Father's Day Gifts for Grandpa, the Family's First Dad
By the Giftruly editorsUpdated 17 hand-picked ideas
Father's Day gets complicated once grandpa has grandchildren. The day naturally tilts toward the younger dads, the ones getting handmade cards and breakfast in bed, and grandpa can end up as a guest at someone else's celebration. He'll say he doesn't mind. Still, he was a dad first, and the man who taught your own father or mother how to throw a ball, change a tire and keep going on hard days deserves a share of the fuss.
This guide is for grandkids of every age and for the grown children helping them. It starts with things he'll carry every day with the family's names on them, then moves to summer gear for grilling and fishing, ideas for a grandpa-and-grandkid afternoon, a few words on who should do what, and practical gifts for his garden and workshop.
For other times of year, see our main gifts for grandpa guide. Our Father's Day gifts guide covers the dads in between.
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Something he'll carry, with your names on it
Many grandpas carry the same few things every day of their lives: a wallet, a knife, a set of keys. Make one of those personal and he'll have the family in his pocket wherever he goes.
These gifts need a few days to engrave, so order them by early June.
- Our favorite1
Personalized Engraved Pocket Knife
~$35
A folding knife with the grandchildren's names or a short message engraved on the handle. For a grandpa who has carried a pocket knife since he was a boy, this one quickly becomes the one he reaches for. It's also the kind of object that gets passed down later. If he travels by plane, remind him it belongs in the checked bag, not the carry-on.
- 2
Engraved Metal Wallet Insert Card
~$15
A thin metal card engraved with a message, sized to slip into a wallet behind his driver's license. Some shops can reproduce a child's handwriting, which turns a simple "Love you, Grandpa" into something he'll keep for decades. Inexpensive, and a lovely gift from a young grandchild.
- 3
Monogrammed Leather Wallet
~$45
A good leather wallet with his initials, to replace the one held together by habit. Most older men are attached to a particular shape, so match the style he has now, whether bifold or trifold, and the number of card slots he actually uses. Slip a family photo inside before you wrap it.
June afternoons outside
Father's Day lands in the middle of grilling and fishing season, and for many grandpas the backyard or the lake is where they're happiest. These help him enjoy it, and most of them work best with company.
- 4
ThermoPro Instant-Read Meat Thermometer
~$25
A fast, simple thermometer that tells him when the burgers, chicken or brisket are done. It ends the family debate about whether the chicken is cooked through, and it's a sensible gift for a grandpa whose eyes aren't what they were for judging doneness. Easy to use with a single button, and it fits in a shirt pocket.
- 5
Cedar Grilling Planks Set
~$18
Soak a plank, lay a fillet of salmon on it, and the fish picks up a gentle smoky flavor. It's a nice new trick for a grandpa who has grilled the same way for forty years and might enjoy trying something different. Inexpensive and fun to make together at the Father's Day cookout.
- 6
UPF 50 Fishing Sun Hoodie
~$35
A light, long-sleeved hooded top with built-in sun protection for long mornings on the water. It keeps the sun off his neck and arms without the fuss of reapplying sunscreen every hour. It also suits gardening grandpas and anyone who spends summer weekends outdoors. Pick a light color for hot days.
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Polarized Sunglasses
~$60
Polarized lenses cut the glare off water, wet roads and bright pavement, which helps on the lake and behind the wheel. Good for a grandpa who's been wearing the same scratched pair for years. If he wears prescription glasses, consider fit-over sunglasses instead so he doesn't have to switch.
A grandpa-and-grandkid afternoon
Sometimes the gift is simply a reason to spend the afternoon together. Each of these comes with an activity built in, and most work for a grandpa in his sixties or his eighties, as long as someone else does the running around. Give the gift, then put a date on the calendar to use it.
- 8~$45
Parent and Child Baseball Glove Set
An adult glove and a youth glove so grandpa and a grandchild can play catch in the yard. A sweet gift from a six-to-ten-year-old.
Sports Fansfun - 9~$90
Binoculars for Bird Watching
For walks in the park or on the trail, with grandpa pointing out the hawks. Light enough for small hands, sharp enough for him.
