Back to school costs and statistics for 2026
Parents set to fork out $14.4 billion on back to school costs in 2026.
Key takeaways
- Parents will spend an average $2,847 for primary and $5,310 for high school per child.
- Nearly 1 in 3 parents struggle with costs; shopping sales early can ease this burden.
- Uniforms are often the priciest supply item; consider buying a few sizes up to save.
The beginning of a new year marks the dreaded back to school shop for parents across the country.
Finder found that parents will spend $14.4 billion on back-to-school costs in 2026, including tuition, school supplies and other costs.
Key statistics
- Parents will spend $14.4 billion on back to school costs in 2026.
- On average, it costs $2,847 to send a child to primary school in 2026 and $5,310 for high school.
- Almost 1 in 3 parents with school children can't afford back to school expenses.
How much will parents spend on back to school costs?
When all costs – like tuition fees, camps, excursions, sporting equipment and transport costs – are taken into account, parents are shelling out on average $2,847 per primary school child per year, and $5,310 on secondary students.
That adds up to a whopping national spend of $14.4 billion – $6.0 billion spent on primary school costs, and $8.4 billion for secondary school costs.
How much does tuition cost in Australia?
Tuition fees are the biggest school expense, costing parents on average anywhere between $382 for a public primary school to $13,115 for an independent secondary school, adding up to a national spend of $4.8 billion.
Victoria ranks as the most expensive state for private primary schools, with the average independent school tuition costing $9,976 per year for primary students.
For private secondary schools, New South Wales is the most expensive with the average independent school tuition costing $15,273 per year for secondary students. That's compared to $9,030 in WA.
When it comes to government schools however, Victoria and South Australia take the lead with the average primary school in Victoria asking parents for a voluntary contribution of $556, and the average secondary school in South Australia asking for $1,153.
How much do school supplies cost?
A fresh set of school supplies – complete with textbooks, stationery and a uniform – will set parents back $712 for primary school children and $1,166 for secondary students.
Across the country, school supplies are expected to cost families a staggering $3.8 billion for the year ahead.
School uniforms are the priciest back-to-school item, costing $250 for primary students and $479 for secondary students each year. Electronic devices come in second place at $252 and $309 respectively.
What are the other hidden costs?
School tuition and supplies can add up quickly, but there are plenty of other things parents will spend money on this year.
Some hidden costs include transport to and from school, costing primary students $529 and secondary students $631, and school camps, costing $344 and $489 respectively.
Electronic devices like laptops and tablets can be crucial for students at school and at home. Finder's analysis of research from the Futurity Investment Group found parents can expect to pay $252 per year on devices in primary school, and $309 in secondary school.
Almost 1 in 3 Aussie parents can't afford back to school costs
Back to school costs are a huge burden for millions of Aussie families this January, according to new research by Finder.
Finder data shows 30% of Aussie parents with school-aged children – equivalent to 819,000 households – can't afford back to school expenses including stationery and uniforms.
More than 1 in 10 (13%) admit they will have to go into debt to pay for back to school costs.
A further 6% of families say they'll have to buy second hand items or use hand-me-downs to get their child back in the classroom.
The research shows 6% of school aged children will be using last year's supplies.
Sadly 4% of families say their child will have to go without.
How to save on back to school costs
Buy quality where it counts. You can extend the lifespan of backpacks by shopping around for something durable that will withstand years of being tossed around. On the other hand, stick to budget-friendly brands when it comes to losable items like lunch boxes and water bottles. There's no point in buying something fancy if you're going to have to replace it 6 months later.
Buy a few sizes up. Kids grow! Before you know it, they've outgrown the school uniform that cost you hundreds of dollars. Avoid forking out on a new uniform every year by buying a few sizes up. It might look a bit large on them now, but they'll quickly grow into it. A small amount of wiggle room in their shoes will help too.
Get on the front foot. Don't leave your school shop to the last minute – facing crowds and empty shelves will be stressful for both you and your kids. Start shopping early and look out for back to school sales. This can save you hundreds of dollars over the year, especially on pricey items like laptops.
Methodology
- Finder used pricing data from Kmart, Officeworks and the Athlete's Foot to calculate the average annual cost of back to school items for primary and secondary school students.
- Analysis assumes some items (e.g. notebooks and pens) are purchased annually, while others are purchased less frequently (e.g. uniforms).
- Statistics on school supplies are based on Finder's list of back to school items.
- Data on tuition was sourced from the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority and the cost of uniforms, textbooks and other equipment was sourced from Futurity Investment Group.
- Demographic data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics were used to calculate national spend.
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