How Much Does Homeschooling Cost? A Realistic Budget by Grade Level

Search for the cost of homeschooling and you will find numbers all over the map. Some posts say a few hundred dollars a year, others say thousands, and few say where the figures come from. The honest answer is that it depends on your choices, your state and your children, and no single average will describe your family.

What you can do is build your own budget. This guide, part of our how to start homeschooling series, explains the categories that make up the cost, how they shift as children get older, where families usually overspend and how to save. We deliberately do not quote an average dollar figure, because we could not source one that applies to everyone.

Quick answer: homeschool costs fall into seven categories: curriculum, supplies, technology, activities and outings, testing or evaluation where your state requires it, memberships and groups, and the indirect cost of reduced work hours. Price each category for each child, add a cushion, and compare with what you can spend each month.

Why There Is No Single Number

Three families can homeschool the same grade and spend wildly different amounts. One may use library books and free online lessons. Another may buy a complete boxed curriculum with a science kit. A third may enroll in an online program and pay for outside classes. All three can be reasonable choices.

The number of children matters too. Some materials are reusable and can be handed down, while consumable workbooks must be repurchased for each child. Your state matters as well. Some states require assessments or evaluations that carry fees, while others require nothing. Our guide to homeschool laws by state helps you find out what your state asks.

Finally, the biggest cost for many families is not on a receipt. If a parent reduces work hours or leaves a job to teach, the lost income can be larger than every curriculum purchase combined. We cover that below because it belongs in any honest budget.

The Seven Budget Categories

1. Curriculum

This is the cost of the main learning materials: an online subscription, boxed curriculum, individual subject books or a mix. Online programs usually bill monthly or yearly. Boxed sets are paid for up front. Used materials can lower the price considerably. Our guide to online programs vs boxed curriculum vs DIY compares how the cost is structured.

2. Supplies

Pencils, paper, notebooks, art materials, science supplies, a globe or maps, a whiteboard and storage. Supplies are small individually and add up over the year. Check what you already own before buying.

3. Technology

A computer or tablet, a printer and ink, internet service and any apps or subscriptions. Printing is a hidden cost for families that rely on printable worksheets, since ink and paper add up. If you use an online program, make sure each child who needs a device at the same time has one.

4. Activities and outings

Field trips, museum memberships, sports, music lessons, art classes and co-op fees. This category is flexible. Many families keep it small by choosing free library programs and park days, and spend more where a child has a strong interest.

5. Testing, evaluation and record fees

Some states require standardized testing or a portfolio evaluation by a qualified person, and these can carry fees. HSLDA’s state pages list whether assessment is required. Check whether you must pay for a test, who can evaluate and how often. If your state requires nothing, you may still choose to test occasionally to track progress.

6. Memberships and groups

Local and state homeschool groups, co-ops and legal organizations may charge dues. Library cards and many community programs are free. Weigh each paid membership against what you will actually use.

7. Lost or reduced income

If a parent works fewer hours to teach, count the difference. This is not a bill you pay, but it is real and it affects the monthly budget. Our guide to time management for working moms offers planning habits for families balancing work and teaching.

How Costs Change by Grade Level

Costs tend to shift as children grow. These are general patterns, not prices. Your own numbers will differ.

Preschool and kindergarten

Early learning needs few materials. Picture books from the library, simple manipulatives for counting, art supplies and outdoor play cover most of it. Families sometimes spend more here than needed because the catalogs are tempting. State law usually does not begin until the compulsory attendance age, which HSLDA lists on each state page as 6 for Texas, New York, Pennsylvania and Florida, for example. Check yours.

Elementary grades

Core costs are for reading, math and writing programs, with science and history from library books or a program. Consumable workbooks need replacing for each child. Hands-on science supplies and art materials are the other common expenses. This is also the stage where many families start paying for music, sports or co-op classes.

Middle school

Subjects deepen, and families may add lab materials, writing programs, foreign language and more computer use. Costs for outside classes can rise because parents may hand some subjects to an outside teacher or an online course as the material gets harder.

High school

High school tends to bring higher costs. Courses with labs, textbooks, online or community college classes, standardized test fees such as those for college admission exams and transcript preparation can all appear. If your teen plans to apply to college, check the requirements of a few target schools early, and budget for test registration and application fees.

Where Families Overspend

• Buying a full year of everything before knowing what works.
• Replacing a program too quickly instead of giving it a fair trial.
• Buying duplicate resources because they were not tracked.
• Paying for classes that the child did not enjoy, without a review date.
• Overbuying supplies for projects that never happen.
• Falling for “must-have” lists in catalogs and social media.

A simple rule helps: start with two subjects, borrow before you buy, and put a review date on every purchase. If you find that you are not using something after six weeks, resell it or pass it on.

