Best gifts for grandma: Ideas for your nana, abuela, or oma
Please don't get her another pair of slippers.
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Credit: MASHABLE PHOTO COMPOSITE / GRAVITY / KINDLE / Fitbit / knit-wise / irobot
Grandmas are often stereotyped as frail and out of touch, but those aren't the grandmas we know.
Contrary to ageist stereotypes, grandmothers can be into anything: tech, pop culture, even powerlifting. And when the holiday season rolls around every year, it's up to you to find a gift that makes her feel seen and heard — not just as a matriarch, but as a person.
Maybe that seems like a big ask. Maybe you're tempted to cop out and get her (yet another) pair of slippers. But here's the thing: You can do so much better than that, and all it takes is a little quality time spent with your grandma to get to know her interests.
Now, setting aside those few hours to chat with Nana, Nonna, Oma, Abuela, Yia-Yia, Mimi, Geema, Gramms — whatever you call her — might be all she wants from you this year, in all honesty. But just in case you feel like going in with your siblings or cousins and getting her something a bit... well, more, we've got you covered.
Here's our list of the best gifts for grandmas, from nostalgic picks to the latest and greatest gadgets.
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Credit: LE CREUSET
A Le Creuset Dutch oven
For The Holiday Chef
Does your grandma spend a large part of the holidays toiling away in her kitchen to make sure your family's favorite dishes wind up on the dinner table? If so, spoil her with this high-end Dutch oven from Le Creuset. It's great for stews, soups, pot roasts, and even bread, and it will last basically forever. Her legendary meals deserve it.
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Credit: Nixplay
PROMOTED
A digital picture frame
For the Grandma Who Misses You
All your Grandma wants is to see your shining, beautiful face as much as she can. If daily visits and 24/7 Facetime aren't possible, then this digital photo frame will keep her updated from afar. Use the app to privately add new photos and video as often as you'd like — the frame will autoplay from the gallery you've created (even if it gets knocked off the WiFi) and put a smile on Grandma's face every time she sees it.
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Credit: IROBOT
A Roomba
For The Grandma Who Needs A Break
Every single human person deserves a Roomba, but since your grandmother's dealt with two generations' worth of messes, she extra deserves a Roomba. She can put her feet up on the coffee table and watch Netflix or read a book as this self-charging, app-controlled robot vacuum takes care of all the dirty work.
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Credit: APPLE
The iPad Air
For The Grandma Who Lives Far Away
If you haven't been able to see your grandma in quite some time, get her an iPad Air so you two can video chat every week. (Not that that's the only thing she'll be able to do on it — she can watch all her favorite TV shows and movies, read the news, take photos, read books, check her email, and online shop, too.) The latest model from 2020 has a nice, large Retina display and comes in a bunch of pretty colors.
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Credit: FITBIT
The Fitbit Luxe
For The Mall Walker
If your grandma's the active type who always squeezes in her 10,000 steps a day, she's a perfect fit for the Fitbit Luxe. A color display and a stainless steel finish make it Fitbit's most fashionable fitness tracker yet — plus, it comes with some nifty health metrics (including 24/7 heart rate tracking and a stress management score).
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Credit: RING
A new Ring Video Doorbell 4
For The Independent Grandma
With one of Ring's bestselling video doorbells installed by her front door, your grandma can use her phone, tablet, or PC to hear and speak to any visitors in real-time before letting them in. (This will be especially useful if she lives alone.) The new model features a 1080p HD camera with night vision, motion alerts, and a "Quick Replies" feature that's like an answering machine for her door.
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Credit: 23ANDME
A 23andMe Ancestry + Traits kit
For The Family Historian
DNA test kits make great gifts for pretty much anyone, but especially grandmas who are always referencing "the good ol' days" and (allegedly) famous thrice-removed cousins. 23andMe's Ancestry + Traits Service can produce detailed breakdowns of her genetic background and family tree using nothing more than a small saliva sample, with results delivered in about three to five weeks.
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Credit: MASTERCLASS
A MasterClass subscription
For The Lifelong Learner
Is she jonesing to get a photography career off the ground? Has she gotten really into hip-hop lately? Are her makeup techniques a relic of bygone years (not that you'd ever tell her that)? With a MasterClass membership, she can pull up an extensive library of expert- and celebrity-taught classes on these topics (and many more) on her TV, tablet, or smartphone.
