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Join Which? MoneySchool uniform savings: 10 tips from parents and Which? experts
A new school uniform cost families more than £440 last year.
With a background in financial journalism across national titles, Ruby loves helping people take control of their money and specialises in pensions, tax, banking and benefits.
The government has announced new rules for schools in England from this September in a bid to help parents across the country with the cost of school uniforms.
From September, primary schools will be limited to three compulsory branded uniform or PE kit items, while secondary and middle schools can require four if one of them is a tie.
The new cap means that parents can buy more of the everyday basics, like trousers and shirts, from any shop or supermarket rather than one pricey supplier.
Here, we explain what the new rules mean for families, and share 10 tried-and-tested tips from parents at Which? to help you cut the cost of school uniforms this year and beyond.
What are the new uniform rules for schools?
The new limits apply to compulsory branded uniform and PE-kit items.
Primary schools in England can require up to three branded items. Secondary and middle schools can require four, but only if one of them is a tie. This includes any branded bags, such as book bags or rucksacks, and any items required only at particular times of year, such as summer dresses/shorts.
Branded items are those that feature a school logo, name or another distinctive school identifier. Compulsory items are those required for:
- general daily use at school
- travel to and from school
- lessons, clubs, or school-sponsored activities.
According to the guidance, if the school asks parents to sew branded badges onto generic items, then those items will be considered branded and will be captured within the limit.
Alongside this, the school's uniform policy must be published on its website, clearly setting out which items are compulsory and which are optional.
Schools must also make sure that all parents can easily access second-hand uniforms, with clear information about how to buy or acquire them published on their website for both current and prospective parents.
- Find out more: 7 ways to help your child stay healthy at school.
How to save money on school uniforms
We asked parents – including our Which? parenting experts – how they save money on school uniform costs each year:
1. Do your research
Buying cheap is great, but as the saying goes, ‘buy cheap, buy twice’. The quality of the item you buy matters. This is especially true for school uniforms, which need to be durable and long-wearing – especially since children's constant growth spurts mean you have to buy new sets regularly.
Before you head out to shop, it pays to do a little research. You can check online parent forums, ask friends and family for recommendations, or let us do the hard work for you.
This year, Which? surveyed more than 3,000 parents to find the best school uniform providers across major high street supermarkets and brands – including Asda, M&S, Matalan, Tesco and more.
We rated them on everything from fit, durability, and comfort to practicality, overall look, and value for money to find out the best of the bunch.
- Find out more: the best school uniform shops revealed.
2. Keep an eye out for sales
Once you’ve done your research, keep an eye out for sales. Major supermarkets and high street stores stock school uniforms year-round and tend to launch sales throughout the year, and not just during the summer holidays.
Planning your purchases around these events can help save you a small fortune, particularly if you don't need to buy everything at once.
To keep track of what your child could need, create an inventory of school uniform items and pick them up as and when you spot a good deal. This will help you bag the best discounts and spread the cost of the school year.
- Find out more: the benefits and discounts available to parents.
3. Time it right to avoid waste
'If your child has a growth spurt, you may waste your money, so hold off until they’re nearly ready to return — especially for things like school shoes,' says Jenny Harby, Which? home channel news editor.
It can be tempting to get the school shop done early but, if your child grows over the summer, you could end up wasting money.
While it’s worth snapping up deals, you don’t need to buy everything straight away – particularly fitted items such as shoes, trousers and skirts.
Buying closer to the start of term helps make sure everything still fits.
4. Don't feel pressured to buy everything new
'If your child still fits into last year's clothes, don't feel like you have to go out and buy new just because it's the start of a new school year. Just buy what you need, when you need it,' adds Jenny.
It’s easy to feel pressured to buy a whole new uniform each year, but you don’t have to replace everything. If your child’s uniform still fits and is in good condition, you can save money by topping up only the essentials.
The same applies to other school items such as pencil cases, lunchboxes and bags – if they’re still usable, there’s no need to replace them.
- Find out more: 6 ways to save money when washing your clothes.
