Home goods
Home electronics
PC
Camera
Beauty
Health
Food and drinks
Kitchen
Fashion
Shoes
Accessories
Kids and baby
Interior
Hobbies
Outdoor
Home, garden, and tools
Sports and fitness
Pets
Media
Games
Apps
Automotive
Gifts
Mobile devices
Are you in a pinch thinking about what to get your child's teacher to show thanks for their hard work? Finding the right gift for Teacher Appreciation Week, Christmas, or another occasion, like retirement or if they're just starting out, can be a challenge. Luckily, we're here to help.
We've scoured the internet for a wide variety of gifts that will appeal to all kinds of teachers. We found practical presents that can be used in classrooms and presents for days off and rest days. Our favorite is the Dried Fruit Gift Basket With Tray from Oh! Nuts, because it's a sweet treat that anyone would enjoy. Interested in finding out what else made it to our list? Check out the other great gifts and peruse our handy buying guide to assist you in your search.
With 16 years and counting in the education field, I have worked with pre-school age children all the way up to university students. I have taught in classrooms, trained teachers, and managed schools around the globe.
mybest US' editing team consists of experienced members who have backgrounds in writing, editing, translation, and more. We are dedicated to researching what makes a product or service the best to users in the US in order to create top-quality articles. From skincare, to kitchen appliances, and to DIY supplies, our mission is to find the best ones for you.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
Table of Contents
Here are some factors you can think about to help you find the perfect gift for the teacher you have in mind. Take a look at our handy buying guide below!
There are many types of teachers, but generally, you can group them based on the grades they teach. If you’re looking for a practical gift, choosing one based on their grade is helpful.
Whether they work at a big school or run their own homeschool service, classroom aids make an excellent gift for preschool and elementary teachers.
Try getting alphabet flashcards, animal puzzles, or packs of creative supplies like crayons or glue sticks. Another great gift idea for these teachers is a book. Preschool and elementary students spend quite a lot of time each week reading stories, so adding to the classroom library is always a solid choice!
Keep in mind that preschool and elementary school teachers tend to get a lot of gifts. While they will appreciate any gift, they might not need any more common gift items like mugs. If you want to treat them, consider getting them something useful, like a gift card. You can always pair it with a note or greeting card for a personal touch.
School teachers are often given a strict budget to purchase material for the classroom. So, your teacher friend may appreciate items for the classroom that are difficult to justify spending school's money on.
For example, a beautiful plant or a faux plant or other decorative items will brighten up the classroom. Your teacher friend may also appreciate a new laptop sleeve, or a small blanket to keep by the teacher desk for winter.
For middle and high school teachers, consider school supplies. Look for pens, desk supplies, markers, and anything practical a teacher could use. If you want to step things up, you can even make a personalized gift bag filled with school supplies and notebooks!
It's a fairly safe bet that if someone teaches a subject like music or art or coaches a sport, they might have a strong interest in it! Consider a themed gift that matches their specialty.
A piano teacher would likely be happy with anything that has a piano on it, whether it's a paperweight, tumbler, or set of potholders for their kitchen. The same goes for a math teacher, soccer coach, drama teacher, dance teacher and so on.
You can combine our other gift ideas with the appropriate theme for something that's a little more personal and that they'll enjoy in their classroom or everyday life.
Teachers have lives outside of the classroom! Consider things you might get for anyone: decorative items, products they can pamper themselves with, or accessories anyone would use.
They might enjoy something like hand lotion or fancy soap bars for their home. Many teachers spend a lot of time on their feet and may appreciate a spa set. Accessories like tote bags could be a safe choice, but if you want to get them something that varies by individual taste and style, such as clothing items, make sure it suits their personality.
Presents that have appreciative quotes and sayings about teaching are also great gifts. These gifts include keychains, socks, shirts, notebooks, mugs, memo pads, and tote bags.
Not only will you brighten up their day, but they will be reminded that people are thankful for their profession whenever they see your gift.
If your gift is meant to coincide with a holiday like Christmas or Teacher Appreciation Week, you can go for something related to the occasion. But, you might want to check if they celebrate Christmas before getting something with Santa on it. Since that holiday is also usually the end of a semester, a more general gift would still be appropriate.
For a new teacher or someone who's retiring, there are gifts with messages that will suit the circumstances. New teachers would probably appreciate something they can use in their job, while retirees might like something that reminds them of good times with their students, like a picture frame with a class photo.
