30 Teacher Appreciation Gifts They Really Want, According to Actual Educators (2024)

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.

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.

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?

"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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.