5. Size up and bulk buy
'Parents should always try and buy a size bigger where they can. This will help children get maximum wear out of it, particularly when your child is younger and prone to growing quickly,' says mum-of-two Lisa Galliers, principal researcher at Which?.
Buying a size up can make uniforms last longer, especially for younger children.
Caterina Ciccone, consumer research executive at Which? and mum of two, also recommends checking sizing charts in centimetres or inches before buying — especially when shopping online.
Ellie Simmonds, senior researcher at Which?, says bulk buying can also help for basics like polo shirts and jumpers, particularly for families with multiple children who can pass items down. But for seasonal pieces like summer dresses or winter coats, it’s wise to buy more cautiously, as they may be outgrown before the next school year.
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6. Shop second-hand
'Use online marketplaces such as Vinted, eBay and Facebook Marketplace. You can often find brand new items still with their labels on at a fraction of the price they'd be in the shops. You can also set up alerts for the specific items you're looking for. I've saved a small fortune on school shoes using Vinted alone,' says Natalie Brown, Which? writer and mum of four.
With kids growing so quickly, parents often find themselves with piles of clothes that they can no longer use. If you have friends or family with older children at the same school, ask about hand-me-downs. Often, parents are only too happy to offload clothes sustainably.
There are several websites, such as Uniformly, which are like eBay, Vinted and Depop, but specifically for school uniforms. Local online marketplaces or parent forums are also often full of barely worn school uniforms at bargain prices.
A quick scour of your local charity shop could also reap rewards. Charity shops often pull out school uniform stock over the summer months.
- Find out more: best places to shop second-hand online.
7. Label everything
'If you have multiple kids, put only their last name on the label rather than buying individual name labels for each child. Labels are often cheaper if you buy in bulk. It also means you can pass them down,' says Ellie Simmonds, mum of three.
Labelling your child’s clothes clearly won’t save you money at the till, but it can prevent you having to replace lost items later on. Unmarked clothing and school kit are much harder to recover once they end up in lost property
Label everything – not just uniform, but bags, stationery and lunchboxes too. You can choose stick-on or iron-on labels for ease, or use a permanent marker for a cheaper option.
Find out more: i've got four kids – these are the washer-dryer features I couldn't live without.
8. Ask your school about swap schemes
'At my kids' school, they have a uniform giveaway about twice a year where anything that's been in lost property for ages is up for grabs. So that's my tip! One day, I might find my children's 100 jumpers they've discarded somewhere in the school!' says dad-of-two Matthew Jenkin, senior content writer for Which? Money.
Some schools already offer swap shops or giveaways using donated and lost property. However, starting in September, all schools will be required to clearly signpost where parents can access second-hand uniforms. As a result, many more schools are expected to introduce this type of service for parents.
Come September, it may be worth asking your local school what its plan is.
- Find out more: how to find the best-value school shoes.
9. See if you can claim a uniform grant
Depending on your income and where in the UK you live, you could be eligible for a school uniform grant worth up to £200.
Grant schemes differ across the UK, so check your local authority’s website and search your postcode to see what you could get. If you live in England, contact your local council to see if there's support in your area. There are separate schemes for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Some members of the Schoolwear Association offer interest-free payment plans, so it's worth asking your school or local uniform supplier what help is available.
- Find out more: 11 ways to plan cheap days out in the UK in 2026.
10. Look after uniform to make it last
'Where possible, try and go for more natural fabrics, especially if using a tumble dryer. They can be dried at a slightly higher temperature and are a bit more resistant to holes, so it could mean you buy less in the long run. You should always check the label,' says Caterina Ciccone.
Looking after your child’s uniform properly can help you avoid extra costs.
Washing whites separately, using bio detergent and sticking to low tumble-drying settings all help prevent damage and shrinkage.
Choosing more durable fabrics can also reduce how often you need to replace clothes – and makes it easier to pass them on when your child outgrows them.
- Find out more: how to keep your clothes looking good for longer.
This article has been updated since it was first published. The latest update was on 15 July to include new details about the government's new policy.
