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When it comes to end-of-year teacher gifts, we all know what families usually buy: apple-festooned items, candles and goodies to eat. But are those the items that teachers most want to receive?
To find out, more than 40 teachers were surveyed for this story about what gifts teachers like best. The pool of respondents were all educators, either currently working or retired, who taught different grade levels at different schools across the country. They were promised that their names wouldn't be used so as not to offend any well-meaning families who missed the mark. That way, they could really open up about what they believed were the best teacher gifts to get from students.
Something almost all the teachers shared: They really do believe that it's the thought that counts, and notes, handwritten letters, handmade items or home-baked goodies were really valued. But we know that they deserve a little something extra to go with all of those well wishes.
So, what to get? Though their schools, locations, subjects and experiences may be different, our teachers agreed on one thing: Gift cards are gold. They really do want them, and the more versatile the cards are (Amazon, Target and Visa were the most requested), the better. And, since some families don't feel comfortable giving gift cards — or like to give something small with a gift card — we've come up with more teacher-approved recommendations below.
Some guiding hints from the respondents: It helps to get to know your teacher and their preferences personally. For every educator that said they loved candy, there was another who said if they never saw another Godiva box again, it would be too soon. (Food, coffee, mugs, candles and wine were the most divisive, showing up on both the "most wanted" and "least wanted" lists.) Teachers warned to steer clear of anything that really requires you to know their personal taste, like jewelry or fragrances, and they also agreed that they'd rather get something personalized with their names on it than something with an apple that just says "teacher."
With all that in mind, these are the gifts that our panel of teachers said are most likely to make educators very happy.
Our Top Picks for the Best Teacher Gifts in 2024
- Amazon Gift Card, $15 at amazon.com
- Personalized Teacher Stamp, $27 at etsy.com
- Why You're the Best Teacher Ever Book, $12 at amazon.com
- Stanley Quencher H2.0 FlowState Tumbler, $45 on amazon.com
- Personalized Teacher Desk Plate, $17 on amazon.com
Choose one of these, and you're sure to get an A+!
Looking for more great gifts? Check out these Good Housekeeping guides:
Gifts for Doctors | Gifts for Artists | Gifts for Chefs | Gifts for Bosses | Gifts for College Students | Gifts for Law Students
Best Teacher Gift From Students
'Why You're the Best Teacher Ever' Journal
Best Teacher Gift From Students
'Why You're the Best Teacher Ever' Journal
Lots of teachers say that what they want most, above gifts, are hand-written notes. But if your student finds it hard to get the words out, this journal helps them make it easy by offering fill-in-the-blanks that'll get the inspiration flowing. The class can even work on it together and make it a group gift.
When a classroom-app note just won't do, they'll appreciate having their own stack of personalized "From the Desk Of" notecards. This one comes with a choice of yellow, green or red apple, but if you don't want to go with the apple motif, you can opt for the No. 2 pencil design.
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If you feel sheepish about giving a gift card by itself, you can always put it in something useful, like these color-coded zipper mesh pouches — which has a million uses. They come in a set of 24, so you'll have enough for several teachers and enough left over to organize yourself, too.
After gift cards, personalized items came up the most often as a much-wanted gift. So teachers will delight in their very own stamps, created to look just like them, with their hairstyle, facial hair, glasses and other accessories. You can get them for male teachers and female teachers, and you can also personalize the text.
Another ingenious place to stash a gift card? Inside one of these pouches. They're made to go around a travel water cup like the Stanley Quencher, so that Teach can carry their IDs and keys and stay one-hand-free. But even if they don't have a beverage tumbler, there are a million places to clip this in where it'll be useful.
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Best Desk Accessory
Personalized Teacher Desk Plate
Best Desk Accessory
Personalized Teacher Desk Plate
Perfect for a reading or English teacher, these name plates are made from repurposed Scrabble tiles. You can also add in an apple, star or heart embellishment in the beginning. It's a great just-a-little-something that won't take over their whole desk.
Trendy Gift
Stanley Quencher H2.0 FlowState Tumbler
Trendy Gift
Stanley Quencher H2.0 FlowState Tumbler
The same travel tumbler that's used en masse by students last is also a hit with their teachers. And, with the ability to hold a whipping 40 oz of liquid, we get it. The insulation keeps beverages hot or cold, which is helpful for a teacher that has to stand up and talk in front of a class all day. Just don't forget the straw cover to go with it!
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Gift They Need
Bath & Body Works PocketBac Hand Sanitizer Set
Gift They Need
Bath & Body Works PocketBac Hand Sanitizer Set
Teachers more than most need to keep sanitizing their hands. With this set of 10, they can stash sanitizer in every corner of the classroom — plus their bag and car. You can even get them a fun holder that'll clip to their bag.
Our teachers said they'd much rather have something with their name on it than something that said, "World's Greatest Teacher." This tote bag has outside mesh pockets for easy access and an optional interior organizer. If you really want to be a teacher's pet, you can fill it with items like tissues, sanitizing wipes and pencils — supplies that are always in demand.
While our teachers asked for desk plants, they said nothing about the pots they come in. This two-pack features pots with cute messages designed to make teachers' hearts melt. All you have to do is get a succulent or air plant to pop in it, and you're good to go.
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Elementary school teachers in particular often have to decorate their rooms every year. Help them out with this sweet sign that comes in three designs, and can be personalized with their name.
Best Wearable Teacher Gift
Personalized Crayon Teacher Shirt
Best Wearable Teacher Gift
Personalized Crayon Teacher Shirt
Some teachers requested school merch or school-store swag as a gift; if that's not available, this is the next best thing. It comes in about a dozen colors and a couple different styles, and you can get it in sizes from XS to 2XL.
If you know your teacher is into LEGO, the only thing better than getting them a real bouquet of flowers is getting them one they can build out of LEGO. If this set is too extensive, there are also LEGO roses, daffodils or lotus flowers for less than $20.
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While some teachers on our list were very anti-candle, others were all for them. If yours falls into the latter category, they might love this soy wax–blend candle, which is named after famed poet and author Langston Hughes.
Delicious Edible Gift
Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies
Delicious Edible Gift
Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies
A lot of our teachers said they really appreciated in when someone sent in a batch of handmade baked goods. If you're not a wiz in the kitchen, this is the next best thing. The box comes with two dozen cookies, and you warm them before you eat them so they feel like they came right out of the oven.
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From lesson plans to to-do lists to whatever musings enter their heads, teachers can always stand to have a notebook on-hand. And, with a laser-engraved design, they'll always know which notebook is theirs. There are also many different designs and styles to choose from.
Markers were another school supply our teachers said they were in dire need of, and these aren't your old, washable kiddie makers. They're permanent, but with a fine point and in a rainbow of colors, which makes them useful for grading, labeling, writing notes and tackling other artsy projects.