Teachers love gift cards. (We asked! They answered.) The options may feel a little endless, though — how do you choose? While our No. 1 suggestion is to survey your teachers about their favorite things, sometimes you’re in a pinch. (Here’s an example questionnaire if you’re not.)
Here’s a categorized list of 20 gift card ideas as your guide. They’re the top gifts we’ve seen from schools on Cheddar Up, sprinkled with few ideas straight from teacher friends of our own.
20 gift card ideas
Choose their own adventure
1. Head to RaiseRight
Let your teacher(s) choose from the 500+ brands offered on RaiseRight. They get a gift card they’ll use, and your school earns cash back on each purchase. Win, win!
Buy almost anything
2. Cash card (Visa, Am Ex)
3. Amazon
4. Target
Support local
5. Boutiques
6. Restaurants
7. Bookshops
8. Family memberships (to the zoo, science center, botanical garden, museum and more)
Grant them “me time”
9. Spa
10. Nordstrom
11. Movie theater
12. Streaming service
13. Craft stores
14. Etsy
15. Barnes and Noble
Cover their essentials
16. Groceries
17. Gas
18. Starbucks
Supply the classroom
19. Teacher supply store (Lakeshore Learning, Oriental Trading, etc)
20. Teachers Pay Teachers
In short, before you go
Gift cards for teachers are the way to go! Pick from our list of tried and true options. One quick word of warning, though: If your PTA takes responsibility for teacher gifts, check your bylaws first. Most don’t allow existing funds to go toward personal gifts. You will have to raise money separately and disclose the purpose.
Made your pick? Next step: a Cheddar Up collection! We do all the work for you to simplify your busy to-do lists during the busiest times of year.
