Christmas Gifts for Grandpa That Beat Another Pair of Socks

By the Gift DeskUpdated October 19, 202619 hand-picked ideas

The short list

Warmest pickSherpa-Lined Flannel Shirt Jacket~$50
For the whole familyMexican Train Dominoes Set~$20
For the backyard birderHeated Bird Bath for Winter~$150

The short answer

Grandpa will like anything, but a few things get more than a polite thank-you: a sherpa-lined flannel shirt jacket for January, a Mexican Train dominoes set for the whole family after dinner, or a heated bird bath if he watches the backyard birds.

Grandpa’s Christmas list has looked the same for twenty years: socks, a calendar, maybe a bag of his favorite candy. He’s pleased with all of it, and he means it. But if you’d like to see him open something and actually say "Well, now," it’s worth a little more thought.

This guide is organized around the way most grandpas spend the winter. First, staying warm, because many of them run cold now and won’t admit it. Then games for the long afternoon after Christmas dinner, the birds and weather in his backyard, keepsakes from the grandkids, a few honest words about grandpas who find the season hard, and small things for his stocking.

For the rest of the year, see our main gifts for grandpa guide. If you’re shopping for the pair of them, Christmas gifts for grandma has ideas that sit nicely alongside these, and Christmas gifts for dad covers the generation in between.

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Warm through January

Older men often feel the cold more than they used to and solve it by wearing the same old sweater every day. A warmer layer, given at Christmas, gets worn right through to spring.

1
Sherpa-Lined Flannel Shirt Jacket
A heavy plaid flannel with a fleece lining, warm enough to wear outside for errands and comfortable enough to keep on indoors. It’s a natural fit for a grandpa who’s always puttering in the garage or the yard. Go for a size up if he likes to layer a sweater underneath, and stick to colors he already wears.
On Amazonabout $50
2
Rechargeable Heated Gloves
ORORO Buffalo Heated Softshell Gloves 2.0
Gloves with a battery-powered heater for the grandpa who still shovels his own driveway, walks the dog at dawn or goes ice fishing. They’re also a kindness for a man with poor circulation whose fingers go white in the cold. Charge them before you wrap them and show him the button; it’s easy to miss.
On Amazonabout $110
3
Men's Flannel Pajama Set
A soft, warm pair of pajamas to replace the ones he’s worn thin. It’s not exciting, but a grandpa who gets cold at night will be glad of it. A nice tradition is matching flannel for grandpa and the grandkids on Christmas Eve, if he’s the type to play along for a photo.
On Amazonabout $45
4
Electric Foot Warmer
Brookstone Plush Foot Warmer
A heated, plush pouch he slips both feet into while watching TV or reading. Cold feet are one of the most common winter complaints among older people, and this deals with it directly. Check the listing for an automatic shut-off, and the rules first if he’s in assisted living.
On Amazonabout $50

Know exactly who it’s for?

Open the Christmas gift finder

Games for the long afternoon after dinner

After the presents and the turkey comes a lull. Grandpa is at his best with a game on the table and grandkids to beat.

5
Mexican Train Dominoes Set
Seats up to eight players, from first-graders to great-grandparents. Easy rules, lots of table talk, and grandpa can keep score.
On Amazonabout $20
6
Wooden Chess Set with Folding Board
Mahogany and Maple Folding Chess Set
For the grandpa who’s been waiting for a grandchild old enough to play properly. Folding means it’s easy to store and to carry on visits.
On Amazonabout $55
7
Ticket to Ride Board Game
Days of Wonder Ticket to Ride
A train-building game that’s simple to learn and pleasantly competitive. A good bridge between grandpa’s generation and teenagers who like board games.
On Amazonabout $50
8
1000-Piece Jigsaw Puzzle
Set it up on a card table on Christmas Eve and let the family drift past all week. Its painted steam and diesel trains suit a grandpa who remembers them running.
On Amazonabout $20

The backyard in winter

A lot of grandpas become devoted bird watchers and weather watchers in retirement. They know which cardinals visit and what the low was last Tuesday. Feed the hobby.

These also make a good gift for a grandpa who’s housebound in winter, since he can enjoy them from the window.

Our favorite9
Heated Bird Bath for Winter
API Heated Birdbath
A birdbath that stays unfrozen in cold weather, which brings birds in when water is scarce. For a grandpa who watches the feeder from his kitchen chair, it can double the visitors through January and February. It needs an outdoor outlet nearby, so check before you buy, and offer to set it up on your Christmas visit.
On Amazonabout $150
10
Wild Bird Seed Blend 20 lb Bag
Standish Milling IDEAL Value Mix Wild Bird Seed, 20 lb
Not a glamorous gift, but a bird man always needs more seed, and a twenty-pound bag is heavy for an older man to carry home. Deliver it, carry it to the shed, and fill the feeders while you’re at it. Pair it with something smaller to unwrap.
On Amazonabout $28
11
Desktop Weather Station with Outdoor Sensor
La Crosse Technology Advanced Weather Station
A tabletop display showing indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity, read from a sensor outside the window. For a man who checks the thermometer first thing every morning and remembers the blizzard of '78, it’s a satisfying daily readout. Mount the sensor for him in a shaded spot.
On Amazonabout $55
12
Singing Bird Wall Clock
Each hour, a different bird call plays from the clock, and grandkids love guessing which bird it is. It suits a grandpa with a sense of humor and an interest in birds. Most can be set to stay silent overnight; check for that feature if he naps in the afternoon.
On Amazonabout $35

Presents with the grandkids' fingerprints on them

Whatever else he gets, make sure there’s something from the grandchildren that they had a real hand in. Grandpas can be gruff about sentiment and still keep these for decades.