Hikers & CampersScience Nerdspractical - 10~$24
Sibley Birds Field Guide
A trusted bird guide to go with the binoculars. Grandpa and the kids can check off each new species they spot together.
Bird WatchersBook Loverspractical - 11~$15
Magnetic Travel Chess Set
Small enough for the porch or a picnic table, with pieces that stay put in the wind. A good set for teaching a grandchild to play.
Chess PlayersTravelerspractical - 12~$34
Fly-Fishing Casting Practice Rod and Target Kit
A short practice rod and targets for learning to cast on the lawn. Grandpa gets to coach, and nobody loses a fly in a tree.
AnglersHikers & Campersexperience - 13~$40
Personalized Golf Balls
Balls printed with a message from the grandkids, for a round together or a bucket at the driving range. He'll hate to lose one.
Golferspersonalized
Whose Father's Day is it, anyway?
In many families, Father's Day now has two or three generations of dads at the same table. It usually works best when the grown children, grandpa's own sons and daughters, take the lead in honoring him, while the grandkids add something small and personal. If your mom or dad is planning the barbecue, ask them what they're giving grandpa so your gift complements theirs rather than repeating it.
Remember that plenty of grandpas aren't related by blood. Step-grandfathers and the man who married grandma when your parent was ten often wonder where they stand on this day. Including them by name, with a card or a gift of their own, means more than you might think. And for a grandpa whose children live far away, a call from each grandchild, made on the day itself rather than the following week, can be the best present he receives.
For his garden and workshop
Practical, well-made tools for a grandpa who's still out in the yard every morning. Each is a modest price and genuinely useful.
14.Seed-Saving Envelopes and Garden Journal ~$20
For the grandpa who saves seed from his best tomatoes and beans. A tidy way to label them and pass his favorite varieties on.
15.Folding Pruning Saw ~$28
Cuts branches too thick for loppers and folds safely shut. A handy tool for a grandpa who still trims his own trees.
16.Hori Hori Garden Knife with Sheath ~$30
A sturdy digging knife for weeding, planting and dividing perennials. Gardeners who try one tend to use it more than their trowel.
17.Waxed Canvas Shop Apron ~$45
A tough apron with pockets for pencils and tape measures, for the grandpa with a workshop in the garage.
Shop this guide by price
Under $25
$25–$50
What works on grandpa's Father's Day
Let his own children lead, and let the grandkids add a personal touch. Two thoughtful gifts beat five random ones.
Order engraved and personalized items by early June; Father's Day is a busy week for engravers.
Plan an activity with the gift: a catch in the yard, an hour of fishing, a game of chess on the porch.
Don't forget step-grandpas and grandpas by marriage. A card with their name on it says they belong.
Want a fresh idea? Describe grandpa to our gift finder, mentioning what he does on summer weekends, and get a shortlist with reasons.
Questions people ask
Do you get grandpa a gift for Father's Day?
Yes, if you can. He's a father as well as a grandfather, and a small gift or card from the grandkids tells him he's included in the day. Grown children usually give the main present; grandkids can add something personal, like a wallet card with a handwritten message.
What is a good Father's Day gift from the grandkids?
Anything with their names or handwriting on it, such as an engraved pocket knife or a wallet insert card, or something they can do with him, like a baseball glove set or a pair of binoculars for bird walks.
What's a good Father's Day gift for a grandpa who likes the outdoors?
A sun hoodie for fishing, polarized sunglasses, an instant-read meat thermometer for the grill, a folding pruning saw or a garden knife. Pick whatever matches how he spends his summer weekends.
What if grandpa doesn't grill, fish or garden?
Start with the things he carries every day: a good wallet with a family photo tucked inside, or a pocket knife engraved with the grandkids' names. Then think about time. A chess game on the porch or an afternoon at a museum he likes can be the best part of his day.
What can I get my step-grandpa for Father's Day?
The same kind of gift you'd give any grandpa you love, with a card that uses his name. A practical summer item like grilling planks or sunglasses is a safe choice if you don't know him well; something engraved works if you're close.
If there's one thing to add to whatever you choose, make it a few written lines about something he taught you or your parent. Most grandpas will never say how much that means to them, but they'll read it more than once.