Minori says, "If you know the teacher is a coffee or tea drinker, consider looking into a drink-themed gift. There are teas and coffees in every price range, and this kind of present is sure to keep your teacher fueled for the day.
You could gift a glass or mug in addition to the drink. I recently received peach earl gray along with a beautiful mug. It was the perfect gift because it was definitely more special than what I'd usually purchase for myself."
She goes on to say, "You also can't go wrong with food gifts! A box of reasonably priced chocolates or cookies means your teacher friend can also share with their family or with other teachers. Another often-appreciated gift is something like a smaller box of high-end chocolates.
Another bonus of food-themed presents is that it's easy to find the quantity and the quality you need. They can also be ordered online, so I could send them to my professors after the semester is already finished. Cookies also work the same way, and both cookies and chocolates keep for a good period of time."
Some teachers may have obvious favorites, like showing up to class with a coffee from Starbucks and having a Corgi screensaver on their computer. You can use these small details to find gifts they will love! In this case, they might appreciate a gift card from Starbucks or a cute pair of Corgi socks.
You can also talk to their colleagues to see if they have any favorite items, snacks, drinks, or characters.
Or, you can get them placards with their name and title for their desk. If you’re getting a gift for your child’s teacher, you can have your child write a little note to add to the present.
Still at a loss as to what to get a teacher? When in doubt, go for gift cards. Gift cards give the person the freedom to get what they like on their own time.
If your teacher likes to purchase things from Amazon, get them an Amazon gift card! Other popular gift cards you can get are Google Play, Netflix, and Starbucks.
This is the ultimate gift! You may think it's impersonal, but a gift card gives teachers some great control over getting exactly what they want.
Handmade cards are a great way to personalize a gift card. I've received gift cards along with handmade cards, and I still have the cards on my wall behind my desk. Some of them are from years ago, but the handmade cards remind me of the child, as well as the generous thanks I received.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Price | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Oh! Nuts Teacher Notebook | $36.90 High Mid | Best for a Food Gift That Suits Many Diets | ||
2 | Hommie Sticky Notes Set | $8.99 Low Mid | Best Gift to Help Them Stay Organized | ||
3 | Pink Pueblo 2 Teacher Stamp Set and Tray | $22.99 High Mid | Best Personalized Stamps Your Kid Can Help Choose | ||
4 | Before The Rings Gift Card in Various Gift Boxes | $52.00 High Mid | Best Gift Box to Say, "You Deserve a Break" | ||
5 | Sweet Cartolina Teacher Personalized Notepad | $9.00 Low Mid | Best Personalized Stationery for Pre-K and Elementary School Teachers | ||
6 | Teacher Peach Custom Engraved Ballpoint Pen With Personalized Case | $36.99 High Mid | Best for Teachers of Older Kids | ||
7 | XYSocks Funny Novelty Teacher Socks | $6.99 Low Mid | Best Quirky Gift for Hardworking Teachers | ||
8 | Aozita Teacher Appreciation Gifts | $13.99 Mid | Best Tumbler With a Heartwarming Quote | ||
9 | iWenSheng Teacher Keychain | $7.99 Low Mid | Best Keychain for an Unforgettable Teacher | ||
10 | Everything Endearing | $10.12 Low Mid | Best Humorous Gift From the Parents |
Pros:
Cons:
Want to get your special teacher an apple, but worried it's too cliché? How about dried apples and a combination tray- and basket-shaped like one? In addition to apples, it has dried dates, apricots, pears, peaches, prunes and plums. The wooden tray can be reused, either flat or as a basket.
Although some reviewers said their fruit tasted stale, most said it was delicious. They also like how it suits a variety of dietary concerns, so if you aren't sure of the teacher's food preferences or allergies, it's likely to work for them.
Pros:
Cons:
A teacher's schedule is often hectic, and most have planners and notebooks they use to stay on track. This set can be used in a number of different ways because it has six differently-sized pads with a total of 402 sheets. Plus, it folds shut like a book, making it easy to slip into a purse or bag.
Reviewers liked the usefulness of the wide selection of sticky notes and the folding case. They also liked that the notes aren't difficult to pull off.
Pros:
Cons:
These stamps are a great way to get your kids involved with the gift purchase! They can help choose from hairstyles in dark or light, and accessories like glasses and beards so the stamp looks like their teacher. You also get to pick the color of the ink and the text to go on it.
