The 38 best gifts for boyfriends when you have no idea what to get
Pick out a gift that shows him that you "get" him.
By
Miller Kern
on
Miller Kern
Deputy Shopping Editor
Miller Kern is the Deputy Editor of Shopping and Reviews at Mashable, where she writes and edits reviews, roundups, deals, and news stories about tech products, including headphones, skincare devices, laptops, sex toys, e-readers, robot vacuums, and more. She's been covering all things shopping and tech, including shopping holidays like Prime Day and Black Friday, for Mashable since 2019. Miller can tell you which products are actually worth your money. She also explores trends in the shopping sphere, such as dupes and viral TikTok moments.
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Need a gift idea for your boyfriend but can't think of anything? Don't be too hard on yourself. Picking out the perfect gift takes practice. Between Valentine's Day, birthdays, anniversaries, and the gift-giving winter holidays, there are a lot of chances to choose the wrong gift. Ideally, you want to get him something that demonstrates your love (or affection), your appreciation, and the fact that you know exactly what he likes. But striking the perfect balance can be tricky. No matter what your boyfriend likes — gadgets, grooming, gaming, or gear — there's probably something on this gift guide he'll love and cherish. After all, your name will be on the card. And if you need even more ideas, then it's worth checking out our list of the best gifts under $50.
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Credit: Brooklinen
A new set of sheets
Best for both of you
Brooklinen is a DTC favorite for a reason: Its sheets really are cool, crisp, and long-lasting (a fact we can verify first-hand). These soft percale sheets come in more than a dozen colors and prints, and you'll love getting lost in them together.
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Credit: MVMT
A MVMT watch
Best for upping his style
You can never go wrong with a classy, stylish watch, and MVMT has a bunch of them. There are plenty of styles to choose from, whether your BF prefers a rustic leather strap or some sleek metal links. Plus, now he'll always be on time for your dates.
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Credit: Lego
A cool new Lego kit
Best for the Super Mario fan
The Super Mario Piranha plant is just plain awesome — and one of our favorite affordable Lego sets for adults. So, if your boyfriend loves Legos and Italian plumbers, he'll love unwrapping this gift. It may even earn a permanent spot on his desk when he's done.
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Credit: Lea Redmond
'Letters to Open When...'
Best for long-distance boyfriends
Maintaining a relationship from a distance can be rough. But with Letters to Open When..., you can be together in spirit even when in-person meetings aren't possible. This little booklet comes with 12 prompts, which you'll respond to, seal, and give to your man to open whenever he needs a quick word of encouragement or inspiration.
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Credit: These Cards Will Get You Drunk
A fun drinking game
Best for the partier
If your boyfriend likes drinking games, These Cards Will Get You Drunk will make a great addition to his roster. It's fun and doesn't require much skill (which is great because it will get you drunk as promised). He'll be the star of his next pregame, guaranteed.
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Credit: Larq
A self-cleaning water bottle
Best for keeping him hydrated
Reusable water bottles are great for the environment (and for keeping us hydrated), but they're hard to clean. Enter: LARQ. Its water bottles have a self-cleaning mode that activates a purifying UV light every two hours, keeping grime and mold at bay.
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Credit: Fitbit
The Fitbit Charge 6
Best for the active man
With Charge 6, Fitbit's latest wearable, he'll be able to stay on top of his fitness goals in style. It can track his heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, sleep patterns, stress levels, and other important metrics to give him a complete picture of his overall wellness. It's also got a built-in GPS and plays nicely with the average smartphone.
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Credit: Magnolia Record Club
A Magnolia Record Club subscription
Best for vinyl lovers
If your boyfriend loves vinyl, treat him to the gift of new music. A Magnolia Record Club subscription will give him the chance to flesh out his library with limited-edition and artist-curated selections every month. Each box comes with an exclusive LP, original artwork, and notes from the curator for a personalized touch.
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Credit: Gentleman Jon's
A Gentleman Jon's Deluxe Wet Shave Kit
Best for the bearded BF
Time to toss out those disposable razor blades and give your guy's grooming routine a serious upgrade. This kit includes everything he needs for a barber shop-y experience at home, including a safety razor, blades, a real badger hair brush, an alum block, and more.
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Credit: Holy Stone
A drone
Best for the kid at heart
With easy gesture and app controls (plus hands-free hovering), the battery-powered HS110D FPV RC Drone is an excellent pick for amateur pilots. Amazon reviewers are big fans of both its build quality and picture quality — there's a wide-angled 1080p camera built right into it that makes for some seriously epic shots.
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Credit: Chemex
A Chemex
Best for the coffee snob
Does your boyfriend love coffee? Like, really love coffee? If so, a Chemex is a no-brainer. Designed to make the perfect cup of joe at the molecular level, this borosilicate glass brewing device is simple to use and allows coffee to be covered and refrigerated for reheating (without losing any of its bold flavor).