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Credit: SUNFOUNDER
A SunFounder robotics kit
For The Inventor
News flash: People older than 65 *can* be tech-savvy — and if that applies to Grams, this hobby robot is definitely the gift for her. (If it doesn't, well, this is your opportunity to show her just how cool technology can be.)
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Credit: AUDIO-TECHNICA
A wireless turntable
For The Record Collector
Bring Nana's beloved vinyl collection into the digital age with a Bluetooth-enabled turntable. Available in three different colors, this well-reviewed Audio-Technica model connects easily to wireless speakers and headphones and supports both 33s and 45s.
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Credit: INSTANT POT
An Instant Pot Duo
For The Chicken Souper-hero
This Instant Pot is not your grandma’s pressure cooker. Unless you gift one to her — then it technically is. What we're trying to say is that this multifunctional appliance has been a hot gift for years running, and rightly so: Not only does it pressure cook, but it can also slow cook, sauté, steam, warm, and even make rice and yogurt.
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Credit: TILE
A Tile Mate
For The Absentminded Oma
These Bluetooth trackers (there are four in a pack) attach easily to things like key rings, umbrellas, and wallets — any small belongings your grandma tends to misplace — and can make a lost phone ring with the touch of a button.
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Credit: EVE
Eve Aqua
For The Green-thumbed Grandma
"Siri, water the garden." If you can picture your grandmother saying that, get her an Eve Aqua: It's a smart water controller that can fully automate her plant-watering schedule with the help of Apple HomeKit. (It just gets attached to her hose's spigot and works effortlessly with her iPhone.) May she never flood her garden again.
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Credit: AEROGARDEN
An AeroGarden
For The Wannabe Gardener
So maybe she doesn't have a green thumb — that's OK! With one of AeroGarden's in-home gardens, which rely on hydroponics (not soil), Grandma can grow fresh herbs and vegetables on her own kitchen countertop without lifting a finger or making a mess. The AeroGarden Harvest model comes in a lovely sage hue and includes six different types of seeds to get her started.
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Credit: BREVILLE
A Breville tea maker
For The Tea Lover
Pinky up, Grandma: This fancy little machine from Breville features five different temperature settings for different kinds of teas (green, white, oolong, herbal, or black); all she has to do is pick her preferred strength. Its built-in timer will beep once the optimal steeping time lapses to prevent a bitter brew.
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Credit: GRAVITY
A Gravity Blanket
For The Cozy Nonna
If she finds it difficult to fall asleep at night, a weighted blanket can help. This bestselling Gravity Blanket promotes relaxation by simulating the feeling of being hugged, and it's covered in ultra-soft microfleece for a deeply cozy experience. (We like the fact that it's sized as a throw blanket so she can use it comfortably around the house.)
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Credit: KNIT-WISE
A Knit-Wise subscription
For The Knitting Machine
For under $30 a pop, you can have Knit-Wise send Grams a monthly knitting project that includes instructions, yarn, and even needles — everything she needs to knit up something fabulous. (Pro tip: Ask her to teach you how it's done for even more brownie points. There's no better hobby than one you can both enjoy together.)
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Credit: TEA DROPS
A Tea Drops party pack
For The Eco-friendly Grandma
These cute little shapes made from pressed organic tea leaves (with a hint of raw cane sugar) don't just eliminate the hassle of dealing with a drippy tea bag — they also produce 15% less waste than that traditional steeping method. This 25-count sampler pack comes with an assortment of flavors, including Citrus Ginger, Blueberry Acai, Rose Earl Grey, Sweet Peppermint, and Matcha. All Grandma has to do is drop one in a cup of hot water, and she's good to go.
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Credit: HOMESICK
A Grandma's Kitchen candle from Homesick
For Cozy Abuelas
Make your gran's home even more welcoming with this special Homesick candle. It comes in a scent called "Grandma's Kitchen," which includes notes of warm apple pie with ice cream and fresh, cinnamony Snickerdoodles. Grandma won't even need to fire up the oven for her kitchen to smell amazing — she can just light this candle instead.