13
Custom Photo Wall Calendar
Let the grandkids pick the photos, one month each, with birthdays printed on the right days. It hangs in his kitchen all year and gives him something new to look at every month. Include a few pictures of him with the kids; grandpas rarely have photos of themselves.
On Amazonabout $25
14
Personalized Christmas Stocking
A stocking with his name stitched on, ready to hang with the family’s at your house or his. It’s a small, warm way to say he’s part of the family Christmas, which matters most to a grandpa who’s recently on his own. Have the grandkids fill it on Christmas Eve.
On Amazonabout $25
15
Grandparent and Grandchild Shared Journal
My Grandpa Interview
A journal that goes back and forth by mail, with prompts for each of them to answer. Kids ask him about his childhood; he asks them about school. It’s best for grandkids aged about eight and up, and for a grandpa who’ll actually sit down and write, which more do than you’d guess.
On Amazonabout $10

When Christmas is harder for grandpa

For a grandpa who has lost his wife, the holidays can be the hardest weeks of the year. She was often the one who bought the presents, wrote the cards and organized the meal. Now he may not know what to do with himself, and he probably won’t say so. The best gift you can give him is an invitation, made early and made definite: we’re picking you up at noon, and you’re staying for dinner.

Give him a job when he arrives. Carving the roast, reading the Christmas story to the little ones or running the dominoes game helps him feel useful rather than looked after. If he’s in a care home, visit on a weekday in Christmas week as well as on the day; the halls are often busy on the 25th and lonely on the 27th.

Stocking stuffers

A few small things to fill the toe of his stocking, all under $30.

16.
Beef Jerky Gift Box
A sampler of jerky flavors for a grandpa who likes a savory snack. Check first if he wears dentures; tough jerky can be a problem.
On Amazonabout $35
17.
Pure Maple Syrup Gift Tin
Bourdon Maple Organic Vermont Maple Syrup Tin
Real maple syrup for his Sunday pancakes. A small, honest luxury that a practical man will enjoy without feeling fussed over.
On Amazonabout $25
18.
Classic Folding Pocket Knife
Opinel No. 8 Carbon Steel Folding Knife
For the grandpa who has always carried a knife and has lost his favorite. Simple, sturdy and useful every day.
On Amazonabout $25
19.
Rechargeable Keychain Flashlight
Nitecore TIKI 300-Lumen Keychain Flashlight
A tiny light on his key ring for dark porches and finding the keyhole at night. Charge it up before it goes in the stocking.
On Amazonabout $20

How much to spendUsually $30–$100 for your grandpaSplit your whole Christmas budget in a minute, with your grandpa already on the list.

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Five ways to get grandpa’s Christmas right

Ask grandma, or your parents, what he’s been grumbling about. The best Christmas presents for grandpas usually fix something.
Choose games and projects you’ll do with him over the holidays. The afternoon you spend playing dominoes is the real gift.
Get the grandkids involved. Photos they chose, a tag they signed or a stocking they filled will mean more to him than anything expensive.
Think about where he’ll be. A grandpa in assisted living has limited space and rules about appliances; plan around both.
For more ideas, describe him to our gift finder, mentioning his hobbies and how he spends the winter, and get a short list with reasons.

Grandpa’s Christmas: your questions

What should I get my grandpa for Christmas?

Something warm, something to do or something from the grandkids. A fleece-lined flannel jacket, a dominoes set for the family, a heated bird bath for his backyard or a photo calendar chosen by the grandchildren are all strong choices.

What’s a good Christmas gift for an older grandpa who lives alone?

An invitation to spend the holidays with you, plus something warm and practical like an electric foot warmer or flannel pajamas. A personalized stocking that hangs with the rest of the family’s is a small, meaningful gesture for a grandpa who has recently lost his wife.

What can I put in grandpa’s Christmas stocking?

Beef jerky, maple syrup, a pocket knife, a keychain flashlight, a deck of large-print playing cards or a bag of his favorite hard candy. Small, useful and a little bit fun is the right mix.

What can grandkids make for grandpa for Christmas?

Choose photos for a family calendar, decorate a stocking, start a shared journal or make a card with a drawing of him. Children can also give him a game and promise to play it with him over the holidays.

More Christmas guides

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Gifts for Grandpa Birthday Gifts for Grandpa Father’s Day Gifts for Grandpa

Warm through January

Know exactly who it’s for?

Games for the long afternoon after dinner

The backyard in winter

Presents with the grandkids' fingerprints on them

When Christmas is harder for grandpa

Stocking stuffers

Shop this guide by price

Under $25

$25–$50

$50–$100

$100+

Five ways to get grandpa’s Christmas right

Grandpa’s Christmas: your questions

More Christmas guides

Related gift guides

Warm through January

Know exactly who it’s for?

Games for the long afternoon after dinner

The backyard in winter

Presents with the grandkids' fingerprints on them

When Christmas is harder for grandpa

Stocking stuffers

Shop this guide by price

Under $25

$25–$50

$50–$100

$100+