If you are looking for gift ideas for engineers, you will not leave this engineering gift guide empty-handed. Below you will find a list of unique and geeky gifts that an engineer or engineering student will appreciate and love.
Some of these gift ideas are cool and creative; others are fun to look at and some are challenging to play. Appealing to the engineer’s sharp mind, these presents will be a welcomed addition to their life. These engineering gifts are ideal for all kinds of engineers: aerospace, electrical, civil, software, mechanical, nuclear, chemical, etc.
1. Beer Soap
Six unique soaps made using six different beers. Fragrant, unique, and definitely special. Handmade in Georgia, USA. Soap and engineering may feel different but that doesn’t mean an engineer can’t enjoy a good soap. Soaps are creative presents for engineers.
2. Notebook
Bullet journaling is a great way to keep the engineer’s tasks organized. This system helps them plan your tasks top-down and move your tasks around. All they need is a notebook and a pen to get started. However, you should really get the official bullet journal notebook as a gift for the engineer. It comes with the bullet journaling guide, index, and pre-paginated pages.
3. Humorous Engineer T-shirt
T-shirt and jeans are the de-facto uniforms for many engineers. They’re comfortable and effortless to put on. Below are two t-shirt designs that an engineer will find interesting.
There are many types of engineers, but some people don’t understand that concept (the mother-in-law for example). This funny engineer t-shirt is dedicated to those who are often asked to do things that are outside of their area. “I’m an engineer. But no, I can’t fix your TV, I’m not that kind of engineer”. This shirt is a just-for-fun engineer gift.
Coffee runs deep in the corporate America culture. Many engineers are huge coffee lovers. This humorous engineering t-shirt is perfect for coffee-loving engineers. “I’m an engineer. I convert coffee into engineering solutions”.
4. Pots
Not that kind of pots. Here we are referring cute, pastel-colored, mini flower pots that come in the shapes of various adorable animals, such as elephant, alligator, and whale. Note: succulent plants are not included. This is an idea for engineers that will help them relax.
5. Floating Globe
A levitating globe with no strings attached. It’s fun to look at and will certainly arouse the engineer’s curiosity. This globe is a unique engineering present.
6. Marble Coaster Kit
This kit comes with all the material that you need to build a wooden marble coaster. Build it with your logic skill, then watch the marbles cruising down the coaster. This kit is perfect for people who like to build stuff and so it’s a good gift engineers will want.
7. Space Pen
The pen that astronauts use in space. This antigravity ballpoint pen by Fisher can be used upside down, in extreme environments such as extreme temperatures and underwater.
Inspire the engineer with this special pen that connects him to the ever-inspiring space exploration.
Also check out our article on motivational pencil sets if you prefer a pencil and a little more colors (mostly shades of pinks). This is one of our favorite engineer gifts on this list.
8. Einstein’s Biography
Albert Einstein’s biography by Walter Isaacson. Get inspiration from the story of his life.
9. Necklace
Pi, also known as Archimedes’ Constant, is one of the most important and common constants in science and engineering. Feel connected to centuries of engineers and scientists with this Pi necklace that features the Pi symbol against a starry night background (sorry, the resolution of the image below has blurred out the starry background).
10. Geek Clock
Wall clock for math geeks (not just any kind of geeks, mind you!). Every number is a mathematical expression that requires some thinking or familiarity with mathematics.
11. Watch
Bold in terms of design and color. Casio G-Shock is the golden standard of full-feature digital watches. Its ruggedness is perfect for rough everyday wear.
12. Robot Kit
Engineers need to have fun too. Build a simplistic robot model with this robot kit. Three colors are available.
13. Challenging Puzzle
Stimulate thinking with this puzzle. Take it apart and try to put it back together. Do not be mistaken. These wooden puzzles are extremely challenging.
14. Adult Coloring Book
Take it easy. Wind down after a long day at work by losing yourself in the rich world of a coloring book.
15. Portable Espresso Maker
Make espresso anywhere you like — in your cubicle, on a hiking trail, on a beach. Just put in ground coffee, hot water, and press. Many engineers run on coffee and are self-proclaimed coffee addicts. This portable coffee maker is a gift idea for engineers that they love.
16. Coffee Mugs
A common inhabitant of the cubicle tabletop. Fill it with coffee, tea, or water — anything really.
Below are two interesting mug gifts that will humor an engineer.
It’s humorous, but at the same time, this software developer coffee mug is telling the truth. Sometimes, program codes take a long time to compile (or not long enough to switch to a different task). During which the engineer may seem to be slacking. This mug is fun and inexpensive gift for engineers.