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Credit: VITRUVI
A ceramic essential oil diffuser
For The Grandma Who Hates Potpourri
It's time to elevate Oma's fragrance game. This minimalist essential oil diffuser is crafted from premium porcelain and capable of filling up 500 square feet of space with scent; it'll make a couple of rooms in her home smell like absolute heaven. If you bundle it with a selection of your favorite aromatherapeutic essential oils, that Grandchild of the Year title is as good as yours.
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Credit: KINDLE
The new Kindle Paperwhite
For The Book Worm
If she’s always talking about the latest novel or biography she’s working her way through, consider upping her game with a Kindle. The all-new Paperwhite model features a larger, glare-free display, an adjustable warm light, and a battery that lasts up to 10 weeks (!) per charge — plus, it comes four months of Kindle Unlimited for free. She’ll be amazed by the sheer number of books at her fingertips.
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Credit: BURT'S BEES
A Burt's Bees gift set
For The Grandma Who Deserves Pampering
Whether she’s always looking for a new Chapstick or she’s big into hand cream — that's very much a Grandma Thing, no? — she'll love this Burt's Bees gift set. It's filled with classic products made with natural ingredients (like their lemon butter cuticle cream and original beeswax lip balm) that'll keep her skin hydrated and nourished all winter long.
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Credit: CHRONICLE BOOKS
"Letters to My Grandchild: Write Now. Read Later. Treasure Forever."
For The Both Of You
Alright, so this gift might be just as much for you as it is for her. Letters to My Grandchild is a keepsake collection of 12 letters that she can fill with thoughtful, sentimental notes for you (and the rest of her grandchildren) to read at a later date — almost like a paper time capsule.
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Credit: UGG
Some UGG slippers
For Keeping Her Toes Toasty
OK, fine. If Mimi could actually use a nice new pair of slippers this holiday season, the UGG Fluff Yeah Slides are anything but your typical grandma style. Available in over 40 different colors, they'll make her feel like she's walking on clouds — and an extra-durable sole means she can wear them on her morning strolls to the mailbox without having to change into sneakers.
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Credit: FARAHNESS
A grandma-to-be picture frame
For The Mom Who's Being Promoted To Grandma
There’s nothing like finding out you’re going to be a grandma for the first time, or so we’ve heard. This keepsake grandma-to-be picture frame is a cute way to make the big announcement to the new nana; it's constructed from quality natural wood that'll look great on a mantel or shelf for years to come.
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A "You Are Loved" book
For The Sentimental Grandma
Want to gift Grandma something extra sweet and personal? This pretty hardcover book is filled with prompts you can use to tell her how much you love her and share your favorite memories together. (Fair warning: There's an extremely good chance it'll make both of you cry.)
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A shiatsu neck and back massager
For The Grandma Who Needs To Relax
Sure, Grandma deserves to go to the spa whenever the mood strikes, but the cost of weekly massages adds up fast. Instead, get her this deep-kneading shiatsu neck and back massager. It's got three speeds, a heat setting, and a conforming, wrappable design — it even comes with a car adapter for take-anywhere comfort.
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A bamboo cheese board
For The Entertainer
If she’s always looking for new ways to entertain her friend group or grandkids, consider picking up this deluxe cheese board. It comes with everything she could possibly need to host an epic wine and cheese night, including plates and cutlery. There's even a hidden drawer built right in to store all those supplies when the party's over.
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A cheeky wine glass
For The Cool Grandma
This fun-grandma-approved wine glass will make her feel like the coolest matriarch in the room. Bonus points if you pair it with a bottle or two of her favorite wine so she can take it for a test drive right away.
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Credit: WISHACC
A cookbook (or iPad) stand
For The Home Cook
A cookbook stand probably doesn't seem like the most exciting gift idea on this list, but think about how helpful one could be when Grandma's elbow-deep in a casserole or roast turkey. This one's made from lightweight bamboo (to match her new cheese board, perhaps?) and folds up effortlessly when not in use.
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Credit: KNOPF DOUBLEDAY PUBLISHING GROUP
"My Life in France"
For The Traveler
Whether she’s a huge fan of Julia Child or just looks for any excuse to bring up her girls’ trip to France all those years ago, this charming autobiography by the queen of French cooking will whisk her away to the streets (and kitchens) of Paris.
