Wade Cothran | Aug 25, 2025
12 of the Best Teacher Gifts to Show You Care
Whether you're a parent, student, or colleague, showing appreciation for teachers is a wonderful way to acknowledge their dedication and hard work. From back-to-school season to holiday celebrations to teacher appreciation week (or simply recognizing a job well done), there are countless opportunities to express gratitude to the educators who make a difference in our lives.
Need some ideas? We’re about to cover the best gifts for teachers that are guaranteed to bring a smile to anyone’s face.
Note: Remember to check with your school district’s rules on gifts for teachers and classrooms. The general rule of thumb is that public employees may not accept gifts worth $50 or more, but your district may have different or additional rules.
Use this list to navigate the guide:
A New Water Bottle
Gift Cards to Local Coffee Shops
A Classic Apple (Gift Card)
Gift Cards to Local Restaurants
A New Tumbler or Mug
Bag of Sweet or Salty Munchies
New School Supplies
New School Pride Apparel
Bottle of Wine
Uber Eats or Doordash Gift Card
Heartfelt Note
A Gift for the Whole Classroom
1. A New Water Bottle to Stay Hydrated
From teaching lessons all-day to moving between classrooms, teachers are constantly on their feet and using their voices. A high-quality water bottle is an essential companion for any educator who wants to stay hydrated throughout the school day.
Even better? Find one that is designed to keep their water ice cold throughout the day, from the first class period to the last. Here are our recommendations:
BrüMate Era
The BrüMate Era is perfect for teachers who need reliable hydration at all times. This 30oz or 40oz tumbler uses triple insulation to keep drinks ice-cold for up to 24 hours and features a comfortable carry handle for easy transport between classrooms. Plus, the completely leakproof design ensures no spills in their bag or on their desk.
BrüMate Resa
For teachers who would prefer an even more travel-friendly option, try the BrüMate Resa which offers 25oz or 35oz of capacity. It’s sleek and cupholder-friendly, so it can fit between monitors, papers, students’ cell phones, and everything else that ends up on a teacher’s desk. Not having a side handle also means it can slide into backpack/bag pockets perfectly. Similar to Era, the leakproof locking lid creates a secure seal, making sure their drink never spills.
Or, give them a BrüMate E-Gift Card so they can choose their own tumbler!
Not sure which water bottle or tumbler they would appreciate the most? No problem. You can send them an E-Gift Card instead so that they can choose which water bottle style and design is their favorite.
If you choose to get them an E-Gift Card, be sure to encourage them to use the frontline discount. Teachers receive 10%* off of their orders all-year round, and they can enjoy the discount in combination with the E-Gift Card.
2. A Gift Card to the Local Coffee Shop or Starbucks
Teachers work long, 8+ hour days, usually prepping early in the morning for their students. Because of this, coffee can be an essential part of their daily routine.
Treat a teacher to a cup of Joe at their favorite coffee shop in the neighborhood, like a local coffee shop or Starbucks. Pair the gift card with Brümate’s Müv Insulated Mug to keep their drink warm all morning long.
3. Bring in an Apple (Gift Card) to Put on Their Desk
Giving a teacher an apple has been a long-time tradition, dating back to the 1700s. Today, it is still known as a gesture of appreciation to give a teacher an apple at the beginning of the school year, or really any time throughout the year, to put on their desk.
If you’re feeling extra punny, add an Apple gift card with your apple to make a thoughtful back to school teacher gift! Teachers can use Apple gift cards for educational apps, digital books, music for their downtime, or technology accessories.
4. A Gift Card to a Favorite Local Restaurant
There’s nothing like a date night (alone or with a friend or partner!) at the end of a long work day. Treat a teacher to a nice dinner with a gift card from a favorite local restaurant. Sometimes a nice meal is the perfect way to say “we appreciate you!”
5. A New Coffee Tumbler or Mug
A BrüMate tumbler or mug is a great functional and affordable gift for those teachers who like a nice cup of coffee to get through the day. With a never-ending to-do list, it’s necessary for teachers to have an option that will keep their coffee hot or cold for hours – not just the first few minutes of the school day. That’s what makes the below list of tumblers + mugs a great gift for teachers.
