TL;DR: The best Christmas gifts for parents are cozy slippers, a heated massager, or My Life in a Book.
- The slippers are the perfect inexpensive and thoughtful gift for parents who are on their feet a lot or just like to feel cozy around the house.
- The heated massager is a practical gift that helps them relax and feel cared for.
- My Life in a Book is the most unique gift on this list and a great way for your parents to write down and share meaningful memories.
Finding the perfect Christmas gift for your parents can be a challenge. You want to get them something thoughtful, not just another meaningless knickknack for the mantle.
Your parents have given you so much over the years, so they deserve something extra special under the tree. But what gift says “I appreciate you” without being overly extravagant?
The key is finding a present that shows you put real thought into what your parents would genuinely appreciate this year.
In this gift guide, we’ve compiled the 48 best Christmas gifts that do exactly that and which are bound to put smiles on your parents’ faces.
From cozy loungewear to the latest tech gadgets, you’ll discover thoughtful ideas that align with your parents’ interests and will become new favorites for them.
With these unique and personalized gift recommendations, you can’t go wrong with finding the perfect present for the two most important people in your life…that they’ll actually love.
Heated Back and Neck Massager
Most Relaxing Gift
If your parents are always complaining about back and neck pain, it’s time to help them relax with a massage—which they can easily use while watching TV or lying in bed. Alternatively, if you think your parents need a more intense massager, there’s always a massage gun to work out specific spots.
Cozy Slippers
Gift for Staying Warm
I’ve given these memory foam slippers to several of my family members and they all loved them. I wear mine almost every day while working from home. They’re the comfiest slippers I’ve ever had and very affordable.
My Life in a Book
My Life in a Book makes it easy for retired parents or grandparents to write their life stories. After answering daily writing prompts by email for one year, the stories they’ve written are compiled into a book along with photos from their lives. This gift allows them to be heard and for future generations to get to know them—I would give anything to have a book of my late grandma’s stories.
Bamboo Charging Station
Best Practical Gift
Charging stations are good Christmas gifts for families since they benefit everyone. We like this bamboo station in particular because it has a clean look and it’s an organized way to keep electronics charged in a communal spot like the kitchen. Cheers to no more fighting over outlets when everyone’s personal devices need to be charged.
Now 20% Off
Digital Picture Frame
Best Picture Frame Gift
We love digital picture frames because you can easily share new photos with the gallery and enjoy memories that would otherwise be forgotten about in the Cloud. These are especially good gifts if your parents are empty-nesters or they have new grandchildren.
Now 28% Off
Video Conversion Suite
Best Tech Gift
What better way to celebrate the holiday season than by digitizing your parents’ favorite home videos? You or your parents can convert old VHS and camcorder tapes to DVDs and digital copies. As a bonus, it’s easy to use and works on both PCs and Macs. If your parents don’t have a DVD player and you’re just looking for something that digitizes old tapes onto computers, this is a good alternative.
Tea Sampler Gift Set
Best Gift for Tea Drinkers
Any tea fans in the house? This tea sampler gift set is the ideal gift for parents who take their tea drinking seriously. The sampler includes 20 teabags with an assortment of five different types of teas.
Bamboo Charcuterie Board Set
Best Gift for Parents Who Host
If your parents host often, a new bamboo charcuterie board will freshen up their serving tools…and give them an excuse to brag about you.
Now 21% Off
Comfy Robe
Bath-Themed Gift
There’s something luxurious about wrapping up in a fluffy robe after a shower or bath. Go the extra mile by tucking skincare products, organic soaps, and a new loofa into the pockets.
Amazon Firestick
Best TV Gadget
An Amazon Firestick is the way to go if your parents struggle to toggle between streaming platforms—just make sure to hide the old remotes so they don’t get mixed up.
Now 50% Off
Tile Pro Trackers
Best Gift for Forgetful Parents
Okay, so maybe your parents seem to have everything, but do they tend to lose a lot of what they have? These Tile Pro gadgets attach to things like keys, so it’s easy to track lost items around the house. This is an especially thoughtful gift for older parents who regularly misplace their keys or the TV remote.
