Whether you're getting started with homeschooling or starting a new grade for a new school year, a homeschool supplies list helps you get your student workspace ready. While kids might need different supplies at different grade levels, there are also many essential supplies any homeschool student needs.
Master List of Basic Homeschool Supplies
The first twenty items on this list are true necessities for all homeschooled students. You can make do without a lot of basic supplies if your budget is tight, but these are all the supplies you'll need to have a successful homeschool experience.
- Pencils
- Erasers
- Pencil sharpener
- Binders or folders
- Lined paper (wide-ruled for younger kids, college rule for older kids)
- Notebooks
- Tape (transparent and/or masking)
- Glue (sticks or liquid)
- Scissors
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Ruler (with inches and centimeters)
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Dictionary
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Fiction books
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Nonfiction books
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Workbooks or printable worksheets
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Desk or table and chair
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Pencil case or office supply caddy
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Crayons and/or markers
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Paint and brushes (non-toxic, tempera, or watercolor)
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Basic sports equipment (ball, jump rope, hula hoop, cones)
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Clipboards
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Computer with internet access
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Headphones with microphone
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Computer printer with ink
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Copy paper
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Timer
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Stapler and staples
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3-hole punch
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Sticky notes
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World map or globe
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Laminator pouches or clear document sleeves
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Bulletin board, dry erase board, or chalk board
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Dry erase markers or chalk (for chalkboard)
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Bins, crates, or boxes to hold supplies
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Bookshelf
Preschool Homeschool Supply List
A preschool curriculum is typically play-based, so kids will also need a variety of toys and special materials to use for learning things like social skills or counting. In addition to the basic school supplies, preschoolers also need:
- Blocks (interlocking or wooden)
- Counters
- Play dough
- Letter and number posters (capital and lowercase letters, numbers to 20)
- Coloring pages
- Letter tracing worksheets
- Picture books
- Realistic toys (like play food and play money)
- Real or fake shoe with laces
Elementary Homeschool Supply List
As kids in grades one through five progress to more complex topics in math, reading, writing, science, and social studies, you'll want to have a few extra supplies on hand. Additional materials kids in grade school need include:
- Construction paper
- Multiplication tables
- Math manipulatives (individual counters or interlocking ones/tens counters)
- Tangrams
- Picture books and chapter books
- Flash cards (sight words, spelling words, and math facts)
- Magnifying glass
Special Education Homeschool Supply List
Kids with special needs may also need special homeschool supplies. In addition to basic school supplies, special education homeschool students may also need:
- Stylus for touch screens
- Adaptive switch (connects to radios, computers, etc.)
- Calming fidgets or manipulatives like stress balls or fidget spinners
- Pencil grippers
- Visual timer
- Alternative seating options
- Art smock
Middle School Homeschool Supply List
As kids enter 6th grade, 7th grade, and 8th grade, they may need a few more specialized school supplies. In addition to the basics, kids in middle school need:
- Pens
- Calculator
- Graph paper
- Index cards
- Middle grade novels and poetry books
- Highlighters
- Basic microscope
- Science lab supplies (goggles, beakers or test tubes, a scale, and pipettes)
High School Homeschool Supply List
Teenagers being homeschooled for high school will need special supplies based on the specific courses they take. In addition to the basic supplies, some essential supplies for high school homeschool are:
- Graphing calculator
- YA novels
- Thesaurus
- Digital camera
- Webcam
- Advanced art supplies (sketch book, canvases, charcoal, etc.)
- Presentation books
Optional Homeschool Supplies
Students or parents may find it easier and more efficient to have the following supplies, but they're not required for a great homeschool experience.
- Paper trimmer
- Laminator
- Library card
- External hard drive
- Bible or other religious text
Supplies for Homeschool Success
When you have all the best homeschool supplies on hand, it helps kids stay on track with their education. While you can buy cool school supplies, they aren't necessary for homeschool success. Check out a typical back to school supply list and list of free homeschool materials to see what non-essential school supplies you might also want to keep on hand.
