Being a teacher often means long days that begin before the school day starts and ends long after it's technically over. From lesson planning to grading papers late into the night and generally having the patience of a saint, being an educator is an incredibly important — and difficult! — job that deserves all the accolades and tokens of appreciation (read: gifts).
That's why you should show the teachers in your life just how much you appreciate everything they do and how important they are to their students with one of these thoughtful gifts. Whether it's from an entire class or a parent thanking them for all of their hard work, any gift on this list is sure to bring a smile to their face.
Self-care and accessories | Stationery | Storage and organization | Food and drink | How we chose
Best self-care and accessory gifts for teachers
The Happy Planner “Coolest Teacher Ever” 12-Month Planner
Aptly decorated with school supplies, this 12-month planner will help them keep all their ducks in a row this upcoming school year. It gives them space to plan out their weekdays, as well as the month as a whole with dedicated pages to do so, and even includes stickers to decorate their pages with.
Rifle Paper Co. “World’s Best Teacher” Mug
Michael Scott may have the “World’s Best Boss” mug, but that doesn’t mean your teacher can’t be the “World’s Best Teacher.” This porcelain mug features illustrated designs with metallic gold accents for a super luxurious look.
Rifle Paper Co. Porcelain Monogram Mug
Similar to the pick above, this one happens to be a winner from our 2024 Gifts We Love awards. Better yet, customers can get 30% off sitewide, 11/12 — 11/21 with code: TODAY.
Personalized Teacher Desk Name Plate
They may already have a name plate sitting on their desk, but we doubt it has as much personality as this version! This Etsy seller can illustrate this acrylic plate with their name, position and a touch of whimsy.
Out of Print "Matilda" Tote Bag
This tote will prove to be the perfect gift for your real-life Miss Honey, with its cartoon depiction of Matilda straight from the pages of the classic Roald Dahl book.
Out of Print has tote bags, T-shirts, socks, pins, bookmarks and other book-related merchandise spanning across several genres, titles and authors including Emily Henry, Stephen King, Ann. M. Martin and more.
L'Occitane Hand Cream Classics Set
If they work in a elementary school classroom, chances are they're constantly washing their hands. Help keep them moisturized and nourished with this set of hand lotions from L'Occitane.
With shea butter, lavender and almond scents included, their miniature size allows them to fit easily into any bag or desk drawer.
Kikkerland Solar-Powered Rainbow Maker
Not only does this mini device deliver a beautiful rainbow burst in the classroom (or their home, whatever they choose), it also makes for a good educational conversation starter if they’re teaching a lesson about the electromagnetic spectrum!
Mark & Graham Everyday Italian Leather Pouch
This Italian leather mini pouch is about to be the chicest accessory your teacher will own. Handcrafted in Tuscany, this mini zipper pouch is ideal for storing all the everyday essentials. Personalize this bag with your teacher’s initials for an extra special touch.
Lula’s Garden Thank You Ray Garden
Nothing says gratitude like a low-maintenance succulent, and this one can be delivered right to the teacher you want to thank, pot and all. It’s sure to perk up their desk or coffee table!
Stanley The Quencher H2.0 FlowState Tumbler
If they don’t already have one, help them stay hydrated throughout the day with this Stanley tumbler which will surely help quench their thirst. Keep drinks hot, cold or iced with this stainless-steel tumbler that features a soft-grip handle and a three-position lid with a reusable straw.
Australian Shearling Scuff Slippers
These supremely cozy slippers (trust us — one Shop TODAY editor has tried them out and she says “they’re like walking clouds”) will give your teacher some much-needed foot relief when they’re back home after a long day.
Swatch Caramellissima Watch
This watch will bring them back to days of wearing candy necklaces and bracelets, while helping add a youthful touch to any outfit. The pastel plastic "pearls" are water-resistant, according to the brand and the strap is just long enough to be wrapped around the wrist twice.
Maison Miru Little Bar Nap Earrings
Being around children all day usually means no-nonsense jewelry that can be worn every day. Enter the nap earrings — these cleverly designed studs can be worn during a workout, swimming or in the shower and they won’t turn green. Plus, the back side of them is flat so that they can be slept in comfortably.
