Sell custom products with Printify
What’s a multi-billion-dollar shopping event that you don’t want to miss out on this summer? Back-to-school season!
Now’s the time to add personalized school supplies to your online store, and we’ve got 20 personalized picks to help you stand out and earn big this school year.
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What are the essential back-to-school supplies?
The back-to-school spending reached $38.8 billion in 2024, with no signs of dropping this year
Here’s how shoppers tend to distribute their budgets for school supplies:
- 40% for apparel and accessories. Sell both for maximum impact.
- 30% for electronics and tech accessories. Design high profit margin essentials to protect students’ electronics.
- 23% for quality school supplies like notebooks, stick-it notes, and stickers.
The top 20 custom school supplies for 2025
Set the right mood for the best (and most profitable) school year yet with personalized school apparel and supplies.
Once you’ve chosen and designed your customized school supplies, check out our back-to-school marketing strategies to ramp up sales.
1. T-shirts
Quality t-shirts are an irreplaceable product in every child’s wardrobe.
Tap into the back‑to‑school rush by having school‑themed designs in your shop – think math jokes, retro-Y2K and 90s motifs, or chalkboard typography.
Because t-shirts print and ship quickly, they’re perfect for last‑minute shoppers and flash promotions, letting you capture those impulse purchase profits.
2. Hoodies
Back-to-school shoppers crave warmth and self-expression, turning quality hoodies into the click-magnet of the season.
They deliver healthy 30-40% margins and raise cart value when paired with tees or bottoms. List heavyweight fleece in popular colors – black, heather, forest – layer on trendy graphics or allow customers to personalize, and watch sales surge well past September.
3. Sweatshirts
Once the leaves start falling, crewneck sweatshirts are every student’s go-to top. Kids need them for gym-class warm-ups and hallway layering, so parents appreciate the no-hood dress-code fit.
Offer heavyweight fleece in on-trend shades, upsell with matching joggers or beanies, and you’ve got a premium ticket to high profits.
4. Backpacks
Whenever anyone thinks of personalized school supplies, backpacks are one of the first items that spring to mind.
As a practical accessory, personalized backpacks are the perfect companion for children and students, making them a must-have for anyone curating a back-to-school wardrobe that reflects their personal style with every piece.
5. Socks
Step into the exciting world of colorful patterns and funky style. With one-of-a-kind designs, these everyday essentials become true fashion statements for completing every back-to-school outfit.
Bundle these high-margin products with other quality accessories like high-quality custom shoes or water bottles to entice shoppers to buy even more from your shop.
6. Sneakers
Custom sneakers are a unique statement piece that students of all ages will wanna get their hands (or feet) on. Letting customers personalize them with their names or other text will bump up their value and your price point.
Bundle with branded socks and launch limited-edition drops to create urgency, positioning sneakers as the must-have back-to-school wardrobe upgrade.
7. Laptop sleeves
Custom laptop sleeves are easy to design and always in demand. Whatever the size, shape, or model, our Catalog has a snug and stylish option your customers will love.
Laptop sleeves have become a practical necessity, protecting students’ most valuable school supplies from scratches, dust, and small accidents. This evergreen product won’t stop making you money any time soon.
8. Water bottles
Water bottles have become increasingly popular as people shift toward reusable drinkware over plastic, proving themselves to be one of the best back-to-school supplies to sell in your online shop.
Water bottles are a must for students on the go, and they love adding a personal touch with bold slogans, their names, photos, and school slogans to display their personality.
Offer even more eco-friendly products to capture the sustainability-focused crowd this autumn.
9. Stickers
Sell single stickers and sheets on Etsy by building micro-collections: grade-level icon packs (elementary to high school), subject-themed sets (math, art, science), and age-targeted styles (bold patterns for tweens, puns or dad jokes for teens).
Place sticker sheets next to notebooks, laptops, and water bottles in your store as an inexpensive add-on for your shoppers. With minimal costs and universal appeal, stickers reliably boost AOV (average order value) throughout the school-start rush.
10. Pin buttons
Pin buttons make a great addition to your collection of custom school supplies. They’re widely enjoyed by children and adults alike, and sell extremely well along with tote bags and denim jackets.
Got an eye-catching design? Pin buttons are the perfect way to share it – compact, stylish, and budget-friendly.
11. Desk mats
Adding desk mats is a simple way to expand your shop’s product lineup with a premium must-have for the season.
Let customers add their own text or photos, then tap into our global printing network to sell these must-have tech accessories worldwide. Increase customers to add on items like stickers, journals, or posters, completing the ultimate study zone set.
