BTS sales 450,000 units

Statistic 84

USB hubs and docks $160 million BTS category in 2023

Statistic 85

76% of BTS shoppers preferred online for convenience in 2023

Statistic 86

In-store BTS visits dropped to 42% from 55% pre-pandemic levels in 2023

Statistic 87

Amazon captured 37% of online BTS spend totaling $5.4 billion in 2023

Statistic 88

Click-and-collect hybrid model used by 31% of BTS shoppers 2023

Statistic 89

Walmart.com BTS sales up 22% to $2.8 billion vs physical stores flat

Statistic 90

Mobile commerce accounted for 54% of online BTS transactions in 2023

Statistic 91

Target stores saw 18% BTS foot traffic decline, offset by app orders

Statistic 92

62% of Gen Z BTS shopped exclusively online, vs 28% Boomers in-store

Statistic 93

Curbside pickup surged 41% in BTS period 2023

Statistic 94

Staples.com BTS revenue $1.1 billion, 65% online shift

Statistic 95

Social commerce via Instagram/TikTok 12% of BTS online sales, $670 million

Statistic 96

Brick-and-mortar BTS sales $27.3 billion, down 4% YoY 2023

Statistic 97

49% used retailer apps for BTS deals, driving 29% more online spend

Statistic 98

Office Depot in-store BTS traffic -15%, online +33% growth

Statistic 99

Voice shopping via Alexa 8% of online BTS orders in 2023

Statistic 100

Mall BTS footfall down 11% but premium stores up 6%

Statistic 101

71% checked online prices before in-store BTS purchase 2023

Statistic 102

Etsy BTS handmade online $340 million, niche growth 19%

Statistic 103

Buy-online-ship-to-store saved shoppers $45 average per BTS order

Statistic 104

Kohl's online BTS penetration 52%, in-store loyalty events boosted hybrid

Statistic 105

Flash sales online drove 23% of BTS apparel purchases impulsively

Statistic 106

Rural areas 38% in-store BTS reliance vs 22% urban online-only

Statistic 107

Subscription boxes BTS prep $210 million online recurring

Statistic 108

AR try-on tools used by 27% online BTS clothing shoppers

Statistic 109

JCPenney BTS ecomm 44% of total sales, in-store experiential events

Statistic 110

Livestream shopping BTS $180 million, TikTok Shop leading

Statistic 111

Notebooks topped BTS supplies at 120 million units sold in 2023

Statistic 112

Pencils BTS volume 450 million, mechanical 28% share

Statistic 113

Binders sales 38 million units, 1.5-inch size 45% popular

Statistic 114

Markers and highlighters $890 million BTS category, washable lead

Statistic 115

Lunch boxes 25 million sold BTS 2023, insulated 62%

Statistic 116

Folders 95 million units, plastic over paper 71%

Statistic 117

Glue sticks 180 million tubes, purple drying clear top seller

Statistic 118

Rulers and protractors set $120 million BTS, metric growing

Statistic 119

Calculators TI-84 model 4.2 million units BTS 2023

Statistic 120

Erasers 320 million, pink pearl classic 55% market

Statistic 121

Scissors Fiskars 15 million pairs BTS sales, safety tips

Statistic 122

Crayons 2.8 billion sticks, 24-pack standard

Statistic 123

Pencil cases 28 million, multi-compartment 39%

Statistic 124

Dry erase boards mini size 9.5 million BTS

Statistic 125

Index cards 450 million packs, 3x5 inch dominant

Statistic 126

Tape dispensers 6.8 million, Scotch brand 48% share

Statistic 127

Compasses for geometry 2.1 million kits BTS 2023

Statistic 128

Push pins and tacks 1.2 billion pieces, colorful 33%

Statistic 129

Spiral notebooks 75 million, marble cover retro trend

Statistic 130

Watercolor paints sets 4.5 million, 8-color basic

Statistic 131

Graph paper pads 18 million, quad ruled 1/4 inch

Statistic 132

Stickers decorative BTS 890 million sheets, motivational themes

Statistic 133

Hole punchers 3.2 million single-hole dominant

Statistic 134

Construction paper reams 12 million, neon colors up 14%

Statistic 135

Book covers 22 million adhesive style

Statistic 136

Dividers for binders 65 million sets, tabbed index

1/136

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Hold on to your wallets, parents, because the annual back-to-school shopping season has transformed into a major economic event, with U.S. families spending an astonishing average of $890.62 per K-12 student in 2023—and over half of them blowing past their budgets as inflation drives prices higher.

