21 Thoughtful Gift Ideas Grandparents Will Love

Product Images: Amazon | Cozy Earth / L.L. Bean / Uncommon Goods
Photo Illustration: Aly Lim
Product Images: Amazon | Cozy Earth / L.L. Bean / Uncommon Goods
Photo Illustration: Aly Lim
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If you're a parent, then you might have multiple generations of grandparents on your holiday shopping list: your nana and papa, as well as your kids'. This year, skip the cliché "World's Best Grandpa" T-shirt and ho-hum mug — instead, send them a thoughtful gift that will make them feel special and appreciated.

This could mean gifting convenient ways to stay connected (like a smart photo frame or an Amazon Echo Show), products that encourage a little self-care (after all they've done for their family, grandparents deserve to treat themselves!), or newer products you already love (like a weighted blanket). On this list you'll also find some fun ideas for getting your little ones involved in the gifting. Warning: Grandma and Grandpa just might cry some happy tears.

— Additional reporting by Lauren Harano and Abbey Stone

01
A Gift From the Kids
amazon.com

A Gift From the Kids

Letters to My Grandparent ($13)

This gift comes straight from the kiddos. Your little ones can write notes or draw pictures to send to Grandma and Grandpa in the mail so they can expect fun surprises all year round. Be inspired by the prompts given or let your kids use the pages to express their creativity — either way, the notes are sure to be as adorable as they are heartwarming.

02
A *Chef's Kiss* Gift
amazon.com

A *Chef's Kiss* Gift

Heart-Shaped Wooden Spoon ($13)

If your grandparents enjoy cooking, this heart-shaped bamboo spoon is such a sweet and useful addition to their kitchen. Plus, it makes for an easy stocking stuffer, so if you're short on ideas, this is a great little gift they'll actually use. (After all, the secret ingredient is always love!)

03
For the Memoirist
amazon.com

For the Memoirist

Grandma's Story Journal ($16)

This memory journal has prompts for your grandparents to write down the story of their lives to share with future generations. Make the exercise even more meaningful by having your kids and their grandparents fill out the pages together: older kids will bond with their grandparents by asking the questions and transcribing the answers.

04
Best Stress-Reducing Gift
amazon.com

Best Stress-Reducing Gift

YnM Weighted Blanket ($35, originally $50)

Weighted blankets have been shown to soothe anxious feelings — but you don't need to be super stressed to enjoy its warm hug. The grandparents in your life will love to snuggle up with this weighted blanket during movie nights or when they catch some zzz's. You can choose the desired weight and size of the blanket, though we think the 15-pound option is great for most people.

05
Best Gift For the Whole Family
Uncommon Goods

Best Gift For the Whole Family

Personalized Family Mugs ($32 per mug)

You can customize these adorable mugs with depictions of your loved ones. It's a great gift to give if you're all together for the holidays. Plus, now no one can "mistakenly" steal anyone's holiday coffee mug, because we all know each person has a unique coffee recipe.

06
Best Photo Calendar
artifactuprising.com

Best Photo Calendar

Artifact Uprising Modern Wall Calendar ($36, originally $42)

Upload your favorite family photos to this customizable wall calendar, and your grandparents will surely find a place of honor to hang it. We love this calendar's timeless design and the high quality of the photos, but our favorite part is that you can detach the pics from the calendar (just tear along a perforated line) so you can save the snaps long after the month ends.

07
Most Useful Gift
apple.com

Most Useful Gift

Apple AirTags ($29)

Apple AirTags pair with your Apple device (like your iPhone or iPad), so your grandparents can use the Find My app to keep track of their keys, wallet, or anything they lose frequently. Read our full review of Apple AirTags here.

08
Best Cozy Slippers
llbean.com

Best Cozy Slippers

L.L. Bean Sweater Fleece Slipper Scuff ($50)

These slippers made from L.L. Bean's signature sweater fleece fabric have a supportive, cushiony insole and rubber outsoles, which means they will keep your grandparents' tootsies warm inside but are durable enough for the outdoors, too. We're big fans of L.L. Bean's lifetime guarantee; the brand offers free returns (no questions asked) for up to a year, and then will replace or repair damaged items gratis after that.

09
For the Active Grandparent
walmart.com

For the Active Grandparent

EYCI Starter Pickleball Set ($55, originally $100)

Pickleball has taken the country by storm: it's been named the "fastest-growing sport in America" for two years running. This starter kit, which consists of two paddles (with a polypropylene honeycomb core) and four balls, is a great pick for your grandparents, whether they're already fans of the game or looking for a new hobby.

10
If Your Grandparents Love Flowers
urbanstems.com

If Your Grandparents Love Flowers

UrbanStems The Seasonal Subscription ($75)

This is one package they won't mind receiving. Gift your grandparents a subscription of beautiful fresh flowers with UrbanStems. You can choose the cadence of the subscription, whether you want the bouquets to come weekly, biweekly, or monthly.

