If you are looking for a gift for a professor, you’ve come to the right place. It doesn’t matter if you’re a student looking to give a gift to a professor you admire, or a friend/relative of a professor. This list has a ton of great gift ideas for professors that will make your gift hunt a breeze.
Great Gifts for Your Professor
Read. The. Syllabus. Mug
If professors could wish for one thing, it would be that their students read the syllabus. If students did this simple task, professors wouldn’t have to spend so much time answering questions that already have an answer. Help a professor out by getting them this Read The Syllabus Mug that holds 11 oz of liquid.
How Professors Swear Coloring Book
Adult coloring was all the rage a few years ago. And while it’ quieted down a bit, there are still a ton of adults who take part in this relaxing hobby. Get a professor the How Professors Swear Coloring Book. Not only will it allow them to relax as they flex their creative muscles, but it will also give them a good laugh!
Simple Modern Steel Bottle
The Simple Modern Bottle is a great gift to give a professor. Staying hydrated throughout the day is important, and this bottle will allow them to do just that. The vacuum insulation means that it will keep their drink hot or cold for hours. It comes in several different colors, so you can pick whatever color you think best suits them.
Benchmark Bouquets Fresh Flowers
There’s nothing better than a beautiful bouquet of flowers to give as a gift. They can be a great thank you to a professor you admire or a way to brighten up their day if they’re someone you have a closer relationship with. These Fresh Cut Flowers are absolutely gorgeous and even come in a vase. Any professor will love receiving them. Add a personal note to tell them how much they mean to you!
Aluminum Chalk Holder
Writing with chalk all day can leave your hands white and covered in dust. Plus, if you’re not careful, they can stain clothing too. This Aluminum Chalk Holder will do a professor wonders. Not only will it protect their hands (and clothes) from being covered in white chalk dust, but it will also make storing chalk in their bag or pocket much less messy.
Stylus Pen for Touch Screens
If your professor works with any sort of touch screen computer or tablet, this Stylus Pen for Touch Screens is a great gift. It will make digital presentations and writing much easier. It will also keep them from leaving fingerprint marks all over their screen. This might seem like a simple gift, but it’s surely a gift any professor would appreciate a ton.
Personalized Monogram Stationery
Get a professor this beautiful set of Personalized Monogram Stationery. Customize these cards with the initials of your professor to add a special touch. You get to pick the color of the stationary too. Your professor will feel so cool using this modern and stylish stationery set for their handwritten correspondence. To add a sentimental touch, use the first card to write them a special note about how much they mean to you!
Canvas Reusable Lunch Bag
Professors often have to spend hours on campus, which means that they probably spend more than one day a week eating lunch at their desk or on the go. Perk up for lunchtime by getting them this Canvas Lunch Bag. It looks like the classic brown paper lunch bag, but this one is reusable and plastic free! Your professor will love packing lunch in this fun lunch bag. They’ll also love that it’s reusable and less harmful to the planet.
Hydracy Fruit Infuser Bottle
Hydration is important, but water can get boring. Get a professor this Fruit Infuser Water Bottle to add some fun to their hydration game. This awesome water bottle lets you add any fresh fruit to flavor your water. It also comes with an insulation sleeve to keep your drink nice and cold throughout the day. What’s more, the gift comes with an online recipe book filled with different recipes for fruit infusion combos. It even includes a timeline feature that makes it easy to track your water intake throughout the day.
Freudian Slips Sticky Notes
Any psychology professor would be absolutely thrilled to receive this gift. The Freudian Slips Sticky Notes is filled with different slips featuring the famous Freud himself. The other slips are designed to look like his personal stationery. Plus, there are sticky tabs that can be used to mark textbook pages. A psych professor will love writing notes and reminders with these punny slips.
Pi Symbol Socks
Professors are usually afforded the freedom of a fairly relaxed dress code, but some still like to keep it basic for their students. Socks are a great way to add some fun to a business casual look. They add the perfect pop of color that peaks out underneath dress pants. These Pi Symbol Socks are an awesome gift for you math professor. They’re simple and basic, but still funky enough to add a bit of fun to any outfit.
Golden Mesh Desk Organizer
Do you know a professor who could use some help in the organization department? This Desk Organizer might just be the perfect gift for them. It is simple and small, but created to utilize space well. The five small compartments are perfect for storing pens, pencils, memo pads, small notebooks, folders, and other small desk items. The mini sliding drawer is also great for extra storage of items that easily roll around. If your professor isn’t a fan of gold, don’t worry. This organizer is also available in shimmery pink or basic black.