Now 27% Off
Custom Pet Embroidered Sweater
Best Pet-Themed Gift
If you have to compete with the family pet for attention, gift your parent a sweatshirt personalized with the dog or cat’s embroidered image and name.
Globe Whiskey Decanter
Best Gift for Whiskey Drinkers
This whiskey decanter is a unique Christmas gift, excellent for parents who like to drink their bourbon in style. If it’s in your budget, pair this gift with a bottle of their favorite whiskey.
Now 49% Off
Nespresso Machine
Best Gift for Coffee Lovers
A Nespresso Machine is perfect for parents who like something easy-to-use like a Keurig, but want espresso shots with their holiday dessert. After testing Nespresso, it’s as simplified as it gets.
Now 30% Off
Himalayan Salt Lamp
Best Gift for Parents Who Do Yoga
A few of us at TAH have salt lamps and love them. They add a peaceful ambiance to any room, purify the air, and help relieve stress. It’s an especially good gift for parents who work a lot or aging parents who feel tired.
Now 42% Off
The Five Minute Journal
Most Thoughtful Gift for Parents
Gratitude journals can be one of the best holiday gift ideas for parents who feel stressed. It allows them to see the bigger picture and find more daily happiness through even five minutes of showing gratitude. I gave this to my mom a few years back for Christmas and she loved it.
Personalized Family Recipe Board
Gift for Celebrating Family Heritage
Memorialize family recipes by having them printed on wooden cards that won’t be lost forever in an accidental spill. These cards are extra special because the text is etched in the original handwriting.
iRobot Roomba Vacuum
Best Lifestyle Gift
Roomba Vacuums are a game changer for keeping the house clean without much extra effort. Features of this particular Roomba include the ability to create a customized cleaning schedule, voice control, app linking, and a 3-stage cleaning system.
Now 42% Off
Foot Massager Roller
Best Gift for Soon-to-Be Moms
A foot massager is one of the best gifts for soon-to-be mothers. All of my friends who’ve gone through pregnancy say that achy and swollen feet are one of the worst parts. Become her hero by helping her relieve pain.
Now 28% Off
Artifact Uprising Hardcover Photo Book
Better Than a Photo Album
This is personally what we’re getting our parents this year. It’s the perfect chance to finally give them those pictures you’ve been promising to send…turn your phone photo album into a glossy photo book that they can flip through and show to friends.
Candle Making Kit
Best Crafting Gift
If you’re looking for creative gifts for parents, a candle making kit can be a fun and cute Christmas gift for your mom or dad. It’s hard to go wrong with DIY-type gifts and who doesn’t love candles to make a home more warm and welcoming?
Newborn Handprint and Footprint Kit
Best Gift for Expecting Parents
A good Christmas gift for expecting parents, this newborn handprint and footprint kit is all kinds of adorable. If you’re looking for a good sentimental gift for parents about to have a baby, this is one they’ll cherish for a long time.
Everlane Alpaca Crew Sweater
Best Clothing Gift
I gave my mom this Everlane Alpaca Crew last year and she wears it constantly. Alpaca fiber offers luxury softness and warmth so she feels extra cozy all winter.
Wake-Up Light Alarm Clock
Gift for Improving Sleep
I discovered this Wake-Up light alarm clock a few years back and it’s a game-changer for waking up feeling refreshed and well-rested. The alarm clock emits light that gradually gets brighter right before the set “wake time” to simulate naturally waking up to the sunrise. So basically, you’d be giving your parents the gift of quality sleep.
Herb Seeds
Best Gift for Gardeners
If your parent has a green thumb or loves cooking, get them an herb garden starter kit. It comes with seeds for 10 types of herbs and growing instructions. Alternatively, if they’re more of a succulent fan, these owl pots are adorable for any kitchen.
Le Creuset Dutch Oven
Best Luxury Kitchen Gift
I used to think Le Creuset just looked pretty—then I started using the Le Creuset Dutch Oven and it was a gamechanger. These professional-grade pans come with lifetime warranties for a serious kitchen upgrade. They’re designed to help things cook evenly, plus they’re suitable for stovetop and oven use.
