11 Incredible Gifts for Architects You Need to Know About

Want to know some of the best gifts for architects? These are the absolute best gifts you need to add to your list!

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Finding the perfect gift for an architect can sometimes be difficult. The internet is full of knick knacks that honestly just create clutter and aren’t actually useful. As someone who works closely with architects, and is soon to become one, I am giving you the ultimate list of gifts for architects that won’t disappoint.

You are going to know about all the best gifts for architects, from subscriptions, practical tools, design books, and more.

After reading through this list of amazing products, you will never have to wonder what to give the architect in your life ever again!

This post is all about the best gifts for architects that every friend of family member of an architect should know about.

Best Gifts for Architects

1. Best Notebook for Architects

One of the most useful and simple architects gifts you could buy is a simple notebook. We go through notebooks like they are literally going out of style and the office I work at orders them in bulk!

My personal favourite notebook for architects has to be a lined or graph Moleskine. Since I go through them so fast between work and personal journaling, I love buying the 3-pack. Not only is it a good quality notebook, but it’s actually pretty affordable, too.

Best places to buy Moleskine notebooks:

Amazon
Indigo
Moleskine’s Website

2. Architecture Books

You can never have too many books. Especially as an architect! They’re super useful when it comes to design inspiration, or even building envelope detailing. This is an unbelievably practical architect gift that you honestly can’t go wrong with.

Between me and my roommate, the architecture books are in unlimited supply at the house. From interior decorating to architectural philosophy books, we have it all. Books make great birthday gifts for architects.

Best places to buy architecture books:

Amazon
Indigo
HomeSense (in Canada) or HomeGoods (in the US)

3. Architectural Lamp

ARCHITECTS LOVE LIGHTING!!! Floor lamps, pendants, desk lamps, candles! You name it, we love it. There’s nothing more practical than a good desk lamp.

My absolute favourite place to go for work lamps is IKEA. Not only are they cute, but they are also extremely affordable! The work lamp you see in the image above was only $18.99!!!

Place to buy desk lamps:

IKEA (obviously)
Walmart
Target
Thrift Store (you can find some really cool lamps this way)

4. Scale Ruler Metric

Another great gift ideas for architects is a metric scale ruler (or imperial if you’re from the US). Even in our digital world of AutoCAD and Revit, sometimes a scale ruler really does the trick when you’re in a pinch.

This item is not only good for architects, but also students studying architecture.

Places to get scale rulers:

Most craft stores (like Michaels or Desseres)
Amazon
Staples
Walmart

5. Moleskine Sketchbook

There’s no denying that architects not only take a lot of notes, but do a lot of sketching, whether it’s conceptual drawings or building details, every architect needs a good ol’ sketchbook.

Moleskine offers a wide range of sketchbooks, both big and small, hard or soft cover, even horizontal or vertical. Throughout university I loved having the small pocket-sized ones because they were easy to carry around and didn’t take up too much space.

Best places to buy Moleskine notebooks:

Amazon
Indigo
Moleskine’s Website

6. Architect Pens

I have an embarrassing number of pens, and I can almost guarantee you that everyone in the profession does, too! We go through pens as fast as we go through notebooks, if not faster.

You could get a fancy fountain pen, but honestly a Sharpie Pens or Pilot Fineliners are a great and inexpensive alternative. I personally prefer the Pilot Fineliners.

Best places to buy Sharpie Pens or Pilot Fineliners:

Amazon
Staples
Michaels or Desseres

7. Best Wireless Mouse for Architects

Ok so this one might be a bit controversial, but I swear by my Logitech M310 wireless mouse. It’s inexpensive, and I’ve never had any issues with them. I think I’m only on my second one in 6-8 years.

A mouse that’s too small makes my hand cramp so this one being on the larger side is a game changer. YES, SIZE MATTERS WHEN IT COMES TO A WIRELESS MOUSE!

If you wanted to go for something fancier, you could always go with an ergonomic mouse. I personally don’t love them, but I know people who can’t live without them. It’s really up to you and what the person you’re buying for prefers!

Best places to buy a wireless mouse:

Staples
Amazon
Best Buy

8. Planning Tools for Architects

Guess what?! Not all architects are superfans of designing buildings. You heard me, some architects are planners and project managers, and the profession needs them just as much as the designers.

Is the architect you’re buying for big on project management? Get them a planner, trust me. I use mine religiously and as the picture may have given it away, it’s a Moleskine. We’re three for three on Moleskine products today, but I can’t help it.

My go-to planner is the Moleskine PRO Planner XL Weekly. I’ve been using this planner for FOUR years and I love it.

Best places to buy the Moleskine PRO Planner XL (or any planner):

Moleskine’s website
Indigo
Amazon

9. Bosch Laser Measure

Something architects are used to doing is taking site measurements, and one of the most practical tools you can have is a laser distance measurer. At home we have the Bosch GLM10 (which has been replaced with the GLM 20), and at work we have the Bosch BLAZE GLM165-40 (which shoots up to 165 feet).

A laser distance measurer is a unique gift for architects that can run you about $100, but it’s well worth the investment.

Best places to buy a laser measurer:

Home Depot
Rona
Amazon

10. iPad and Apple Pencil

Alright, admittedly, this is probably the most luxurious of gifts for architects. This is one I’d get if a partner or family member were an architect. I have the larger 12.9″ display iPad PRO and I use it all. the. time. I also have the second generation of apple pencil and it seriously can’t be beat. Apple really takes the cake for tablets.

My boss has a smaller iPad and she uses it all the time. My roommate also has the large iPad PRO and he uses it all the time. Our office has larger iPads for site visits, and you guessed it, they are in use all the time. This piece of equipment is seriously worth every single penny.

Best places to get an iPad PRO:

Apple
Best Buy
Staples
Amazon

11. Adobe Creative Suite Subscription

Last but very much not least, is something everyone I know in the profession uses. The Adobe Creative Suite. Like Apple, Adobe really knows their stuff and their products just can’t be beat. We’ve tried different open-source options and none of them measure up.

If the architect in your life uses the creative suite a lot, think about gifting them an Adobe Creative Cloud Subscription. It’s on the pricier side but believe me they’ll get a lot of good use out of it.

Best place to get the Creative Suite:

Directly from Adobe’s website

This post was all about the best gifts for architects that they are sure to adore!

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