Teacher gifts under £5
Teachers are given a lot of mugs. A small, thoughtful gift that they'll actually use goes a long way, and a handwritten card from your child means more than any price tag.
Here are our favourite teacher gifts for £5 or less, checked every morning.
Updated 27 October 2026Our picks right now
Lip balm trio gift set
Festive cotton tea towel
Mini advent calendar chocolate
Hand cream, 30ml
Cork drinks coasters, 4 pack
A5 notebook and pen set
Cinnamon scented candle in tin
Fruit tea gift tin
Mini hot chocolate gift set
Weekly desk planner pad
Gel pens, 10 colours
Milk chocolate selection box
Reindeer novelty mug
Tips for choosing
Useful beats novelty
Good pens, a nice notebook, hand cream or a treat for the staff room will get used. 'World's best teacher' ornaments, less so.
Club together
If a few parents chip in £5 each, you can get something lovely, or add a gift card to a small present.
The card matters most
Ask your child to write or draw something in the card. Teachers keep those.
Questions people ask
How much should I spend on a teacher gift?
There's no rule, and many teachers would rather you spent nothing. A small gift around £5, or a heartfelt card, is plenty.
What do teachers actually want as gifts?
Practical things they can use or enjoy: hand cream, nice stationery, chocolates or tea to share in the staff room, and kind words in a card.