BrüMate Müv
The BrüMate Müv is a game-changer for educators who want their beverages to stay the perfect tempall day long. This triple-insulated coffee mug features a leakproof lid that's perfect for locking in their drink when they are assisting students/not actively sipping. The scratch-resistant + comfort grip handle and non-slip base also make it ideal for busy classroom environments where stability matters.
Available in three sizes: 15oz, 25oz and 35oz, both 25oz and 35oz are cup-holder friendly for to-and-from school commutes.
BrüMate Nav
Teachers who prefer a sleek tumbler style without a handle will love the BrüMate Nav Tumbler. This versatile 25oz or 35oz insulated tumbler works beautifully for both hot coffee during morning prep time and iced beverages during lunch breaks. Both sizes are cup-holder friendly and include a leakproof lid for moments when it’s easier to throw it in their bag and go.
Designed to keep beverages hot for up to 6hours or cold for up to 24 hours, the Nav is a functional gift option available in a variety of colors to match their unique style
6. A Bag of Sweet or Salty Munchies
Sometimes snacks are the way to a person’s heart – especially for teachers who need some pick-me-ups throughout the day. Create a small gift bag filled with tasty treats, whether they’re homemade or store bought, a teacher will appreciate having some things to munch on throughout the day. This is a perfect opportunity to add a special card to show your thanks.
7. New School Supplies
Research shows that 94% of teachers spend their own money on new school supplies for their classrooms. On average, educators may spend between $500 and $750 out of their own pockets each year.
The good news is that school supplies are a great gift all year-round as pencils break during assignments and tissues run out during cold and flu season. Helping a teacher gear up with some new school and classroom supplies is greatly appreciated. From new pencils and pens to new classroom decorations or whiteboard markers, supplies are always needed! Here are some ideas:
Writing and coloring utensils: pre-sharpened pencils, markers, crayons, colored pencils, whiteboard markers
Printer/copy paper and construction paper
Erasers & pencil sharpeners
Tissues, hand sanitizer and cleaning wipes
Craft supplies
Storage bins
Sticky notes, label makers & paper clips
8. New School Pride Apparel
Help a teacher show off their school colors with some new school pride apparel. Whether it’s a simple baseball cap or a cozy sweatshirt, new school pride gear never goes out of style.
9. A Bottle of Wine
After a long work day, it’s never a bad idea to kick back with a glass of wine. While a bottle of wine may not be appropriate for elementary school children to bring into their public school classroom, wine is a great gift from parents to teachers to say thank you. Be sure to hand over this gift yourself.
If possible, choose wines that reflect thoughtfulness - perhaps a local vintage, an interesting varietal they might not try otherwise, or a bottle from a region they've mentioned.
Pair it with a wine tumbler
Pair the bottle of wine with a BrüMate Uncork'd so that your teacher can enjoy their beverage on-the-go, and in-style. The Uncork’d holds over half a bottle of wine, and was designed to keep your vino of choice at perfect temperature for up to 24 hours. Plus, it comes in a variety of fun colors so they can deck out their bar cart at home.
10. An Uber Eats or Doordash Gift Card
It’s completely normal to not be in the mood to cook dinner after a long day at work, especially when evenings are filled with grading papers and prepping for tomorrow’s lesson plan. Take the trouble of planning a meal off a teacher’s plate with the gift of an Uber Eats or Doordash gift card. Not only are you treating a teacher to a meal, you’re giving them some much needed free time to relax!
11. A Heartfelt Note From Their Students, Parents, or Principal
Sometimes the best way to show gratitude is with a simple and genuine heartfelt note. Whether it’s gathering notes from students, parents, or coworkers, thank you notes show teachers that their community cares, and their work makes a difference.
Make your note personal – hand-written and specific to the teacher. These notes help teachers see how appreciated they are.
12. A Gift for the Whole Classroom
Whether it’s things for the classroom like tissue boxes and cleaning supplies (as mentioned above), or a class pizza party, giving a teacher a gift that will benefit their whole classroom is a perfect and thoughtful back to school gift. Gifts for the classroom are not only great for teachers, but they will also help create enjoyable learning environments for students!
If you want to plan a class party, just be sure to coordinate with the school to determine what is allowed. This way, the teacher can enjoy the gift without worrying about breaking school protocols.
Cheers to Appreciating Teachers!
Whatever role you play in the classroom, we hope you make this school year a great one! Need more gift ideas? Visit our best sellers for more inspiration.