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If you’ve been dreading this year’s school-supply haul, I get it. I’m the Strategist’s unofficial college correspondent (I graduated recently), so I keep tabs on back-to-school essentials and dorm necessities — and I know just how quickly school supplies add up. That said, this year’s Amazon Prime Day prices are some of the lowest on back-to-school gear I’ve ever seen. The sale ends in a few hours, though, so this is your last chance to get all of those excellent deals. And since the field can feel saturated and overwhelming, I’ve combed through pages upon pages — and tapped into my expertise after interviewing more than 40 college students for past articles — to find the best Prime Day deals on back-to-school essentials for students of all ages.
Until the sale ends tonight, I’ll be updating this post with more great deals on school supplies and dorm essentials, so keep checking back. If you want more deals (in every category), check out our huge roundup of all the best Prime Day deals. And in the meantime, sign up for our newsletter so you never miss out on a good sale on an average day.
The Deals I Personally Think Are the Best
I found so many record-breaking deals that it was difficult to pick my favorites. I ultimately landed on these three because of their everyday utility — seriously, it doesn’t get more useful than a Hydro Flask — and rare prices. (And at $4 for a pack of pencils, I’d stock up.)
Pre-K to 12 back-to school
There are lots of lunch boxes and lunch-box-adjacent items on sale this Prime Day, and this stainless-steel lunch box is going fast. It’s a favorite of Strategist senior editor (and parent) Winnie Yang.
If you’re looking for something with more color, all of Bentgo’s five-compartment kids’ bento boxes are on sale for their lowest price ever. They’re durable, drop-proof, and dishwasher safe.
For those who prefer a soft-sided lunch bag, this one is also at its lowest price ever. It’s available in 18 adorable patterns, but I think this dino-themed one is perfect for a future scientist.
You’ll never run out of Ziplocs (at least not for a long time) with this variety pack of baggies that are perfect for school lunches and after-school extracurriculars.
The 22-pack of these nostalgic scented markers that I found yesterday is sold out, but I spotted this 36-pack at a discount we haven’t seen in years.
Colorful sticky notes would be perfect for lunchbox notes and homework reminders — and this 24-pack that’s 60 percent off will last you for a while.
You’ll find the gold standard of mechanical pencils on sale for more than half off. The pastels would look delightful in a colorful pencil case.
If you’d rather keep it old school or just have an ample supply of No. 2 pencils for standardized tests, the best deal you’ll find is on this 72-pack of Paper Mate pencils.
Don’t forget some spare erasers for math homework and spelling corrections.
For the pen people, there’s more than 50 percent off this big pack of BIC ballpoints. With 36 in the box, you’ll be well stocked for the whole year.
I was unimpressed by the deals on actual pencil cases this year, but I found a stellar deal on the cosmetic bag-slash-pencil case that I used throughout high school and college.
No back-to-school list is complete without a few classic Five Star spiral notebooks. These are compatible with Five Star’s study app, which can scan notes and turn them into flashcards.
In my experience, plastic folders hold up longer than paper ones — and this five-pack includes lots of eye-catching colors.
We recommend this backpack for teens and tweens who want a highly utilitarian, bigger bag. It’s spacious, durable, and available in a variety of solid colors.
I spotted this adorable shark-themed water bottle at a record-low price, but there are lots of other animal-forward options if you’re willing to spend a couple extra dollars.
I’ve been obsessed with this water bottle ever since I spotted it at a trade show last summer. It’s available in a ton of versions, including this friendly pup, an adorable polar bear, and a sleepy unicorn.
College back-to-school
Unless you’re one of the lucky ones with AC, college dorms are typically hot and sweaty, especially at the beginning of the school year. I recommended these cooling bamboo sheets in my guide to outfitting a college dorm because they’re lightweight, soft, and moisture wicking. They’re not usually on sale, so now is a good time to buy them.
Given the close quarters and lack of air-conditioning, you’ll also want to get the bedbug-proof mattress cover that we recommend specifically for hot sleepers. This one is almost never on sale.
