Shopping for school supplies in Modesto? Here’s where to find the best deals
It’s back-school-season across California.
While some Modesto-area students are already dusting off their backpacks, others still have a few sunny days of vacation left to enjoy.
Stanislaus County schools begin the 2025-26 academic year between Wednesday, Aug. 6, and Wednesday, Aug. 20.
To find the most affordable school supplies in the Modesto area, The Modesto Bee compared prices at local stores.
Here’s where to find pencils, notebooks and other essentials for students, and what prices to expect at checkout:
What school supplies does my Modesto student need?
School supply needs can vary depending on which grade and school your child is attending.
The Bee put together a general school supply list using Walmart’s grade-by-grade recommendations.
The basics include notebooks, folders, binders, highlighters, pens and pencils.
Where can I buy schools supplies in Modesto?
Several Modesto stores carry school supplies.
The Bee checked prices at the following locations:
- Barnes & Noble, 3501 McHenry Ave., Suite E, Modesto
- Dollar Tree, 2425 McHenry Ave., Suite B, Modesto
- Five Below, 3250 Dale Road, Suite C, Modesto
- Hands-On Educational Supply Store, 1700 McHenry Ave., Suite 30, Modesto
- Office Depot, 2020 West Briggsmore Ave., Modesto
- Office Max, 1800 Oakdale Road, Suite B, Modesto
- Target, 3405 McHenry Ave., Modesto
- Walmart, 3848 McHenry Ave., Modesto
Which stores have the cheapest school supplies in Modesto?
School supply prices can vary depending on the brand, quantity and quality.
Not all items were available at the stores The Bee visited.
Here’s a look at how costs compare across different stores:
- Backpacks: $25 and up
- Binders: Under $30
- Folders: $2 to $20
- Notebooks: $5 to $25
- Construction paper: $10 and up
- Pens: $3 and up
- Pencils: $3 and up
- Highlighters: $3 and up
- Markers: $3 and up
- Dry erase markers: $5 and up
- Crayons: $3 and up
- Pencil sharpeners: $2 to $30
- Erasers: $2 and up
- Rulers: $1 and up
- Glue sticks: $5 and up
- Scissors: Under $24
School supplies cost $1.25 each, while backpacks were available for $5 apiece.
- Backpacks: $7 and up
- Binders: $6 and up
- Folders: $1 and up
- Notebooks: $1 and up
- Paper: $5 and up
- Construction paper: $5 and up
- Pens: $3 and up
- Pencils: $3 and up
- Highlighters: $3 and up
- Markers: $3 and up
- Dry erase markers: $5 and up
- Crayons: $5 and up
- Pencil sharpeners: $1 and up
- Erasers: $1 and up
- Rulers: $3 and up
- Glue sticks: $1 and up
- Scissors: $5 and up
Hands-On Educational Supply Store
- Backpacks: $12 and up
- Notebooks: $6 and up
- Paper: $6 and up
- Construction paper: $6 and up
- Pens: $2 to $5
- Pencils: $1 to $6
- Highlighters: $2 to $5
- Markers: $4 to $6
- Dry erase markers: Under $10
- Crayons: $2 to $7
- Erasers: Under $5
- Rulers: $1 to $4
- Glue sticks: 55 cents and up
- Scissors: $1 to $6
- Backpacks: $12 and up
- Binders: $2 and up
- Folders: $1 and up
- Notebooks: $2 and up
- Paper: $1 and up
- Construction paper: $3 and up
- Pens: $1 and up
- Pencils: $2 and up
- Highlighters: $2 and up
- Markers: $2 and up
- Dry erase markers: $2 and up
- Crayons: $1 and up
- Pencil sharpeners: $1 and up
- Erasers: $2 and up
- Rulers: Under $5
- Glue sticks: 99 cents and up
- Scissors: $2 and up
- Backpacks: $12 and up
- Binders: $2 and up
- Folders: $1 and up
- Notebooks: $2 and up
- Paper: $1 and up
- Construction paper: $3 and up
- Pens: $1 and up
- Pencils: $2 and up
- Highlighters: $2 and up
- Markers: $2 and up
- Dry erase markers: $2 and up
- Crayons: $1 and up
- Pencil sharpeners: $1 and up
- Erasers: $2 and up
- Rulers: Under $5
- Glue sticks: 99 cents and up
- Scissors: $2 and up
- Backpacks: $5 and up
- Binders: $2 and up
- Folders: 15 cents and up
- Notebooks: 35 cents and up
- Paper: $4 and up
- Construction paper: $4 and up
- Pens: $1 and up
- Pencils: 30 cents and up
- Highlighters: $2 and up
- Markers: 50 cents and up
- Dry erase markers: $4 and up
- Crayons: 25 cents and up
- Pencil sharpeners: 50 cents and up
- Erasers: 40 cents and up
- Rulers: 50 cents and up
- Glue sticks: 75 cents and up
- Scissors: $1 and up
- Backpacks: $5 and up
- Binders: 97 cents and up
- Folders: 25 cents and up
- Notebooks: 35 cents and up
- Paper: 80 cents and up
- Construction paper: $2 and up
- Pens: $1 and up
- Pencils: 49 cents and up
- Highlighters: $1 and up
- Markers: 50 cents and up
- Dry erase markers: 70 cents and up
- Crayons: 25 cents and up
- Pencil sharpeners: 47 cents and up
- Erasers: 47 cents and up
- Rulers: 60 cents and up
- Glue sticks: 25 cents and up
- Scissors: $1 and up
Who has the best back-to-school deals in Modesto?
Overall, Walmart and Target offered the lowest school supply prices across Modesto.
