We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.

    22 School Supplies You'll Actually Use All The Time

    They won't take up a lot of space, I swear.

    1. A pack of retractable pens that'll become the most functional writing tools you own. Each one combines four pens of different shades so you can write with all the colours of the wind.

    A person writing with a pen

    2. A Kate Spade pencil case that you'll want to show off at every opportunity. It already comes filled with basic school supplies (like pencils, a sharpener, a ruler, and an eraser) so you won't have to buy them separately.

    A small leather pencil case with two pencils, a ruler, an eraser, and a pencil sharpener beside it

    3. A pack of brush pens that'll help you create the most beautiful watercolour paintings, without the mess of actual paint. The set comes with 20 colourful dye pens and a water brush. All you'll need is a little cup of water to dip your pens in if you want to dilute the ink.

    Twenty watercolour brush pens placed around a small drawing of a sun setting behind a mountain

    4. An eco-friendly notebook that you can scan using the Rocketbook app to create digital copies of all your notes. The paper is reusable, so once you're finished with your notes, just wipe the paper with a damp cloth to erase everything.

    5. A pack of tiny highlighters that'll make reading your notes a little easier because they come in pretty pastel colours instead of intense neon ones. They have a wedge-shaped tip so you can highlight or underline your notes, and they’ll still work if you accidentally leave the caps off for a couple hours.

    Three highlighters on a handdrawn floral background

    6. A pack of tiny sprout bookmarks that'll root themselves between whatever page you left off at when you're finishing studying. The stem is long enough that it won't fall out and lose your page, but they're also thin enough they won't ruin the integrity of the book's spine.

    7. A pencil case that you can use to store your growing collection of school supplies. It has 64 elastic bands inside that'll stretch to fit any sized pen, pencil, or marker.

    8. A pack of colourful pencils that are so pretty, you'll never want to lend them out. Each pencil comes pre-sharpened so you can use them ~write~ away.

    A bunch of pencils in a small jar

    9. A rechargeable book light that'll make reading in a dark car, bus, or train way easier. You can adjust the angle and the brightness to provide enough light for you to read without disturbing the people around you

    A person reading a large book in the dark There is a small book light attached to the top of the book

    10. A mini stapler that is small enough to fit in your pencil case and won't take up a lot of space on your desk. It has a built-in staple remover on the back and a little storage space on the bottom so you'll always have backup staples if you run out.

    11. Or try an eco-friendly paper clincher that'll bind up to five pieces of paper together so you won't have to use an actual stapler. It'll also be easier to shred and recycle your papers when you're finished with them because you won't have to mess around with any metal.

    A stack of paper sitting in the teeth of a miniature staple-free stapler

    12. A little slicer that'll help you quickly and safely cut through tape, paper, or plastic packaging. It has a small ceramic blade that'll never get dull or rust and it's almost impossible to cut your fingers on, making it safer than a regular pair of scissors.

    13. A pack of file folders that'll keep your loose papers from getting bent or ripped while they're in your bag. It can hold up to 60 sheets at once and the durable plastic material will protect your notes from getting wet, too.

    A large plastic folder placed on a book

    14. A pack of erasers, because accidents happen. They'll remove your mistake in seconds without leaving behind those dreaded smudges and eraser crumbs. And each one has a little quote on it that is equally funny and encouraging.

    Six small erasers organized in a circle

    15. Or pack of correction tape if you prefer using pens over pencils. It'll dry down immediately so you'll be able to correct handwritten or typed notes in seconds.

    A person using correction tape on a piece of paper

    16. A pack of Sharpie gel pens that'll make you actually want to take notes because they write like an absolute dream. The ink dries down quickly so it won’t bleed through your paper or smudge if you write with your left hand.

    17. A bullet journal that can be whatever you want it to be. Each page has a dotted grid, making it easy to use as a sketchbook, diary, planner, or notebook.

    A person placing a notebook on wooden table

    18. A tiny but mighty pencil sharpener that has an adjustable insert hole so you can customize the size and thickness of the lead point. The dial on the side changes the angle, creating a longer and thinner point when you use a higher setting.

    19. A travel-friendly hole puncher so you can store and organize your worksheets, syllabus, and other sheets of paper in your three-ring binder. It has a tray at the bottom to collect the punched paper and holes on the sides to fit in your binder.

    20. A pack of gel pens with adorable animal faces on the lids. The ink is erasable so you can easily make corrections while you're writing.

    21. A USB flash drive that comes in different shapes, like animals, food, and other random objects so you won't lose or confuse it with another flash drive.

    22. And finally, a colourful agenda that'll help you plan for the year ahead. You'll have enough space to write out your schedule for the day, mark down important deadlines, and jot down tasks on a to-do list.

    You heading to school with your new school supplies:

    Looking for more great Canadian shopping deals? Check out these tech products that we tried and loved, awesome products by Canadian brands, and useful household products.