17. Playable ART Ball
Let’s start with this desk decoration that looks artistic and fun to play. 20 colorful interconnected wooden balls that can be twisted and turned to form an endless array of configurations. One can use his/ her limitless creativity to shape it as a phone holder, pen holder, or just a simple and elegant artwork. This is a fun gift for engineers.
18. I’m An Engineer Mug
For engineers who are very good at math but not the spelling. This is a nice ceramic mug to make the engineer laugh. Black and white design. Great for morning coffee. This is a fun and inexpensive present for engineers.
19. Banana Pi Pro Dual Core Complete Kit
Engineers love tinkering and fixing stuff. Banana Pi Pro is one of the great gift ideas for an engineer. It is an open-source single-board computer that operates on various systems like Android, Linux, Berryboot, FreeBSD, OpenWrt.
This is a complete set that comes with Banana Pi pro mainboard, user guide, micro SD card, Eleduino case, adapter, cable and more. Engineers gonna love experimenting with different projects with it.
20. DIY Robotic Arm
Robotic arms are super cool — especially so for engineers. It’s fun to build it and to play with once it’s done. You can get the arm to do things like getting it to pick things up and to shake your hand. This is a gift idea engineers’ll appreciate.
21. Rothco Vintage Engineer’s Field Bag
Finally, a bag that can satisfy an engineer’s storage need. This bag is sturdy, spacious, and has multiple compartments that will store all of the things that an engineer would need.
22. Funny Engineer Shirt
The perfect tee for the smart ass. Features bold statement that says “I am an engineer. To save time, just assume I’m always right!“. Makes a fun gift for engineers.
23. Ideal Amaze ‘N’ Marbles Wood Construction Set
Create endless maze combinations then see the marbles travel through it from one end to the other. It’s so much fun! Made with natural wood. The engineer can play with this himself or he can also play this with his kids.
24. T-Rex Hates Doing Things Notepad
Cute notepad for the engineers to jot down whatever jobs needed to be done. Funny and eye-catching. It will become a big hit! This is yet another cheap gift idea for engineers.
25. Office Desk Organizer
Help keep the engineers’ work desks clean and neat. A multi-function desk organizer with 7 compartments. Made from durable PU leather. Sturdy and useful.
26. Thames & Kosmos Remote Control Machines
Have great fun building these machines then have them do your bidding. The machines can be remotely controlled. Your engineer will want this cool present.
27. Leonardo DaVinci Ornithopter Wood Kit
You can also get this beautiful wood model kit for him. Comes complete with all pieces pre-cut and ready to assemble. Attractive and fun to put together. This wood kit is a present that engineers will love.
28. Engino Cams & Cranks Kit
Designed as educational material for kids to understand the concept of cams and cranks, grown-up engineers will love it this fun present too!
29. Bonsai Tree Garden
When engineers are at work, they tend to get very focused and determined hence spending very long hours in the workspace. Something to help them relax will a wonderful gift for them.
A green plant makes a fantastic choice. This set of two Juniper bonsai can helps to ease their mind. Mini, easy to care, comes with fishermen. Create peace and serene scene at work.
30. Powers of Two Binary Clock
Last but not least, a binary clock to put the software engineers, computer engineers’ left brain to work. This clock shows time in BCD and Direct Binary Modes (the language of computers). Silver faceplate and blue LED with dim settings. It can be in 12- or 24-hour modes. This is yet another good engineer gift idea.
31. Engineering Cheat Sheet T-Shirt
Have thousands of years of engineering achievement imprinted on your t-shirt. This t-shirt contains famous engineering diagram and formulas that will keep the engineer engaged. This is among our favorite gifts for an engineer on this list.
32. Messograf Calliper Pen
A pen that you can write and make accurate (a relative term) measurement with, engineers will love this.
33. RC Helicopter
Have great fun flying your own helicopter and get it to do different maneuvers.
34. Mathematics Clock
Clocks with regular numbering are so normies. Clocks that require you to solve mathematical problems in order to tell the time is the way to go.
35. Engineer Nutritional Fact Mug
A humorous mug that spells out the common quality of an engineer.
36. Bosch Laser Measure
Measure distance accurately in virtually any kind of environment with the help of a Bosch Laser Measure. It can measure up to 120 feet. This instrument is a fun engineer gift.
And that wraps up the gift guide for engineers. Did you find any engineers gifts that will work for your engineer?
Resources Related to Engineers Gifts
Didn’t find what you needed? Looking for more gift ideas? Check out the following resources.
- 16 Surprising Good Gift Ideas for Engineers by Vivid Gift Ideas
- 14 Useful Gifts for Civil Engineers by This Gifts for Men