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Credit: Arlo
A video doorbell
Best for homeowners
If your boyfriend is just too lazy to look outside when someone knocks on his front door (*raises hand*), how about a video doorbell? The wired (read: more affordable) version of the Alexa-enabled Arlo Essential Video Doorbell can be installed easily using his existing doorbell's wiring — no need to call in a pro. Plus, it's got two-way audio, motion detection, and crystal-clear HD video so he never misses an Amazon package.
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Credit: Pexels
An Audible Plus subscription
Best for bookworms
If your boyfriend loves to read but doesn't have the time to sit down with a book every day, an Audible Plus membership will let him listen to as many audiobooks as his little heart desires. Subscribers get unlimited access to thousands of titles and podcasts. You can also upgrade him to Audible Plus Premium for a once-a-month credit that's good toward any audiobook he wants, which will be his to keep forever.
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Credit: Ninja
An air fryer
Best for the foodie
Any self-respecting fried food lover needs to have an air fryer in his arsenal, period. Ninja's 4-quart model is stellar for gifting — it's easy to use and easy to clean, and it comes in at a relatively affordable price point. Now, for the real question: Are y'all having waffle fries or curly fries with dinner tonight?
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Credit: Stanley
The Stanley Classic Easy-Pour Growler
Best for the guy who loves camping
A Stanley Quencher for you, a Stanley Growler for him — it's the perfect pair. There's nothing better than cracking open a cold one in the great outdoors, but carrying a bunch of empty cans around gets annoying. This 64-ounce growler is vacuum-insulated, so it can keep beer ice-cold for up to 24 hours on the trail. Bottoms up!
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Credit: Thule
Thule Chasm Sport Duffel
Best for the weekend warrior
Your boyfriend needs a bag that's big enough to get him through a few days on the road, yet small enough to fit in an airplane's overhead compartment. That's where Thule's 40L duffle comes in. This is a stylish, waterproof sports bag that also drops a subtle hint: Let's go on a romantic weekend getaway.
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Credit: Bose
Noise-cancelling headphones
Best for the guy who has everything
What's the equivalent of expensive jewelry or designer perfume when shopping for a boy? Try a pair of noise-cancelling headphones, which he's sure to love just as much. Bose's QuietComfort are some of the best on the market, with high-fidelity audio and a handy mobile app to fine-tune the sound. He might not buy these for himself, which is why he'll love you for getting them.
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Credit: MeUndies
A MeUndies subscription
Best gift for him — and you
Does your boyfriend struggle with buying a decent pair of underwear that's comfortable *and* stylish? MeUndies is a subscription service that sends its members a new pair of underwear every month, and they have an option for couples, too. Just pick out his preferred cut and style, and MeUndies will do the rest. (Then throw out all his old tighty whities before he notices.)
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Credit: JBL
JBL Flip 6 speaker
Best for the life of the party
A good Bluetooth speaker makes it possible for your boyfriend to bring the party with him wherever he goes, and this is one of the best we've ever tested. No disrespect to the Black Eyed Peas, but the JBL Flip 6 is the gold standard for getting the party started. It's incredibly easy to connect to and offers big, balanced sound.
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Credit: Fujifilm
Fujifilm Instax Mini 12
Best for the old soul
Instagram? Who needs it? The Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 is an instant camera with a bunch of neat modern features, including automatic exposure for perfect lighting and a one-touch selfie mode. It's so easy to use that even small children can figure it out, so your boyfriend should be fine.
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Credit: MUBI
A MUBI subscription
Best for the true cinephile
Does your boyfriend love arthouse movies like Breathless, The 400 Blows, and The Seven Samurai? Would it just *kill* him that we called these movies and not films? A subscription to MUBI would be a great gift for him. MUBI is a streaming service that features Hollywood classics, essential arthouse, cult classics, and foreign films that are hand-picked once a day (with a 30-day window to watch them).
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Credit: ILUV
A vibrating alarm clock
Best for the snoozer
It could be said that there are two types of people: Those who wake up and get out of bed at the time they planned to, and those who idealistically set an alarm and then hit "snooze" until the absolute last possible moment, thus repeatedly waking the person they are next to. If your boyfriend is a "snoozer," we offer our apologies and this gift idea for you both: a smart vibrating alarm clock that goes under his pillow.
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Credit: Quirk Books
'The League of Regrettable Superheroes'
Best for comic book fans
While your boyfriend might be familiar with Superman, Batman, and Spider-Man, it's doubtful he knows Doctor Hormone, Doll Man, and Bee Man. The League of Regrettable Superheroes is an awesome book about lesser-known superheroes and why they didn't capture the imagination of comic book readers, exploring some hidden corners of pop culture that deserve to be remembered.
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Credit: UNTUCKIT
An UNTUCKit shirt
Best for the sharp dresser
These handy shirts will help your boyfriend look pulled together without the stuffiness that comes with tucking in. They're also decently priced at just $99 apiece — a small price to pay for comfort.