Key Takeaways

In 2023, U.S. families planned to spend an average of $890.62 on back-to-school items for K-12 students, marking a 6% increase from 2022
Total back-to-school spending in the U.S. for 2023 reached $41.5 billion across K-12 and college, up 8% from the previous year
55% of back-to-school shoppers in 2023 spent more than planned due to inflation-driven price increases
Laptops accounted for 28% of BTS electronics budget, averaging $450 per purchase in 2023
67% of college students bought new laptops for BTS 2023, up from 59% in 2022
Tablets saw 14% sales growth in BTS period 2023, totaling $1.2 billion
Back-to-school clothing spending averaged $287 per K-12 student in 2023, up 7%
Girls' apparel BTS sales reached $4.1 billion in 2023, 12% growth
Sneakers topped BTS footwear at 32% share, $2.2 billion total spend
Notebooks topped BTS supplies at 120 million units sold in 2023
Pencils BTS volume 450 million, mechanical 28% share
Binders sales 38 million units, 1.5-inch size 45% popular
76% of BTS shoppers preferred online for convenience in 2023
In-store BTS visits dropped to 42% from 55% pre-pandemic levels in 2023
Amazon captured 37% of online BTS spend totaling $5.4 billion in 2023

Inflation drove back-to-school spending to record highs in 2023, straining family budgets.

Apparel and Clothing

Back-to-school clothing spending averaged $287 per K-12 student in 2023, up 7%
Girls' apparel BTS sales reached $4.1 billion in 2023, 12% growth
Sneakers topped BTS footwear at 32% share, $2.2 billion total spend
Backpacks sales volume 45 million units BTS 2023, averaging $42 each
59% of BTS clothing bought on sale, average discount 28%
Jeans and denim BTS sales up 5% to $1.3 billion in 2023
Activewear for school 22% of apparel BTS spend, $3.2 billion
Boys' shirts BTS category $890 million, graphic tees 41% share
Winter jackets early BTS purchases up 14% amid weather prep
Socks and underwear BTS $680 million, multipacks popular 67%
Dresses for girls BTS sales 1.8 million units, $450 million
Hoodies and sweatshirts 28% BTS apparel growth, $1.9 billion
Belts and accessories added $210 million to BTS clothing in 2023
Leggings BTS sales 3.1 million pairs, athleisure trend driver
Boys' shorts summer-to-fall transition 890,000 units BTS
School uniforms BTS spend $2.4 billion, private schools 55% share
Hats and beanies niche BTS $120 million, logo styles lead
Girls' boots early BTS 670,000 pairs sold
Polo shirts for school uniforms 2.2 million units, $340 million
Sleepwear BTS add-on $95 million, character prints 39%
Swimsuits back-to-school sales 450,000 units for PE classes
Gloves and mittens prep BTS $78 million in northern states
Scarves fashion BTS $56 million, up 9%
Boys' vests utility style 210,000 units BTS 2023
Girls' skirts pleated trend 1.1 million units

Apparel and Clothing Interpretation

While preparing our children to look sharp and feel confident, we collectively spent 2023 back-to-school season dressing them like tiny, discount-hunting CEOs who prioritize sneakers, hoodies, and graphic tees, yet still remember to pack for a potential blizzard.

