As someone who’s been married for over 10 years, and has a husband who’s also an amazingly thoughtful gift giver, I’ve had some time to get good at the art of gift giving myself.
I’ve seen some women feel completely stumped at what to get their man, but I promise you, it really isn’t complicated. Also, if you’re shopping for a brother or your dad (Father’s Day is coming up) then this simple list of gift ideas for men has got you covered too.
It all comes down to being intentional to listen to what really gets them excited, and what they truly care about. Oh, and you might just have to ask certain questions throughout the months to make sure your gift ideas for him are actually on point.
This gift guide goes beyond the normal silly tie and mug combo and gets into thoughtful mens gifts that takes their personal interests and needs into account.
And whether you’re looking for some unique or useful gifts for men that’ll make his life easier, this best gifts for men list is definitely gonna make his birthday or holiday even more special!
Side Note: If you’re planning on giving him a Father’s Day gift, then here are some dad jokes you might want to write in his card to give him a laugh!
1. Overnight or Weekend Airbnb Getaway
Whether it’s a classy apartment in the historic part of town, a modern + beautiful home in the hills, or a cute loft in downtown, booking one or more nights in an Airbnb is a great way to make your guy feel celebrated.
Pro Tip: Pair it with a really nice dinner near where you’re staying and a really nice breakfast the day after. It’s a great way to give him a birthday or holiday he won’t forget. It really is one of the most unique gift ideas for men on this list (hence why I put it at the top), and I know it’s gonna hit!
2. Something That Compliments Their Interests
In response to a wife asking what gifts a guy would actually enjoy, a man on Reddit (username: rogdesouza) replied:
“And if you don’t want to spend that kind of money [in reference to buying watches], then try to gift complements (a strap, a case, a watch roll) all to know that you care about his goods. My wife makes way less than me and she has gifted me just about all of my watch accessories which I use all the time.”
If your husband isn’t into watches, then this could be a nice camera strap (bought online or made by you), coffee making tools if he’s an espresso nerd, or books that help him dive deeper into his interest. Honestly, gifts for him are best when they’re super personalized and super thoughtful.
3. Nice Coffee Makers
Speaking of espresso nerds, if your guy is into coffee, then add to his coffee maker collection.
You could go for something he hasn’t bought yet (but it’s probably on his list) like a V60 or a moka pot, or something lesser known like a balance brewer or the 9barista.
Pro Tip: Also gift him his favorite coffee brand with said coffee maker. Oh, and coffee quality really does matter. I found that it didn’t matter if I was using a nice moka pot, low-quality coffee ruined the experience. But as soon as I switched to a higher quality coffee, the flavor was so much better and the bitterness went away. Here’s the moka pot I personally like to use.
4. Watches (With a Watch Roll)
Watches are one of the few pieces of jewelry men wear, and it’s an easy way to dress up an outfit + look smart.
And before buying one, look into the kind of watch brands he likes and either stay with that brand, or look for another high-quality brand that’s within your price range.
Also, if you’re a bit nervous about buying a watch, then there are some great watch Youtubers with helpful info, and Reddit watch communities that will be happy to help you out.
Why buy him a watch & a watch roll too? Watch rolls are a great way to help keep his watch or watch collection organized and looking nice. Also, it’s a simple way to show him that you went the extra mile and care.
Pro Tip: Seiko is a great brand that’s high-quality, but doesn’t break the bank! So if you’re looking for men gift ideas and you wanna get a watch, then this might be your answer!
5. Tickets to a Place He’s Been Wanting to Visit
When reading up on what guys would actually want as a gift, I saw these two answers. One is from a woman (username: Shookanduptight) and what she’s planning for her guy:
“Not a man. But I’m really excited about my gift to my guy. I asked him if he could go anywhere in the world, where would he go. So I bought tickets, booked a stay, and planned a trip for that place and I’m collecting things (guide books, power adapter for that country, cheesy location themed items) and putting them in a box to surprise him. We will be going where he wants to go and he will get to engage in activities that he loves. For the first time ever, he will get to ski abroad in one of the coolest places that he really wants to visit.”
And the second is from a man (username: AwayPresentation4571):
“Giving experiences instead of material things is pretty common now. My wife scheduled a surprise weekend getaway with us and our two grown children and their bf/gf last year for my birthday. I don’t like traveling much and told her she was taking a huge risk but once the kids started showing up I was over the top. It was awesome.”
So if your man has ever talked about wanting to visit a certain city or country, then this might just be his best gift yet!
6. Leather Dopp Kit
Dopp kits are a compact travel kit where your man can store his hygiene and grooming products. But in all honesty, it doesn’t just have to be used for travel. He can easily keep it on his bathroom countertop to keep things tidy + looking smart.
And if you do decide to get him one, then leather is always the way to go. It’s going to last longer and look really nice.
Pro Tip: Gift him a dopp kit with some nice grooming and/or hygiene products already inside.
7. Beard oil
Above is the beard oil my husband likes using; it has a nice scent and takes care of his beard. And if your boyfriend or husband has a beard too, then giving him something nice for his facial hair is a great way to make him feel taken care of.
Pro Tip: Also, this could be put into the dopp kit mentioned above.
8. Shelving Display for His Important Items
I saw this video of a girl who surprised her boyfriend by building a shelving display for his much loved items. It was something she did when he was away on a trip and when he came back, he was ridiculously happy.
For the life of me, I can’t find the video, but all I know is that sometimes your guy is gonna really appreciate the extra effort and care you put into his gift and making his interests important to you too.
9. Help Him Build Out His Library
If your guy loves to read, then start buying him books off of his Amazon wish list, or start taking note on the books he wants to get (or you legit think he’ll like) before the holidays or his birthday. And when I say take note, I just mean listening to him and what he brings up or even just asking him a few months before.
Pro Tip: Buy a really nice bookshelf for his own personal library.
10. Event Tickets
If he has a favorite band, sports team, or he just likes doing fun events like car races, then pairing event tickets with a really nice dinner might just be the perfect gift for your guy.
11. Cologne
Cologne is such an easy way to make your boyfriend, fiancé, or husband feel extra special. It’s personal, it’s elevated, and it’s something he can wear on the regular.
Pro Tip: Make this apart of a bigger gift that includes a watch and maybe gear for his hobbies and interests to make his day even more special.
12. Breakfast in Bed
This won’t be the only gift you’re giving him, but waking him up with some really good coffee + his favorite breakfast, and maybe his favorite music is a great way to start his day.
13. Record player
Record players really do set the mood and give incredible sound quality. And whether your guy has wanted one for a hot minute or he just loves listening to music, then this might be the perfect gift for him.
Pro Tip: If you’re getting records to go with his new record player, get a mix of artists you know he likes and a few artists you think he might like based on his taste.
Also, here’s a record player that’s recommended by a good friend of mine.
Grace Moser is the author and founder of Chasing Foxes, where she writes articles to help women create a life they love in big and small ways. She's been a full-time traveler since 2016 and loves sharing her experiences and exploring the world with her husband, Silas. Her lifestyle and travel advice can also be seen on sites such as Business Insider, Glamour, Newsweek, HuffPost, & Apartment Therapy.