Air Fryer
Best Kitchen Appliance Gift
We’ve tested a few styles of air fryers and this one is by far the easiest. It’s the best Christmas gift for parents who love to eat healthy or parents of small kids who are tired of soggy chicken nuggets. Air fryers take less oil (if any) for frying, broiling, roasting, dehydrating, and baking just about anything.
Now 30% Off
Picnic Backpack for Four
Best Gift for Romantic Parents
This picnic backpack for four makes it that much easier to plan the perfect picnic on the beach, at an open-air concert, or while road-tripping. It even comes with a cutlery set, wine glasses, and melamine plates. There’s also a bamboo cutting board and knife, stainless steel shakers, picnic blankets, and an insulated bag.
Now 20% Off
Pickleball Set
Best Gift for Active Parents
There’s nothing like a lighthearted game of pickleball to get your parents laughing and secretively keep them in good shape. Plus, maybe they’ll make friends at the pickleball court.
Now 50% Off
Echo Dot
Affordable Trendy Tech Gift
Echo Dots are one of the best gift ideas for parents if you don’t want to spend a lot of money but you’re looking for something trendy and useful. They’re also great if your parent tends to lose their phone often (like mine) because they can call it using Echo.
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Crocs
Practical Gift for Comfort
Crocs are notorious for being ugly but there’s no denying that they’re some of the comfiest kick-around shoes on the market. Our parents have multiple pairs for slipping on to grab the mail and gardening in the backyard.
Custom Lake Art Cribbage Board
Best Personalized Board Game
Surprise them with a custom cribbage board engraved with a map of their favorite lake. It’s perfect for camping or leaving on the coffee table as useful decor.
Complete Calvin and Hobbes Box Set
Most Nostagic Gift
Did anyone else grow up with parents who loved Calvin and Hobbes? My parents and I loved this comic when I was younger, and looking through this Calvin and Hobbes box set brings back Sunday morning memories from my childhood.
Inflatable Kayak
Best Kayaking Gift
An inflatable kayak is a great Christmas gift for outdoorsy parents who like adventuring together. This two-person kayak comes with aluminum oars and an air pump. It’s also easy to pack up and take to the river or lake on a beautiful day out.
Read our guides to the best budget kayaks and inflatable kayaks, and the best gifts for kayakers.
Now 50% Off
AllTrue Subscription Box
Best Gift That Keeps On Giving
AllTrue subscription boxes are meaningful gifts for parents you don’t see often since they’ll receive surprise boxes of eco-friendly goodies from you every season. You can customize orders based on your parents’ interests and save on bundles, all with a few clicks.
The Travel Book: A Journey Through Every Country in the World
Best Gift for Globetrotters
This Lonely Planet coffee table book is a great gift for retired parents who are regular travelers or plan on traveling soon. It takes them through every single country in the world from the comfort of their couch.
Monos Carry-On Luggage
Best Gift for Parents Who Travel
Replace your parents’ dusty old luggage with a sleek Monos carry-on so they’re travel-ready for the new year. After testing multiple top brands, we found Monos to be the best combination of simplicity, durability, and excellent features.
America the Beautiful National Park Pass
Best Gift for National Park Lovers
We’re outdoorsy people with outdoorsy parents and National Parks passes are always a big hit. Gift your parents free access to over 2,000 parks and sites with the America the Beautiful Pass—and if they’re over 62, save extra on the Annual Senior Pass, which is only $20/year or you can go for the $80 lifetime pass.
Read our guide to the best national park gifts.
Double Camp Chair
Best Camping Gift
How about unique Christmas gifts for parents who camp? These double camp chairs are a cute addition to any camping gear, perfect for family camping trips, sporting games, or for sitting around a bonfire.
Looking for more ideas? Read our guide to the best gifts for campers.
