Many parents view shopping for school supplies as a frustrating venture involving demanding children and searches for products that don't seem to exist.

Cost? Oh, that. Just getting in and out of the store with sanity and the right size box of crayons is enough for most people.

This is the 13th annual Rocky School Supply Price Survey, so we're familiar with the challenge. As in the past, we looked at nine items that teachers commonly ask students to bring to class, then compared prices at national chain stores.

This year, we've expanded our scope, adding Staples - new to Denver - to our list of stores.

Hang in there. Help is ahead. Here are the major sellers of school supplies, ordered from least to most expensive. Prices were checked for the week of Aug. 5.

The products

We bought the same items at all the stores we tested. They were:

Crayons: Box of 24, Crayola

Markers: Box of 8, Crayola washable

Pens: Erasermate, 20

Notebook paper: Two packages, 150 sheets each

Notebook: Mead 5-Star, 100 pages

Spiral notebooks: Six, 70 pages each

Folders: Six, solid colors with pockets

School glue: 4-ounce bottle, Elmer's

Scissors: One pair Fiskars for Kids

Target

One box 24 Crayola crayons: $.20

1 box 8 Crayola washable markers: $2.79

20 Eraser-mate pens: $9.20

2 150-sheet packs notebook paper: $.60

1 100-page Mead 5-Star notebook: $1.97

6 70-page spiral notebooks: $.60

6 pocket folders: $.60

1 4-ounce bottle Elmer's school glue: $.20

1 pair Fiskars for Kids scissors: $1.49

Total: $17.65

Wal-Mart

1 box 24 Crayola crayons: $.20

1 box 8 Crayola washable markers: $2.64

20 Eraser-mate pens: $9.40

2 150-sheet packs notebook paper: $.60

1 100-page Mead 5-Star notebook: $1.97

6 70-page spiral notebooks: $.60

6 pocket folders: $.60

1 4-ounce bottle Elmer's school glue: $.20

1 pair Fiskars for Kids scissors: $1.73

Total: $17.94

Office Depot

1 box 24 Crayola crayons: $.99

1 box 8 Crayola washable markers: $3.29

20 Eraser-mate pens: $8.96

2 150-sheet packs notebook paper: $1.58

1 100-page Mead 5-Star notebook: $.89

6 70-page spiral notebooks: $1.99

6 pocket folders: $1.50

1 4-ounce bottle Elmer's school glue: $.99

1 pair Fiskars for Kids scissors: $1.79

Total: $21.98

Staples

1 box 24 Crayola crayons: $.15

1 box 8 Crayola washable markers: $3.79

20 Eraser-mate pens: $11.96

2 150-sheet packs notebook paper: $1

1 100-page Mead 5-Star notebook: $1.99

6 70-page spiral notebooks: $.54

6 pocket folders: $.30

1 4-ounce bottle Elmer's school glue: $1.09

1 pair Fiskars for Kids scissors: $1.79

Total: $22.61

Kmart

1 box 24 Crayola crayons: $.49

1 box 8 Crayola washable markers: $3.69

20 Eraser-mate pens: $12.45

2 150-sheet packs notebook paper: $1.58

1 100-page Mead 5-Star notebook: $4.39

6 70-page spiral notebooks: $.78

6 pocket folders: $.60

1 4-ounce bottle Elmer's school glue: $.20

1 pair Fiskars for Kids scissors: $2.79

Total: $26.97

Office Max

1 box 24 Crayola crayons: $1.79

1 box 8 Crayola washable markers: $3.99

20 Eraser-mate pens: $11.16

2 150-sheet packs notebook paper: $2.78

1 100-page Mead 5-Star notebook: $3.99

6 70-page spiral notebooks: $4.14

6 pocket folders: $1.50

1 4-ounce bottle Elmer's school glue: $.99

1 pair Fiskars for Kids scissors: $2.29

Total: $32.63

Walgreens

1 box 24 Crayola crayons: $2.49

1 box 8 Crayola washable markers: $4.79

20 Eraser-mate pens: $14.95

2 150-sheet packs notebook paper: $3.18

1 100-page Mead 5-Star notebook: $2.49

6 70-page spiral notebooks: $8.34

6 pocket folders: $4.14

1 4-ounce bottle Elmer's school glue: $1.79

1 pair Fiskars for Kids scissors: $2.99

Total: $45.16

Rite Aid

1 box 24 Crayola crayons: $2.29

1 box 8 Crayola washable markers: $2.49

20 Eraser-mate pens: $16.45

2 150-sheet packs notebook paper: $1

1 100-page Mead 5-Star notebook: $5.34

6 70-page spiral notebooks: $10.74

6 pocket folders: $5.94

1 4-ounce bottle Elmer's school glue: $2.29

1 pair scissors: $1.40

Total: $47.94

Back to Top