When it comes to shopping challenges, grandparents can top the list (does the phrase, "I really don't need anything" sound familiar to anyone else?). Don't despair, though. We've found some truly meaningful and useful gifts for grandparents that you'll love giving and they'll love receiving.
Finding the perfect present is all about seeing your grandma or grandpa for who they are. Think about what they love to do and how they enjoy spending their time. What do they value most? Then, choose from this list of gifts that are sure to be a hit with any grandparent.
Give your grandparents the gift of a family portrait they can show off on their wall. This personalized family print can include up to 12 figures (even pets) that you can customize to look like the actual people in your family. We love this because it’s so personal and special, and it can work really well, even in small spaces (plus, what grandparent doesn’t love to show off their beautiful family?)
Because this is a personalized gift, it takes longer to ship than other items. It’s good to plan for a two-week lead time.
If you need a gift for grandparents who pride themselves on spoiling the grandkids, it’s hard to do better than the Grandkids Spoiled Here doormat. After all, it lets everyone who comes to their house know where their priorities lie.
One of the things we like about this is the combo of practicality and sweetness. After all, it’s helpful to have a good doormat.
If you love listening to your grandparents’ stories or want to know a little more about their lives, we’re all about the book of prompts, My Life Story - So Far. While this may seem like a gift for yourself (they are great stories, after all), it’s also a fantastic present for any grandparent who enjoys reflecting on their life.
One of the things we like about this is that it’s not intimidating like a blank piece of paper can be. The book contains tons of prompts to help make the writing process a breeze. It’s also beautiful with its clothbound cover and gold printing.
Whether they’re attending a grandkid’s game or enjoying the great outdoors, give them the gift of a classic Thermos set. What we love about this is that it’s totally practical but also a little luxurious at the same time. It’s not something they need, but it will make life better.
The set has a 16-ounce travel mug and a 40-ounce bottle, perfect for bringing coffee or cider for everyone to share.
Turn a young child’s masterpiece into a wearable work of art that grandma or grandpa can enjoy and show off. We are all over the comfy cuteness of this simple sweatshirt that lets the artwork be the star of the show.
The shirts come in sizes from extra small to XXL and are easy to care for. It takes a couple of weeks to get the custom design made, so it’s good to plan ahead.
Grandparents of older grandkids can sometimes feel like connecting is a little more challenging than it used to be, so we love giving them gifts that help make quality time a little easier. TableTopics Grandparents & Grandkids is a set of conversation-starter cards that will get everyone talking and telling stories. It’s best for grandparents with grandkids who are over age 8.
This also works as a fun gift for grandparents who don’t see the grandkids in person all the time, since you can totally have these conversations on the phone or over video chat.
Sure, you can get your grandparents any paint-by-number kit, but it’s way cooler to get one that’s a custom photo. We’re so excited that you can transform a family picture or photo of a favorite spot into DIY art, and we know they will be too.
The kits come in lots of different sizes and include the pre-printed canvas and everything you need to paint the picture, including paints, brushes, and even the mounting hardware to hang it when it’s done.
There’s no shortage of gifts for gardeners, but we especially love the gardener’s tool seat for grandparents with green thumbs. It’s super practical — a handy place to store tools or sit down when they’re working. Plus, it folds for storage and carrying, and that’s even handier.
This is great for grandparents, especially because it reduces stress on the knees that can come from lots of kneeling in the dirt. It’s a good mix of practical and meaningful.
This is a gift you can pair with other things for additional impact. It's pretty awesome to include a pair of gardening gloves, some new tools, and maybe even a sun hat to create a gardening gift tote.
You know those incredible family recipes and dishes your grandparents make better than anyone else? Give them a family cookbook where they can record the recipes (and any memories or special moments that go along with it).
We’ll be the first to acknowledge that this is one of those things that’s as much a gift for us as it is for them, but it’s a pretty flattering present to receive, too. The message is “I love you, and I love your cooking,” and that’s even sweeter than your favorite family dessert.
If you want a gift that will really spoil your luxury-loving grandparent, it’s hard to beat the cozy softness of a cashmere throw. We actually want one of these for ourselves (and that means it’s the perfect gift, right?).
Measuring 50 by 65 inches, this throw is big enough to wrap up in on a chilly day. It comes in 10 different colors and patterns to match any grandparent’s decor. Basically, it’s guaranteed to be their new favorite blanket.
Watching birds isn’t only for grandparents, but it’s a really fun activity a lot of people enjoy. We got this Nature’s Hangout Window Bird Feeder for one of the bird-loving grandparents in our family, and it was a total hit. It sticks to the window and makes it super easy to see the birds and their behavior through the glass.
This is a great gift for grandparents in a care facility, too, since it gives them something exciting and ever-changing to look at if they have a ground-floor window.
Make this gift even more fun with a bird field guide for your area. That way, your grandparents can have a handy reference to identify any birds that come to visit.
Mugs are classic grandparent gifts, but you can take the traditional one step farther with a personalized family picture. Family Mug Shots have custom text on one side (like a name) and a drawing of a person on the other. We can’t get over the cuteness (and they won’t be able to either) of having a set of mugs with a picture of each family member.
This is one of those presents that’s practical and meaningful at the same time, which is pretty great. The mugs are even dishwasher and microwave safe.
We’ve been in love with those miniature bookshelf dioramas for a long time, and they’re basically the perfect gift for a grandparent who loves a project. These sweet lighted kits fit perfectly on a bookshelf and offer a touch of magic to any reading nook.
You can choose from five different kits, including a greenhouse, a magic house, a time travel kit with a locomotive, and more. They take between four and seven hours to build.
Trekking poles are great for anyone who likes to hike on uneven terrain, but they’re kind of perfect for older adults who could use a little extra stability. We like that this Cascade Mountain trekking pole set is made of carbon fiber, so it’s light and strong and won’t add weight when they’re in a pack.
These poles also have different tips for all kinds of terrain, and they come in seven color combos.
If your grandparents are like the ones in our families, they don't always love fiddling with tiny earbuds, but they do appreciate incredible audio. That's where the Bose Quiet Comfort 45 Headphones come in.
These are your standard over-ear headphones that are easy to deal with and comfy, but they go way beyond standard when it comes to sound quality. They've got noise canceling and all the features, too.
Show Your Grandparents Just How Much You Love Them
The secret to finding the best gift ideas for grandparents in your family is thinking about who they are and what they do. This definitely includes their role as grandparents, but there are also their hobbies, activities, and the things they just really love doing in their free time. Get inspired by who they are, and you're sure to pick the very best gift.
