25 Back-to-School Organizing Essentials We Love

School will be back in session soon, and we're sharing 25 of our favorite products to help keep your home and life organized so your kids can focus on schoolwork.

Price and stock could change after publish date, and we may make money off these affiliate links. Learn more.
July 18, 2023

The beginning of each school year has its pros: fresh starts, getting back into a routine and less daily harassment for more screen time. However, those perks also come with busier schedules, mountains of paperwork (both digital and physical) and homework.

Staying organized can make a big difference, and that starts in the home. Take a look at our favorite organization products, from school supply storage to lunch hacks, to help keep your kids on track this school year.

FOR THE HOMEWORK STATION

$40
Target

Keep homework and craft supplies nearby when needed and out of sight when not in use with a rolling storage cart. This sturdy metal cart is a huge upgrade over the flimsy plastic ones and can hold a variety of tools your child needs to do school projects.

$35.99 $28.79
Amazon

One of the best ways to keep a child focused is to ensure they have everything they need within reach. This colorful rotating craft caddy is perfect for holding your child's pens, pencils and anything else they need. Best of all, it takes up a small amount of space so their workspace won't feel cluttered.

$49.99 $40.38
Amazon

If you have one already, you know the magic that is a label maker. This digital label maker prints and cuts its own labels in seconds and is the perfect way to keep your life organized. Use it to label lunch boxes, homework folders, files and much more.

$8.99
Amazon

When everything has its own place, working efficiently is a breeze. Set your kiddos up for success by teaching them this lesson early on with a pen and pencil organizer. They (and their teachers) will thank you.

$15
Target

When everything comes home from school in a filled-to-busting backpack, it's easy to miss permission slips, student forms and any important drives or activities. Design a system with your kids where they put all their papers in a designated basket for you. As they start on their homework, you can quickly go through, toss any junk and take note of anything important.

$9.99
The Container Store

Create an assignment command center to keep teens and kids organized. Label these individual cases with a child's name or school subject so they can keep all related papers and projects in one place.

$89.99 $72.99
Amazon

Store pens, markers, scissors, toys and more in this handy organization system. Keeping homework and art supplies in one contained space helps kids easily find what they need and keeps your house from becoming one giant art supplies drawer.

FOR VERTICAL STORAGE + ORGANIZATION

From $32.96
Etsy | 1801andco

Whether you're a morning or after-school chores kind of person, this gorgeous chore chart is here to make your and your kid's life much easier. Just jot down the week's chores at the beginning of the week and have them check them off as they complete them.

$37.99 $16.49
Amazon

When school is back in session, the calendar can fill up quickly. Keep everyone in the know with a wall-mounted calendar. Best of all, since this calendar is dry-erase, wasting paper is a thing of the past and you can easily change details to keep up with a fast-paced schedule.

$24.99 $17.99
Amazon

The easiest and best way to keep items off your floor is with hooks. We're strong believers in adding hooks anywhere and everywhere you can to hang jackets, bags, hats and more.

$24.99 $19.99
Amazon

A practical shelf with a decent aesthetic is surprisingly hard to find, so we were ecstatic to come across these. This set of two minimalistic shelves is simple and sleek with soft, natural wood against a black finish and even features a hanging rod for school outfits, backpacks and jackets.

From $10.99
The Container Store

Sometimes, a calendar on your phone is hard to follow and it's much more helpful just to have your reminders right in front of your face. These pretty dry-erase board-shelf combos are a great way to stay on top of all your kid's weekly commitments and keep important materials where you can see them, all while maintaining a beautiful workspace.

$11.99
Amazon

Set your children up for success with an over-the-door organizer in their bedroom. This will help them keep track of their school books, folders and homework while helping to teach them the value of staying organized and orderly.

FOR CLOTHING + ACTIVITIES

$12 $9.6
Target

An orderly wardrobe means less stress over outfits, plus it allows your kids to see what their options are at a glance. You can even create a weekly outfit system to really speed things up in the morning. Just label each shelf with a day of the week and place the appropriate outfit in the corresponding compartment.