If you saw all those discounted lunch box for kids and felt a little jealous, don’t worry — you can save on this modern bento-style lunch box, which is great for busy days of classes or taking lunch to an internship.
Since Bentgo clearly isn’t holding back with the good deals this Prime Day, I looked at every single markdown the brand is offering and found this salad container that’s ideal for easy lunches on the go. I thought this green option was pleasantly vibrant, but the seven other color options are equally discounted.
This is the last lunch-related deal I’ll share — I promise. This electric lunch box is ideal for leftovers and warm lunches. I gifted it to my boyfriend for about $15 more a few months ago, so now is a great time to save.
I interviewed college students from across the country about their favorite dorm essentials, and one of them recommended this weighted sleep mask that she says let her snooze while her roommate stayed up doing homework until 2 a.m.
If you’re really sensitive to light and will be living with a roommate, I’d recommend buying the most effective blackout sleep mask that I’ve ever tested. I named it our best upgrade blackout sleep mask because it’s more expensive than your average sleep mask, but it’s well worth the price, especially when it’s on sale.
You’d be surprised how often a tool kit will come in handy on campus. I’m partial to this pretty pink one, which is discounted at one of the lowest prices I’ve seen in a while.
A mini pill box is perfect for storing Advil in case a headache strikes during a late-night study session. I tested this set for my guide to the very best pill cases, and it never popped open in my bag.
College students typically fall into the string-light camp or the LED-strip light camp. If you belong in the former, get these.
For the LED-leaning: Consider these lights, which I heard about while interviewing college students about their room décor.
It wouldn’t be a college campus without about a million AirPods. Many students I spoke to recommended upgrading to the noise-canceling option, and I recommend getting them now on sale.
If you’d rather some over-ear headphones, consider our tech writer’s preferred pair.
This small-but-mighty speaker is a Strategist favorite for good reason. It makes a great gift for college students and will be much appreciated on the first nice day out on the green.
If you’re looking for an even more affordable portable speaker for dorm hangs and study sessions en plein air, buy this one. (Leslie Odom Jr. says he takes it with him everywhere.)
College students are typically hard pressed to find outlets, so I’d recommend investing in a power strip to beef up your outlet supply. You can usually find the best deals on Kasa products during Prime Day, and this year is no exception.
For those who prefer a more streamlined-looking charging station than a power strip, try this one — or use them both.
If you buy anything this Prime Day to put in your dorm, I’d recommend grabbing a few fans because AC isn’t a guarantee on campus. This one is our favorite affordable fan, and it’s at one of the best prices I’ve seen in some time.
Anyone who’s had leggings shrink to nothing in a dorm dryer knows that a drying rack is a necessity, and the students I spoke to emphasized buying one that collapses like this one.
You can’t go wrong with a Brita filter. The water pitcher is helpful for storing an ample (and purified) water supply in your room.
I’ve interviewed more than 40 college students since I started writing at The Strategist, and this water bottle is the most popular one among the age group by far. It’s on sale for nearly 50 percent off in a variety of colors, including this firetruck red.
Our kitchen and dining writer found this mini coffee maker on sale. At 11 inches wide, it’ll fit in even the smallest dorm room.
The laundry basket debate runs deep in college dorms, but the laundry backpack is a top contender and comes recommended by one of the college students I interviewed.
Whether you choose to use a soft mesh or hard-plastic shower caddy is ultimately up to personal preference. I’m team hard plastic, and this good-looking one has a yellow handle and drainage holes for ventilation.
For the mesh shower caddy crowd, I found this one, which has enough compartments to hold all your bathroom essentials.
No matter the construction, shower caddies tend to get musty. One student I interviewed recommended getting a silicone drying mat like this one to leave your caddy on between uses, effectively combatting mildew.
Over the years, I learned that shower shoes are most effective when the soles have drain holes. This pair comes in a variety of colors for both men’s and women’s sizes.
One thing college students will learn early on: Dust and grime build up quickly in dorm rooms. This three-pack of surface cleaner will be more than enough to last the whole year.
For the crème de la crème of laundry detergent, buy this. We almost never see it at a price this low.
The Strategist is designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read about here. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