Solo Stove
Best Outdoor Patio Gear
We tested the Solo Stove and fell in love with the near-smokeless burn. Solo Stoves are extra safe, easy to use, and require less maintenance to keep the fire going—so your parents can kick back and relax without smoke in their faces. Otherwise, if your parents like cooking outdoors, they’ll love the Pi Prime Oven [which we’ve also tested] for making artisan fire-roasted pizzas.
Ancestry DNA Kit
Best Sciency Gift
Ancestry kits are one of the most unique gifts for parents who have everything. I did a DNA test a few years ago and it was eye-opening. These are great if your parents are curious about family history or any genetic predispositions to health issues.
Now 57% Off
Allbirds Tree Runners
Best Shoes to Gift
We’ve tested the Allbirds Tree Runners for the past three years, and I’ve given them as Christmas gifts to my mom and mother-in-law. Tree Runners are the most comfortable walking shoes and they’re made from sustainably sourced eucalyptus uppers with sugarcane soles.
Looking for more details? Read our Allbirds Tree Runners Review.
VIVAIA Flats
Best Gift for Fashionable Moms
We’ve tested VIVAIA’s Vienna flats for over a year now and they’re a great gift because they’re stylish and comfy. Plus, they go with almost any outfit. VIVAIA flats are special because they’re a sustainable gift woven from recycled plastic water bottles.
Read about our experience testing VIVAIA shoes.
Kindle Paperwhite
Best Gift for Book Lovers
Instead of choosing a single book, buy your parents the whole damn library for Christmas this year. We love being able to download hundreds of new books or check out free library books on our Kindles. The Paperwhite is an especially good gift for an elderly mom or dad since they can enlarge the text as much as they need and they’re designed to be easy on the eyes.
Apple iPad Pro
Best Device to Gift
My siblings and I all went in on an engraved iPad for my mom for Christmas a few years ago and she loved it. The iPad Pro has the most features, but the iPad Air is an excellent alternative if you’re looking for great tech gifts within a smaller budget.
Now 7% Off
Winc Wine Subscription
Best Christmas Gift for Wine Lovers
There are some things that parents can always use more of—wine is one of those essentials. Winc offers gift subscriptions or gift cards so it’s easy to buy what they like or let them choose.
Blue Apron
Best Gift for Busy Parents
Blue Apron sends meal prep kits directly to your parents’ front door. It saves them the hassle of grocery shopping and helps them eat well to stay healthy.
Spa Day Gift Card
Best Spa Gift
All-Expenses-Paid Spa Day – Spa gift cards are one of my favorite go-to gifts for loved ones— especially new parents—who need a relaxing day of pampering when life is stressful. Research a few local spas and inquire about gift cards or printable gift certificates.
Or look for couples spa packages on Viator.
Acts of Service
Best Gift if You’re Broke
An act of service is a thoughtful Christmas gift idea that you can give your parents when you really can’t spend money right now. What would brighten up their day and help them out at no cost to you? Maybe they’ve been putting something off because they’re short on time. Or maybe it’s a regular monthly chore they dread. Could you clean their whole house, paint the fence, wash the car, or do something else they just haven’t had the chance to do in a while?
Cook a Nice Dinner for Them
Best Budget-Friendly Gift
Cooking a nice dinner for them or baking their favorite holiday cookies is another one of the best presents when you don’t have much money. You’ll have to spend a little money to buy ingredients, but Pinterest has delicious cheap meal ideas if you can spare even $20.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mimi McFadden
Founder & Editor-In-Chief
When it comes to gift giving, Mimi has it down to a science. With a degree in psychology, she knows that the key to a meaningful and memorable gift is a personalized approach—always paying attention to someone’s unique interests and passions. Since she was little, Mimi has wholeheartedly embraced the tradition of gift-giving. Now, she loves crafting fun gift guides to inspire others to level up their gifting game and to find that perfect gift.
Jodelle Marx
Editor & Content Manager
From homemade to luxury, Jodelle’s always scheming about the next best gifts. She even started printing her own stationery to easily brighten a friend’s day with small doses of art. Jodelle’s a sucker for surprises and loves assembling intricate care packages. She starts planning Christmas gifts months in advance so that when the holidays roll around, she’s an expert at gift-giving.
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