Consumer Spending

In 2023, U.S. families planned to spend an average of $890.62 on back-to-school items for K-12 students, marking a 6% increase from 2022
Total back-to-school spending in the U.S. for 2023 reached $41.5 billion across K-12 and college, up 8% from the previous year
55% of back-to-school shoppers in 2023 spent more than planned due to inflation-driven price increases
Average spending per household on college back-to-school items hit $1,381 in 2023, a 3.2% rise year-over-year
62% of parents reported budgeting specifically for back-to-school shopping, with an average budget of $875
Back-to-school sales accounted for 7.5% of annual retail sales in the U.S. during August-September 2023
Inflation adjusted, back-to-school spending grew by 2.1% in real terms for 2023 compared to 2022
41% of families spent over $1,000 on back-to-school in 2023, highest in five years
K-12 back-to-school spending totaled $36.6 billion in 2023, with electronics leading at $19.5 billion
Average per-student spending on back-to-school reached $367 for elementary students in 2023
68% of shoppers used credit cards for back-to-school purchases in 2023, averaging $450 per transaction
Back-to-school spending per capita in the U.S. was $127 in 2023, up from $118 in 2022
Hispanic families spent 12% more on average ($1,023) for back-to-school in 2023 than non-Hispanic ($912)
Online back-to-school spending hit $14.2 billion in 2023, 35% of total category spend
73% of back-to-school budgets exceeded expectations by at least 10% in 2023 due to supply costs
Total BTS spending forecast for 2024 projected at $42.8 billion, a 3.1% increase
Average family spent $250 on clothing alone for BTS 2023, up 8% YoY
29% of BTS shoppers used buy-now-pay-later services, averaging $200 per installment plan
Back-to-school spending in California totaled $4.7 billion in 2023, highest state total
Millennial parents spent $1,150 average on BTS for kids in 2023, 15% above Gen X
51% of BTS budgets allocated to essentials only, averaging $650 per family
BTS spending on groceries and lunch prep added $180 average per household in 2023
Credit card debt from BTS shopping rose 11% to $2.3 billion in Q3 2023
Rural families spent 18% less ($732) on BTS than urban ($892) in 2023
64% of single-parent households spent under $600 on BTS 2023 due to budget constraints
Corporate BTS promotions influenced 42% of spending decisions, adding $120 average extra spend
BTS spending via mobile apps reached $8.1 billion in 2023, 22% growth
Average BTS overspend was $165 per family in 2023, per post-purchase surveys
Gen Z college students self-spent $512 average on BTS 2023, up 9%
Total BTS footwear spend hit $2.8 billion nationally in 2023
U.S. families with multiple K-12 students spent $1,420 average on BTS 2023

Consumer Spending Interpretation

It seems our annual quest for sharp pencils and sturdy backpacks is now a multi-billion dollar national stress test, where budgets are quaint suggestions and the real lesson is in stretching a dollar until it yelps.

Electronics Purchases

Laptops accounted for 28% of BTS electronics budget, averaging $450 per purchase in 2023
67% of college students bought new laptops for BTS 2023, up from 59% in 2022
Tablets saw 14% sales growth in BTS period 2023, totaling $1.2 billion
Smartphones were purchased by 41% of BTS shoppers, average price $620
Headphones and earbuds BTS sales reached 22 million units in 2023, $1.8 billion value
53% of parents bought devices under $500 for kids' BTS tech in 2023
Gaming consoles saw 9% BTS uptick, with Nintendo Switch leading at 1.5 million units
E-readers purchased by 12% of college BTS shoppers, Kindle dominating 65% share
Smartwatches BTS sales grew 21% to $650 million in 2023
Printers and scanners totaled $380 million BTS spend, 7% YoY growth
71% of BTS electronics bought online, Amazon capturing 38% market share
Chromebooks outsold Windows laptops 3:1 in K-12 BTS 2023, 4.2 million units
External storage drives saw 16% sales increase, averaging $85 per unit
Webcams purchased by 29% of college students for hybrid learning, $120 average
Bluetooth speakers BTS volume hit 8.7 million units, $420 million revenue
Monitors over 24-inch grew 11% in BTS sales to remote learners
Fitness trackers for students rose 24% in BTS 2023, $180 million category
Drones as BTS gifts totaled 150,000 units sold, $90 million
Projectors for home study up 8%, averaging $250 per BTS purchase
Streaming devices like Roku sold 2.3 million in BTS window 2023
Keyboards and mice combo packs up 13%, $95 average BTS price
VR headsets niche BTS growth 31%, 120,000 units to students
Power banks sold 5.6 million during BTS 2023, $220 million total
Smart pens for note-taking up 19%, Livescribe leading
Routers upgraded by 17% of families for BTS online learning, $140 avg
E-ink tablets like Remarkable sold 80,000 BTS units
Action cameras GoPro BTS sales 450,000 units
USB hubs and docks $160 million BTS category in 2023

Electronics Purchases Interpretation

The annual back-to-school ritual now resembles a high-stakes tech rollout, where students' backpacks are lighter but the family budget is loaded with everything from non-negotiable laptops and ubiquitous earbuds to niche drones and the essential power banks keeping it all running.

