Back-to-school expenses are set to sting family budgets, according to new research.

 

Comparison site Finder.com. says that school supplies for 2026 will put a $3.8 billion dent in parents’ wallets.

 

A new set of school supplies – complete with textbooks, stationery, a uniform, and electronic devices – will cost parents an average of $712 for primary school children and $1166 for secondary students, according to Finder.

 

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.

 

Finder data shows 30 per cent of parents with school-aged children – equivalent to 819,000 households – can't afford back-to-school expenses including stationery and uniforms.

 

More than one in 10 (13 per cent) admit they will have to go into debt to pay for BTS costs.

 

A further six per cent 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 that six per cent of school-aged children will be using last year's supplies.