THE best pencil cases are not only great for holding pens, pencils and other school essentials, but look extremely stylish too.
Gathering all the new term school essentials is no mean feat — different children at different ages will require a variation of supplies, but the pencil case never goes out of style.
They’re great for storing all your child’s favourite bits and bobs in one handy place, and you can choose from a plethora of products on the market.
A classic pencil case is made of soft material and zips up, meaning it can be easily cleaned either by wiping or washing. Some pencil cases even have matching pens or notebooks, so if you need other stationery items, purchase these too for the ultimate matchy-matchy look!
A lot of pencil cases have a label inside where you can write your child’s name, but a personalised pencil case might be just the thing if you want something really unique that can be tracked down easily if lost.
We’ve rounded up the best pencil cases so that you don’t have to. Back to school never looked so good!
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1. Maomaoyu Large Capacity Pencil Case
- Maomaoyu Pencil case, £7.49 from Amazon – buy here
An Amazon bestseller, the Maomaoyu pencil case means serious business. With its triple zipped compartments, it’s big enough to easily fit a selection of pens and pencils, a calculator, glue stick, geometry set, highlighters, and even a 22cm ruler.
Its lightweight but durable and is made out of waterproof material, meaning it is a perfect case that will last for the whole school year. Win-win!
2. Easthill Pencil Case
- Easthill pencil case, £11.99 from Amazon – buy here
The Marie Kondo of pencil cases, the Easthill is the perfect case for those that like to be super organised.
With individual elasticated spaces to place your pens (colour coordinated, naturally), this pencil case can accommodate a whopping 50 pens.
It has a carry handle on one side making it easy to travel around with and even has a small easy-to-view compartment perfect for small notes, cards and tickets.
We also love the design of this case, with its pretty checked style and pink piping — it would look great on any child’s desk.
3. Smiggle Pencil Case
- Khaki utility pencil case, £8, from Smiggle – buy here
If you haven’t heard of Smiggle, you will be pleasantly surprised. Its bestselling pencil cases are not only functional but VERY stylish.
This utility pencil case, which comes from the Beyond collection, will keep your stationery in order all day long. We love that it opens to reveal side panels with multiple elastic pen and pencil holders.
Reviewers love this item, with one writing: “Got it as a gift for my niece and found it very hard to part with. Might have to treat myself next!”
4. Ted Baker Pencil Case
- Bow pencil case, £25, from Ted Baker – buy here
Think pink! Perfect for the little one in your life that is growing up oh-so fast, this super sweet Ted Baker case is great for those with a penchant for designer garb.
Simple, but stylish, this dusty pink pencil case with bow detail is an ultra-cute back to school addition.
5. Fortnite
- Fornite pencil case, £10.49 from Amazon – buy here
This is the best pencil case for any gaming fan — with its durable waterproof material, this Fortnite-branded pencil case can withstand the test of time, with a sturdy zip for longevity.
There’s a selection of Fortnite pencil cases available in myriad bright colours, patterns and motifs, but this one is from the Battle Royale collection. If you’re looking for a pencil case that is designed to store an abundance of pens and school equipment whilst also being made of high-quality material, then look no further.
6. Metallic Pencil Case
- Oil slick metallic case, £2.49 from WH Smith – buy here
Want a bargain that still looks good? Then why not try the WH Smith oil sick metallic case, a steal at just £2.49.
Since 1792 WH Smith has been known for its quality stationery accessories, and was first stationery retail chain to serve the nation with its abundance of pens, paper, cases, books and newspapers.
We think this eye-catching case, which features a black zip pull with black inner lining material, is the perfect size for popping in your bag and keeping all your essentials safe throughout the day.
7. Space Case
- Space case, £4 from Tesco – buy here
No mission (double physics, for example) is impossible with this bright space case from Tesco. Featuring space, stars and moon motifs all over, it is big enough to fit all class essentials in.
It’s also easy to wipe clean, making it a practical on- the-go case that looks pretty stylish, too.
8. Unicorn Pencil Case
- Unicorn pencil case, £10 from Paperchase – buy here
Make lessons that little bit more magical with this pink unicorn motif pencil case from Paperchase.
With its sparkle details and stitched stars, this sweet case is perfect to stand out from the crowd when going back to school.
9. Personalised Pencil Case
- Personalised pencil case, £9.99 from Brown Paper Packages – buy here
A special pencil case for those that love to draw, this case is also great to personalise with up to 12 characters.
It features a digger picture on the front and is roomy enough to fit pens, pencils, sharpeners and rubbers.
It is ideal as a back to school case or even as a gift for your little one, and we think its handy personalised name means it will be seriously easy to find should it get lost.
10. Tinc Fur Barrel Pencil Case
- Tinc Fur Barrel Pencil Case, £10 from WH Smith – buy here
This pencil case couldn’t get any more flufftastic! Made by leading stationery and gadgets company Tinc, it features a faux fur pink barrel with a fluffy bobble on the end.
The zip-up case has ample room for all the school essentials, making it the perfect snuggly companion to start the new term with.
11. Monster Pencil Case
- Monster pencil case, £8 from John Lewis – buy here
Perfect for the little monster in your life! This blue pencil case is durable and waterproof, as well as stylish and bright.
Featuring monster feet and teeth and measuring over 20 cm in length, there is plenty of room for all the essentials and more. One fan said: “Not only is it really useful but my son enjoyed it too.”
12. Clear Pencil Case
- Clear pencil case, £1.99 from Rymans – buy here
A product that does what it says on the tin. This Rymans is a clear, cheap and cheerful item but is a must-have if you like to see your pens with easy access. With a durable zip in three colours, these are great to bulk buy to last through the school year and beyond.
What do you need in a pencil case?
From the moment your little one starts school, right up to their university years, they will need a pencil case to store all their essentials.
Pencil cases are home to many different items including pens, pencils, sharpeners, rubbers, and rulers. In secondary school, they may keep correction fluid, a Pritt Stick, scissors, calculator and highlighters.
How to organise a Smiggle pencil case
Smiggle pencil cases are perfect for those that want to keep super organised with a place for everything. It is an easy way to keep pens, pencils, markers and crayons all together in one spot.
Most Smiggles come with compartments to keep pens in. Some like to organise them in colour coordination, but if you don’t fancy that it is best to keep the ones you use most at the front.
In the smaller pockets, you can keep little accessories such as rubbers or pencil sharpeners. In the large pockets, you can store notes like post-its or even glue or protractors. The beauty of a Smiggle case is that it will keep all your best school items together in one safe secure place.
Where to buy nice pencil cases
To buy a great pencil case there are many stores and websites to browse.
If you are someone who likes to look at your items before buying then stores such as Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s, Selfridges, Rymans, John Lewis, Paperchase and WH smith all have a great selection in store.
Alternatively, Amazon and eBay do a great selection that can be delivered straight to your door.
How much do pencil cases cost?
As with most school essentials, you can get basics that start at just £1.49, like a clear pencil case from Rymans.
For more designer names expect to pay higher around the £20 mark for a more luxe item, particularly if they come with pens or a calculator. It seems the average price of a pencil case is between £8 – £10.
How to clean a pencil case
Always check the label of the pencil case before cleaning. While some may be safe to put in the washing machine to give a quick spin, most are wipe clean. Always leave to dry before putting pencils and pens back inside.
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