Stationery · 3 min read
Back-to-School Stationery Checklist by Grade (Pakistan 2026)
The complete stationery list for KG, primary, secondary and O/A Level students in Pakistan, with what to buy, what to skip, and how much it costs.
By Books & Books Editorial Team · Published 4 August 2026 · Updated 8 September 2026
The short answer
A primary-school stationery kit in Pakistan needs about 15 items and costs Rs. 3,000–5,000: a backpack, 8–10 exercise copies, a pencil kit, a geometry box from class 4, colour pencils, a lunch box and bottle. Secondary students add a scientific calculator, a ring binder and highlighters, for Rs. 6,000–9,000 in total.
Key takeaways
- Buy copies in a pack of ten, not five at a time; schools burn through them faster than you expect.
- A geometry box becomes compulsory around class 4–5. Buy the tin one, not the plastic one.
- A board-approved scientific calculator lasts from class 8 through A Levels. It is the one thing worth spending more on.
- The backpack is a health item: padded straps and a chest clip, never a single-strap bag for a child under 12.
In this guide
Before you shop: what the school actually asks for
Every school sends a list; most lists are longer than they need to be. Cross-check the school's list against the ones below, buy the overlap first and the extras once the first week has shown what the teacher really uses. Everything here is available in our Stationery department with cash on delivery.
Kindergarten and pre-primary (age 3–5)
- A small backpack with a chest clip, 12–15 litres
- 4 wide-ruled or four-line copies
- Chunky triangular pencils (easier to grip) and a large eraser
- A pack of 12 crayons or colour pencils
- A glue stick and child-safe scissors
- A lunch box and bottle set with a lid a four-year-old can open alone
- Name labels on everything, including the water bottle
Skip: pencil sharpeners with blades, fountain pens, anything with small detachable parts.
Primary (classes 1–5)
- 8–10 exercise copies, mixed single-line, double-line and squared for maths
- A pencil kit — HB pencils, eraser, sharpener, 15 cm ruler
- Colour pencils (24) and a small paint box for art
- A geometry box from class 4
- 2 blue and 2 black ballpoint pens from class 3, when most schools move from pencil to pen
- A clear plastic folder for homework sheets
- A backpack with padded straps, 16–18 litres
- Lunch box, bottle, and a small hand towel
Cost: Rs. 3,000–5,000 for the lot, depending on the backpack.
Secondary (classes 6–10 / Matric)
- 10–12 copies (200 pages), plus 2 practical copies for science
- A scientific calculator — check your board's approved list; ours is
- Geometry box, replaced every two years as pieces go missing
- Gel pens in blue and black; a red one for corrections
- A set of highlighters for revision
- Ring binder and dividers for past papers
- Sticky notes for flagging textbook pages
- A backpack that fits an A4 binder and a laptop sleeve
Cost: Rs. 6,000–9,000.
O Level, A Level and intermediate
At this stage the list is less about copies and more about organisation:
- A daily planner for deadlines and mock schedules
- One good notebook per subject for summaries, rather than loose copies
- A reliable ballpoint for exams (and a spare)
- Graph paper pad for physics and economics
- A desk organiser so the study desk stops eating pens
See also our Stationery Essentials for University Students, most of which applies from A Level onward.
Timing
Copies and pens are in stock all year, but the good backpacks and calculators sell out in the last ten days of August. Order the two expensive items first, in early August, and the consumables whenever. Orders over Rs. 2,500 ship free anywhere in Pakistan, and you can pair the stationery order with school uniforms to reach the threshold in one go.
Still wondering
Frequently asked questions
What stationery does a child need for school in Pakistan?
For primary: 8–10 copies, a pencil kit, colour pencils, a geometry box from class 4, a backpack, lunch box and bottle. For secondary: add a scientific calculator, gel pens, highlighters, a ring binder and sticky notes.
How much does school stationery cost in Pakistan?
Around Rs. 3,000–5,000 for a primary kit and Rs. 6,000–9,000 for secondary, with the backpack and calculator making up most of the difference.
Which calculator is allowed in board exams in Pakistan?
Non-programmable scientific calculators are allowed by most boards and by Cambridge for O and A Levels. Check the model against your board's list; our 240-function scientific calculator is board-approved.
Can I buy school stationery online with cash on delivery?
Yes. Books & Books delivers stationery across Pakistan with cash on delivery and free delivery on orders above Rs. 2,500.
Books & Books Editorial Team
Booksellers and buyers at Books & Books, Pakistan. We stock everything we recommend, and we hear from the parents and readers who buy it — the advice here is what we tell them across the counter. About Books & Books
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