Homeschool Supplies: What You Actually Need (And What You Can Skip)

Somewhere on Pinterest, there's a homeschool room with color-coded bookshelves, a vintage globe, matching storage bins, and natural light streaming through sheer curtains onto a reclaimed wood desk. It's beautiful. It's also completely unnecessary.

You need far less than the internet suggests to run an effective homeschool. The essentials fit in a single drawer. Everything else—the laminator, the rolling cart system, the wall-mounted calendar with coordinating dry-erase markers—is optional. Some of it's helpful. Most of it can wait until you know what your family actually uses.

Here's what you actually need to start, what's nice to have once you find your rhythm, and what you can confidently ignore.

The Actual Essentials (You Probably Already Own These)

Everything on this list fits in a shoebox. If you have school-age children, you likely already own most of it.

Writing Supplies

Pencils (a dozen, sharpened)
Erasers
A pencil sharpener
Pens (for you, and eventually for older students)
Crayons or colored pencils
A few highlighters

Paper

Lined paper appropriate to your child's age (wider lines for younger kids)
Blank paper for drawing and projects
A few spiral notebooks or composition books
Printer paper if you have a printer

Basic Tools

Scissors (kid-safe for younger children)
Glue sticks
A ruler
A basic calculator (for checking work—not for doing it)

Technology (If You're Using It)

A computer, laptop, or tablet for online curricula, videos, and research
Internet access
A printer (useful but not essential—library printers work too)

That's it for essentials. Everything else depends on your curriculum, your methods, and what you discover you need once you're actually homeschooling.

Nice to Have (Once You Know What You Need)

These items are genuinely useful—but only if they match how your family actually operates. Wait until you've homeschooled for a few weeks before purchasing. You'll have a much better sense of what will help versus what will sit unused.

Organization Tools

A whiteboard or chalkboard: Great for demonstrating math, displaying schedules, or letting kids work through problems visually. A $15 whiteboard from a big box store works fine.
Binders or folders: For organizing completed work, if you need to keep records for your state.
A simple filing system: An accordion folder or small file box to separate each child's work by subject or month.
Workboxes or bins: Some families love the workbox system (daily tasks organized in separate containers). Others find it fussy. Try a simple version with plastic drawers before investing in a full system.

Learning Tools

Math manipulatives: Base ten blocks, fraction tiles, counters. Extremely helpful for hands-on math learners. Many math curricula specify what you need; don't buy randomly.
A globe or wall map: Useful for history and geography. Check thrift stores—globes show up frequently.
Flashcards: Math facts, sight words, whatever you're drilling. You can make these free; buying them is just a time-saver.
A magnifying glass: For nature study and science exploration. Kids love them.
Basic science supplies: Measuring cups, a thermometer, a magnifying glass, food coloring, vinegar, baking soda. Most experiments use household items.

Comfort and Function

A good read-aloud chair: If you're doing Charlotte Mason or any literature-heavy approach, you'll be reading aloud a lot. Comfortable seating matters.
Clipboards: Let kids work anywhere—couch, floor, outside. Surprisingly useful.
A timer: For timed work sessions, keeping lessons short, or managing transitions. Your phone works.
Headphones: If multiple kids need to watch/listen to different things, or if one child needs to focus while others are noisy.

Skip These (At Least For Now)

These items appear on every "homeschool supplies" list, but most new homeschoolers don't need them. Save your money and space until you're sure they fit your life.

A Dedicated Homeschool Room

You don't need one. Plenty of families homeschool successfully at the kitchen table, on the couch, or spread across the house. A dedicated space is nice if you have it—but lack of a "schoolroom" shouldn't delay starting. Some families find that separating "school" into its own room actually makes homeschooling feel more institutional, not less.

A Laminator

The internet is convinced you need one. Most homeschoolers who buy them use them enthusiastically for two weeks, then never again. If you find yourself re-using the same materials constantly and wishing they were more durable, then consider it. Otherwise, sheet protectors accomplish the same thing for items you want to reuse.

Matching Storage Systems

That coordinated bin system from the Container Store looks great in photos. It's also expensive and optimized for Instagram, not function. Mismatched containers from the dollar store work identically. Buy organizational supplies after you know what you need to organize.

Expensive Furniture

Kid-sized desks, special homeschool tables, ergonomic chairs for every child—none of it is required. Most homeschooling happens at tables you already own, on couches, lying on floors, and outside. If your current furniture works, keep it. If a child has specific needs (focus issues, posture concerns), address those individually rather than overhauling everything.

Curriculum for Every Subject

You don't need formal curriculum for art, music, PE, or many electives—especially in the early years. Library books, YouTube tutorials, nature walks, and life experience cover enormous ground. Buy curriculum where it adds value, not because every subject "should" have one.

Where to Find Supplies Affordably

Dollar stores: Notebooks, pencils, crayons, folders, poster board, flash cards, timers, bins, and more. Quality is fine for homeschool use.
Thrift stores: Globes, maps, educational games, puzzles, books, bookshelves, and storage containers at a fraction of retail price.
Back-to-school sales: Stock up in August when supplies are cheapest. Pencils and notebooks don't expire.
Homeschool used sales: Many co-ops and groups hold annual curriculum sales. Supplies often appear alongside curriculum.
Facebook Marketplace and local groups: Search "homeschool" in your area. Families frequently sell bundles when they've finished a grade level.
Amazon Subscribe & Save: For consumables like printer ink and paper, subscription pricing often beats retail.

Common Questions

Do I need a printer?

It depends on your curriculum. If you're using primarily physical books and workbooks, you might print rarely. If you're using PDF curriculum, online resources with printables, or creating your own materials, a printer saves constant trips to the library or office store. A basic black-and-white laser printer (around $100-150) is the most economical for regular printing—inkjet costs add up quickly.

What about educational subscription boxes?

These can be fun but aren't essential. Many families find that the novelty wears off quickly, and the activities don't align with their curriculum or goals. If your budget allows and your kids genuinely enjoy them, they're a fine supplement—not a replacement for intentional curriculum choices. Wait until you've established your rhythm before adding subscriptions.

My child wants a desk like they had at school. Should I buy one?

If your child is specifically asking for it and you have space, it can help with the transition from school—it's familiar and "official." But observe first. Many kids discover they actually prefer the couch, the floor, or the kitchen table once they realize they have options. A desk isn't required; it's a preference.

Your Next Move

Gather the essentials from the first list—most of which you likely own. Find a spot to store them together. Resist the urge to buy "nice to haves" until you've been homeschooling for at least a month.

If budget is tight, the next post is especially for you: a complete guide to free and low-cost curriculum options that actually work—so you can start strong without financial strain.