Wireless Presenter Remote
Professors give so many lectures with a screen, and using their hands to point things out can be difficult and require a lot of inconvenience. Make lecturing a bit easier by gifting a professor this Wireless Presenter Remote. This remote is made with an ergonomic design, which means your professor’s hand won’t cramp up as they present. It also comes with a laser pointer and buttons that control the slides your professor is using. With a 39 foot range, your professor will be able to move freely throughout the classroom using this remote.
F In Exams Book
Sometimes, professors want a gift that lets them kick back, relax, and have a good laugh. The F In Exams is a hilarious book that any professor will get a kick out of. It includes a ton of hysterical exam answers that are so wrong they’re right. This is a great gift to give a professor who loves to laugh and relax.
Video Conference Lighting Kit
Online learning has become insanely popular because of the COIVD-19 pandemic. Even once the pandemic has passed, it seems like remote learning will be here to stay. Not only does it provide the opportunity to learn from anywhere in the world, it also allows professors and students to work from the comfort of their own homes. This Video Conference Lighting Kit will make using video for online classes and conferences a lot easier. It will provide perfect lighting in any situation by simply clipping on to a computer or laptop.
Smart Planner Pro
Someone as busy as a professor needs some way to stay organized. If you know a professor who is in need of a good planner, you might want to give them the Smart Planner Pro as a gift. This planner is awesome because it come without any dates. That means that you can use the pages and months you need to and skip the months you don’t without wasting any space. It’s perfect for a professor who has lots of school breaks!
Coffee Mug Warmer
One of the worst things in the world is sipping a cold cup of coffee. Save a professor from having to drink a tepid cup of coffee by gifting them this Coffee Mug Warmer. This hot little coaster plugs in to heat up any coffee mug and has three pre-set temperatures. All your professor has to do is set their mug down and let it get hot. No longer will forgotten coffee turn cold! Instead, your professor will always have a hot cup of coffee on hand. Plus, it has an auto shut-off feature for safety.
Vintage Messenger Bag
Professors have to carry a LOT (physically and mentally). If you know a professor who’s in need of a good carrying case, get them this Vintage Messenger Bag. It’s perfect for holding notebooks, student papers, a tablet, a laptop, and more. It comes in four different colors, so you can choose whichever one you think they’ll like best.
Organic Mexican Chocolate Sampler
If you’re looking for the perfect gift for your professor, you can’t go wrong with chocolate or sweets. It’s the perfect way to say thank you without giving them something that’s too expensive or something that they just don’t need. ThisOrganic Chocolate Pack comes with 8 different types of Mexican chocolate that your professor can sample. They’ll love how tasty and fun this gift is!
Bastion Luxury Pen
It’s no secret that professors have to write…a lot. And, while regular pens are fine for this, there’s nothing quite like using a weighty and luxurious pen. The Bastion Luxury Pen makes a great gift for any professor. It’s got an elegant style and is made of a lovely stainless steel that gives it the weight that will make your professor feel important.
Science Salt and Pepper Shakers
We love these Science Salt and Pepper Shakers for a chemistry professor. They include the periodic tables symbols for salt and pepper and even come in shakers shaped like science flasks! This fun gift will definitely get tons of use in your professor’s kitchen.
Anker Wireless Mouse
Professors spend lots of time on the computer reading papers, editing papers, doing research, and more. While laptop trackpads work fine for a few hours of screen time a day, the hand cramps can get real after hour four. Get a professor friend this Anker Ergonomic Mouse to ease their hand pain. The ergonomic design ensures hand comfort through the longest of days spent on the computer. They’ll be super thankful for receiving this gift.
Kicking Horse Coffee
Yes, yes, yes – professors love their caffeine and probably need more than one cup of coffee per day. Get them something nicer than their usual brew by gifting them thisKicking Horse Coffee. This brand makes coffee that is 100% fair trade and organic. You can order medium roast, dark roast, light roast, and more. Your professor will love the chance to try a new brew and you’ll love how happy it makes them.
