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16 Best Gifts for Electrical Engineers
Electrical Engineers are tough to shop for. They lean toward gifts that are practical, functional and unique. Being an engineer myself, I wanted to assemble what I think are the best gifts for electrical engineers and electrical engineering students.
Whether it’s a graduation gift for a student, birthday present or Christmas gift, I hope this gift guide helps you finish your gift shopping faster than ever and brings a smile to an electrical engineer’s face. Show them you understand their passion for engineering and support them when they geek out over your perfect gift.
This list is a compilation of my favorites from around the internet. Some are our own Genius Lab Gear inventions and some we’re just jealous we didn’t think of first! Some external links in this page are from affiliates, which means that any purchase of the items after clicking the link will result in a small monetary referral fee paid back to Genius Lab Gear at no cost to you. We appreciate your support which allows us to continue inventing and testing the best tools for engineers on the planet!
Gifts for Electrical Engineers under $50
1. The Pocket Engineer Wallet Ruler and Unit Conversion Reference
The most practical and unique pocket tool for any student or professional in electrical engineering. It’s the size of a credit card and packed with functionality and information that an electriical engineer will need on daily basis both in school and on the job.
The laser-cut and laser-engraved stainless steel has a thick black enamel coating to prevent scratching and stand up to years of abuse. One of the best cheap gadget gifts that any electrical engineer will geek out over. You can order directly through our site or on Amazon with the links below.
You can also add a custom logo to this for events, networking, or promotional giveaways! Custom orders start at 100 pieces - just email us for more info.
The Pocket Engineer at Genius Lab Gear
The Pocket Engineer from Amazon
2. Precision electronics toolkit
Electrical engineers and students often need to insert and remove tiny screws and fasteners of all types without damaging nearby sensitive electronics. Regular screwdriver tips are usually not small enough to fit these screws. This 126-piece screwdriver kit has every tip an electrical engineer would ever need and is an inexpensive gift that would last a lifetime.
As a bonus, it also comes with some non-conductive tweezers and mini-crowbars which are essential for work where metal could short out a component if you touch the wrong area.
3. Funny Engineering-themed Word Magnets
We recently launched a full line of science and engineering-themed word magnets and of course made a set specifically for engineers! Each specialty pack comes with 144 tiles carefully designed by a PhD in that field for technical accuracy and tacit absurdity. These make for a funny electrical engineering gift for students for a dorm, lab or office that lets them express their technical side but isn't work-oriented.
You can also bundle it from our site with our newest "Engineering is for Everyone" sticker and The Pocket Engineer above!
Also now available on Amazon.
4. Rocketbook Matrix cloud-connected reusable paper notebook
This is my favorite clever invention. It was inevitable. Rocketbook finally solved the problem of merging your hand-written notes into your favorite digital services. You simply use their app to take a photo of your pages of notes and the QR code and marked symbols on each page trigger the app to send the digitized page to any of the 9 pre-set digital destinations you choose. This includes OneNote, Evernote, Google Drive, Dropbox and even specific emails. Want a shortcut to send notes via email straight to your colleague or boss? This is what you’re looking for.
The Rocketbook Matrix is my personal favorite because it's designed for more technical work. It's got 30 pages of graphing paper and one regular lined page for taking notes, plus a built-in ruler on the inside cover. Did I mention they are reusable? Use their "Pilot Frixion" pens and then wipe the page with a damp cloth after uploading your notes to use it all over again (and win one for the environment!).
If it's sold out on their website (it's very popular) - you can also get it on Amazon.
5. Helping Hands workstation for small electronics projects
Soldering electronics together takes about four hands - two to hold the soldering tools and two more to hold your workpieces together. Every electrical engineer workbench has a “helping hands” workstation and this American-made QuadHands rig is one of the best all-around ones on the market.
The QuadHands stands out for having a heavy-duty base to prevent movement, rubber feet to prevent sliding and electrically isolate the workbench from electrical shock and extremely flexible arms that include silicone sleeves for delicate work.
