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We’re still enjoying summer, but back-to-school time always sneaks up on us. That’s why we’re sharing the 2026 tax-free weekend schedule for each state so you know exactly when you can save on back-to-school outfits and supplies. Some of these are as early as July, so mark your calendar.

Anyone with kids heading back to school knows the sticker shock is real. Between clothes, shoes, backpacks, notebooks, and — if you’re really unlucky — a new laptop, back-to-school shopping can easily run into the hundreds of dollars per child. And if you’ve got two, three, or more kids doing this all at once, that bill multiplies fast.

But there’s a bit of good news: several states set aside a few days each year where you can buy qualifying school items without paying sales tax. It’s not a massive discount, but every little bit helps when you’re outfitting the whole crew for a new school year.

Here’s the full list of 2026 tax-free weekends, state by state, so you can plan your shopping trips and stretch your budget a little further.

Sales Tax-Free Weekends by State

ALABAMA — July 17–19

Clothing: $156 or less per item
Computers, computer software, and school computer supplies: $1,173 or less
School supplies and instructional materials: $78 or less (required textbooks on an official schoolbook list must be priced between $47 and $78)
Textbooks: $47 or less

ARKANSAS — August 1–2

Clothing and footwear: under $100 per item
Clothing accessories and equipment, including jewelry and cosmetics: under $50
Electronic devices commonly used by students: no price limit
Select school supplies and instructional materials: no price limit

CONNECTICUT — August 16–22

Clothing, footwear, and backpacks: under $300 per item (this is a big jump from prior years, plus backpacks and cleated shoes are newly included)

FLORIDA — July 20–August 20

Clothing, footwear, wallets, and bags: $100 or less
School supplies: $50 or less
Learning aids and jigsaw puzzles: $30 or less
Personal computers and related accessories: $1,500 or less

IOWA — August 7–8

Clothing and footwear: under $100 per item

MARYLAND — August 9–15

Clothing and footwear: $100 or less per item
Backpacks and bookbags: first $40 of the purchase price is tax-free

MASSACHUSETTS — August 8–9

Most retail items for personal use: $2,500 or less

MISSISSIPPI — July 10–12

Clothing and footwear: under $100 per item
School supplies: under $100 per item

MISSOURI — August 7–9

Clothing: $100 or less
School supplies: $50 or less
Computers and peripherals: $1,500 or less
Computer software: $350 or less
Graphing calculators: $150 or less

NEW MEXICO — July 31–August 2

Clothing, footwear, and accessories: under $100
Bookbags, backpacks, maps, and globes: under $100
Computers: up to $1,000
Computer-related items (keyboards, monitors, etc.): up to $500
Handheld calculators: under $200
School supplies: under $30

OHIO — August 7–9

Clothing: $75 or less per item
School supplies: $20 or less per item
School instructional materials: $20 or less per item (Note: Ohio’s broader “everything under $500” holiday from recent years was not renewed for 2026 — this year it’s back to the traditional back-to-school categories above.)

OKLAHOMA — August 7–9

Clothing and footwear: under $100 (accessories and athletic gear excluded)

SOUTH CAROLINA — August 7–9

Clothing and footwear
Computers, printers, and software
School supplies
Select bedding, bath items, and backpacks (No price caps on eligible items, but items for business use don’t qualify.)

TENNESSEE — July 31–August 2

Clothing: $100 or less
School and art supplies: $100 or less
Computers, laptops, and tablets: $1,500 or less

TEXAS — August 7–9

Clothing and footwear: under $100 per item
School supplies and backpacks: under $100 per item

VIRGINIA — August 7–9

Clothing and footwear: $100 or less
School supplies: $20 or less (Virginia’s holiday is now combined with its hurricane-preparedness and Energy Star tax-free periods, so if you’re shopping for storm supplies or energy-efficient appliances too, this same weekend covers those.)

WEST VIRGINIA — July 31–August 3

Clothing: $125 or less
School supplies: $50 or less
School instructional materials: $20 or less
Laptop and tablet computers: $500 or less
Sports equipment: $150 or less

A few notes before you shop: rules can vary on whether local (city/county) sales tax is included, and some states require retailers to participate while others make it optional. If you’re planning a big purchase, it’s worth a quick check of your state’s Department of Revenue website close to the date, since details occasionally change.

A tax-free weekend won’t erase the cost of back-to-school shopping, but timing your bigger purchases — especially electronics — around these dates can add up to real savings. Mark your calendar, make your list, and happy saving!

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