Glass Plant Terrarium
Maybe the professor you know has tons of plants and decorations in their office. Maybe they have none! If it’s the latter, think about getting them something to brighten up their workspace. Maybe this Plant Terrarium? This super chic decoration will breathe life into any space. Plants are great decorations because they add a little bit of nature. This gift is especially great because it has a great design and the plants are easy to care for.
Compact Folding Reading Glasses
We all know that, as we age, being able to read the fine print gets tough. Professors have to read a ton all day long, every single day. Reading glasses help with this, but they’re so easy to misplace. Having an extra pair never hurts! That’s why we think these Compact Folding Glasses make a great gift. They are compact and easy to carry because of their folding design. Plus, it’s a set of two! That means your professor will always have a spare pair.
Lunix Electric Hand Massager
Taking notes, writing on the board, and spending hours typing and/or using the computer really does damage on one’s hands. If you’ve got a professor in your life, consider gifting them this Hand Massager. This baby can focus on 6 different pressure points to soothe any sort of hand pain. Cramping from overuse or arthritis is no match for this hand massager. It even uses heat to relax muscles.
Golden Apple Paperweight
I don’t know where or when the typical teacher gift became an apple. Even so, there’s something so fun about this Apple Paperweight for a gift. A professor will love the tradition that this gift represents. They’ll also love how beautiful it is! Even though it’s supposed to be a paperweight, it can be equally useful as a nice office or desk decoration.
World Map Umbrella
Searching for a gift for a history or geography professor? Very rarely can professors hop out of their cars and walk straight into their office. More often, they have to park far from campus and walk to their building. Sometimes they need to cross campus on foot to get to their classes, too. For rainy days, an umbrella is a must. That’s why we recommend getting this World Map Umbrella for a professor. It’s especially great for a professor who teaches history, geography, or anything else to do with maps.
Anti-Slip Gloves for Touch Screens
Staying with the theme of braving the outdoors, lots of university campuses are located in cold environments. Maybe you should get your professor these Touchscreen Gloves as a gift. These gloves will allow them to walk and use their phones at the same time. That means they can text, call, answer emails, and listen to music all while keeping their hands and fingers cozy and warm.
Candescent Stress Balls
Every job has its little bits that cause stress, even professors! Stress balls have been around for ages because they work well. They give your body something to do and help to release tension. These Stress Balls are a nice small gift that a professor can use. We love that they have happy slogans written on them, too. That way, your professor can relax their body AND mind.
Gourmet Biscotti Gift Box
Sweet treats are always an easy gift to give. I mean, who doesn’t love chocolate? If your professor is a love of sweets, they’ll absolutely adore this Biscotti Gift Box. Filled with delicious biscotti, this gift will show your professor how much they mean to you. If you want to add a little extra touch, include a mug and some coffee (both included on our list!) to give them the gift of dunking their new gourmet biscotti in coffee for the perfect morning breakfast.
Sunwill Travel Tumbler
Say hello to coffee (or tea!) on the go. This Travel Tumbler is a fantastic gift for the professor in your life. Being able to self-caffeinate on the go should be a superpower of all professors. Unfortunately, this is not the case; and that’s why you need to gift a professor this travel tumbler right now! Its double wall structure and quality insulation will keep cold drinks cold and hot drinks hot.
Desktop Sticky Notes Set
Any person with a desk will love this Desktop Sticky Notes Set, especially a professor. It comes chock full of sticky notes of all different colors, shapes, and sizes. Plus, all the notes come well-organized in a storage box that folds open into a handy desktop organizer. This makes the set easy to carry and easy to store!
Helping Me Grow Card
It may seem simple, small even. But a thank you card says a lot, especially to professors. Professors don’t often get too many gifts, so even the smallest gesture will mean a lot. We think this Thank You Card is a great gift for a professor, especially if you’re on a budget. Not only does it have a simple design, but the inside is completely blank. This means you can take the time to write a really nice personal message to your professor. After all, there’s no gift better than a few words about how much someone means to you.
White Board Marker Set
It’s probably very rare that a college classroom always has functioning whiteboard markers. More often than not, there are no markers at all, or they don’t work. If you know a professor who is constantly struggling with whiteboard markers, this is the gift for them. This Whiteboard Marker Set comes with everything a professor will need to give awesome lectures with a whiteboard. It includes 12 whiteboard markers of various colors, a magnetic dry board eraser, and 2 bottles of whiteboard cleaner.
