This is the One Gift Teachers Secretly Don't Want—Plus, 28 Other Gift Ideas They'll Appreciate Instead

Teachers and educators of all types are unsung heroes. We all remember the teachers from our own school days that had a lasting impact on us, so we understand the importance of wanting to give them a token of appreciation.

We went straight to the source and consulted Kennedy Ling, an elementary school teacher in North Carolina, to learn what gifts teachers treasure the most—and what gifts they could do without.

“My favorite gifts from students are always the thoughtful and practical ones,” Ling says. “Amazon gift cards, Paper Mate flair pens, sticky notes, and any classroom essentials, really.”

Disclaimer: Because public school teachers are government employees, the value of gifts they are eligible to receive may vary from state to state. Parents and guardians should check their state’s board of education website for additional details before gifting.

What teacher gifts should you skip altogether? Coffee mugs.

“Although I appreciate any gift my students and their families spend their time and money on, after just five years of teaching, I have accumulated a cabinet (or two) full of coffee mugs that don’t get much use.”

Don’t worry, you can still support your teacher’s caffeine dreams. “If you know your child’s teacher likes coffee, you can’t go wrong with a gift card to your local coffee shop,” says Ling. “Bonus points if it’s near the school!”

Best Gifts for Teachers Under $25

Credit: Amazon

What’s one classroom essential teachers can never have enough of? Pens. Restock their supply closet with their go-to writing utensils, like the Paper Mate Flair felt tip pens.

This vibrant set includes 12 pens in playful, tropical-inspired colors like aqua, papaya, and tangerine. Paper Mate Flair pens are classroom favorites because they feature a medium-point felt tip and a smear- and fade-resistant, water-based ink that never bleeds through paper.

Looking for a foolproof gift idea for your kid’s teacher? Gift cards, gift cards, gift cards.

“I know people think Amazon gift cards can become a boring gift, but they are absolute gold to teachers,” Ling says. “We can find pretty much anything we need for our classrooms on Amazon! Walmart and Target gift cards are always great, too.”

If you want to make the gift card feel a bit more special, we see you. Scoop up one of these customizable gift card holders from Elle and H Co. on Etsy.

Students aren’t the only ones eager to break out fresh school supplies. Grab this Monolike sticky memo pad for the teacher who appreciates aesthetically pleasing desktop goodies. The set includes four memo pad bundles with modern, muted colorways.

Lanyards may be part of the unofficial teacher uniform, but that doesn’t mean they all need to look that way. This bohemian-style wood bead lanyard makes a foolproof gift since it’s easily customized. Choose from 28 accent colors and include optional personalization with white and gold lettered beads to spell out their name.

Credit: Amazon

Having car line duty during the winter may not be the coziest way to start the school day, but this thoughtful (and inexpensive) gift will soften the blow. The Orastone rechargeable hand warmer features a bracelet that slips onto the wrist and provides double-sided warmth, reaching 107°F in under two minutes.

Credit: Amazon

Treat your hardworking teacher to some TLC with this luxurious Salt & Stone hand lotion. The skin-loving formulation is fast-absorbing and infused with ingredients that promote deep hydration including squalane, snow mushroom fungi, seaweed extracts, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide.

Consider your child’s relationship with their teacher as you’re shopping for a gift. If your little one spent the last year eager to enter the classroom for story time with Mr. Smith each day, consider giving him a literary-inspired gift and a heartfelt handwritten note. Or, if your tween connected with Mrs. Pagnotta over their love of Taylor Swift, she'll be happy to receive a Swiftie-themed gift.

Best Gifts for Teachers Under $50

Credit: Target

If your little one has a habit of leaving a trail of crumbs, glitter and/or eraser dust in their wake, we have a feeling their teacher will appreciate this gift. The Shark Cyclone PET handheld vacuum is compact, cordless, and powerful—ideal for cleaning classrooms mishaps on the fly.

“The most useful and thoughtful gift I have received from a student was a handheld vacuum cleaner. It was my first year teaching, and I had a sweet little boy in my first-grade class who tended to make a mess during snack time. One day, he walked in with a huge smile and a neatly wrapped gift in hand. He handed it to me, and before I could even open it, he said ‘This is for you! It’s a vacuum cleaner because I told my mommy about how you help me clean up my messes!’ That vacuum cleaner has made my life much easier over the years, and I can’t use it without thinking of that sweet, messy first grader.” -Kennedy Ling, elementary school teacher

Papier's Le Classique reading journal is a great option if you're shopping for a teacher, whether they teach English or unwind after school with their book club. The journal has space to review 32 books, as well as eight pages to fill out reading wish lists.

Between laptops, planners, reading materials, and emergency snacks, teachers carry many things to and from their classrooms daily. The L. L. Bean open-top tote is a classic, catch-all bag that will make their commute less of a chore.

The iconic tote is made from heavyweight canvas and is designed to last with reinforced straps and double-stitched seams. It comes in four sizes, two strap lengths, 12 strap color options, and the option to personalize with a monogram.

Send your kiddo to school with the Stanley Quencher H2.0 tumbler wrapped in a bow for their teacher. The Stanley tumbler has earned its glowing reputation because of its sustainable stainless steel materials, reusable straw, and double-wall vacuum insulation.

Give the teacher in your life a lunch box that has plenty of room for lunch, snacks, and beverages to ensure they have plenty of energy to make it through the day. The Hydroflask 8-Liter insulated lunch tote has an easy-to-clean waterproof fabric on the outside and a fully-lined interior that can be wiped down. And when it’s not being used, it can easily fold for easy storage in their pantry or car. The multipurpose bag can even be used on the weekends for a morning of shopping at the farmer’s market or a quick day trip to the beach or lake.

Best Gifts for Teachers Under $75

They’ll love using this Mark & Graham beach towel during their summer vacation. The timeless striped towel measures 40 x 68 inches long and is available in 13 colorways including a classic blue-and-white and a trending red-and-pink motif. Make their towel extra-special with a monogram or personalization of your choice selected from the 117 embroidery designs.

Recess duty requires teachers to have two free hands at any given moment and plenty of cold water. This Wanderfull water bottle bag checks both boxes and is bound to become your teacher’s new best friend. The stylish puffer-inspired bag features an adjustable shoulder strap and offers two zipped compartments to hold the teacher’s phone, keys, driver’s license, and more in one central location. If your teacher has a water bottle with a handle, there’s also an option that fits that type of bottle, too.

Streamline their workspace with this sleek acrylic wall calendar. The Parisloft monthly calendar provides a stylish place to jot down important dates and remind students of upcoming events. There’s also a dedicated note section to add inspirational quotes or keep score during classroom games.

Sending notes home is a part of the gig. Restock their desk with beautiful, personalized stationery from Minted. The Number 1 stationery design features an illustrated pencil and teacher’s name in your choice of five colors: mint, mustard, latte, gravel, or cranberry.

The flat card set is made with Minted’s signature paper for a luxe, velvety cotton texture and weighty feel. Snag a set of 50 note cards and pair it with a handwritten family letter for a thoughtful touch.

A Shipt gift card will save your favorite teacher time and energy—instead of having to go to the grocery store, they can have their groceries delivered right to their front door. This gift card can be delivered via email and provides a gift message space for you to express your appreciation for their work over the last year.

Who We Are

Maria Conti is a contributing home and lifestyle writer for Better Homes & Gardens, with eight years of curating gift guides, writing product reviews, and creating shopping guides for digital home publications. She spent hours researching top-rated products and consulted Kennedy Ling, a North Carolina-based fifth-grade teacher, to compile a list of the best teacher gifts that bring joy to their classrooms and elevate their daily experiences.