Christmas Gifts for Him He'll Still Be Using in March
By the Giftruly editorsUpdated 15 hand-picked ideas
December has a way of producing gifts that get opened, admired and then retired to a drawer by Valentine's Day. The men on your list, whether that's a partner, a brother, a friend or the father-in-law you've met four times, will be gracious about it either way. The aim here is a present he's still reaching for when the decorations are long gone.
This guide follows the season. It starts with Christmas morning itself, the slow hours in pajamas with coffee, then moves outside to the cold commutes and dog walks of January. Halfway through there's a short section on the trickiest Christmas shopping of all, the man you don't know very well. After that comes one big gift for the lazy week between Christmas and New Year, and a handful of small extras for stockings, office exchanges and in-laws.
Looking for someone specific? We have separate lists for Christmas gifts for husband, Christmas gifts for boyfriend, Christmas gifts for dad and Christmas gifts for brother. If you only need small things, go straight to stocking stuffers for him.
Know exactly who it's for?
Tell Truly about them in a sentence. You'll get ideas picked for them, each with a reason why.
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For Christmas morning, before anyone gets dressed
The best stretch of Christmas Day is often the first couple of hours: nobody's cooking yet, the paper's all over the floor, and the only job is to drink coffee and watch everyone open things. Gifts that belong to that morning get opened, used immediately and folded into every slow weekend afterward.
These are a strong choice for a partner or family member you'll actually be waking up with on the 25th.
- 1
Men's Waffle Knit Robe
~$55
A light cotton waffle robe that sits somewhere between a towel and a jacket. Most men don't own a robe, or own a heavy fleece one that's too hot for anything but February, so this tends to get worn far more than either of you expects. Give it on Christmas Eve and he can wear it the next morning. Check his usual shirt size; robes run roomy.
- 2
Pour-Over Coffee Dripper and Server Set
~$38
A dripper and a matching glass server for making coffee slowly, one pot at a time. It suits the man who likes ritual and has a few minutes to spare on a weekend, and it makes enough for two. Wrap it with a bag of beans from a local roaster so he can brew the first pot on Christmas morning.
- 3
Ember Temperature Control Smart Mug
~$130
A heated mug that keeps his coffee at the temperature he picks, which matters most for the man who pours a cup, gets pulled into something and comes back to it cold three times a morning. It's a lot of money for a mug, so it's best from a partner or a group of siblings. The battery covers a long cup of coffee; for all-day warmth it needs to sit on its charging coaster.
- 4
Wearable Oversized Blanket Hoodie
~$30
A giant sherpa-lined hoodie that works like a blanket with sleeves. It's a bit silly, which is part of the appeal, and it's surprisingly practical for a cold house or a long afternoon of watching football. A good pick for a brother or friend, and a safe one for a family gift swap where you don't know who'll end up with it.
For the walk to the car in January
Winter is long after the holidays end. Warm things are reliable Christmas gifts because he'll use them almost daily for the next three months, and few men replace their own hats and gloves until something actually falls apart.
- 5~$45
Cashmere Beanie
A soft beanie that doesn't itch, which is more than most of his hats can say. Charcoal or navy goes with every coat he owns.
Fashion LoversHikers & Campersluxe - 6~$90
Cashmere Scarf
A plain cashmere-blend scarf for the man who wears a wool coat to work. Understated and warm; it'll quietly get borrowed by everyone else in the house.
Fashion Loversluxe - 7~$110
Rechargeable Heated Gloves
Battery-heated gloves for skiers, early cyclists and anyone who stands outside in the cold for work. Overkill for a ten-minute commute; brilliant for a two-hour one.
Skiers & SnowboardersHikers & Campersluxe - 8~$70
Heated Fleece Vest
A fleece vest with heating panels, for the man who's outside at dawn walking dogs or scraping windshields. It's easier to layer than a bulky coat. Charge it before wrapping.
Hikers & Camperspractical
The man you don't know very well
Christmas brings a particular kind of gift anxiety: your sister's new boyfriend who's suddenly coming for dinner, a father-in-law you're still getting to know, the colleague whose name you drew in the office exchange. The rule is simple. Go for something pleasant, consumable or shareable, and nothing that requires knowing his body, his taste in clothes or his private life. Food, a game, a good book about a subject he mentioned once: all safe. Cologne, sweaters and anything engraved: wait a year.