Portable External Hard Drive
Professor have to manage a lot of data. Not only do they need to store their notes and class materials, but they also have their own research with its own data sets. Something like this Portable External Hard Drive makes an awesome gift for a professor. They will hugely appreciate the ability to transport their work with them wherever they go. 2TB is a ton of space, which means their large data projects can easily be stored.
Hot Chocolate Spoons Set
Sometimes the best present is something that everyone loves…like hot chocolate! Hot chocolate spoons are the perfect way to warm up on a cold night. These Hot Chocolate Spoons are super fun and would make a great gift for a professor. All your professor needs to do is place the spoon in a mug and pour the hot milk of their choice over the spoon. They’ll enjoy watching the chocolate and marshmallows melt off their spoon and into the mug.
Pilot G2 Red Ink Pens
One of a professor’s main tasks is grading. Papers, tests, projects, and labs…there are a ton of things that they need to grade. For all that grading, why not get them some high quality red pens? These Premium Red Ink Pens are some of the best quality pens around. Plus, the set of 12 means they might not have to buy more until next semester! This is a great little gift that could be given by a student or by a friend as part of a larger gift.
Blue Light Blocking Glasses
Staring at a screen all day is not fun. Not only can it make you feel a bit like a zombie, but it can also do some real damage on your eyes. Someone like a professor spends a lot of time looking at screens (especially if they teach class online). Help them protect their eyes by gifting them these Blue Light Blocking Glasses. Not only are they stylish, but these glasses will also protect their eyes from damage. They’ll feel less tired after a whole day of screen time, leaving them with more energy to spend time off screen with their loved ones!
Perpetual Desk Calendar
It seems like everyone these days uses the calendar on their smartphone, computer, or watch. While this is a nice, there is something comfortable about having a physical calendar presence in one’s office. We think this Block Calendar is a really nice gift for a professor. It’s simple yet stylish, and incredibly useful for those times when you just want to know the date without having to fish out your phone in shove you sleeve back. We also like that this calendar includes the day of the week, too! Now, your professor will always have the answer to the question, “Wait, what day is it?”
Tazo Tea Bags Gift Box
We get it, coffee is not for everyone. Tea lovers deserve representation on our list too, which is why we’ve included this exciting gift. This Tazo Tea Gift Box is THE gift for the professor who loves caffeine but hates coffee. It comes with 80 tea bags of 14 different flavors. Your professor will have so much fun sampling the different flavors. They’ll also love the storage box it comes in (which is reusable!). Plus, Tazo makes delicious teas, so quality taste is practically a guarantee.
Shakespearean Insult Poster
This Shakespeare Insults Poster is the perfect gift for any literature professor. The Shakespearean language is notoriously hard to understand, especially for beginners. But someone who has mastered the art of understanding Shakespeare will truly find joy in receiving this poster. It outlines all the best ways to insult someone just like one of Shakespeare’s famous characters would. Your professor will have so much fun following this map to find the perfect way to insult someone (in their head, of course!).
USB Digital Voice Recorder
A voice recorder is one of those things you might not think you need but once you get it, you become absolutely obsessed. A professor will find this Digital Voice Recorder incredibly useful. They can use it to practice lectures, make mental notes, and record any interviews that they must do for research. It holds up to 16gb of memory, too. The USB port makes it easy to transfer voice data from the recorder to your computer. They might not know they need it, but a professor will absolutely love receiving this gift!
Pilot G2 Color Pens
First, having only one color of pen is boring. Second, having multiple colored pens is useful and fun! Get a professor these PILOT G2 Pens as a nice gift that they’re sure to use. They’ll love how easy it is to take notes with these colored pens. They can color code their calendar, agenda, and notebook. This is definitely the gift for the professor who loves being organized!
Thank You Gourmet Cookie Box
Saying thank you with a card is a perfectly acceptable way to show your professor appreciation through a gift. But, if you’ve got the budget to take it to the next level, we absolutely recommend gifting this Thank You Cookie Box from The Providence Cookie Company. Not only are these cookies super delicious, but each one of them comes with a different thank you sticker. They are baked fresh and sent out that very same day, too. So you can be sure they’ll be downright delicious when you gift them to your professor.
Lacdo Laptop Sleeve Case
If you know a professor who could use some protection for their laptop, this is a great gift. The Laptop Sleeve Case will protect any tablet or laptop from 11-15 inches. You can easily choose the size that best fits their device. It also comes in several different colors. So if the navy blue isn’t for them, you’ve got other options.
