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Where to find cheapest school uniform at Aldi, Sainsbury's, Tesco and more

Some stores have items that work out at less than 1 each

[Shopping around can make the cost of school uniforms a bit cheaper for parents]

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Shopping around can make the cost of school uniforms a bit cheaper for parents(Image: Getty)

Parents may have only just started the summer holidays, but the back-to-school money stress is never far behind. With uniform lists needing to be ready for September, its worth shopping around rather than grabbing whatever happens to be in your usual store, experts have found.

A small difference per item can add up fast when youre buying polos, jumpers, trousers, skirts and shoes in one hit. That matters even more when families are facing an annual uniform spend that can run into hundreds of pounds once you include PE kit and branded must-haves.

Estimates put the typical bill at around 340 for primary school and 454 for secondary school each year. This makes saving even a few pounds on the basics take some of the sting out of the seasonal shopping rush.

Schools in Scotland and Wales dont have a legal item cap on branded items, like England will be enforcing from September 2026. Instead, devolved governments encourage schools to keep costs down by making plain, supermarket-bought clothing in school colours the norm.

[Schools often require children to wear a specific uniform every day]

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Schools often require children to wear a specific uniform every day(Image: 10'000 Hours via Getty Images)

Where are the cheapest uniform basics?

Consumer watchdog Which? says comparing providers can be tricky because pack sizes vary, but it took a snapshot look at one of the most common items on lists - the basic polo shirt. Most schools include this in their uniform policy, with no specific brands required.

Posting the findings on Instagram, it said: "It can be hard to clearly see how school uniform providers differ in price because options and pack sizes vary. We took a snapshot look at how the different brands stack up on the price of a basic white polo shirt to help you compare."

In that round-up, Aldi came out as one of the best bargains, selling a two-pack for 1.75, which works out at 88p per shirt. Theres a catch though, as the deal was tied to Aldis recent schoolwear event in June, so shoppers cant assume anything will still be sitting on shelves whenever they next call in.

The most recent sale ran before the end of the summer term, and the discount chain doesnt always repeat the promotion right before September. Its still worth watching the Specialbuys website for updates in case the supermarket has another sale.

For families who want something more predictable, Which? ranked Sainsburys and Tesco as the next cheapest in the same comparison, with both supermarkets two-packs priced at 3 (around 1.50 each). Sainsburys uniform can be ordered online via the Tu website or picked up in-store, while Tesco shoppers can use the F&F site or head to larger branches with clothing ranges.

Some stores like H&M offered packs for up to 10, meaning each shirt would cost 5 individually. Times that by the typical Monday to Friday school week, and parents could spend up to 30 on polo shorts alone - and that's before everything else that kids must wear.

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