28 Inexpensive Teacher Appreciation Week Gifts & Celebration Ideas
updated:
December 13, 2024
Teachers are some of the most influential people in the lives of our children. They spend a significant amount of time educating, supporting, and influencing the next generation. That’s why we need to remember them in a special way during the annual Teacher Appreciation Week (May 5th to May 9th, 2025).
If your school or parent-led organization’s budget leaves something to be desired, don’t sweat it. Say “thank you” with our fun ideas for budget-friendly celebrations and inexpensive gifts for Teacher Appreciation Week.
We tapped into our network, and talked with teachers about what appreciation gifts they liked best. We also spoke with customers about what items they purchased in the past that were well-received.
Here are some of the Teacher Appreciation Week gifts that teachers said they loved:
- Gift cards from - Amazon, Target, LL Bean, etc. Coffee places and restaurant gift cards work, too, but only if you know what the individual teacher likes
- Spa-service gift cards
- Artwork (student-made)
- Thoughtful handmade crafts
- Affordable collectibles for stuff the teacher is into, like Game of Thrones, Stranger Things, Dr. Who, Pez, bands, artists, authors, etc.
- Letters or notes from students/parents sharing thank yous, memories, updates, and the positive effect the teacher had
Inexpensive Gift Ideas for Teacher Appreciation Week
We offer the following ideas for cheap teacher appreciation gifts in bulk that make saying thank you affordable for schools and parent organizations working with a tight gift budget.
1. Tote Bag
Every teacher would appreciate a Lightweight Cotton Economy Tote Bag – Natural, made from cotton and featuring sturdy handles and a roomy interior. It's perfect for carrying supplies, books, and other items back and forth from school to home.
2. Desk Plant
Brighten up your teachers’ desks with the Wooden Planter Block, which includes a wooden cube planter, a seed packet, peat pellets, and instructions. It is a perfect daily reminder of how much you value your teaching staff, and it's one of the best cheap teacher appreciation gifts from the principal and other administrators. Imprint with a saying like “Teach, Inspire, Grow” for a special touch.
3. Pen
Don’t underestimate a teacher's love for a fresh new pen for grading and jotting down notes. The Sharpie® S-Gel is a teacher favorite for its gel ink, no smear technology, and vivid writing experience. Add your school logo or a fun teacher appreciation saying like “You’re INKcredible.”
Our MopTopper™ Superhero Pen will be sure to bring smiles with its patented, smiling MopTopper™ head featuring microfiber hair that doubles as a screen cleaner. Imprint it with a fun “Super Teacher” design.
4. Journal
Crestline’s Soft Touch Journal is the perfect thank-you gift for your teachers, ready for their notes, personal thoughts, or reminders. This hardbound journal has a soft-to-the-touch PVC cover and an elastic band closure and ribbon bookmark.
5. Eye-Mask
Every teacher could use a little relaxation. Our Hot & Cold Plush Eye-Mask helps teachers soothe their nerves and relax after a trying day. The masks use innovative “Aqua Pearl” bead technology to deliver warm or cold therapy without any mess. With an ultra-plush material on one side, these personalized eye masks are sure to provide comfortable and relaxing wear.
6. Pin
Encourage teachers to wear our Circular Promotion Pin made of sturdy metal for Teacher Appreciation Week recognition. Pins are a less expensive option than T-shirts yet still gives your staff something to wear with pride. If you’re looking for teacher appreciation gifts under $1, pins may be the perfect solution. Take pictures and post them on your school’s social media channels, giving your teachers the shout-out they deserve throughout the week.
7. Mug
Whether your teachers love coffee, tea, or just need an extra container for knick-knacks on their desks, these 11 oz Budget Mugs make the perfect appreciation gift for your teaching staff.
8. Canvas Pouch
Check out the Ashley Canvas Accessory Pouch, which is a zippered accessory or cosmetic pouch made of cotton. Its interior pocket divider helps teachers store their items neatly and securely.
9. Highlighter
Teachers will appreciate our fun High Five Highlighter that conveniently offers five highlighting colors in one. Its chisel tip offers precise highlighting in yellow, pink, orange, green, and blue. Great for color-coding notes or emphasizing things for students, these highlighters are sure to get plenty of use in the classroom.
10. Tumbler
Help your teachers stay hydrated with this 18 oz The Roadmaster Travel Tumbler with Clear Slide Lid. This double-wall insulated travel mug has a sip-through lid and maintains a 40-degree difference between the contents and the outside, keeping drinks hot or cold longer.
11. Phone Stand
Teachers will appreciate the Bamboo Media Stand made from eco-friendly, polished renewable bamboo wood. Its unique base allows simultaneous phone charging and viewing and is sturdy enough to hold a tablet or a phone either vertically or horizontally. It’s a well-loved desk accessory.
12. Lanyards & Retractable ID Badge Holders
Teacher Appreciation Week is the perfect time to freshen up your teachers’ well-worn lanyards that carry badges and keys daily. Gift a personalized lanyard like our 3/4" Polyester Lanyard with the school logo to encourage spirit and pride.
Keep faculty ID badges always at the ready and never in the way with retractable badge holders. Our products were the perfect solution for a group of teachers in Maine who contacted us to request “those breakaway lanyards and/or badge clips that zip in and out on an elastic cord. Sturdy (metal?) ones instead of cheap plastic; we wear them out!”
Try the Carabineer Badge Reel or our best-selling Quick Draw Badge Holder.
13. School Supplies
Two local teachers we polled immediately responded that custom school supplies would make an awesome appreciation gift, one suggesting personalized colored pencils. With budgetary constraints on many educators’ minds, it is easy to see why school supplies make for foolproof gifts for teachers. Teachers also deserve supplies they can use themselves, like the Office-To-Go Kit which includes mini classroom supplies such as a stapler, paper clips, and tape.