Tuesdays With Morrie
What’s a better gift to give to a professor than a book written by a student about his beloved professor? Tuesdays With Morrie is a beautiful story about a student and his old favorite professor reuniting after a long time. Morrie, the professor, teaches the author, Mitch, all of lives lessons. This book a beautiful symbol of the strong bond that can form between professor and student. This is why it would also make a fantastic gift for a professor!
Oversized Thank You Card
If you’re looking for a gift you can give your professor that is from the whole class, this Thank You Card is a wonderful gift idea. The size of the card will get a laugh, while the inside will be a space for students to leave a personal note to their professor. The oversized card means there will be plenty of room for everyone to leave their personal words to the professor.
Homecube Pencil Case
Professors need to have a lot of different writing utensils. Whiteboard markers, pens, pencils, red pens, highlighters, etc. All those utensils require quite a bit of storage space! Some professors resort to tossing their pens, pencils, and markers into whatever pocket is attached to their backpack or purse. But that can get messy!
Give them a place to keep everything together by gifting them this Homecube Pencil Case. This oversized pencil case will fit all their pens and pencils as well as any other small gadgets, such as tiny cables or USB drives. It comes in several different colors too, so pick whichever one you think your professor might like best.
Starbucks Gift Card
There is nothing wrong with giving a gift card as a gift, especially if it’s to your professor. Since copious amounts of coffee and tea are a basic necessity of professor life, a Starbucks Gift Card is a great gift idea. With whatever amount you decide to give, your professor will be able to treat themselves to their favorite drink at this notoriously expensive but delicious coffee shop.
How We Selected the Best Gifts for Professors
Knowing Professors
At Unbelievable Gifts!, we are lucky enough to know a couple professors who were able to give us their opinions for this article. We also know what it’s like to be a university student and a teacher, so combining all that knowledge helped us create this awesome list. We’ve tried to make this list something that students can use for giving their professors a meaningful gift to say thank you and something that friends and loved ones of professors can use to get them a gift for their birthday, etc.
Good Old-Fashioned Research
There’s nothing better than greasing up your elbows and putting in work on some good olfe-fashioned research. That’s exactly what our team did to curate this comprehensive list of gifts for professors. We put in the hard work so you don’t have to! You only have to 1) be lucky enough to have found this page (-success!) and 2) scroll through and pick whichever gift you think your professor might like best.
FAQs – Gifts for Professors
What can I get my friend who is a professor?
If you are looking for a gift for someone who is a professor (and you aren’t their student), a lot of these gifts are good ideas. Since they’re your friend, you should really think about what they might like or what they might need. Professors do have lives outside of teaching! You might think about what can make their teaching life easier or, on the other hand, something that might help them relax when they aren’t on campus. Take a scroll through our list again for a good idea. If you can’t find anything you like, check out some of our other articles for gift ideas for men and women of different ages!
What is an appropriate gift to give my professor?
First and foremost, know that it is always okay to give your professor a gift. If you are a student, an appropriate gift you might give your professor depends on the relationship you have with them.
If this is a professor who you don’t know well, but whose class you have enjoyed, a simple card is always a good idea. It might also be a good idea to give them something disposable, like flowers or a treat. We have tried to include several of these types of gifts in our list. Remember, you don’t know them well, so you don’t know what they might want or need. A simple, small gift will show your gratitude to them a lot more than you might think.
If you have a closer relationship with a professor because you have worked with them or because you’ve spent lots of time in their office hours, you might know them a bit better. In this case, you might consider giving them something related to their interests or hobbies. But remember, as a student, you shouldn’t be spending a ton of money on gifts for your professor. Saying thank you can be done through a small, inexpensive gift.
What do you get a professor for a thank you gift?
Any of these gifts can be made into a thank you gift if you write the words “thank you”! The most important thing about a gift is the intention behind it, not the gift itself. Your professor will recognize your gesture of gratitude as long as you are sure to make it known.
What is a good gift for a science professor?
We’ve made an effort to keep this list quite general in terms of the kind of professor each gift may be given to. However, we have included some subject-specific gifts for those looking to give a personalized gift. We’ve got a few great science gifts, like the chemistry set salt and pepper shakers and pi socks.