Online vs In-Store Shopping

76% of BTS shoppers preferred online for convenience in 2023
In-store BTS visits dropped to 42% from 55% pre-pandemic levels in 2023
Amazon captured 37% of online BTS spend totaling $5.4 billion in 2023
Click-and-collect hybrid model used by 31% of BTS shoppers 2023
Walmart.com BTS sales up 22% to $2.8 billion vs physical stores flat
Mobile commerce accounted for 54% of online BTS transactions in 2023
Target stores saw 18% BTS foot traffic decline, offset by app orders
62% of Gen Z BTS shopped exclusively online, vs 28% Boomers in-store
Curbside pickup surged 41% in BTS period 2023
Staples.com BTS revenue $1.1 billion, 65% online shift
Social commerce via Instagram/TikTok 12% of BTS online sales, $670 million
Brick-and-mortar BTS sales $27.3 billion, down 4% YoY 2023
49% used retailer apps for BTS deals, driving 29% more online spend
Office Depot in-store BTS traffic -15%, online +33% growth
Voice shopping via Alexa 8% of online BTS orders in 2023
Mall BTS footfall down 11% but premium stores up 6%
71% checked online prices before in-store BTS purchase 2023
Etsy BTS handmade online $340 million, niche growth 19%
Buy-online-ship-to-store saved shoppers $45 average per BTS order
Kohl's online BTS penetration 52%, in-store loyalty events boosted hybrid
Flash sales online drove 23% of BTS apparel purchases impulsively
Rural areas 38% in-store BTS reliance vs 22% urban online-only
Subscription boxes BTS prep $210 million online recurring
AR try-on tools used by 27% online BTS clothing shoppers
JCPenney BTS ecomm 44% of total sales, in-store experiential events
Livestream shopping BTS $180 million, TikTok Shop leading

Online vs In-Store Shopping Interpretation

The modern back-to-school shopper has voted with their taps, making the digital cart supreme, yet cleverly hybridizes it with curbside pickups and price checks to master a season where convenience is king, physical stores are experience centers, and even grandma might just be scrolling TikTok for the perfect backpack.

School Supplies

Notebooks topped BTS supplies at 120 million units sold in 2023
Pencils BTS volume 450 million, mechanical 28% share
Binders sales 38 million units, 1.5-inch size 45% popular
Markers and highlighters $890 million BTS category, washable lead
Lunch boxes 25 million sold BTS 2023, insulated 62%
Folders 95 million units, plastic over paper 71%
Glue sticks 180 million tubes, purple drying clear top seller
Rulers and protractors set $120 million BTS, metric growing
Calculators TI-84 model 4.2 million units BTS 2023
Erasers 320 million, pink pearl classic 55% market
Scissors Fiskars 15 million pairs BTS sales, safety tips
Crayons 2.8 billion sticks, 24-pack standard
Pencil cases 28 million, multi-compartment 39%
Dry erase boards mini size 9.5 million BTS
Index cards 450 million packs, 3x5 inch dominant
Tape dispensers 6.8 million, Scotch brand 48% share
Compasses for geometry 2.1 million kits BTS 2023
Push pins and tacks 1.2 billion pieces, colorful 33%
Spiral notebooks 75 million, marble cover retro trend
Watercolor paints sets 4.5 million, 8-color basic
Graph paper pads 18 million, quad ruled 1/4 inch
Stickers decorative BTS 890 million sheets, motivational themes
Hole punchers 3.2 million single-hole dominant
Construction paper reams 12 million, neon colors up 14%
Book covers 22 million adhesive style
Dividers for binders 65 million sets, tabbed index

School Supplies Interpretation

While the sheer dominance of notebooks and the 2.8 billion crayons sold suggest we're still nurturing young artists, the $890 million spent on markers and the 4.2 million TI-84 calculators prove we're equally invested in preparing tiny, graph-paper-equipped accountants for the future.

Sources & References

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