$148 $109.75
Amazon

Teach your little one how to set themself up for success with a beautiful garment rack ready to hold whatever they need. Whether they plan their outfits out at the beginning of the week or the night before, this wooden piece is sure to help them stay organized and on top of things.

$46.99 $39.47
Amazon

Whether you tackle laundry on the weekends or whenever you can, you're sure to benefit from a hamper that works as hard as you do. This one has multiple compartments that can be used for separating towels, colors and whites, or even just organized by child.

$119.99
The Container Store

If you have kids who love playing sports, storing the equipment is a challenge. Sports equipment is awkward and clunky which makes it difficult to keep organized, but this heavy-duty storage rack will make it easier than ever.

$31.95 $20.95
Amazon

Once school starts, you're spending more time in your car, and the clutter can quickly get out of hand. This organizer has four built-in cup holders, pockets for holding pens and crayons, and open space for storing snacks or activities to keep kiddos busy while running errands or heading to extra-curriculars.

$59.99
Amazon

In addition to the fun — kid-friendly music, audiobooks and interactive games — the Echo Dot gives kids autonomy with their schedule and homework. You can even set their morning alarm!

FOR THE KITCHEN

From $15.99
The Container Store

If you don't stay on top of it all the time, your fridge can quickly slip into chaos, rendering it completely ineffective and leaving you searching for food in a hurry. Stop the problem before it starts by organizing your refrigerator with these see-through plastic bins. Trust us, you'll thank yourself every time you open the fridge.

$11.95
Amazon

Once school is back in session, having the time and energy to get a healthy meal on the table can be the last thing on your mind. Luckily, this beautiful desktop meal planner pad is here for you. With a spot for each day and meal of the week, plus a tear-off grocery list, each page is the perfect way to organize a week's worth of meals.

$19.99
Amazon

Somehow, no matter how hard you try, the lids to all your lunch containers just seem to sneak off. Sadly, they just aren't a very easy thing to store. Don't fret! This handy storage solution is here for you and ready to keep them all in their place.

$27.99
Amazon

If you have multiple kiddos to pack lunches for, the fridge can fill up fast. These bento-style lunchboxes were made for you. They're stackable, have separate compartments for different foods and they're a gorgeous alternative to the classically clunky lunch bag.

$29.99
Amazon

To ensure prepping snacks and lunch is an effortless task, start by corralling all the necessities in one spot. This spinning snack organizer with removable sections is the perfect tool for the job. On top of making everything accessible, it will also make your pantry look photoshoot fresh.

$12.99
Amazon

Prep snacks and be kind to Mother Nature at the same time. Dishwasher-, microwave- and food-safe, these Stasher bags allow you to ditch the one-use plastics while still keeping your kiddo's crackers fresh and ready for snack time.

More Organization Products We Love

Next Up

The Best Lunchboxes for Kids and Teens

Get those peanut butter sandwiches and bananas ready! It's time to start packing lunches again. Grab one of these top-rated lunchboxes to kick off the new school year.

The 15 Best Desk Chairs for Kids

Help kids stay focused and sit up a little straighter while tackling schoolwork at home with the just-right desk chair.

The Best School Backpacks for Students of Every Age

Send your kids and teens back to school with backpacks that can handle everything they throw in it.

The 15 Best Desks for Kids

Create a dedicated place for your kids to do their schoolwork. A functional and comfortable workspace (that's kid-sized) is key.

15+ Fun Back-to-School Lunchbox Accessories for Kids

Set the tone for an awesome school year with these encouraging notes, special ice packs and more.

The Best Places That Offer Student Discounts Online

Score amazing deals and even freebies just by being a student. See the best deals to get you ready for the school year and beyond.

The Best Desks for Every Style and Budget

Find the right tabletop for every need, from homework stations to ergonomic computer desks.

25+ Dorm Room Organizers You Need for College

Back-to-school season is almost here. Get ahead of the game and see which organizers are essential for students living on campus.

The Best Backpacks for College Students in 2024

Sprint to your 8 a.m. class in style with our top backpack picks for every college student.

10 Essential Cookbooks for College Students

Help your student learn to fend for themselves with these brilliant (and budget-friendly) cookbooks.

Go Shopping

Get product recommendations from HGTV editors, plus can’t-miss sales and deals.