Gift guides
Back to School and College Essentials
From the editors
Whether you're prepping for the first day of kindergarten or packing the car for college move-in, back-to-school season is a lot. Here's our favorite gear for every stage: lunch boxes and backpacks, dorm essentials, care package ideas, and the little things that make a new school year feel exciting instead of overwhelming.
Newest first
11 guidesThe guides
Newest guide · August 11, 2026Our pro-mom back-to-school tip each year: Mabel's Labels
Gift guide · July 30, 2026The best back-to-school tech for teens
Gift guide · July 29, 2026Walmart has back-to-school shopping covered
Gift guide · July 27, 2026Make back-to-school clothes shopping easy with Primary
Gift guide · July 23, 2026Our favorite lunchboxes for Back to School 2026
Gift guide · July 20, 2026The most beautiful way to get organized: Paper Source
Gift guide · July 19, 2026Why Target is our favorite back-to-school shopping destination
Gift guide · July 9, 202611 dorm room essentials your college student needs
Gift guide · May 20, 202616 fantastic gifts for college grads
Gift guide · August 17, 2025Back to school tips for moms: a smart reset guide
Gift guide · July 29, 2025Smart back-to-school picks for families on a budget
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This guide contains affiliate links, which means we receive a small commission from some purchases to help support our team. All picks are determined editorially by our staff; there has been no compensation in exchange for our picks.
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Blendjet 2 USB powered personal blender
From: 12 must-have electronics and small appliances for dorm rooms | Back to School Shopping Guidea cordless Bissell stick vacuum
From: 12 must-have electronics and small appliances for dorm rooms | Back to School Shopping Guideelectric toothbrush
From: 12 must-have electronics and small appliances for dorm rooms | Back to School Shopping GuideCDC guidelines on masking indoors
From: 12 must-have electronics and small appliances for dorm rooms | Back to School Shopping GuideBissel's MyAir Air Purifier
From: 12 must-have electronics and small appliances for dorm rooms | Back to School Shopping GuidePhillips Smart Sleep alarm clock
From: 12 must-have electronics and small appliances for dorm rooms | Back to School Shopping GuideVornado fans
From: 12 must-have electronics and small appliances for dorm rooms | Back to School Shopping Guide
1. The Source of Self-Regard: Selected Essays, Speeches, and Meditations, by Toni Morrison
From: 7 outstanding high school or college graduation gift books: On stepping into the arena, dreaming with eyes wide open, and professional troublemaking (in the best possible way)
2. Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead, by Brené Brown
From: 7 outstanding high school or college graduation gift books: On stepping into the arena, dreaming with eyes wide open, and professional troublemaking (in the best possible way)
3. You Will Leave a Trail of Stars: Words of Inspiration for Blazing Your Own Path, by Lisa Congdon
From: 7 outstanding high school or college graduation gift books: On stepping into the arena, dreaming with eyes wide open, and professional troublemaking (in the best possible way)
4. The Boy, The Fox, The Mole, and The Horse by Charlie Mackesy
From: 7 outstanding high school or college graduation gift books: On stepping into the arena, dreaming with eyes wide open, and professional troublemaking (in the best possible way)
5. All Along You Were Blooming, by Morgan Harper Nichols
From: 7 outstanding high school or college graduation gift books: On stepping into the arena, dreaming with eyes wide open, and professional troublemaking (in the best possible way)
6. Professional Troublemaker: The Fear-Fighter Manual, by Luvvie Ajayi Jones
From: 7 outstanding high school or college graduation gift books: On stepping into the arena, dreaming with eyes wide open, and professional troublemaking (in the best possible way)
7. The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World, by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and His Holiness the Dalai Lama XIV, with Douglas Abrams
From: 7 outstanding high school or college graduation gift books: On stepping into the arena, dreaming with eyes wide open, and professional troublemaking (in the best possible way)Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption
From: 7 outstanding high school or college graduation gift books: On stepping into the arena, dreaming with eyes wide open, and professional troublemaking (in the best possible way)Salvage the Bones
From: 7 outstanding high school or college graduation gift books: On stepping into the arena, dreaming with eyes wide open, and professional troublemaking (in the best possible way)floral sneakers
From: Back-to-school trend alert! 7 tie-dye sneakers we love for kids.metallic sneakers
From: Back-to-school trend alert! 7 tie-dye sneakers we love for kids.tie-dye Converse low tops
From: Back-to-school trend alert! 7 tie-dye sneakers we love for kids.Converse sneakers
From: Back-to-school trend alert! 7 tie-dye sneakers we love for kids.Nike Jordan 1 Retro High-Top in tie-dyed leather
From: Back-to-school trend alert! 7 tie-dye sneakers we love for kids.tie-dyed Vans Sk8-Hi Tapered VR3 High-Top
From: Back-to-school trend alert! 7 tie-dye sneakers we love for kids.tie-dye double Velcro-strap sneaker from Childrenchic
From: Back-to-school trend alert! 7 tie-dye sneakers we love for kids.Keds triple-kick tie-dye sneakers
From: Back-to-school trend alert! 7 tie-dye sneakers we love for kids.
From the archive
Earlier guides
30 cool lunch box accessories to make school lunch more fun. Lots on sale too! | Back to School Shopping15 of the coolest backpacks for preschool and kindergarten | Back to School Shopping GuideLunch bags and totes for teens who have outgrown lunch boxes | Back to School ShoppingFresh Olympic-inspired neon sneakers (with lots on sale) | Back to School Shopping14 college dorm room essentials you might not have considered: Part II | Back to School Shopping14 college dorm room essentials you might not have considered: Part I | Back to School ShoppingThe coolest free school printables: Lunch notes, planners, labels, chore charts and more | Back to School Guide7 creative time-saving hacks to save your back-to-school routine. | Back to School Guide20 cool backpacks for teens this year | Back to School Guide21 great gift ideas for college students | Holiday Gifts 2022Cool plus-size clothes for teens: 8 of our favorite destinations | Back to School Guide 2022Sponsored12 smart personalized label ideas to help you save money, cut down on fights, and bring home fewer germs | Back to School Guide12 must-have electronics and small appliances for dorm rooms | Back to School Shopping Guide7 outstanding high school or college graduation gift books: On stepping into the arena, dreaming with eyes wide open, and professional troublemaking (in the best possible way)Back-to-school trend alert! 7 tie-dye sneakers we love for kids.7 great Kindergarten printables for an awesome first year at school, most of them free | Back to School Guide 2019SponsoredThe best 2019-20 school year planners for every type of parent | Back to School Guide 2019Sponsored27 very cool backpacks for grade school this year | Back to School Guide 2019Sponsored11 favorite school supply organization hacks and tips | Back to School Guide 20199 cool personalized school supplies to help make the school year a little more fun | Back to School 20189 clever, cool kids' tees for book lovers | Back to School Guide 2018Beyond loveys: 11 sweet comfort items to send kids to school with fewer worries | Back to School Guide 201811 incredibly creative ideas for first day of school photos | Back to School Guide 2018The coolest back to school supplies and fun accessories under $10 to make September more fun | Back to School 2018