40 Best Gifts for Dad That He’ll Actually Use
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If I had to guess, your dad deserves better than a "World's Best Father" mug from the drugstore checkout line. He's probably the guy who taught you to drive, answers your random home-improvement texts, and shares life advice when you need it most. Here's the trick: Don't get him something practical just because he'd use it. Get him something he wouldn't think to buy for himself.
Our top picks:
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Best value: FLYBYJING Sichuan Chili Crisp Bundle
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Gift for dads with everything: Dad's Story: A Memory and Keepsake Journal
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Unique gift: POWERUP Smartphone Airplane Kit
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Personalized gift: Custom Golf Balls
For the dad who loves to have fun, there's a smartphone-controlled paper airplane our readers love and a super chic LEGO set. Play into his hobbies—think monogrammed golf balls for the man who spends his weekends on the course, high-tech meat thermometer for the grill master, or an ice cream maker for the dad with a sweet tooth. Don't be afraid to stick to the foolproof slippers, cologne, or beer glasses (no shade—they're classic for a reason).
1) Carhartt Legacy Tool Bag
With a large, zippered main compartment, a whopping 20 exterior pockets and loops, and 10 interior pockets—all cast in that classic Carhartt brown—this tool bag will make Dad audibly gasp when he opens it.
2) Wolf Golf Towels Personalized Golf Balls
He'll think of you every time he visits the course. Add his monogram, choose the color, and he'll get 12 personalized golf balls.
3) JAMES° The Palmer Utility Knife
One thing about dads? They love a gadget, especially if it'll ensure they're prepared for anything. The next time you can't open a package, Dad will whip out this sleek knife from his pocket or keychain.
4) Gozney Portable Pizza Oven
You and your siblings can chip in to get Dad this lightweight pizza oven. It weighs less than 30 pounds, so he can break it out at family party. "I liked how easy it was to turn on," says Kitchen Appliances Lab Director, Nicole Papantoniou . "It turned out nice pizzas with good charring on the crust."
RELATED: 7 Best Outdoor Pizza Ovens for Homemade Pizza, According to Testing
5) Paige Tate & Co Dad's Story: A Memory and Keepsake Journal
With this beautiful keepsake journal, dad can reflect on his favorite memories and advice he's learned along the way. There are guided prompts about childhood, love, work, and so much more.
6) Casio Men's A158WA-1DF Stainless Steel Digital Watch
At first glance, he might think you snagged this stainless steel watch at the vintage store. It's retro, lightweight, and the battery is designed to last for seven years.
7) Ivtivfu Nesting Grill Baskets
Dad already loves his grill, now give him the grill accessory gift that takes his cooking to the next level. This set of three dishwasher-safe rotisserie baskets will let him easily grill fresh veggies like asparagus, peppers, and onions— without anything falling through the grates.
8) Green Bay Packers Crew Sweatshirt
My dad basically lives in Giant's gear the entire season, and this vintage-style sweatshirt is so much trendier than the official merch. Snag one with his favorite team's logo.
9) LEGO Technic Lamborghini
For car lovers, this bright orange Lamborghini will look chic on display once he builds the 806-piece kit. It even has a moving V10 engine, plus he can steer and open the doors.
10) Ralph Lauren Polo Red Eau de Toilette
With a burst of fresh citrus notes, herbaceous heart, and warm base, this elegant cologne is a classic gift for dad. It's presented in a bottle with sleek curves and matte black accents, which can be refilled.
RELATED: 17 Best Colognes for Men of All Time, According to a Fragrance Nerd
11) Nexar Beam GPS Dash Cam
Ever since my dad got a dash cam, he's been obsessed with it. The Nexar Beam offers everything he could need, from its compact size to solid HD video resolution, built-in GPS, and Wi-Fi. It's especially useful in the case of accidents, which the camera will detect and begin recording.
12) YETI Hopper M30 Portable Soft Cooler
This YETI cooler tote—which was named the best soft-sided cooler tote by the Good Housekeeping Institute's Kitchen & Cooking Lab —will make a great gift for dads who enjoy a day trip to the beach or campsite. Our experts tested a smaller version of the bag and noted its impressive cold-temperature retention.
13) FLYBYJING Sichuan Chili Crisp Bundle
He'll use this crispy, savory condiment on everything—eggs, noodles, veggies, meat, pizza, and salads. This set includes three different varieties: Original Chili Crisp, Xtra Crunchy, and Sweet and Spicy.
14) POWERUP Smartphone Airplane Kit
This isn't just any old airplane kit. This model is made of paper and easily connects to his smartphone, so he can fly the plane in real-time like a true pilot. It can master loops, barrel rolls, hammerheads, and more.
15) On Men's Cloud 6 Sneakers
For the dad who puts comfort first, these popular sneakers received nearly perfect scores from our consumer testers across categories like cushioning, support, and traction. They don't skimp on style, either.
RELATED: These Waterproof Walking Shoes are the Best Sneakers for a Rainy Day
16) Meater Wireless Smart Meat Thermometer
This handy gadget can sense both internal and external temperatures, helping him cook his cut of choice to perfection. He can keep an eye on the steak's temperature from his phone—it pairs with an app via Bluetooth.
17) DASH My Mug Ice Cream Maker
Dads with a sweet tooth can whip up homemade ice cream in 20 minutes—as long as they remember to pop the base in the freezer 24 hours prior. This set comes with two bowls, so you can prep two frozen treats at once.