Budget matters more than usual here. A $25 gift from someone he barely knows reads as kind; a $150 gift reads as a statement. If the family has an informal limit, ask about it rather than guessing. The compact list at the bottom of this page is built for exactly this situation, and our Secret Santa gifts guide has more ideas when you're buying for someone you've only met in a meeting room.
One big gift for the week after Christmas
Between Christmas and New Year, most men find themselves with a rare thing: several days in a row with nothing scheduled. A large gift that fills that time, whether it's a build, a movie setup or a new way to cook, gives the week some shape.
These are splurges. They make sense from a partner, or as a joint gift from siblings who would otherwise each buy him a mug.
- Our favorite9
LEGO Star Wars Millennium Falcon Building Set
~$160
A big, detailed Millennium Falcon with a cockpit, a turret and a crew of minifigures. It's a multi-evening build that suits the quiet days after Christmas perfectly, especially for a man who grew up with the films and has been eyeing the adult sets without quite allowing himself to buy one. Clear a table before you hand it over; the bags of pieces take over fast.
- 10
1080p Native Home Theater Projector
~$250
A projector that turns a blank wall into a screen up to 200 inches across. Combined with a week of holiday films, it's the gift the whole household ends up enjoying. Best for a man with a suitable wall and a room that gets reasonably dark; a sunny living room with no curtains will disappoint him. Add a cheap screen if his walls are textured.
- 11
Ooni Portable Pizza Oven
~$350
A portable outdoor oven that gets hot enough to cook a pizza in about a minute. It's a winter gift with a spring payoff, though plenty of keen cooks fire one up in a coat on New Year's Day. Ideal for the man who already makes dough from scratch or keeps talking about the pizza he had on vacation. He'll need outdoor space and a bit of patience for the first few lopsided pies.
Easy extras for in-laws, office swaps and the boyfriend's brother
Small, pleasant gifts that don't assume anything. They also work as add-ons to a bigger present, or for the moment on Christmas Eve when you realize someone unexpected is coming.
12.Hot Honey Gift Set ~$22
Chili-infused honey for pizza, fried chicken and cheese boards. Feels a little special, costs very little, and most households finish it.
13.Codenames Party Game ~$20
A quick word-guessing game for teams. Bring it to a family gathering and it gets played that same evening, which is the best outcome for any gift.
14.Whiskey Cocktails Recipe Book ~$18
Classic and modern whiskey drinks in one hardcover. A thoughtful choice for a father-in-law who enjoys a drink; pair it with a lemon and a jar of cherries.
15.Swiss Chocolate Collection Gift Tin ~$24
An assortment of milk and dark chocolate in a tin that's nice enough to give. Nobody has ever been offended by good chocolate at Christmas.
Shop this guide by price
Under $25
$25–$50
Before you check out
Think about when he'll use it. A gift that belongs to a specific moment, like Christmas morning coffee or the first icy commute, gets used straight away and becomes a habit.
For the men you know less well, buy something he can eat, drink or play with others. It suits every household and takes the guesswork out of sizes and taste.
Big gifts are easier to split. Two or three siblings chipping in for one projector or LEGO set beats three small gifts nobody remembers.
Order early if anything needs sizing or shipping from abroad, and charge anything with a battery before you wrap it so it works on the day.
Still drawing a blank? Tell our gift finder who he is to you and what his December usually looks like, and you'll get a short list to choose from.
Christmas shopping questions
What should I get a man I barely know for Christmas?
Something consumable or shareable in the $20 to $30 range: good chocolate, a hot honey set, a party game or a cocktail book if you know he drinks. Avoid clothing, grooming products and personalized items until you know him better.
What's a good Christmas gift for my boyfriend's dad?
Keep it warm and low-key. A food gift, a recipe book connected to something he enjoys, or a game the family can play together after dinner all work well. Ask your boyfriend what his dad did last Christmas break; that usually points to the right gift.
What's a good big Christmas gift for him?
Something that fills the slow week after Christmas: a large LEGO build, a home projector for movie nights or a portable pizza oven if he loves to cook. These work best as a joint gift from a partner or several siblings.
When should I buy Christmas gifts for him?
Aim to have everything ordered by early December. Clothing that might need exchanging and anything shipped from overseas should be first on your list; small extras can wait until the last week.