Our 10 Favorite Budget-Friendly Back-to-School Essentials Under $40

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Back-to-school season is here! Get ready for the upcoming academic year with our favorite budget-friendly school essentials. From a reliable backpack, to a stylish pencil set, to popular water bottles and base-pounding earbuds, you’ll find all the essentials you need to thrive in class without breaking the bank. Whether you’re moving into a new dorm or gearing up for the 2025 school term, here’s everything you in under $40.

Finding school essentials can be challenging, so we’ve created this short list to speed up the process and help you get started. To kick off your back-to-school shopping list on the right foot, you might want to add this high-quality L.L. Bean tote bag, a sleek, insulated Herschel lunch box, and a simple, but effective desk organizer at Walmart.

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Keep your lunch fresh with the Pop Quiz lunch box carries. The bag features an insulated easy-wipe interior, alongside a a front pocket for storing cutlery or extra snacks. Spilled something? No problem — the inside wipes clean with ease.

Thanks to the brand’s many recording artist and athlete co-signs, including Post Malone and Lionel Messi, Stanley tumblers are the most s ought-after water bottles on the market. For only $35, you can now join in on the bottle craze.

Stand out from the rest of your classmates with these incredible pencils. Featuring an eye-catching natural wood design, premium Japanese graphite, and a long lasting extra-firm lead, Blackwing pencils have quickly become out favorite.

If you don’t want to lug around a backpack all day, this popular L.L. Bean tote bag is the perfect alternative. With a variety customizable features, you can craft the ultimate bag that fits your style.

Keep all your assignments and class projects organized with this minimalistic monthly planner from MUJI.

Do you need to concentrate and study? Block out all the background school noise with these adorable earbuds. They come equipped with bluetooth 5.2, 10mm drivers for deep bass, and a fast charging case.

This 17.5-inch backpack is simple, but effective. It features a water-resistant build with multiple interior and exterior pockets to help keep your things neatly packed. There’s also an interior laptop pocket that fits an up to 15-inch laptop and padded shoulder straps for comfy carrying all day.

No one likes a clutter. Keep your accessories organized in one place, so you don’t have to keep asking your classmate to borrow a pen.

With sturdy twin spiral rings, premium paper, and perforated pages, this minimalistic notebook is great upgrade from your usual simple notepad.

Thanks to its fast-drying ink, this 3 pen bundle is great for everyday writing.

For more product recommendations, check out how to level up your back-to-school beauty look, as well as, our guide to the best back-to-school sneaker deals worth shopping online now.