The 2026 back-to-school season runs from mid-July to early September. Not every week in that window is worth buying in, and the categories peak at different times. Below is a week-by-week calendar built from three years of price data.
Mid-July · the false start
Advertising begins, discounts do not. What appears now is mostly last season's stock at a modest reduction. Worth browsing for stationery, not for anything expensive.
Weeks 1–2 of August · supplies and bags
School supplies, backpacks and clothing basics hit their lowest prices. Electronics have not started; buying a laptop now costs roughly 15% more than it will in three weeks.
Weeks 3–4 of August · electronics
Laptops, tablets and monitors join in, and this is also when fashion codes land on top of what remains of the summer sale. The overlap makes these two weeks the strongest of the whole window for a mixed basket.
Early September · end of season
Deepest discounts of the window, on the thinnest stock. Sizes and colours are picked over, so this is only worth waiting for if you are flexible about the specific item.
What to skip entirely
Bundle offers that pair a discounted laptop with accessories at list price. The bundle discount is almost always smaller than buying the same accessories separately during the same week.
