30 Teacher Appreciation Gifts They Really Want, According to Actual Educators

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Imagine for a minute that you're surrounded by two dozen screaming kids, all armed with dull safety scissors and gluey hands. Then imagine you have a cute personalized tumbler filled with a freshly brewed latte from the new espresso machine in the break room. You're feeling at least two percent better, right? The best teacher appreciation gifts show that you see the work your kids' teachers put into every single day, and you want to reward them with something that'll make their (long, long) days slightly easier.

The truth is that finding gifts for teachers can be a hard task. Not every educator wants a candle (and based on our research, they REALLY don't want another coffee mug)! In fact, based on some brutally honest Reddit threads, teachers at your school may or may not have an underground network of trading all the candles and lotions for "things they don't hate." Firstly, that's hilarious. Secondly, that begs the question ... what is the greatest gift to give a teacher?

The greatest thing our school does is start each year with fact sheets that list the teachers' favorite things. But not everyone is so lucky! That's why I consulted Reddit threads, polled some teachers, and scoured the internet for the best gifts out there in honor of Teacher Appreciation Week starting May 6, 2024, and National Teacher Day one day later. If nothing below strikes your fancy, you can always check out our definitive list of the best gifts under $50.

Personalized Teacher Tumbler

My first source for this list was an obvious one: my child's teacher. She confirmed that yes, teachers want gift cards — lots of them. In fact, she recommended a "gift card bouquet," in which parents team up to clip various gift cards into floral card holders and arrange them like you would a bouquet of flowers. Where does this adorable custom iced coffee tumbler come in? That should serve as the pot. Isn't it just like a teacher to be so creative?

Heart Keepsake

If this acrylic heart doesn't scream "kindergarten teacher," I don't know what does.

Canvas Tote Bag

Teachers — always toting stuff, am I right? To make their lives a bit easier, gift them a sturdy tote bag emblazoned with the "technical" definition of teacher. Amazon reviewers are all about this capacious bag, which comes in seven teacher-forward designs.

Ceramic Plant Pot

Whether they teach preschool or high school, every educator will appreciate this sweet little succulent they can set on their desk.

RELATED: More Top-Rated Plant and Garden Gifts

eGift Card

"This line of work doesn’t pay enough for true self care," wrote one Reddit user. Give teachers a free pass to spend on bath products, or whatever brings them relaxation, with an Amazon gift card.

Teacher Gift Basket

When you want a little bit of everything, go for this well-stocked box that comes with a tumbler, a zippered "survival kit" for their small stuff, socks, a bracelet, and more. There's also a cute "Chaos Coordinator" version for your principal!

RELATED: 10 Best Teacher Subscription Boxes

"Thank You" Bookmark

Amazon reviewers love this sweet silver bookmark, which is a simple gift that will go a long way.

Personalized Desk Nameplate

How sweet is this custom nameplate? It's acrylic, not glass, so you don't have to worry about it shattering when it inevitably falls on the ground.

Heated Blanket

One Reddit user commented that her coworker received a heated blanket from parents and "WOW, that thing looked nice." Ha! Be the parent that gives the good gift!

RELATED: Best Gifts for Her Under $50 That Don't Look Cheap

You're The Best! Angel

If they're a Willow Tree person (it's a thing), they definitely need this apple-wielding angel.

"READ" Drop Earrings

Make sure their lobes are pierced before you gift them a pair of these earrings! There are a few variations on the designs, including a pair with more muted, peachy colors.

Thank You Card

It may sound simple, but a heartfelt thank-you note goes a long way. One Reddit user noted that her favorite gift was a card with a few questions answered by their child, i.e. "What makes [this teacher] the best? What does [this teacher] do that makes you happy?" Personalizing the card with a photo of the student will make it that much more memorable years down the line.

Single-Serve Classic Lattes

Once they clear all the gift cards out of their personalized tumbler, they'll want some coffee to put in it, right? Get them a set of premium Vietnamese coffee that'll make eight lattes on the go — perfect for that long afternoon stretch.

Custom Cozy Sweatshirt

"I got a custom tie-dyed sweatshirt that is my very favorite piece of clothing," wrote one Reddit user. "On the chest, my name, Miss ____, is embroidered in the child’s handwriting. So much better than another candle, mug, hand cream, or chocolate!"

