Average cost of school uniforms

Another lap around the sun means another school year is soon to commence, and one thing on every parent’s mind this summer is school uniform – and more precisely, where’s the cheapest place for it?

With growing kids comes the cost of renewing their school uniform more often than you wish, and with school shoes and trousers falling trap to playground antics each year, it can be a costly affair.

But before you rush out for your back-to-school shop, we here at NetVoucherCodes.co.uk have rounded up the most affordable places to pick up the uniform essentials.

The government announced earlier this year that school uniforms will be made affordable for all, so we decided to put that to the test.

Comparing supermarkets prices with high-street prices tags, we’ve managed to conclude where on average you can pick up the best value for money uniform for kids between the ages of 4-16.

We’ve based our data on popular items like polo shirts, blouses, trousers and school shoes. See our full round-up here:

As expected, Supermarkets like Asda, Tesco, Morrisons and Aldi take the lead, with the average prices totalling just £11 for primary school children and £12 for high school kids.

If you head out to high street shops like Next, Matalan or Marks & Spencers, you’ll be looking to pay on average between £22 and £24.50 for the full set.

In fact, we’ve found a noticeable difference between Supermarket price tags compared with those on the high street, with supermarket prices being 43% cheaper than premium shops like Next and M&S. (link to graphic)

Supermarket mogul, Aldi, has certainly lived up to their infamous tagline, ‘Everyday Amazing’, with their amazingly low priced uniform!

Taking the lead, Aldi is the cheapest supermarket for your back-to-school shop.

With jumpers priced at just £1 compared with £6 from supermarket rivals and £9 on the high-street, it’s clear to see why parents are loving it.

Unsurprisingly, blazers are one of the most expensive items to buy with prices ranging from £10-£26.

School shoes are another costly purchase when it comes to uniforms. But with durability, comfort and branding playing a huge factor, most parents don’t always opt for the cheapest.

At supermarkets, the average pair of boy’s primary school shoes are £9.88. This jumps to £12.50 for secondary schoolboys. For girls, the average price is between £8.38 and £12.

Head for specialist shoe shops like Clarks, Kickers or Wynsors, and you can expect to pay double or almost triple the price with the average price of shoes ranging between £21 to £29.

Looking to upgrade the kid’s winter coat? Supermarkets like Morrisons and Sainsbury’s charge as low as just £5 for primary years and up to £11 for teens. If you decide to head to the high-street shops, you’ll pay almost double the price.

Shirts and Trousers are perhaps two of the most popular items, which you are likely to replace more than once a year.

Our data has shown that school shirts are double the price across the board for both boys and girls when comparing supermarket prices to the high street.

Similarly, you can look to pay approximately £8.67 for a pair of trousers in your local supermarket compared to £10.67 in the premium stores.

Interestingly, when it comes to school skirts, our data shows that the average price of a girl’s skirt on the high street is less than one from a supermarket!

High street stores will set you back around £6.33 whilst the supermarket will cost you £7.25.

It comes as no surprise that socks are of course the cheapest item amongst the list with an average price of £3 for primary school children and £2.75 for secondary school. High street stores charge slightly more with prices from £5.

In total, using our data, we’ve concluded the average cost of a uniform consisting of a shirt, trousers, blazer, socks, shoes and coat, comes to a total of around £44.30 from supermarkets. When looking at high street shops, the total comes in significantly higher at around £78.51.

Overall, it’s clear to see our trusty supermarkets charge significantly less than premium stores, with Aldi being the most affordable. But costs aside, everyone has their preferences with factors like quality and durability playing a huge part in your decision.

Office Shoes, Footasylum and JD Sports stock stylish footwear and accessories ideal for any cool kids heading back to the classroom this September – see our deals page for all the latest offers. Or, check out some of our Top Deals on Schools Uniforms and Footwear right now:

• Exclusive 12% off orders at Kickers
• 20% off School Uniform at Marks and Spencers
• Girls & Boys Schools Uniform from just £3.50 at Argos
• Up to 70% off School Uniform in the Debenhams Blue Cross Sale

Prices and offers correct at time of publication