Teacher Gift Ideas

16 teacher gift ideas for Christmas or Teacher Appreciation Day that are fun, practical, and thoughtful + ideas that don’t cost a thing.

For five years, I was a high school English teacher, and while I never expected gifts at all from my students, many gave me some incredibly thoughtful ones at Christmas and at the end of the school year.

In my experience, the best gifts of all are handwritten letters and drawings by my students. Knowing they took the time to show me they appreciated me was enough. However, if you want to give your teachers something store-bought, these 16 gift ideas for teachers will be so appreciated.

If you plan to give restaurant gift cards, food/drinks, or fragranced items, maybe just check their food preferences beforehand or that they don’t have any allergies. Or ask if they need any items for the classroom so the teacher doesn’t have to buy it.

Click on any image in the collage below to shop.

_{This gift guide contains affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.}

Practical and Thoughtful Teacher Gift Ideas

“Funny Things My Students Say” Journal

I love this one especially for elementary school teachers. It’s so funny to look back on the hilarious things kids say, so this journey will allow the teacher to document all of it.

Touchland Mist Hand Sanitizer Set

When applying hand sanitizer a million times a day to ward off the school germs, it feels like a luxury to have a great smelling one that’s also hydrating.

Personalized Stamp

A custom name stamp to use on graded papers is right up there on the awesomeness scale with a brand new pack of colorful gel pens.

Indoor Desert Grow Kit

It’s nice having a houseplant in the classroom to add a little visual life, but it also helps increase oxygen and purifies the air.

L’Occitane Hand Cream Set

When handling papers all day and washing hands constantly, teacher hands can get very dry with winter skin. Having hand cream available in a desk drawer really comes in handy. L’Occitane is the good stuff.

Hot Apple Cider Tea

One of my favorite teas! Plus, an herbal tea is very welcomed when it’s cold season and you’ve been talking to your class all day long with a scratchy throat. The apple theme is quite cheeky for a teacher gift but also delicious. 😉

Stanley Tumbler

I’ll be honest, I received a lot of “teacher” coffee mugs over the years and the collection got rather out of hand. But a Stanley cup is like the Cadillac of cups and one that would be very appreciated.

Picture Frame Ornament

Gift a student-written appreciate note or artwork inside of this picture frame ornament. This sunburst design feels extra cheerful.

F In Exams Book

A hilarious book that any teacher would be tickled reading with funny wrong answers on tests. Something they can relate to for sure because those teachers have seen it all!

Gift Card Snow Globe

If there is anything on teachers’ Amazon wish lists that they need, Amazon gift cards will help. This snow globe is a cute way to gift it that they can reuse after spending the card as a photo display on their desk.

Rifle Paper Co. Pens

When you find a great pen, you do a little involuntary happy dance. I don’t know what it is about pretty pens, but they make teaching a little more fun.

Tote Bag

Teachers do a lot of toting books and papers around, so getting a new tote bag is a great pick-me-up.

Sur La Table Peppermint Bark

This peppermint bark is SO decadent and amazing! Sometimes chocolate just makes a tough day in the classroom a little better.

School Supply Organizer

By December, teachers are running low on school supplies. Hook them up with this organizer filled with supplies they could definitely use.

Library Card Socks

They’re practical, they’re funny, they’re cute. What’s not to love?

Custom Notepad

Teachers are always jotting down notes, to-do lists, or writing notes to other teachers around the school, so personalized notepads with their names will get tons of use.