6. Books for electrical engineers to read for pleasure (not textbooks!)
Engineers often get stuck in a loop of always reading technical documents, textbooks and journal articles. It’s important to occasionally break that cycle and dive into a book for pleasure. Below are a few of our favorite engineering-related books that will be an enjoyable read for any scientist or engineer.
The Last Days of Night: A Novel
Most electrical engineering books are dense and technical - not exactly fun reads. This book is a rare combination of intriguing fiction based on historical events with an electrical engineering focus. It’s based on the true story of the colossal fight for the first electrical lighting technology between Thomas Edison and the Westinghouse-backed work of Nikola Tesla in 1888 New York City. It’s a mesmerizing story between the two original electrical engineering titans and is a rare “fun” read for an electrical engineer.
Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future
This biography of Elon Musk quickly became a bestseller for its engaging look at the quintessential engineering hero. Biographies are often boring, but not this one. Musk’s life is a roller coaster of visionary undertakings, massive setbacks and outside-the-box thinking that will inspire any engineer to reach further in their own work.
How to Diagnose and Fix Everything Electronic (2nd Edition)
This isn’t necessarily a “fun” read, but a passionate electrical engineering student will rabidly devour the contents in the name of mastering their craft. It’s the “bible” of electrical work that will teach the fundamentals of hands-on work that they may not learn in school. It’s perfect for a hobbyist who loves to take things apart for fun, repair household items, or build new DIY gadgets like robotics, smart home tech, or novel devices.
More recommended books for Graduate Students:
If the person you have in mind is also a graduate student, take a look at our new list of The Best Books to Make You a Better Grad Student.
7. Magnetic wristband for hands-on building and repairs
This magnetic wristband is a cheap but extremely handy add-on that is universally loved by computer repair techs, electricians, and electrical engineers who like to work hands-on. Mine has helped stop my constant clumsiness dropping tiny screws or misplacing my drill bit heads.
8. Lab Coat Pocket Protector
Amidst the flurry of equations, diagrams, and schematics, electrical engineers venture into the complex territory of scientific creativity to help shape the future. But, danger lurks! An accidental leak from a pen can spell disaster, short-circuiting ideas before they're fully explored. Fear not, for pocket protectors are here to the rescue! These nifty inventions may seem like humble accessories, but they pack a punch in practicality.
The venerable Pocket Protector became a cultural icon in the 1960's and 1970's, but somewhere along the way the newer generation of STEM researchers forgot about them. Engineers need these back in their labs to stay organized, stay efficient, protect their lab coats, and finish their experiments without being late to lunch. So we researched and tested every type ever made to methodically solve each problem and come up with this refreshed design.
Available in spruce green, sapphire blue, and faded pink - the top 3 colors voted on by our fans! You can even get it from our Amazon page if that's easier.
9. Resistors Assortment Kit
Resistor kits are an excellent inexpensive but practical gift for electrical engineers who enjoy experimenting and completing various DIY projects. MelkTemn's resistor kit has 2600 pieces in one package. There are 130 different types, each with 20 pieces, everything you need for years of DIY projects and experimentation. The resistors are color-coded to make it easier to figure out what resistance they have. You also get a plastic case to store and retrieve the electrical components, in addition to the electronic components themselves.
Gifts for Electrical Engineers under $100
10. Multimeter for small electronics repairs and DIY projects
A good multimeter is an electrical engineer’s best friend. It lets you measure current, voltage, capacitance, and resistance at different points in your circuit board to troubleshoot problems and find failed parts. This Greenlee multimeter is a great value (some are over $500!) and well-suited to small electronics projects or repairs. Get the auto-ranging 600V version. It even comes with probes so they can use it right away. Greenlee is a well-respected American brand, so you can’t go wrong with this model.
11. Technician Portable Toolbox Organizer
Electrical engineers use a lot of small tools that are easily lost in a messy workplace. With this portable toolbox, they can stay organized and bring all the supplies they need to their job site in one trip. It's ideal for storing electronics tools, a soldering iron station, a multimeter, and other items.
12. Musical Tesla Coil
Thanks to the legendary Nikola Tesla, you can now give your electrical engineer their very own mini-musical Tesla coil. This amazing gizmo is both a nerdy gadget and speaker. You’ll be surprised by how much noise it creates. It can be connected to a phone via Bluetooth while electric arcs fly around that you can safely touch with your fingers.