14. Food and Candy Baskets
Everyone loves a food gift basket stuffed with tasty treats or candy, and from the responses we got, teachers are no exception. Give teachers a dual-purpose gift with the Chocolate Almond Pencil Cup. Once they’ve enjoyed all the delectable chocolate-covered almonds, they can use the sophisticated faux leather cup to store their favorite pens and pencils.
15. Classroom Prizes for Students
Another group of teachers asked us for, “Things that can be "prizes" for kids to earn: notebooks, fun squishies/stress balls, gadgets - just nothing that could be used as a weapon or could be seen as threatening (no elastic rocket toys, laser pointers, anything gun-shaped, no tacks or blades.).”
Teachers can use stress balls, too! Try a star-shaped stress ball (for “star” students), or keep them entertained with a chameleon stress ball that changes color from the heat of your hands.
16. Teacher Swag Bags, Kits & Gift Sets
If you can’t settle on a single gift, remember that you can’t go wrong with a killer gift set or teacher survival kit. For remote staff, send out a mail-ready gift box.
Teachers won’t fail to appreciate the Perfect 8 Gift Set. This collection of best-selling promotional items contains everything a teacher needs to get through the school year.
17. Tech Accessories
“We're planning to give phone chargers to our teachers for Teacher Appreciation Week. They turned out great with our logo and school name.”-Suzie, High School Staff, Illinois
The Pocket 4000 mAh Power Bank is a great choice for a gift for teachers. This sleek tech accessory is powerful enough to charge phones, tablets, and other mobile devices, and it comes in a selection of stylish colors that teachers will love.
18. School Logo Apparel
Show ample recognition for the teachers on your team with a high-quality piece of apparel they can use every day, like a school logo t-shirt, sweatshirt, or embroidered fleece. If you are blessed with a bigger budget, surprise your team with covetable name-brand clothing. As we spoke to teachers across America, customized apparel kept topping the list of favorite appreciation gifts.
Outside-the-Box Inexpensive Gifts for Teacher Appreciation Week
Sometimes a surprise service can be just as wonderful of a gift as something physically given. Here are some fun ideas that schools can orchestrate with students, administrators, and parents to extend a special thank you during Teacher Appreciation Week.
19. Snack Cart
Surprise teachers between classes by rolling around a cart loaded with snacks and drinks. Stock the cart with favorites like granola bars, pretzels, chocolate, water, coffee, nuts, and fruit. Offering a single drink and snack costs only a few dollars at most.
20. Room Service
A variation of the snack cart, room service can incorporate a Door Hanger Oval Paper Card with a choice of snacks and drinks. Once all orders have been recorded, the principal or an administrator can deliver the items as an extra-nice gesture of appreciation.
21. Car Wash
Organize students, parents, and administrators to take shifts washing teachers’ cars during the week. Gather some soap and sponges, and hook up a hose for a fun team-building activity that will show gratitude to teachers in a creative, inexpensive way.
22. Group Gift
Another idea is for a school to give one collective group gift that would benefit all teachers for years to come, such as a new gourmet coffee machine or comfortable couch for the staff lounge.
23. Gift Cards
Always a favorite, gift cards can be as little as $5 that gives your teachers a free coffee or snack from a local shop. Slip the gift card inside a Sticky Note Pocket Pack or Suede Card Guard as a bonus.
Affordable & Fun Activities for Teacher Appreciation Week
Ensure that your school’s ambiance is different during Teacher Appreciation Week. Decorate the hallways and plan special events for students, teachers, and administrators to get into the spirit. Such celebrations will likely prompt individual students to add personal thank yous and gifts to the week as well.
24. Banners and Signs
Put up a Beckon Banner- 6' x 2' at the entrance of the school printed with an affectionate “We ♥ Our Teachers” sentiment. Have students create signs with poster board and markers for display throughout the buildings, in hallways, on individual teacher’s doors, or in common areas like the teacher’s lounge or cafeteria. Incorporate balloons, streamers, and other decorations to enhance the celebration.
25. Potluck Lunch
A parent-led potluck meal makes a great opening or closing to Teacher Appreciation Week. With each family sharing a favorite meal, side, or dessert, teachers will appreciate the celebration.
26. Raffle
Although many schools would love to be able to give a high-end gift to all teachers, budgets often do not allow the luxury. Instead, have all the teachers enter a raffle for a chance to win a hot item like a Bluetooth speaker or a Fairytale Brownies® Gift Box. You can order as few as two or three items personalized with your school logo or a fun saying.
27. Parade
Like a pep rally, have students line the halls one morning and have the teachers parade through the school. Encourage students to wear school spirit apparel, hold up signs, and cheer for their teachers.
28. Solicit Community Contributions
A member of the parent-teacher organization can volunteer to reach out to local businesses to share their appreciation as well. After all, good education benefits the entire community. Many businesses will be happy to donate money, items, or services or sponsor a recognition lunch, coffee, or snacks.
Teacher Appreciation Week is the perfect time for administrators, school boards, and parent-led organizations to reach out and show appreciation for all that our teachers do for our students each day. It doesn’t have to be a large-budget item; many gifts are inexpensive, and celebrations just require a little creativity and elbow grease to make happen.
Whether you’re looking for Teachers’ Week gifts for staff, members of a local organization, or simply all the teachers in your community, they’re sure to feel appreciated after receiving any one of these gifts.
“Every teacher I know appreciates anything! Some favorites are chocolate, gift cards, mugs, tote or canvas bags, water bottles, and classroom supplies! Little signs have become pretty popular since last year, too!” -Chantal, Maine Educator
Want more inspiration? Check out all our promotional products for education and get ideas for fun slogans, sayings and quotes you can include on your Teachers’ Week gifts-list.