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Credit: Bespoke Post
A Bespoke Post subscription
Best for the bougie boy
If the man in your life is into artisanal goods and only buys the highest-quality gear, Bespoke Post will make a great gift. Take a quiz before you sign up for a membership, and they'll send you a customizable box each month full of top notch outdoors gear, cooking products, travel gadgets, and more — whatever your guy is into.
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Credit: Courant
A stylish wireless charger
For for the organized techie
Not only will he be able to charge his phone on this chic Italian leather charging pad, but he'll also be able to store all his everyday carry items where he can see them. Courant's wireless chargers can also be monogrammed for an extra personal touch.
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Credit: Great Jones
A Great Jones Stoneware Sweeties set
Best for the baker
If your bae is always whipping up something delicious, get them even more hyped about baking with this stoneware set. It comes with a casserole dish and pie plate, both of which are safe for the oven, dishwasher, and freezer. This is basically a gift for you too, since you'll get to eat all the goodies he makes.
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Credit: Therabody
A Therabody roller
Best for the gym bro
If your boyfriend spends more time at the gym than anywhere else, help aid his recovery with this vibrating foam roller. The combination of vibration and the wave texture on this roller will help release tension and muscle soreness so he can crush his next workout.
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Credit: Apple
Apple AirPods Pro 2
Best for the podcast listener
Earn some major cool points by giving him the latest generation of AirPods Pro (and the freedom to listen to his tunes, podcasts, and audiobooks with no strings attached). They're automatically on and connected to his phone when he pops them in his ears, which is fantastic for commutes and travel.
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Credit: Betterfelt
A fashionable wool shoe
Best for the guy into sustainable fashion
The classic shoe offers a higher heel cap than the brand’s iconic slipper, yet it is still easy to slip on and off. Each pair is hand-crafted by artisans in Nepal. Great for shuffling around the house, the rubber-soled version is also perfect for activities like grabbing the morning paper or popping out for a coffee.
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Credit: NightWatch
A unique dock for Apple Watch
Best for Apple Watches
If your boyfriend has an Apple Watch, this magnifying glass dock lets him transform the wearable into a more traditional alarm clock. Not only does it look cool, but it's the perfect excuse to leave the phone out of the bedroom. Better night's sleep, here he comes.
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Credit: Shashibo
Shashibo Shape Shifting Box
Best for the fidgeter
Fidget spinners are a little played out, but hardcore fidgeters may still welcome a distraction for their hands. This award-winning puzzle toy is endlessly fascinating, and it's a good gift under $25 if you aren't quite ready to exchange $300 presents yet.
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Credit: Peak Design
A camera strap like no other
Best for photographers
If your boyfriend is a photographer, then get him a gift that will last a lifetime. The Peak Design camera strap is beloved by photographers (and Mashable editors), and it truly is a perfect piece of design — and we don't use the "P" word lightly. This thoughtfully designed strap will keep his camera secure, and it will make him look good in the process.
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Credit: Kindle
A Kindle Paperwhite
Best for the bookworm
Okay, we love a man who reads. But if you've noticed that he's lugging around a few more tomes than his back can handle lately, consider gifting him a Kindle Paperwhite: It's lightweight, has a glare-free screen, and is even waterproof.
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Credit: UGG
A soft pair of UGG slippers
Best for cozy days
Everyone can appreciate a good pair of slippers. These UGG classics are perfectly cozy, come in five colors, and are lined with wool fleece for plenty of softness and warmth. You may also want to get a pair for yourself.
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Credit: Peugeot
A Peugeot salt and pepper mill set
Best for the home chef
If he's a whiz in the kitchen, don't underestimate the joy-bringing potential of a set of fancy salt and pepper mills. These from Peugeot are made of beech wood and have adjustable grinders, so he can choose his optimal coarseness level.
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Credit: Amazon
An ice roller
Best for stressed-out dudes
He doesn't need to be a skincare girlie to appreciate a good ice roller. If he's tired or just feeling a little puffy, its soothing and cooling properties will be just the ticket. Make sure he knows to keep it in the freezer for maximum depuffing coldness.
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Credit: Galison
A puzzle
Best for the puzzler
If he's a puzzle aficionado, add one to his collection. This 1000-piece pick, featuring a cute array of houseplants, art, books, and knick-knacks displayed on shelves, will be especially satisfying to complete.
Miller Kern is the Deputy Editor of Shopping and Reviews at Mashable, where she writes and edits reviews, roundups, deals, and news stories about tech products, including headphones, skincare devices, laptops, sex toys, e-readers, robot vacuums, and more. She's been covering all things shopping and tech, including shopping holidays like Prime Day and Black Friday, for Mashable since 2019. Miller can tell you which products are actually worth your money. She also explores trends in the shopping sphere, such as dupes and viral TikTok moments.