Ultimate gifts for Electrical Engineers (under $200)
13. Raspberry Pi 4 kit for custom robotics and DIY projects
A Raspberry Pi is a miniature bare-bones computer that is fully programmable using the Python language. There’s a whole ecosystem of “makers” sharing how-to guides and helping each other on special DIY projects using these. Electrical engineers have the skills and training to make electronics from scratch and often enjoy building and creating unique custom gadgets that the Raspberry Pi enables.
Most electrical engineers can easily handle the minimal Python coding necessary (following guides). Examples they would love include robotic cars, smart home hubs, and even a real magic mirror. I personally made this one and it was a ton of fun! See a full list of projects on the Adafruit projects page.
14. Hakko digital soldering station
Any electrical engineer that deals with robotics, machinery, or circuit boards will need to solder components together, especially for “maker” DIY projects. I personally own this Hakko digital soldering station for these projects. Hakko isn’t the cheapest, but has consistently been the #1 recommended brand from all the “old-timer” engineers I’ve talked to and should last a lifetime.
If you’re going all-in get the full kit (what I have), but just the station is a great start that they can add to as needed. There are much cheaper options that will get you by but may not last as long as the Hakko kits.
15. FLIR thermal imaging camera for smartphones
If you have the budget, this FLIR thermal imaging camera is an amazing tool that any electrical engineer would find plenty of uses for. Primarily it can measure how hot components are running on a printed circuit board and identify hot spots with poor heat sinking before it causes damage. You can also just have a lot of fun around the house and in the kitchen exploring the thermals of your world. Many people buy this and make their money back in heating/AC bills by looking at their doors, windows, and walls for gaps or poor insulation.
Be sure to get the correct version (for Android or iPhone). If that’s out of your price range, a handheld infrared point-and-shoot thermometer is also extremely useful for finding hotspots, even though it doesn’t have the digital display or data collection.
16. Tablet Oscilloscope
Oscilloscopes are used by electrical engineers to measure electrical signals, and there’s a good chance they have one in their lab! This is an opportunity to get them a personal, portable oscilloscope for hobbies and DIY work around the house. This isn't your typical oscilloscope, however. It's a tablet oscilloscope with a touch screen display, a rechargeable battery, and waveform saving and screenshots with a single click. It also includes a 1GB internal storage space that can hold up to 1000 screenshots + 1000 sets of waveform data.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
What is a good gift for an electrical engineer?
Anything that's practical, functional or can help them show their love for electrical engineering. Here are our favorites:
- The Pocket Engineer
- Precision electronics toolkit
- Engineering word magnets
- Cloud-connected Rocketbook reusable graphing notebook
- Resistors Assortment Kit
- Raspberry Pi for custom robotics and DIY projects
- Technician Portable Toolbox Organizer
- Pocket Protector for lab coats
- Musical Tesla Coil
- Helping Hands workstation
- FLIR thermal imaging camera
- Tablet Oscilloscope
More gift collections for specific types of scientists and engineers:
We've further curated several collections of our own inventions depending on the type of scientist or engineer you're looking for. See these more niche collections below for more ideas!
Gifts for Engineers
Gifts for Mechanical Engineers
Gifts for Chemical Engineers
Gifts for Aerospace Engineers
Gifts for Professors and Grad School PIs
Unique Gifts for Graduate and PhD Students
Gifts for Chemists and Chemistry Students
Gifts for Scientists
Most popular in Engineering
Pocket Engineering Tool
Keep your most-used unit conversions handy for quick calculations, and use the built-in ruler, compass and protractor to sketch out your best ideas. All in the size of a credit card.
Protect your shirt pocket
We're making pocket protectors cool again. Your shirt pocket is about to transform into a hub for all of your favorite pens, markers, and tiny machine tools, without wearing holes through the bottom.
Engineer word magnets for office fun
Leave a mysterious rant or engineering poem to your coworkers to keep them guessing. Or take a creative break to loosen up your brain for the next project. All you need is a magnetic surface.
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