Embroidering in the kid's handwriting is truly next-level, though you can get pretty close with the custom tie-dye collection from female-founded brand BFFS & BABES.

Massage Envy Gift Card

"One family gifted me an hour massage at a local spa," commented one Reddit user. "Something that I would never spend the money on myself. But it was so wonderful!" Either look around for something local or grab a gift card to Massage Envy — they're everywhere.

Pro tip: Find out how much a treatment is, then calculate the gratuity to come up with a total balance so the teacher won't have to pay for any of their visit.

Bumblebee Lapel Pin

Buzzy accessories company Clifton Wilson makes tons of cute lapel pins, including assorted ladybugs and roses. Because teachers are the ultimate busy bees, I'm obsessed with the idea of getting them a little bumblebee.

Pinstripe Mini Hip Pack

For the teacher who is constantly supervising the playground, this hip pack from Aloha will be a perfect home to a whistle, band-aids, some lip balm, and everything else they'll need for a successful recess. Bonus points if you pack those things in there before you gift it to them!

RELATED: Best Belt Bags and Fanny Packs Our Editors Are Loving in 2024

Custom Teacher Lanyard

When I say this lanyard is fully customizable, I don't just mean the name part. There are options for the type of wood beads you want, the length, the keychain metal, the tassel color, an optional badge holder, and dozens of potential bead combos. The seller will even gift wrap the lanyard in a pretty pink box for an extra $1.50!

1200 Series Fully Automatic Espresso Machine

Thinking of going in on one big gift with some other families? If your teacher is always spending their hard-earned cash on lattes, consider an espresso machine. This option from Philips makes two shots simultaneously and has a frother for perfectly warmed milk. Amazon users love how easy it is to clean and say the compact size is ideal for smaller countertops. (This would be a welcome addition to the teacher's lounge, too!)

Luka Duffle Bag

Encourage them to get the heck out of town with this beloved duffle bag from CALPAK. It comes in three colors and is ideal for a weekend trip away... literally anywhere far from the classroom.

Catered Lunch

Teachers love a catered lunch — this came up over and over on Reddit. I'm using Olive Garden here because there's a good chance there's a franchise location within five miles of your school, but really any local place with an A-grade from the state health department will do. Just make sure they know it's coming, so they don't take the time to pack their own lunch that day.

Teacher Notepad

Teachers take notes — a lot of notes. Make their lives easier with this handy notepad!

Custom Teacher Stamps

There are 64 designs to chose from when you're getting a set of these custom stamps. Simply tell the seller which four designs you want, what the teacher's name is, and which colors you'd like.

Framed Art Print

This "Thank you for helping me grow!" design by Society6 artist milkyprint comes in many different forms. You can get it as a mug, phone case, and even a pencil pouch! It's a cute reminder of how important they are to your child's development.

Peperomia Obtusifolia

When flowers fade, potted plants thrive! The Sill has a gigantic collection of houseplants with varying sunlight and watering requirements. I'm partial to this Peperomia Obtusifolia become it only needs indirect sunlight, water every other week, and it's pet-friendly. You get to choose from several different planters and shipping is free!

Membership

Just because they spend all day teaching doesn't mean they're done learning! A MasterClass membership is an unexpected gift that will allow them to learn from the best of the best. They can take classes from Lewis Hamilton, Helen Mirren, Mariah Carey, Thomas Keller, and more experts in various industries.

Kindle Paperwhite

If you're thinking of a larger gift for the end of the school year or rallying a few families to chip in for something nice, a Kindle is a terrific way to go. You could even venture the extra mile by including a Kindle gift card to get them started!

The Starling

On a scale of one to 10, how hard would it be to get their shoe size? Our experts determined Birdies The Starling flats are the most comfortable shoes for standing all day, and boy, are they cute! Black velvet is one of the brand's core fabrics, but there are several other colors and finishes that would suit any teacher with tired feet.

Personalized Stationery Cards

Minted has a small but cute selection of custom stationery for teachers, and I'm partial to this apple design. It comes in three colors: Golden Delicious (pictured), Candy Apple, and Sour Apple.

Cartoon Cat Pencil Pouch

Want to get a gift that will make the kids in their class jealous? Look no further than this ridiculously adorable pencil pouch, which can be tossed in a bag or stood up on a desk.

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