Yet another school year is almost on the books! But before you think about summer vacation, why not consider giving the teachers in your life end-of-year teacher gifts? They deserve it! Whether you’re a room parent, a fellow teacher, or a parent looking for ideas, we’ve gathered a variety of end-of-year teacher gifts that fit every budget.
To make sure these really are the best gifts, we spoke to 120 teachers to find out what they really want and appreciate most. Some of their top tips:
Personalize your pick. One 2nd grade teacher advises, “Be intentional with the gift and get things that they like and will actually use. If you were with kids all day, what would make you feel good at the end of the day?”
Ask what they like. Remember that not everyone drinks alcohol or can have sweet treats, so be mindful of likes, dislikes, restrictions, and preferences. Teacher Amanda Christensen recommends checking with your school office to see if they have relevant information, since many of them have teachers fill out questionnaires at the beginning of each year.
Go simple. Teachers really just want to know they’ve done their jobs well. One teacher notes that one of her favorite end-of-year gifts was “a handwritten note from a student telling me what she loved about my classroom and enjoyed during the year.”
With those tips in mind, here are some of the best end-of-year teacher gifts that educators say they’d truly enjoy receiving.
Best End-of-Year Teacher Gifts for 2024
The best gifts are heartfelt, so you can’t go wrong with a personalized note. For even more impact, add a gift card to a favorite restaurant or store.
We Are Teachers
Personalized Thank-You Note
“One of the teacher gifts that made me feel most appreciated is handwritten thank-you notes or cards from students,” shares a Texas math teacher. “The heartfelt words written by students convey deep appreciation and warmth, which makes me feel truly valued and encouraged.” In fact, most teachers we surveyed say they appreciate a handwritten thank-you note over just about anything else.
When we ask real educators about the best gifts for teachers, the number-one answer is always the same: gift cards. We surveyed more than 350 teachers to find out what their most-desired gift cards are. Here are their top five choices. (See the full list of teacher gift card picks here.)
Want to make your gift card feel a little more personal? Add a holder with a note to the teacher. Our free printable gift card holders are themed to match your cards! There are options for Amazon, Target, Starbucks, and any other gift card you choose.
Teachers like Christina H. love “food or drinks to enjoy during the school day (a breakfast taco, a coffee, a drink).” Ask their preferences and take orders in advance. Then bring teachers lunch or a delicious pick-me-up on a day and time that works best for them.
No time to do your own deliveries? That’s why Grubhub and DoorDash exist!
Crumbl
Crumbl Cookies
California 5th grade teacher Nancy Cowan was once wowed by a gift of custom-decorated sugar cookies. Another great option is that iconic Crumbl Cookie pastel pink box, full of the most decadent cookies around. No store near you? Crumbl Cookies ships nationwide!
You usually can’t go wrong with chocolate. But if you really want to make them feel special, splurge on a gourmet option like Godiva. “Quality over quantity!” advises one Utah English teacher.
Healthy snacks can be delicious (and beautiful) too! Edible Arrangements are always popular, and they offer lots of yummy treats that are good for you too.
Treat your teacher to a fun night out with this all-in-one set, which gives them gift cards for movie tickets and a meal at one of several participating restaurants.
Teachers love looking back over the best parts of any school year. Your child can fill it out on their own, adding illustrations if they like. Or for a truly special teacher gift, coordinate with other parents to have each kid in the class contribute a page. That’s a keepsake that a teacher will treasure forever!
Older teachers will especially love this one, with its cool retro appeal. Gather up a selection of photos with all their best teacher memories, and get a custom set of View-Master cards to cherish forever.
Elementary language arts teacher Kristi B. never felt more appreciated than when she received a video of each of her students sharing a special message just for her. A collaborative video or digital album is one of the sweetest, most personal teacher gifts you can give. But they can be really time-consuming to put together. That’s where Memento comes in. This online platform helps you easily assemble everything you need, then put it together into one super gift.
Time to kick up their feet and relax! With this gift card, teachers can choose the services they are interested in and can use it at spas found nationally. (Check to make sure you have a location near you that accepts the gift card.)
Texas 1st grade teacher MQ loved this gift: “A beach bag full of summer fun that I still l use—towel, sunscreen, travel tumbler, and canned drinks.” When they’re not at the beach, the tote can double as an extra teacher bag.
As summer days begin, teachers can use this journal to reflect on the past year, plan for the year to come, and just take time to enjoy the sweet summer days in between.
Real Teacher Story: “I received a LEGO house built to resemble a school with a figurine that represented me and a dinosaur to represent the student who built it.” So personal and fun!
If you want to give teachers a relaxing activity they’ll enjoy themselves, consider a set of LEGO flowers. Designed just for adults, these sets are popular and make amazing classroom decorations.
If your teacher loves to get out into nature, a book like this is a terrific end-of-year gift. It gives them ideas for summer hikes, now and for years to come!
When you know your teacher plans to spend their summer days on the links, golf balls are a perfect gift. These are well reviewed but not too pricey, making them a terrific pick.
Give a lit-loving teacher plenty of audiobooks to enjoy during their much-deserved downtime. Audible gift memberships are available from one month to a year, so there are teacher gift options for all price ranges.
Summer vacation means a chance to travel! An Airbnb gift card lets teachers put money toward any kind of stay they like, from luxury tree houses to someplace with amazing city views.
Classroom decorations like a personal sign can make a fun gift, especially if you make or commission something truly unique. We love this light-up book sign, which is terrific for any kind of teacher.
If you’ve got a garden, put together your own bouquet. Otherwise, brighten a teacher’s day with beautiful blooms from Bouqs. Choose from a variety of sizes and styles. These flowers are sourced directly from farmers who use sustainable growing practices like minimizing waste and recycling water.
Want something that will last longer than cut flowers? Lovepop’s thank-you cards are all terrific, and their pop-up paper bouquets will last long after Teacher Appreciation Week is over. These are keepsakes they can display for ages.
We love that this bracelet set is equally cute and affordable. Bonus: It will make your child’s heart swell with pride when they see their beloved teacher wearing it!
Teachers build their classroom libraries with loving care. Help them keep their selections from disappearing with a personalized stamp like this one. Real teacher review: “This stamp is very sturdy. I have had other custom stamps fall apart after a long session of classroom library building, but this is still going strong.” (See more teacher stamps we love here.)
Give them an easy-care succulent in a personalized planter for a thoughtful gift that lasts. You can pick up a succulent at the grocery store or local nursery to pop into this cute little pot.
Teachers jot a lot of notes, to students, parents, co-workers, and others. A personalized set of notepads is a useful teacher gift that’s always appreciated.