RELATED: I Tried Dash's $40 Ice Cream Maker—Here's My Honest Review
18) The Ridge Minimalist Slim Wallet
If he's anything like my dad, he's been using the same wallet for years and could use an upgrade. This sleek, slim wallet is right on trend and it's made from military-grade materials, so it'll last him a while. It holds up to 12 cards and has a cash strap for bills.
19) Bevel Shaving Kit for Men
Add a luxurious feel to their shave routine. This trio helps soften hair, the shave cream is nourishing for a closer shave, and the restoring balm helps to calm skin and reduce irritation, according to the brand.
20) Lacoste Men's Classic Fit Original Polo
Chances are, dad could use a classic polo that he can wear to the office, golf course, or date night. Lacoste's iconic polo is available in tons of colors—most are even on sale right now.
21) Host Freezable Beer Glasses
His beer will stay chill with these freezable glasses. The unique cooling gel system inside only needs to be popped in the freezer for two hours before he can enjoy an icy cold brew.
22) theragun Theragun Relief
One of the harsh realities of fatherhood (and aging in general) is the many aches and pains in muscles and joints Dad previously didn't know he possessed. There are three speeds that are easy to control with a button, whether he's targeting his neck, back, legs, or arms.
23) WORX Cordless Car Vacuum
This car vacuum was named one of the best by the Good Housekeeping Institute because of the included hose that stretches up to four feet, meaning he can really get into all the nooks and crannies.
RELATED: The Best Car Vacuums
24) CCCEI Modular Power Tool Organizer
If dad spends hours tinkering in the garage, this wall mount organizer will be a game changer. It has four slots, four hooks, a drill bit rack, and built-in power strip to keep his essentials within reach.
25) PANELFI LED Sports & Stock Ticker
The coolest gadget for Dad's basement, garage, or office shows real-time sports scores, stock prices, weather forecasts, trivia, and more on a well-lit LED screen. It uses WiFi and can be personalized to his liking through an app.
26) SWEETFULL Portable Neck Fan
This personal fan can be worn around his neck while mowing or grilling on a hot day or inside to cool down while watching baseball with the kids.
27) Uncommon Goods The New York Times Custom Birthday Book
There's no chance Dad remembers what was happening on the day he was born (or many of his subsequent birthdays)—but with this customized The New York Times Birthday Book , he'll have the front page of the newspaper from every single one of his birthdays.
28) Bombas Men's Sunday Slipper
Perfect for walking around the house (or to the mailbox), these trendy slippers are made from fluffy sherpa and have a memory foam and EVA midsole. There are a few stylish color options.
29) Aura 10" HD Digital Picture Frame
For the nostalgic dad, you can't go wrong with a smart frame. This one has unlimited storage and makes it easy to upload photos via an app—you can even do it before he unwraps it. My parents are obsessed with theirs.
30) VistaPrint Tumbler Templates
Customize a 20-ounce tumbler with his name and your favorite phrase, like "Coolest Dad Ever," "#1 Dad," or "Dad Fuel." You can also create your own design, either way, he'll love it for his morning brew on the go.
31) Geekey Multi-Tool
For the dad who likes to think of himself as a modern day MacGyver, this key-shaped multi-purpose tool keychain has everything he'll need to fix it, cut it, and open it. Stored inside the tool isa bike spoke key, screwdriver, wrench, box cutter, multi-head fit driver, and a bottle opener.
32) LapGear Lap Desk
Whether Dad works from home or likes propping up his laptop to watch his favorite shows, he'll get tons of use out of this gift. It's compatible with laptops up to 15.6" big and includes a space to prop his phone.
33) Grillaholics Grill Mats
Grab him a set of these heavy-duty non-stick mats that can withstand 500°F of heat without burning. They're dishwasher safe to make cleanup a breeze.
34) Lululemon ABC Jogger
For the dad who loves being comfortable, these lightweight joggers can be dressed up or down. They're wrinkle-resistant and have plenty of pockets, whether he's running errands, relaxing at home, or traveling.
35) Publications International, Ltd. 'The Book of Unusual Knowledge'
There's nothing Dad loves more than learning about and sharing interesting facts about movies, animals, and history. This book makes a great gift because it's jam-packed with unusual information for him to pass on to his kids over breakfast, on the way to school, and as he tucks them into bed at night.
36) Coop Eden Cooling Pillow
A great pillow is crucial to Dad getting the sleep he needs to be everything to everyone in his family. This top-rated, best-selling, adjustable, memory foam pillow ranks at the top of our list for best pillows after being tested by the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab.
37) Chunace Toilet Night Light
It comes across as a gag gift, but this toilet light is actually useful for those middle-of-the-night bathroom breaks. It's motion sensor and will automatically turn off after two minutes.
38) Fanlory 12-inch Screen Magnifier
Is dad known for extending his phone out as far as he can so he can get a clearer picture of the screen? This screen amplifier acts sort of like a phone projector screen, and it's compatible with Androids and iPhones.
39) Beard King Beard Bib Apron
There's nothing worse than beard hairs littering the bathroom sink. This clever bib has suction cups that stick to the mirror, catching all my hair instead of making a mess and clogging the drain.
40) Uncommon Goods Unlock the Whiskey Escape Room
Lock his favorite scotch or whiskey in this pretty metal box and make him solve an escape room-style puzzle to get the code to unlock it! The cage is a fun way to gameify an otherwise classic gift idea. (Note: You'll have to supply the bottle.)
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