40 Gifts the Grandparents in Your Life Will Love

Grandparents are known for spoiling their grandchildren—now it’s your turn to return the favor and show them how much you appreciate all they do for the family. It can be fun to give them a present that celebrates their role in your child’s life or gift them something that makes their home more cozy, fun, or even tasty.

To select the best gifts for grandparents, we spoke directly with our own Mimis, Papas, Nanas, and other grandparent figures in our families. We asked them what gifts they’d like to receive most for any occasion and why. When reviewing products for this list, we carefully considered ease of use, design, sentimental value, interests, hobbies, and budgets. 

Our Favorite Gifts for Grandparents

• Birdfy Smart Bird Feeder with Camera
• How to Babysit a Grandpa
• ThisLoveFilledLife Customized Family Print
• 3DCarving Custom Bamboo Cutting Board with Laser Engraved Recipe
• Artifact Uprising Hardcover Photo Book

Keepsakes for Grandparents

When it comes to gifts for grandparents, the sentimental value will always be more important than the monetary value. In fact, the grandparents we talked to said their favorite gifts were projects they could make with their grandkids, like this hand-casting kit. We also love this personalized necklace with birthstones to represent each grandchild and this digital photo frame that lets them see their grandkids as often as they want.

Personalized Gifts for Grandparents

Taking the time to personalize a gift is a small detail that is always greatly appreciated by grandparents. We love this cutting board that can be engraved with a family recipe and these customizable grandparent mugs that add even more warmth to every sip of coffee, tea, or cocoa (pro tip: you can use these mugs to announce a pregnancy to new grandparents!). 

Unique Gifts for Grandparents

Choosing presents for grandparents is as easy as adding a fun spin to everyday items. For example, we found a super cool two-handled umbrella, because what could be more fun than walking in the rain with your grandparents! And for the Nanas and Mimis out there known for making the best warm drinks on chilly days, this frother and hot cocoa maker will take the grandkids’ favorite treat to a whole new level.

Self-Care Gifts for Grandparents

If you have a grandparent who's always busy taking care of the rest of the family, give them a chance to pamper themselves. Gifts like heated shawls, silky-soft pajamas, and books with their favorite crosswords are simple ways to encourage them to put their feet up, relax, and recharge.

Gadgets and Tech Gifts for Grandparents

One of the wonderful things about technology is that it helps us stay close even when we’re miles apart. In this category, we especially love this long-distance friendship lamp that will let your grandparents know when you’re thinking of them: you keep one lamp and gift them the other; connect the lamp to Wi-Fi, and when one lamp is touched, the other lights up (each lamp is sold separately). We also found a unique bird feeder camera that will bring joy to bird aficionados of all ages. 

Our Review Process

We wanted to find gifts for grandparents that make them feel loved and appreciated, so we went right to the source: the grandparents in our lives. We asked the grandparents figures in our families what gifts they’d like to receive most, whether for the holidays, a birthday, or a just-because gift. From there, we researched dozens of products on the market, including books, apparel, cookware, home decor, and more, studying their design, features, ease of use, and value. We carefully selected gifts for grandparents that can be from kids, teens, and even adults. 

Factors to Consider When Buying Gifts for Grandparents 

• Celebration of Their Role: Spotlight the special role that grandparents play in the family by choosing gifts that show them just how important you think they are. That could be through personalized jewelry, a mug with "Grandma" written on it, or photos of them with the grandkids. Every grandparent is different, so celebrating their unique role in the family can be expressed through a custom gift that highlights their relationship in the family. 
• Kid-Friendliness: When a visit to the grandparents' home is on the calendar, the right gift can make that experience even more positive. Cozy pillows and blankets help facilitate cuddle time, and interactive technology can help make bonding seamless. Games and toys to keep at the grandparents' house can also occupy the kids and set the scene for family fun.
• Connection: The right gift can help foster connections even from afar. For instance, some grandparents will love a photo book or a frame to update as their grandkids grow. Those who are geographically far from their grandchildren might appreciate a light that they can turn on from afar to show the kids that they're thinking of them.

Who We Are

Cheryl Fenton is a Boston-based freelance lifestyle writer who has enjoyed a 30-year career of bylining in both national magazines and popular websites, as well as authoring a book or two. Her 17-year-old is blessed to have both sets of grandparents—Memaw and Pepaw, Nana and Grandpa—and heading out to find unique gifts for them has always been a challenge that Cheryl and her daughter tackle together (Pepaw’s Christmas Day birthday adds an extra challenge to the task).

Maya Polton is a former marketing manager and current freelance writer who covers food, home, and parenting. She’s also the mom of an 11-year-old son, an 8-year-old son, and a 4-year-old daughter. Her kids are so lucky to have all four grandparents live nearby and take an active part in their lives. Maya loves to give them gifts that engage the kids, too. One favorite was a monthly subscription of fishing lures since her oldest son and her dad love to fish together. 

Additional reporting by:

Katrina Cossey is a commerce editor, enthusiastic shopper, and devoted mom. She spent several years in broadcast journalism but found her true passion in writing about the best products for families, pregnant people, and kids of all ages. She’s researched thousands of baby products, toys, gifts, and more and personally tested many of them. Katrina's dad and grandpa are known as "Papa" to their son, while her mom is "Mimi," and her grandma is "Nana." Everyone in the family is a fan of useful or sentimental gifts, like flashlights or photo albums.