Uncommon Goods Personalized Hand-Written Letter Blanket
Show your teacher how much your class cares (along with how much they’ve improved on their letter-writing skills!) with a blanket designed with a thoughtful message of appreciation.
Best stationery gifts for teachers
Expo Dry-Erase Markers
Where have all of their markers gone?! If they’re running low on them by year’s end, hook them up with a fresh pack featuring a variety of fun colors.
Dowling Adhesive Magnet Tape
If they have a magnetic whiteboard in their classroom, they’ll probably get a kick out of using this adhesive magnetic tape for posters, charts and other laminated learning materials.
E. Frances Pencil Little Notes
For pint-sized and pocket memos worthy of stationary to match, this set of 85 notecards can be used for congratulations, kudos, as placards and more. The brand has dozens of designs to choose from, like ones stamped with coffee mugs, dogs and even cupcakes.
Fresh Ideas Milk Carton Note Set
Time for lunch! Well, not really. This note set may look like a milk carton, but believe it or not, it’s actually full of 500+ tear of sheets of paper. There is also a pencil included designed to fit perfectly inside the straw hole. Your teacher will love making to-do lists and more with this fun yet practical block of paper.
Pilot FriXion ColorSticks Erasable Gel Ink Stick Pens
There’s just something innately satisfying about a new set of multicolored pens, and the teacher in your life will love these for grading. Plus, they’re erasable, so no corrective ink is required!
Teacher’s Pencil Personalized Paper Note Cube
Sticky notes are one thing teachers can never have too much of. Instead of giving them the same type that everyone has, make them feel special with a personalized cube like this one. Associate editor Kamari Stewart gifted these to her teacher friend when she first began her career and she still keeps them on her desk to this day.
Rocketbook Smart Reusable Notebook
They probably already have countless paperback planners to keep track of their lessons and assignments, but they may want to reconsider when they get their hands on this reusable notebook. Earning 35,000+ verified five-star ratings on Amazon (including dozens from teachers alone!), the Rocketbook has ample smart features like easy transferring to the cloud service of your choice and search capabilities for better organization.
Ticonderoga Pre-Sharpened Pencils
Tired of hearing complaints about pencils gone missing? Gift them with this 150-count of pastel-colored pencils (or maybe even more than one box). Teachers and students alike will be excited to use them.
Staples Gift Card
Sometimes the perfect present comes in the smallest package. Available in amounts ranging from $5 to $100, your favorite teacher could stock up on classroom essentials, supplies or anything else they need to get through the rest of the school year.
Scotch Thermal TL901X Laminator
Sometimes the most effective gift isn’t the most glamorous, but instead the one they’ll use for a long time coming. This bestselling laminator has won over countless educators for how seamless it is to use and preserve lesson plans and classroom materials.
Ottlite Recharge LED Desk Lamp
This rechargeable lamp is meant to reduce eyestrain by up to 51%, according to the brand. It’s also rechargeable and can go anywhere!
Book of the Month Subscription
Whether they enjoy reading thrillers, sci-fi or romance novels during their off-hours, Book of the Month ensures they’ll have the perfect read ready for them to savor every month.
Ipevo V4K Ultra High Definition USB Document Camera
Your teacher will no longer need to worry about how to give presentations at home. This 4K camera offers a lag-free live streaming experience with ultra high-definition live images and a fast focusing speed. It can also scan textbooks, worksheets and other documents their students need to succeed.
Canva Pro Subscription
Stationery, but make it digital! A pro subscription from this design website will allow them to create slideshows, presentations and Powerpoints with all the stencils, fonts, stickers and other elements that the brand has to offer.
Best storage and organization gifts for teachers
Easthill Large Pencil Case
There’s no doubt that the educator in your life will appreciate this Amazon’s Choice pencil case. Available in eight fun colors, this cute case is designed to store up to 100+ pens or pencils. Made of durable polyester fabric and easy to store, this pencil holder is the ideal option for your teacher to store in a laptop backpack or tote.
