Electronics top 2026 back-to-class shopping lists

Shoppers are spending more than ever to prepare to head back to classes, with electronics taking up the biggest chunk of the budget. Roughly one-third of total K-12 spending and one-quarter of college spending go toward devices and gear. Over time, electronics have grown from nice-to-have to must-pack items for students at every level. The category has grown in popularity among both K-12 and college shoppers, with college seeing a particularly big jump this year in the percent of shoppers buying electronics. 

Consumers aren’t just spending more, they’re also shifting what they buy. Although laptops are still the most popular back-to-school electronics purchase, fewer shoppers are buying them. Among K-12 shoppers, many schools now provide electronics directly to students, reducing the need for families to purchase items themselves. In fact, 20% of shoppers who are not purchasing electronics say those items are provided by the school. 

Additionally, as laptop purchases decline, many K-12 shoppers are buying more desktop computers. 

Electronics remain a dominant part of back-to-school and back-to-college budgets, and the dynamics within the category are catching up with consumers’ wants and needs. For more insights into back-to-school and back-to-college shopping trends, explore NRF’s additional research and analysis.