School Supplies

What are the Essential School Supplies for Students in 2026?

You’ll find that what’s essential for the 2026 school year is mostly similar to what’s been essential for most school years over the past decade. Whether a student is in their early years and doing their work mostly with pencil and paper or they’re in secondary school and making use of laptops, many other essentials remain the same. 

These include the usual pens and pencils, notebooks, scissors (child’s scissors for younger students and general scissors for students in secondary school), folders, planners and agenda books. Calculators remain important, especially if students have yet to start using laptops in their day-to-day schoolwork.

For students who are now regularly using laptops for learning, consider supplies such as headphones, USB drives, portable external hard drives, and stylus pens (if using a compatible touch-screen laptop or tablet). 

If you’re a parent covering the essentials for your children, make sure you sit down with them to make sense of what their school year will entail and the specific supplies that are essential to them. Use this information to put together a must-buy list so you know you’re focusing on the right purchases.

What School Stationery Trends Are Popular for 2026?

Trends are often indicative of evolving social values and interests, and these apply just as much to school stationery as they do to almost any other range of products. A few stationery trends making waves in the lead-up to 2026 include:

1. Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Stationery

Stationery that has a reduced impact on the environment has become more and more popular over the past several years as more adults and kids aim to reduce their impact. This type of stationery comes in many forms, including notebooks and sketchbooks made from 100% recycled materials, the use of biodegradable packaging, and products made through carbon-neutral manufacturing processes. 

2. Inclusivity

To ensure all kids can have an enriching school experience, more and more stationery is coming out that is designed to account for the diverse student base. 

This includes tinted notebooks that can alleviate visual disturbances for students with dyslexia, fidget items to help students with attentiveness issues (such as ADHD) maintain focus, and more visually defined folders and organisers that make it easier for autistic students to collate notes.

3. Ergonomic Stationery

Ergonomic stationery can help people of all ages experience greater comfort and reduce the likelihood of strain on different parts of the body (such as aching in the hand and wrist after prolonged periods of notetaking with a pen). This type of stationery can include items such as pens with comfortable grips and document holders that can alleviate neck strain. 

Can I Buy Art and Craft Supplies for Classrooms at Office Choice?

Yes, you can! Office Choice sells an extensive range of art and craft supplies, with more than 1,000 products to choose from. These include paints (acrylic, gouache, watercolour, etc.), sketch pencils and sketchpads, newsprint paper, crayons, dyes, glues, child’s scissors, and so much more.

Whatever practical art projects students will be undertaking, Office Choice has the collection to suit.

Does Office Choice Provide Teacher-Focused Classroom Supplies?

When it comes to our School Supplies category, most of the listed products are focused on items and supplies that will predominantly be used by students. While there are the occasional products that could also be utilised by teachers in the classroom (such as chalk, art supplies for guiding students, etc.), the focus still remains on student supplies.

Supplies that are well-suited to teachers include products listed in our Office Stationery and Technology & Accessories categories. Be sure to check them out!

Are There Bulk Purchasing Options for School Supplies?

Yes, there are! When you peruse our school supplies categories, you’ll find that most listed products include a multi-buy option. By clicking on the multi-buy button, you’ll be shown how applicable pricing changes depending on the quantity you purchase. 

If you’re making a particularly large order of a specific product and want to know if further bulk purchase savings are possible, you should contact us to enquire. Feel free to give us a call at 1300 771 700.

What makes Office Choice a Reliable Supplier for School Essentials?

A core part of what separates Office Choice from other suppliers is that we’re able to offer the buying power of a national brand while providing the personal services of a local supplier. It’s thanks to our national buying power that we can reliably stock our online store and stores throughout the country with many of the back-to-school essentials you need for 2026. 

It doesn’t matter where in Australia your school is located; you can rely on Office Choice to deliver school supplies for the school year.

How Can I Save Money on School Supplies for the 2026 Academic Year?

You can take a few approaches to get the most out of your school supply spending. 

The first is to make a list of the key supplies you’re on the lookout for. Is it general stationery, arts and crafts materials, library supplies, furniture, and/or materials for early learning? 

Take note of these supplies and see what’s available on our site and sort the products based on price from lowest to highest. That way, you’ll see what the most affordable products are for each category and can bookmark them as needed.

The second approach is to wait closer to the start of the 2026 school year. In the weeks leading up to the new academic year, you’re more likely to come across discounts as part of back-to-school sales.

The third and final approach we recommend is assessing whether you’ll need certain supplies in bulk. If you intend to purchase large sums of a specific product, either view the special pricing via the multi-buy option or get in touch with us to enquire about potential larger bulk pricing options.