11
Best Sentimental Gift
Uncommon Goods

Best Sentimental Gift

The New York Times Custom Birthday Book ($100)

This customized book includes the front pages from the recipient's birthday from each year since their birth, personalized with their name and preserved in a library binding. It's a great way to look back over the years, and it makes for such a thoughtful present.

12
For the Cook
amazon.com

For the Cook

Our Place Always Pan Set ($105, originally $150)

The bestselling Always Pan set from Our Place is always a great idea. The cook in your life will surely be thrilled. It's called the Always Pan because it's the pan you'll always use. You can use it as a fry pan, a sauté pan, a skillet, a steamer, or a saucepan. You can read our review of the Our Place Always Pan here.

13
Best Gift For Staying Connected
auraframes.com

Best Gift For Staying Connected

Aura Carver Connected Photo Frame ($149)

Sharing pics of your kids with their grandparents has never been easier: just upload photos of your kids to the cloud via the Aura app, and the snaps will appear in this digital frame at Grandma's house. We love that you can preprogram the device with a photo slideshow, so Nana and Pops can see your kids' smiling faces right out of the box.

14
For Home-Decor Enthusiasts
jennikayne.com

For Home-Decor Enthusiasts

Jenni Kayne Alpaca Basketweave Pillow ($225)

These throw pillows from Jenni Kayne are a little bit of luxury that the grandparents in your life can use every day. Made from a super-soft alpaca, the pillows were handwoven in Peru and come in three colors. Grandma and Grandpa can add them to their bed, couch, or chair for a cozy fall and winter feel.

15
Best Self-Care Gift
cozyearth.com

Best Self-Care Gift

Cozy Earth Waffle Bath Robe ($136, originally $170)

There's a reason Cozy Earth has been on Oprah's Favorite Things list for five years in a row: the brand's high-quality linens and loungewear are the softest you can find. This waffle-fabric robe is made from a blend of cotton and bamboo viscose, and it's lined with an absorbent terry, meaning your grandparents can wrap themselves in the cloudlike robe after a bath or on chilly mornings.

16
Best Practical Gift
amazon.com

Best Practical Gift

iRobot Roomba 692 Robot Vacuum ($180, originally $250)

Useful gifts like blenders and vacuums get a bad rap, but grandparents are practical folks: they'll be thrilled to receive a present that cuts down on cleaning time. Bonus: the Roomba can be good for their back because they won't have to bend to vacuum those hard-to-reach spots.

17
A Bedside Must Have
hatch.co

A Bedside Must Have

Hatch Restore ($130)

The Hatch Restore is a smart sleep assistant that prepares your grandparents for bed with a curation of meditations, sleep stories, and soothing sounds; then, it plays white noise to keep them resting longer. In the morning, the device's sunrise alarm clock gently wakes them up with a glow that mimics natural light. Reviewers rave about Hatch's customer service, so your grandparents will be in good hands if the gadget gives them any trouble.

18
For the Reader
amazon.com

For the Reader

Kindle Oasis ($250)

Sometimes the best way to get to the future is to embrace the past — and that's exactly what Amazon did with the Kindle Oasis, which brings back everything people loved about the original Kindle and combines it with all the future tech of our dreams. It's waterproof and ultra-durable, and it provides the best visuals in direct sunlight. We love that this Kindle model includes page-turn buttons, which might be easier for your grandparents to use than touch-screen technology.

19
Best Kitchen Gadget
amazon.com

Best Kitchen Gadget

Instant Pot Pro 10-in-1 Pressure Cooker ($150)

Help streamline grandma and grandpa's kitchen with this one do-it-all gadget. The Instant Pot Pro can replace their old pressure cooker, slow cooker, sauté pan, rice cooker, yogurt maker, steamer, food warmer, sous vide, and sterilizer. It has a variety of one-touch programs so all you have to do is throw your ingredients in the pot and press a button. Cooking has never been easier.

20
Best Gift For a Great Night's Sleep
brooklinen.com

Best Gift For a Great Night's Sleep

Brooklinen Classic Core Sheet Set ($111-$167, originally $139-$209)

Upgrade Gram and Gramps's sleeping sitch with this cotton sheet set from Brooklinen. These linens feature a 270 thread count and a lightweight matte finish that the brand says has a cooling quality for sleepers who run hot. Brooklinen also made the genius decision to label each side of the sheet with tags that say "long" or "short," so you can stop playing Ring Around the Rosie while you make your bed.

21
Best Gift for Peace of Mind
amazon.com

Best Gift for Peace of Mind

Apple Watch SE ($220, originally $249)

If Grandma loves her daily walks, challenge her to a family step competition! The Apple Watch's new health and safety features, like fall detection, crash detection, and Emergency SOS, make it a great companion to grandparents who are getting on in years.