Don’t forget Costco when you’re tackling that back-to-school list: The warehouse club carries more school supplies than you might expect, with prices that are often lower than Amazon, Walmart, Target, and other major retailers — especially if you can divvy up that bulk pack of pencils among several kids. While you’re at it, don’t forget pantry staples that will help fill out your child’s lunchbox: We’ve found food prices to be as much as 70% cheaper at Costco compared with Kroger. Here are 25 deals that recently caught our eye at Costco.
Note: Prices and availability are subject to change.
Related: How Non-Members Can Shop at Costco
High Sierra Everyday Backpack
Price: $20 in store, $27 online | Buy it A padded back and straps, a laptop compartment, and plenty of organizational compartments make this backpack a practical choice for the school year. We also spotted the Ogio Alpha Prospect for $40 — it includes a crush-resistant tech pocket, padded tech sleeve, and convenient top-loading laptop compartment.
Tops 1” Round Ring Clear View Binders, 6 Ct.
Price: $9 in store, $9.50 online | Buy it Basic binders with clear front pockets are a back-to-school-list staple for a lot of kids, so stocking up can be a smart move. Need a different size? We also noted multipacks of 1/2-inch and 2-inch clear view binders.
Thermoflask Kids Stainless Steel Water Bottles, 2 ct.
Price: $14 in store, $17 online | Buy it Vacuum-insulated to keep drinks cold, these 14-ounce water bottles are sweat-proof and include a straw lid that’s easy to use for little hands. A loop top means they’re easy to hang from cubby hooks or attach to backpacks.
Ticonderoga Pencils, 96 ct.
Price: $9.50 in store, $10.50 online | Buy it This is the brand of pencils every teacher is clamoring for, so buy them in bulk on the cheap at Costco — you may even have enough for next year, too. Prefer mechanical? Costco has a six-pack of Pentel Twist Erase Clicks including extra erasers and lead in-store for $9.
HP 14” Chromebook Bundle
Price: $300 in store and online | Buy it Older kids who need to type reports and do research online will appreciate their own inexpensive laptop. This one includes an AMD processor, 4GB memory, 32GB internal storage, and a high-definition 14-inch screen. A padded sleeve and wireless mouse help sweeten the deal.
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Zebra Retractable Ballpoint Pens, 40 ct.
Price: $9 in store Always losing pens? Buy 40 at a time and you’ll be set for a while. These medium-point pens come in all black or a colorful variety pack. If gel pens are a must, we spied 20 Pilot G2 Gel Pens for $18 in store and $20 online.
Kirkland Signature Girls’ Leggings, 2 ct.
Price: $10 in store, $12 online | Buy it She can never have enough comfy leggings waiting in her drawer for school. Made with a blend of cotton, modal and spandex, they come in sizes 4 to 16 and are available in other colors and patterns, too.
Kirkland Signature Organic Animal Crackers
Price: $10 in store, $12 online | Buy it Whether it’s your turn to provide class snacks or you just want to stock up for packed lunches, it’s hard to beat $10 for this massive 64-ounce container of certified organic animal crackers.
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Sharpie Clearview Highlighters, 18 ct.
Price: $10 in store, $14 online | Buy it An especially good buy for college kids who will be slogging their way through thicker-than-ever textbooks, this pack of highlighters includes six traditional tank highlighters, six slimmer pocket highlighters, three gel highlighters, and three tank highlighters with a clear-view cap and reservoir.
Boys’ And Girls’ Levis
Price: $13 in store Costco often carries brand-name kids’ (and adults’) clothes far below what other retailers charge. We spotted Levis in store in sizes 5 to 14 for boys and 6 to 14 for girls, with plenty of colors and styles to choose from. Boys’ jeans are also available online for a couple bucks more.
Frito-Lay Variety Pack, 54 ct.
Price: $14 in store, $15 online | Buy it If one kid likes Cheetos and the other can’t get enough Fritos, this bulk Frito-Lay buy is the secret to lunchbox harmony. Also included: three varieties of Lay’s (classic, barbecue, sour cream and onion) and two kinds of Doritos (nacho cheese and cool ranch).
Top Flight Composition Notebooks, 8 ct.