12. Lunch bags
As kids head back to classrooms, parents look for sturdy lunch bag options. Position custom lunch bags as premium products by emphasizing their durability and offering personalization – names, fun illustrations, or motivational quotes.
Lightweight and easy to ship, lunch bags deliver high profit margins and are consistently in demand throughout the school year.
13. AirPods case covers and wireless earbuds
With strong 30-40% margins and year-round appeal, personalized AirPods case covers and wireless earbuds could be your next big money makers. Let customers put their names, favorite song titles, and more on these can’t-live-without tech accessories and watch the orders flood in.
14. Wireless chargers
Wireless chargers offer a hassle-free charging connection experience while minimizing the risk of cord-related mishaps or smartphone damage.
Add a standout design or let customers add their own photos, and you’ve got a product students will love and reach for every day.
15. Notebooks
Notebooks – personalized with names, graphics, or quotes – are a classic school supply that never goes out of style. Design personalized pencils, bags, or water bottles for a perfect complementary product that’ll bump up your average order value.
Choose from a range of quality journals and notebooks to suit every preference: lined pages for schoolwork, blank for doodles, softcover for home use, and hardcover for on-the-go organization.
16. Pencil cases
Every student needs a quality pencil case, so offering custom cases will make your store the go-to place for dependable back-to-school staples. Use listing photos of your cases next to notebooks and sticker sheets so shoppers can buy coordinated sets.
Is there a better place for personalized pencils than a pencil case with beautiful graphics, names, initials, or quotes? We don’t think so.
17. Mugs
Create personalized mugs with names, monograms, or initials so that every roommate or family member knows exactly which drinkware is meant for them.
Always in demand, personalized mugs remain a go-to item for their affordability and everyday appeal. Thanks to their low production cost and the high value personalization adds, you can charge a pretty penny for these easy-to-design items.
Post photos of your mugs next to coffee with a matching design, and you’re handing college students the perfect survival kit for those early-morning classes.
18. Posters and tapestry
Wall art brings personality into any space, and school is no exception. Posters and tapestries are great for decorating lockers, dorms, or bedrooms with favorite quotes, bold graphics, or calming designs.
From matte prints to fabric backdrops, these personalizable pieces add a personal touch to any student’s space – and make excellent back-to-school gifts.
19. Bookmarks
Bookmarks are a practical way to keep reading on track – no more dog-eared pages or forgotten chapters. Personalized with names, patterns, photos, or motivational quotes, they’re a small but thoughtful addition to any back-to-school bundle.
20. Phone cases
As students gear up for a new year, they’ll replace scratched or outdated phone cases with a new one that matches their style, driving consistent demand.
List cases for popular phone models, highlight protective features and on-trend patterns, and let students add their own twist to the design with custom colors, phrases, and more to increase their value further.
Why sell custom school supplies with Printify?
No upfront costs
Launch your custom school supplies store with minimal investment. Products are only printed once a customer orders, so you’ll never have to pay for bulk inventory or a place to store it.
Best products and prices
We have over 1,300 high-quality products in our Catalog at the lowest prices in the POD industry, giving you a world of possibilities for your back-to-school collection.
Popular eCommerce integrations
Our seamless integrations with all major eCommerce marketplaces and platforms like Etsy, Shopify, and Squarespace let you connect your store and start selling school supplies in just a few clicks.
Global printing network
We’ve partnered with 140 printing facilities worldwide to help you expand your business globally. No matter where your customers are, we’ll ensure they get their orders swiftly.
Personalize back-to-school products with Printify
Frequently asked questions
Sign up for a free account and head to our Product Catalog. Choose an item to customize and click Start designing. You’ll be taken to the Product Creator, where you can upload an existing design or photos, or create something from scratch with our text editor, free graphics library, Shutterstock integration, pattern tool, and more. Once your design is ready, click Save.
You can then order a sample for yourself or the students in your life, or list your products online to sell.
The school supplies with the highest expected spending in 2025 are:
- Apparel and accessories (t-shirts, hoodies, jackets, water bottles, notebooks, journals)
- School supplies (personalized pencils, pencil cases, highlighters)
- Shoes (high-quality sneakers, boots, athletic shoes)
- Electronics and tech accessories (phone cases, earbuds, desk mats)
Here are the essentials every student needs in their backpack:
- Pens, pencils, and pencil cases
- Glue sticks, highlighters, erasers
- Paper, notebooks, and journals
- Water bottles and lunch bags
A few closing thoughts
We hope this A+ lineup sparks fresh ideas for your 2025 back-to-school product collection. Each personalized item is a proven sales driver that can boost your AOV and keep customers coming back for more.
Whether you’re targeting your products to college students or kindergartners, we wish you an ultra-successful back-to-school season ahead!
