Under $50 - Best Cheap Backpacks For School
Looking for an inexpensive but durable backpack for school? Here we list our favorite backpacks for high school and college under $50.
We focused including only bags with the best style, quality and student-loving features such as roomy main compartments for textbooks, organizers for accessories, and laptop compartments.
Our Picks: Best Cheap Backpacks for School
The perfect school backpack is a mix of the following elements:
Padded compartment for laptop or tablet
Roomy main compartment for folders and books
Extra pockets for organizing things like pens and calculators
Stylish and comfortable design
Add on a tight budget and now you are tasked with finding a backpack that is inexpensive without being so cheaply made it falls apart after one semester. Luckily, with extensive research we have found a few backpacks that tick all the boxes. Here are our picks.
Under Armour Loudon Backpack
The Under Armour Loudon laptop backpack is easily one of the best “cheap” school backpacks for high school and college students thanks to its large main compartments that can fit a full day of books, notebooks and clothes. Other great features include a soft-lined sleeve that can fit up to a 15” laptop or tablet and water repellent UA Storm technology on the fabric that is to keep your important stuff nice and dry.
Who is this backpack for?
The UA Loudon laptop backpack is great for students on a budget who need a cheap backpack for school that will withstand busy days on campus. And if you are looking for a waterproof school backpack then Under Armour’s water repellent fabric will do just the trick.
Why we recommend it:
Large main compartment to keep books, binders and notebooks organized
Padded soft-lined 15” laptop pocket
Water repellent fabric
Easy-access pock for pens, calculators and other school supplies.
Good quality for the price
Adidas Excel Laptop Backpack
The Adidas Excel backpack has proven itself to be a workhorse for long days on campus where dropping off items in lockers or your car isn’t an option. This backpack was made for carrying heavy loads such as books, clothing and tech thanks to its multiple large compartments and thoughtfully placed pockets and organizers.
Who’s this backpack for?
The Adidas Excel backpack is perfect for high school or college students who need a large and comfortable backpack for lugging around heavy books and gear all day.
Why we recommend it:
Large school backpack for books, binders and clothing
Tons of organizers and pockets
Laptop pocket
Suspension system and padded back panel allow for comfortable carry under heavy loads.
Jansport Big Student Backpack
The Jansport Big Student backpack is easily one of our favorite backpacks for school under $50. It’s affordable but not poorly made. It’s large enough for multiple classes worth of books and notebooks but not too large to be uncomfortable. We also love that this bag comes in dozens of different colors to match your personal style.
Who is this backpack for?
The Jansport Big Student backpack is a good pick for anyone who needs a reliable backpack with multiple compartments for daily organization and carry. Features like the ergonomic S-curve shoulder straps and a fully padded back also gives the Jansport Big Student a big advantage over other similarly priced backpacks when it comes to all-day comfort when fully loaded.
Why we recommend it:
Tough 600D polyester construction backpack by a Jansport Lifetime Warranty
Multiple large compartments and pockets makes organization a breeze
Side water bottle pocket
Ergonomic S-curve shoulder straps for a more comfortable fit
Kroser Laptop Backpack
At under $40, Kroser does a great job including features usually reserved for more expensive backpacks. We like the Kroser laptop backpack as a cheap school backpack because of its large main compartment for books and front organizer panel for smaller items like pens and accessories. Add in style choices such as a minimalist body, faux-leather zipper pulls and hidden water bottle pockets and you have a versatile backpack that can be used on campus and off.
Who is this backpack for?
The Kroser laptop backpack is for any student who wants to upgrade from your typical Jansport-style student book bag to something more mature. Features such as a separate padded laptop compartment and USB charging port make this backpack perfect for tech-heavy students who carry laptops, phones and tablets on campus.
Why we recommend it:
Stylish design and mature faux-leather detailing is great for college
Includes a USB charging port for phones/gadgets
Separate padded laptop compartment
JanSport Superbreak Backpack
Featuring a classic silhouette, the JanSport SuperBreak is student favorite thanks to its roomy main compartment and ultralight design. The Superbreak is available in more than 30 different colors so you are sure to the perfect aesthetic backpack. The best part? You can usually find the JanSport Superbreak for under $30. Talk about a steal!
