2026
9
US K-12 Back to School Shopping Market Report 2026
2026-03-06T22:02:03+00:00
REPB0C8184B_FE48_4980_8818_4BFE48A98079
4995
191777
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Report
en_GB
The back to school shopping market remains robust, with 2025 planned expenditures in the K-12 segment reaching $39.4 billion, the second-highest figure on record. After the profound shifts in the…
US
Retail
simple

US K-12 Back to School Shopping Market Report 2026

"The back to school market remains stable, offering a reliable opportunity for brands to connect with consumers. Success will come from delivering balanced value: combining savings and quality with digital convenience and emotional relevance."

Brittany Steiger, Principal Analyst - Retail & eCommerce

Brittany Steiger, Principal Analyst - Retail & eCommerce

The back to school shopping market remains robust, with 2025 planned expenditures in the K-12 segment reaching $39.4 billion, the second-highest figure on record. After the profound shifts in the market that occurred throughout the pandemic, the market has now settled into a consistent and relatively predictive norm, where back to school purchases continue to be perceived as essential.

Despite the market stabilizing at high spending levels, economic pressures and tariffs continue to challenge consumers, influencing spending behaviors and driving the need for strategic value messaging. Parents are prioritizing essentials, reducing discretionary purchases, and seeking convenience through digital channels.

AI shopping tools present a significant opportunity to reduce friction for shoppers, with nearly 70% of parents open to using technology to simplify their back to school shopping experience. As Millennial and eventually Gen Z parents assume greater ownership of the market, their digital fluency and preference for value-driven brands will shape future trends. To remain competitive, brands and retailers must focus on holistic value messaging and differentiate through emotional connections and convenience.

This Report Looks at the Following Areas:

  • Parents’ back to school shopping participation, approaches and behaviors
  • Impact of the economy and other market drivers on the back to school season
  • Back to school purchases for K-12 and retailers shopped
  • Back to school shopping timeframe
  • Consumer mindset, trends and attitudes toward back to school shopping
Collapse All
  1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

    • What you need to know
    • Outlook for back to school shopping
    • Opportunities
    • Tap into AI to revolutionize the school shopping list
    • Build emotional connection by supporting back to school routines
    • Deliver on expectations for value
  2. THE MARKET

    • Snapshot – market size and forecast
    • Economic uncertainty puts pressure on shoppers
    • Market drivers
    • 54 million students are enrolled in K-12 school programs
    • US birth rates have declined over the last decade
    • Graph 1: live births (000), 2000-24*
    • Modern families reflect a diversifying population
    • Millennials dominate the back to school market, but generational shifts are in play
    • Graph 2: parents of children under age 18, by generation, 2025
    • Market size and forecast
    • The back to school (K-12) market stabilizes at record levels
    • K-12 spending hit second-highest peak on record
    • Graph 3: consumers’ planned back to school (K-12) spending, in current dollars, 2019-25
    • Consumers planned back to school (K-12) spending, in current dollars, 2019-25
    • Market segmentation
    • Electronics consistently make up the largest share of spending
    • Graph 4: distribution of consumers’ planned back to school spending (K-12), by category, 2019-25
    • Long-term trends reflect shift in learning styles
    • Graph 5: consumers’ planned back to school spending, by category, 2019-24
  3. BACK TO SCHOOL SEASON UPDATE

    • Back to school shopping participation and approach
    • A stable and predictable back to school season
    • Graph 6: back to school shopping participation, by grade level of child, 2025-26 school year
    • Graph 7: back to school shopping approach, 2025-26 school year
    • Shopping timeframes remain consistent, though tariffs caused a slight pull-forward effect last season
    • Graph 8: back to school shopping timeframes, 2022-25
    • Back to school purchases are varied, but show signs of a pullback
    • Graph 9: back to school items purchased for K-12, 2024-25 vs 2025-26 school year
    • Back to school season marks a key wardrobe refresh moment for families
    • Graph 10: back to school apparel purchases, 2025-26 school year
    • “Big three” retailers stay on top, but other value formats are gaining share
    • Graph 11: back to school retailers shopped, 2025-26 school year
    • Graph 12: year-over-year comparison of select back to school retailers shopped, 2021-25
    • Subtle shifts in the retail landscape
    • Growth in ecommerce fuels an omnichannel future
    • Graph 13: US, back to school shopping method, 2023-25
    • Graph 14: back to school shopping methods, 2019-25
    • Market shifts and seasonal trends
    • Dads play a growing role in back to school shopping
    • Graph 15: shopping participation and approach, moms vs dads, 2025-26 school year
    • Make way for Gen Z parents
    • Media influence is rising among digitally native parents
    • Graph 16: year-over-year comparison of back to school shopping influences, 2022-25
    • Back to school trends
    • School policies and parental concerns impact purchase patterns
    • Store brand swaps offer appealing savings
  4. THE BACK TO SCHOOL SHOPPER MINDSET

    • Emotional connections remain strong
    • Back to school shopping facilitates family bonding
    • Modern parents seek connection with their children
    • Graph 17: attitudes toward back to school shopping – emotional connection, by generation of parents, 2025-26 school year
    • Parents want their kids to dress for success
    • Brands must promote healthy self-esteem
    • Economic pressures are adding strain
    • High prices continue to be a challenge
    • Financial situations create conflicting realities
    • Graph 18: attitudes toward back to school shopping – economic impact, by household financial situation, 2025
    • Budget-conscious behaviors create a pull-forward effect
    • Graph 19: attitudes toward back to school shopping timeframes, by shopping timeframes, 2025
    • Promotional events have significant influence on the season
    • Graph 20: back to school shopping behaviors – promotions and deal-seeking, by household financial situation, 2025-26 school year
    • Price freezes became a key value message amid tariffs
    • Need for convenience
    • Back to school stress has parents searching for an “easy button”
    • Dads lean on convenience to get the job done
    • Graph 21: attitudes toward convenience, by gender of parent, 2025-26 school year
    • Online shopping boosts efficiency
    • AI shopping tools will shift the balance further toward digital
    • Graph 22: openness to technology use (eg AI shopping assistants), by key demographics, 2026
    • Walmart uses humor to make convenience and value feel effortless for parents
    • What to expect in the upcoming back to school season
  5. APPENDIX

    • Report scope & market definition
    • The market
    • Consumer’s planned back to school (K-12) spending, in inflation-adjusted dollars, 2019-25
    • Expected per person K-12 spending, in current dollars, 2019-25
    • The K-12 segment comprises about a third of total back to school spending
    • Graph 23: consumers’ total planned back to school spending, including K-12 and college segments, 2025
    • The consumer
    • Consumer research questions
    • Consumer research methodology
    • Generations
    • Topical attitudes and behaviors toward back to school shopping
    • Graph 24: topical attitudes and behaviors toward back to school shopping, 2025
    • Attitudes toward back to school shopping
    • Graph 25: attitudes toward back to school shopping, any agree (NET), 2025
    • Back to school shopping behaviors
    • Graph 26: back to school shopping behaviors, 2025
    • Sources of back to school shopping influence
    • Graph 27: sources of back to school shopping influence, 2025
    • Abbreviations

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