The Real Cost of School Uniform
If you’re a parent in the UK, you probably know the feeling. Summer is barely over and suddenly you need to buy everything for school again.
Uniform, shoes, PE kit, a blazer that costs more than your own jacket. It adds up fast.
For families with more than one child, the total often reaches £600 to £900 in a single month. No wonder it catches people out.
What uniform usually costs
Blazer: £35 to £60
Shirts: £10 to £20
Trousers or skirts: £15 to £30
School shoes: £25 to £55
PE kit: £25 to £50
Coat: £20 to £45
The Children’s Society says the average full uniform is £422 for secondary and £315 for primary.
Where you can save money
Supermarket versions work for most basics like polo shirts, jumpers, trousers, skirts, socks and tights. Secondhand is great for blazers, PE kit, coats and bags. Most schools run sales in July and September.
A quick note on the rules
The School Uniform Act 2021 says schools must:
Keep uniform affordable
Offer secondhand options
Avoid using a single expensive supplier unless necessary
Parents are allowed to question high costs.
When to shop
July: best secondhand finds
Early August: full supermarket stock
Late August: prices rise and sizes disappear
September: more secondhand
January: clearance deals
If you want to know your exact cost
We built a School Uniform Cost Calculator that lets you choose branded, supermarket or secondhand for every item and see your total instantly. It also shows how much to save each month before September.
School Uniform Cost Calculator
No sign‑up. Just helpful.