Price: $8 in store, $13 online | Buy it Need notebooks? Definitely make the trek into Costco for this deal on those ubiquitous composition books, which works out to just a buck each. If you need spiral notebooks, we also spotted a dozen wide-ruled Mead 70-sheet notebooks online for $16.
California Innovations Expandable Lunch Pack
Price: $11 in store This fully featured lunchbox is a steal in store at Costco: It comes with two “Ice Walls” — freezable packs that slide into exterior pockets to save space inside — and a leak-proof bento box that separates into four stand-alone containers. It also has a removable shoulder strap, padded handles, and an antimicrobial lining.
Seagate Backup Plus Ultra Touch External Hard Drive
Price: $70 in store and online | Buy it It’s never too early to start backing up your work. This Seagate drive has a roomy 2TB of storage and fast USB 3.0 connection — simply drag and drop the files you want to save. Kids on the go may also find a 32GB SanDisk Cruzer Glide 3.0 Flash Drive handy — they’re available in a three pack for $16 in store and online.
K. Bell Kids’ Socks, 12 ct.
Price: $10 in store It’s time to bulk up those sock drawers, and Costco lets you do it on the cheap with a variety of combed cotton boys’ and girls’ socks. No-show, crew, and quarter socks are available in a variety of patterns in store.
Expo Dry Erase Markers, 18 ct.
Price: $14 in store, $15 online | Buy it Off-brand dry erase markers rarely seem to make it onto those school-supply lists, so snap up some teacher-approved, low-odor Expos for less. This pack includes 14 chisel-tip markers and four fine-tip markers in a variety of colors.
Smuckers Uncrustables, 18 ct.
Price: $11 in store Sometimes you’re just too tired to get up early and make a PB&J for the lunch box. Smuckers Uncrustables are individually packaged and will thaw out without any microwaving by your kid’s lunchtime. They also have 10 grams of protein each.
Five Star Expanding File
Price: $11 in store, $13 online | Buy itKeep loose papers on lockdown with this four-folder expanding file, made of durable reinforced plastic. It has storage notches for pens and stay-put tabs ensuring students don’t lose valuable work.
Elmer’s Glue School Starter Pack
Price: $9.50 in store, $13 online | Buy it On many school-supply lists, off-brand glue is a no-go. Snag six full-size Elmer’s glue sticks and two 4-ounce squeezable Elmer’s glue containers in one purchase, and save the extras for next year.
Casio Scientific Calculator, 2 ct.
Price: $13 in store and online | Buy it This two-pack of calculators means your kid can keep one in their locker and one at home. It has a textbook-format display and 249 built-in functions that can take students through classes including general math, algebra, trigonometry, and statistics.
Kirkland Organic Applesauce, 24 ct.
Price: $10 in store, $12 online | Buy it A healthier snack alternative that’s exceedingly lunch-box friendly, Kirkland applesauce pouches are organic and free of added sugar. They’re also way cheaper than pouches from name brands like GoGo Squeez and Mott’s.
Westcott iPoint Pencil Sharpener
Price: $19 in store Dull pencils will never be a homework-time annoyance again with this titanium-bonded sharpener, which has blades that resist buildup and a sensor that stops the blades once your pencil is sharp enough.
Clorox Disinfectant Wipes, 5 ct.
Price: $14.50 in store, $16.50 online | Buy it A common request on younger kids’ school-supply lists, anti-bacterial wipes help ward off those pesky germs. If you can find them, a cheaper alternative is Kirkland Signature wipes, which have a passionate following that means they often sell out in store. A 304-wipe pack is usually around $10.
Stonyfield Kids Organic Yogurt Squeezers, 24 ct.
Price: $9 in store Whether you keep them in the refrigerator or freeze them, these yogurt squeezers are a kid-friendly staple you can feel good about. They have no high fructose corn syrup or artificial flavors; they’re also kosher, gluten-free, and non-GMO.
French Toast Youth Uniform Pants
Price: $10 in store, $20 online for 2 ct. | Buy it for girls, boys If you’ve got kids in uniforms, you know they can make life easier — as long as you have enough to get through a week without multiple washings. Whether you need khaki or navy, stock up at Costco in sizes 5 and up. Polos, shorts, and skirts are also available online.