Ways to Save Without Cutting Quality

• Use your library. Many libraries lend books, audiobooks, movies and even educational kits, and offer free programs.
• Buy used. Used curriculum sales, local homeschool groups and resale sites often have gently used materials. Check that the edition matches before buying.
• Share and swap. Co-ops and local groups often trade materials.
• Use free resources. Free lessons from museums, public media, nonprofit educational sites and government agencies cover many subjects.
• Make your own supplies. Many science and math manipulatives can come from household items.
• Reuse. Non-consumable books can be handed down to the next child.
• Teach life skills at home. Cooking, budgeting and household tasks are real learning. Our post on learning life skills in the kitchen offers ideas.

Build Your Own Budget in Five Steps

1. List every child and grade level for the coming year.
2. For each child, write down the likely cost in each of the seven categories. Use real prices from the websites or sellers you plan to use.
3. Add a cushion of some percentage you are comfortable with for surprises, since nobody predicts everything. Pick the amount that makes you feel secure.
4. Total the costs and divide by twelve to get a monthly figure. Compare with what your household can afford.
5. Mark the “must haves” and the “nice to haves,” and cut from the nice-to-have list if the numbers do not fit.

Keep a simple spreadsheet or notebook and record what you actually spend. At the end of the year, compare with your plan. This is the best way to find out what homeschooling really costs your family, and next year’s budget will be much more accurate.

If you track household spending, a printable planner can help. Our best planners for moms guide and printable daily planners both include space for notes, and a budget page is easy to add.

A Worksheet You Can Copy

Write this out on paper or in a spreadsheet, once for each child. We have left the amounts blank on purpose, because the right figures are the ones from your own research.

• Curriculum (main programs and books): $____
• Consumables and workbooks: $____
• Supplies (paper, art, science): $____
• Technology (device, printer ink, internet share): $____
• Classes and lessons (music, sports, co-op): $____
• Field trips and memberships: $____
• Testing or evaluation fees, if required in your state: $____
• Group dues: $____
• Cushion for surprises: $____
• Yearly total for this child: $____

Add the children together, then divide by twelve. If the monthly total is higher than you can afford, go down the list and decide what to trade. A free library program can replace a paid class, and a used book can replace a new one. Do the math before you buy, not after.

Hidden Costs to Remember

A few expenses surprise new homeschoolers. Printing is one: a family that prints worksheets daily will notice the cost of ink and paper. Storage is another, since books and projects take space, and shelves or bins cost money. Replacement costs matter too, such as a laptop that breaks or a microscope with a missing part. Transportation to classes, co-ops and outings can add up through gas and time.

Then there is food and household budgeting. Children at home all day eat more meals at home, and groceries often rise as a result. Our post of homeschool lunch ideas offers simple, budget-friendly options that help keep midday meals under control.

Review Your Budget Mid-Year

Budgets are easier to adjust than to get right the first time. Pick a date partway through the year, such as the end of the first semester, and compare what you spent with what you planned. Ask which purchases were used and which sit on a shelf. Ask which activities your child loves and which feel like a chore. Then move money from the things that are not working to the things that are.

Write down what you learned. Next year’s planning will be much faster with notes on what was worth the money and what was not, and a record of actual spending also helps if you ever need to explain your costs for tax or other purposes.

Think About Tax and Funding Questions Carefully

Some states have programs that offer funding, scholarships or tax benefits connected to education choices, and the rules change. HSLDA’s news pages have discussed state scholarship changes in some states. Do not assume you qualify for or must follow anything without checking the official source for your state, usually the department of education or the state treasurer’s site, and a tax professional for tax questions. We do not give tax or legal advice.

Be wary of anyone who promises that you can deduct homeschool costs or receive funding without confirming it in writing from an official source.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is homeschooling cheaper than private school?

It can be, but it depends on your choices and on the income you give up if a parent works less. Compare the full cost of each option for your own family.

How much should I budget for curriculum?

It depends on grade, children and approach. Price your own plan from real websites instead of relying on an average.

Do I have to pay for testing?

Only if your state requires it or you choose to. HSLDA’s state pages list whether assessment is required.

Can I homeschool for free?

Library books and free online resources can cover a lot, but most families spend something on supplies, printing or activities.

Can I get funding or tax breaks?

Some states have programs, and rules change. Check with your state department of education and a tax professional.

Sources: HSLDA state pages (hslda.org/legal) for compulsory ages and assessment requirements; National Center for Education Statistics homeschooling data for context (nces.ed.gov). We do not cite an average cost, because published averages are not consistent. Check current prices on the websites of the products you are considering. This article is general information and not legal or tax advice.