Who is this backpack for?
The Jansport Superbreak is ideal for students who want a simple and lightweight school backpack for lugging around text books and notebooks. When it comes to quality, JanSport does an excellent job offering a cheap backpack for school that doesn’t feel like it’s going to fall apart in one semester making the Superbreak perfect for anyone on a tight budget.
Why we recommend it:
Classic book bag design that never goes out of style
Available in dozens of colors, prints and patterns
Lightweight materials paired with a padded back and shoulder straps means the Superbreak is comfortable even when loaded full.
Under Armour Halftime Backpack
Under Armour offers some great cheap book bags for school that are still great quality. For under $50, the Halftime backpack offers amazing organization with multiple pockets to organize your gear. UA Storm technology also offers the Halftime water repellent protection for extra peace of mind on rainy days.
Who is this backpack for?
The UA Halftime laptop backpack is perfect for students who want a stylish and reliable backpack to wear any time and any place. Available in a variety of colors you can be sure to pick out one you love. Carefully placed pockets means you’ll have great organization of smaller school items without losing track of where you put things.
Why we recommend it:
Mid-sized 22 liter main compartment offers lots of packing room without the bag being too bulky.
Padded soft-lined 15” laptop pocket
Water repellent fabric
Small pockets on the outside to keep your school gear organized
Vaschy Lightweight Backpack
The Lightweight backpack is the Vaschy’s take on the classic book bag design but with some extra features that makes it ideal for busy students. Unlike similar backpacks, Vaschy includes a side pocket for easy storage of water bottles. The backpack also features a laptop sleeve for easy laptop carry and a roomy main compartment that is large enough to fit large textbooks and binders.
Who is this backpack for?
At 20 liter capacity, the Vaschy Lightweight backpack is great for anyone who wants a smaller backpack that can still fit large textbooks and binders in the main compartment.
Why we recommend it:
Classic design that never goes out of style
Includes side pockets for water bottles
Available in almost a dozen different colors
Incredibly affordable - You can usually grab a Vaschy Lightweight backpack for around $20.
Matein Laptop Backpack
The Matein Laptop Backpack is an inexpensive bag that seems to get a lot right. Loaded with its own laptop compartment, phone pockets and a USB charging port, the Matein Laptop Backpack is a great choice for anyone who is serious about safely carrying tech on campus. While a large main compartment and plenty of organizer pockets easily makes the Matein Laptop Backpack one of the best school backpacks under $50.
Who is this backpack for?
The Matein Laptop Backpack is ideal for students who need a versatile backpack for school and travel. A dedicated laptop compartment, USB charging port and numerous small pockets makes the Matein Laptop Backpack perfect for anyone who carry a lot of tech.
Why we recommend it:
Roomy: can hold a laptop up to 15.6 inches and includes a spacious main compartment for large books.
USB charging port allows you to charge your phone while on the move
Available in multiple different colors
AmazonBasics Campus Backpack
The AmazonBasics Campus backpack was made just for school carry and it definitely shows. The backpack has everything you could need in a high school or college backpack; multiple large compartments for books, multiple small pockets and organizers, and it even features a special insulated cooler pocket for your lunch. Consider that you can grab your own AmazonBasics Campus backpack for under $35 and it becomes clear why we rank this bag as one of the best affordable school backpacks you can buy today.
Who is this backpack for?
The AmazonBasics Campus backpack is recommend for students who need a reliable backpack for college or high school. Extra features like the insulated cooler pocket and front organizer panel makes the AmazonBasics Campus backpack one of the better options when looking for a cheap backpack for school.
Why we recommend it:
Made of water resistant 600D polyester
Large main compartment has tons of storage room for large text books and binders
Full of campus-ready pockets - Fleece lined sunglasses pocket, side water bottle pockets, padded laptop pocket
Available in 3 different colors; black, gray and blue