Reviewers say these stamps are great, but they especially praise the service of the vendor, saying they're prompt and easy to communicate with.
Pros:
Cons:
This is a great gift set for the end of the year, but you can customize the message on the box if you want to give it for another occasion. It contains treats like a personalized mug, bath and body care items, poem card, and an optional T-shirt.
Reviewers say it's nicely packaged and arrived quickly. They say the teachers loved it!
Pros:
Cons:
Teachers can use this five by seven-inch pad to take notes or give messages to kids or their parents. It comes with your choice of 40 or 80 matte paper sheets. You can also choose the color of the name and lined or unlined pages.
Customers loved the vibrant colors, high-quality pages, and superb customer service of the seller. Buyers said daycare and preschool teachers loved receiving this notepad!
Pros:
Cons:
This tote is 12 inches wide by 16 inches high, and big enough to fit a 15-inch laptop plus books and other supplies. The design is not only simple and tasteful, it's not too cutesy for those who teach older kids. It's made of polyester canvas that's easy to wipe clean.
Most reviewers found it was durably made, and a decent size without being too bulky. Those teachers who bought it for themselves said it holds all the books and small items they need for their day.
Pros:
Cons:
This comfortable pair of socks is an excellent gift for teachers to wear on their days off. They come in pink and navy, gray and white, red and black, or white with gray toes and heels like shown here. They're made of cotton and polyester.
Some buyers said these socks are not that thick. However, customers appreciated the fun design, and many included these with other items or a gift card.
Pros:
Cons:
This cute tumbler comes with a heartwarming quote that's perfect for pre-K and elementary school teachers. The stainless steel tumbler keeps drinks hot or cold for up to three hours. Plus, it comes with a plastic lid and matching color silicone straw. It's available in pink or blue.
The majority of reviewers loved its beautiful design and color. They also appreciated its durability. They said this tumbler also does a great job keeping drinks cold or warm.
Pros:
Cons:
This keychain has a memorable quote engraved on it that will melt the heart of any teacher. It features an apple pendant with studded gems and comes in a jewelry bag. The pendant with the quote is one inch in diameter.
Buyers said they chose this because it was more useful than a thank-you card, but showed how they felt about their child's teacher. Many reported that teachers enjoyed receiving this sweet gift.
Pros:
Cons:
This bag might just say what's really in your heart. If you or the teacher has a good sense of humor, this is sure to bring a laugh. Add a bottle of red or white wine, or champagne or liquor if it's the last day of school!
This item hasn't been reviewed yet, but the shop has good ratings. It goes without saying, though, that you should make sure they drink alcohol before getting this.
We've tried to help you out with one of the most commonly asked and slightly sensitive questions about giving gifts to teachers- how much?
First, make sure the school doesn't have a policy specifying amounts for gifts! Then, there are a few ways to decide.
You can take into account what the gift card is for. If it's a card for a restaurant, you probably want to make sure the amount at least covers a meal for the teacher and their guest, for example.
Consider the occasion, as well. A teacher at a small school may have been with your child over several grades, and deserve a bigger gift. The end of the school year might call for more than a gift before winter break.
What do other parents do? It varies widely, from 15 to 100 dollars, but it seems most people spend about 20 to 50 dollars for gift cards.
Do you need a present for someone else in your life? Check out the links below for some other specific gift ideas!
In addition to reviewing our buying guide, Minori was kind enough to offer her recommended gift for teachers.
Want to see what kinds of gift cards others have bought? Some of Amazon's most popular thank you gift cards could be the perfect match for your teacher.
This expert reviewed the contents of the buying guide for accuracy and provided factual corrections when necessary. They did not participate in the product selection process, nor are they affiliated with any of our choices unless explicitly stated so.
No. 1: Oh! Nuts|Teacher Notebook
No. 2: Hommie|Sticky Notes Set
No. 3: Pink Pueblo 2|Teacher Stamp Set and Tray
No. 4: Before The Rings|Gift Card in Various Gift Boxes
No. 5: Sweet Cartolina|Teacher Personalized Notepad
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
Home goods
Home electronics
PC
Camera
Beauty
Health
Food and drinks
Kitchen
Fashion
Shoes
Accessories
Kids and baby
Interior
Hobbies
Outdoor
Home, garden, and tools
Sports and fitness
Pets
Media
Games
Apps
Automotive
Gifts
Mobile devices