Bentgo Classic Stackable Lunch Box
A favorite amongst Shop TODAY staffers, this stackable food storage container features several compartments and utensils so they don't have to bring their nice flatware with them to work.
Tile Sticker
Tile’s smallest Bluetooth tracker is waterproof with adhesive backing that can stick to anything, making it ideal for lunchboxes, toys, computers and classroom materials.
Hydro Flask 5L Insulated Lunch Bag
Associate editor Sierra Hoeger employs this as her daily lunch box, reporting her food remains chilled even after her 30 minute morning commute.
The insulated interior is easy-to-clean, she adds, should anything spill or leak. Plus, the side and top handle make it easy to carry any which way, if you're also carrying a tote bag, keys, a phone or more.
Cooluli Vibe Retro Mini Fridge
This little fridge with a dry-erase front is here to keep drinks and snacks cool and close at hand. This mini fridge weighs less than 10 pounds, according to the brand, meaning they can move around their classroom to fit their needs.
Courant Catch:3 Classics
This stylish charging station/catchall will make any teacher’s life easier and provides a place to stash keys and other essentials either at home or at school.
Modern Picnic The Large Luncher
Say goodbye to the standard lunchbox and hello to this updated version from Modern Picnic. The bag is made with vegan leather and comes in faux crocodile prints that make it look like a purse. It features an interior pocket and slots for a knife, fork and spoon. According to its description, the bag can fit breakfast, lunch, dinner and more.
Best food and drink gifts for teachers
Blue Bottle Coffee Craft Instant Coffee
Teachers are constantly on the go and don’t always have time to make a brewed cup of coffee. These single-serve packets make it easy to get their daily caffeine fix. Each box comes with five sachets. They can drink it plain or spruce it up by mixing in milk or creamer for a latte-style drink in minutes.
La Colombe Coffee Ground Subscription
If caffeine fuels their everyday, make sure they're well-stocked with a refresh every two weeks. A subscription from La Colombe ensures that they have a new bag of coffee grounds bi-weekly. This gift pairs perfectly with a mug for them to enjoy their new blends.
Prospector Popcorn Perfect Popcorn Pack
Perfect for a midday snack, this popcorn pack includes three different flavors, including cheddar and caramel, classic caramel, and Belgian chocolate toffee.
With a variety of packs to choose from, you can tailor this gift to satisfy their sweet or savory tooth.
BonBon Medium Gift Box
Who doesn't love a sweet treat? After a long, hard day forming young minds, your favorite teacher can enjoy a Swedish candy or two from the TikTok loved brand BonBon.
Thoughtfully Gifts, The Good Hurt Fuego
Show your teacher they are dynamite with this hot sauce gift set. With seven different flavors ranging from the pleasant (garlic herb, smoky bourbon) to the downright head-exploding (whiskey habanero, ghost pepper), this sampler pack will satisfy any culinary explorer.
Teas of the Boston Tea Party
History teachers will get a kick out of this colonial-inspired collection featuring all the teas thrown into the Boston Harbor in 1773. It also comes with information cards regarding the history of each tea and how to brew them for the best flavor.
Bokksu Snack Box: Seasons of Japan
Cravings can hit anytime throughout the day, so make sure your teacher is prepared with an artisanal nibble. This curated collection from Bokksu features over 20 Japanese snacks and inspired tea pairings to go with each bite — perfect for the geography or history educator who moonlights as a gourmand.
Uncommon Goods Periodic Table of Flavor Rub Set
If they treat their kitchen like a science lab — always looking to perfect recipes — gift them with this periodic table-inspired rub set that comes with 12 spices and rubs inspired by Korean BBQ, Jamaican jerk and more.
How we chose
The Shop TODAY editors and writers searched the internet to find the best gifts for teachers. We used our own personal experiences with gifting products and brands to make shopping easier for our readers, including bestselling items that customers and reviewers loved and are sure to be a hit with your favorite teachers.
Don’t forget to check out Shop TODAY’s other gift guides to find the perfect present everyone on your list including cozy gifts, gifts under $50, gifts for husbands, cool gifts and gift baskets.
