When it comes to back-to-school shopping , don’t forget about the office supply stores. You may automatically think of Target back-to-school sales or Walmart back-to-school deals when planning your shopping list, but the Staples back-to-school sale every year includes deals that are priced to compete with even the biggest retailers. And they're offering a handful of in-store freebies this year, including a free First Day of School Sign and freebies with a purchase (more on that below).
My local Staples is closer to my house than Target or Walmart, so it’s a no-brainer where I’ll be shopping for my school supplies. The Staples back-to-school deals start in June and continue through September.
For more smart shopping tips and savings hacks, text HACKS to 57299 .
Get a free First Day of School Sign (a $0.75 value) in-store through Sept. 13.
Even if you don't make a purchase, you can pick up a free personalized First Day of School sign at Staples (normally $0.75 for an 8" x 11" print in color) during back-to-school shopping season. Just head to the print desk at any Staples location and fill out a quick form in-person to request yours.
You'll pick a design, add your child's name and grade, and get one free sign per student through Sept. 13. In our experience, there was no wait at all — and we even got two signs (one for each child)!
Best Staples Back-to-School Deals Still Available
The Staples Back-to-School Sale is an annual sale that lasts about 14 weeks, with some of the best prices of the year on school supplies.
The Staples back-to-school deals start in June and continue through September, and the prices will sometimes be lower than Walmart's or Target's.
The Staples Back-to-School Sale officially started on Sunday, June 8, 2025.
Staples kicked off their back-to-school sale on Sunday, June 8. That matches what we saw in 2024, when the sale began June 9. Based on past years, we still expect the sale to end in mid-September, making this year's event about 14 weeks long.
Here are the recent start dates for the back-to-school sale at Staples:
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June 8, 2025
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June 9, 2024
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July 16, 2023
Staples' Back-to-School Freebies in 2025
Staples Four Weeks of Freebies was held in July and August of 2025. After the first four weeks, Staples offered an additional two weeks of freebie offers. These were available to redeem using Staples.com or the Staples app, both in store and online.
All the Staples Freebies Offers From July 20, 2025 - Aug. 30, 2025:
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July 20 - 26: Free pack of Astrobrights colored paper (the blue 100-count pack) with any purchase.
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July 27 - Aug. 2: Free 16GB PNY USB drive with any purchase.
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Aug. 3 - 9: Free Sharpie S-Gel Retractable Gel Pen with any purchase.
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Aug. 10 - 16: Free Post-it Super Sticky Notes (8-pack) with any purchase.
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Aug. 17 - 23: 100% back in Staples rewards points (up to $40) on all Post-it products, including flags, notes, and easel pads, when you activate the offer in the app.
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Aug. 17 - 23: Free 12-pack of Cra-Z-Art paints with online purchase. Use coupon code 59058 at checkout. Keep in mind that pickup availability may vary by location.
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Aug. 24 - 30: 100% back in Staples rewards points (up to $40) on all Sharpie products, including highlighters, pens, and markers, when you activate the offer in the app.
Claim the Staples 2025 Teacher Discount: 20% Off Back-to-School Coupon (In Stores Only)
Teachers get 20% off an in-store purchase with a teacher ID. To get this coupon, download the Staples app and make sure you're logged in to your Easy Rewards account. This coupon is valid through Sept. 13 and has a limit of one use. Exclusions include computers and many other electronic devices.
Tips for Saving at the 2025 Staples Back-to-School Sale
1. Join Staples Easy Rewards to earn points and get coupons.
The Staples Easy Rewards program is free to join, and once you're a member, you'll unlock exclusive savings and perks to help with back-to-school shopping. You'll earn 1 point for every $1 spent, and you can pick up to three bonus categories to earn double points. Plus, as long as you're an active member, your points never expire. You can also rack up extra points by recycling unwanted tech, ink, toner, and more.
Members can also get coupons sent to their email. I received $5 off $10.
2. Recycle at Staples and earn points, discounts, and coupons.
The Staples Recycling program makes it worth your time to recycle. Easy Rewards members can start earning points just for dropping off used tech, ink cartridges, batteries, and more, plus get access to exclusive in-store discounts.
Here’s how the Staples recycling rewards break down:
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1,000 points when you recycle tech or batteries for the first time (new Easy Rewards members only)
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500 points per month when you continue recycling tech and batteries
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500 points per ink or toner cartridge, up to 6 per month — that’s up to $15 back in rewards
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$30 in points when you buy a qualifying HP printer and recycle your old one in store
All these offers are tied to your Easy Rewards account, and most are in-store only. Points can be redeemed like cash on future purchases, with 1,000 points equal to $1.
Recycling these items is completely free. Here's a list of products accepted for recycling:
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Backpacks
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Lunch bags
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Pencil pouches (soft and hard case)
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Writing instruments (pencils, markers, pens, crayons, highlighters)
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Rulers and similar items (protractors, triangles, etc. — wood, plastic, metal)
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Glue sticks and empty bottles
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Tech (calculators, headphones, earbuds, cables, USBs, etc.)
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Binders (regular and zipper — paper must be removed)
Sharp cutting instruments, like scissors and X-Acto knives, aren't included.
3. Stock up on Staples school supplies with prices that rival Walmart and Target.
At some points during the back-to-school season, Staples’ prices will even dip down below Walmart‘s. You’re gonna have to hang on for a couple of weeks before this is true for most products, though.
Here are the rock-bottom prices to look for from Staples — if you see them marked down this low, stock up:
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Elmer’s liquid glue, 4 oz : $0.55 (stock-up price: $0.50 each)
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Crayola colored pencils, 12 ct : $0.99 (stock-up price: $0.90 each)
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Crayola markers, 10 ct : $0.97 (stock-up price: $0.95 each)
4. Take advantage of Staples’ 100% Price Match Guarantee.
Staples offers a 100% Price Match Guarantee. If you spot a lower price on an identical item, just show it to a Staples associate, and they'll match it. You can bring a competitor’s weekly ad or use your phone to compare prices while shopping in-store.
And if you buy something from a Staples store and find it at a lower price in another Staples store or on Staples.com within 14 days, Staples will refund you the difference.
5. You can stack promo codes when shopping Staples back-to-school sales online.
True story! Staples issues product coupons in the form of promo codes, and also promo codes that apply to your entire transaction.
You can use only one transaction coupon on your entire order. BUT you can combine individual product coupons on top of that whole-transaction coupon when you shop Staples online.
6. Note the product exclusions for coupons on Staples.com.
The fact that you can use more than one promo code when shopping Staples online is pretty amazing. But there’s a long list of exclusions. You can never use an online coupon for any of these products:
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Laptops and tablets
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Streaming devices
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Apple products
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Bose products
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Google products
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Ultimate Ears products
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Wacom products
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TI graphing calculators
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Most ink and toner
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Gift cards
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Phone cards
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Postage
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Custom orders or promotional products
While there are a couple of big-ticket back-to-school items on that list of exclusions, the good news is that you can still use promo codes on the most common basics you’re likely to buy in bulk, like notebooks, crayons, and glue.
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