Gifts for Father-in-Law When You're Still Figuring Him Out
By the Giftruly editorsUpdated 19 hand-picked ideas
Buying for a father-in-law is a slightly odd assignment. You may have known him for two years or twenty, but you joined his family as an adult, so you missed the decades of background that make shopping for your own parents easier. He's often polite, a little reserved around you and impossible to read on the subject of presents. You want the gift to say "I'm glad to be part of this family" without looking like you're trying too hard.
The good news is that you have an inside source. This guide starts with how to make the most of your partner's knowledge, then moves through gifts that are safe without being dull, things the two of you can do together, gifts that come from the grandkids and a short list of small extras.
If it's June, our Father's Day gifts for father-in-law guide is built for that day specifically. Shopping for both of your partner's parents? See gifts for mother-in-law too, and if he's a grandfather many times over, gifts for grandpa has more ideas.
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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Start with your partner, and ask better questions
"What does your dad want?" will get you a shrug. Your partner has known him their whole life and probably still finds him hard to buy for, which is entirely normal. Ask narrower questions instead: what does he do on a Sunday afternoon, what has he complained about lately, what was the last fun thing he bought himself, and what does he order when someone else is paying?
Also ask about the gifts that missed. Every family has a story about the sweater he never wore or the gadget still in its box, and those stories tell you as much as any wish list. Then agree whose name goes on the card. In most families a gift from the couple is the norm, and it takes the pressure off you to get it right alone.
Safe bets that still have some personality
When you don't know him well yet, things he can eat, drink or use daily are the safest ground. They're hard to get wrong, and they don't ask him to change anything about how he lives.
The trick is to pick the good version of something ordinary, so it reads as care rather than a default.
- Our favorite1
Gourmet Steak Gift Box
~$120
Our pick for a father-in-law you're still getting to know. It's generous without being personal in a way that could misfire, and it turns into a dinner rather than another object for his shelves. Check with your partner that he eats red meat and has freezer space, and time the delivery for a day someone is home. If he likes cooking it himself, keep any opinions about doneness to yourself.
- 2
Specialty Coffee Sampler Gift Box
~$35
Single-origin beans from independent roasters, for the father-in-law whose day starts with a full pot. It shows you've noticed his habits, and it gets used up rather than stored. Find out whether he grinds his own beans or needs them pre-ground before you order.
- 3
Glencairn Whiskey Glass Set
~$28
Four tulip-shaped tasting glasses, the kind whiskey drinkers use to actually smell what they're pouring. A good pick if he keeps a bottle or two of something nice and serves it with care. If the budget stretches, add a small bottle he hasn't tried, chosen with your partner's help.
- 4
Leather Valet Tray
~$30
A stitched leather tray for keys, wallet, watch and change, by the door or on the dresser. It ends the daily hunt for his keys and looks smarter than its price. A sound choice for a tidy, orderly man; less useful if his pockets get emptied onto the kitchen counter no matter what.
Something the two of you can do together
Gifts that come with an activity give you both something to do besides make conversation, which helps if your chats still stall after the weather and the drive over.
They're especially good for a quiet father-in-law, who may say more across a game board than he ever does at dinner.
- 5
Wooden Backgammon Set with Folding Board
~$45
Quick games, some luck and enough strategy to stay interesting, which makes backgammon ideal for two people still getting to know each other. If he already plays, he'll enjoy teaching you; if neither of you does, you can learn together. The board folds, so it can live at his house for your visits.
- 6
Historical Map Puzzle of Their Home Region
~$35
A jigsaw printed with a vintage-style map of the area he grew up in or has lived in for decades. Spread it on the table during a holiday visit and you'll hear more about his old haunts than in a year of dinners. Pick the region with your partner; it works far better when he recognizes the place names.
- 7
Ticket to Ride Board Game
~$50
A train-route board game that's simple to learn and fun with the whole family, including relatives who claim they don't like board games. It's ideal if family visits tend to end with everyone on their phones. Bring it to the next gathering and leave it there.
- 8
Golf Putting Green with Return Ramp
~$55
A roll-out putting mat with a ball-return ramp, for the father-in-law who plays golf or used to. It gives the two of you something to do in the living room after a big meal, and a small bet makes it much livelier. Skip it if his house doesn't have a long enough stretch of floor.
From you, your partner and the grandkids
If there are grandchildren, they're your best asset. A gift that features them is almost impossible for a grandfather to dislike, and it takes the attention off whether his son- or daughter-in-law chose well.
- 9~$40
Personalized Photo Book
A hardcover book of the grandkids' year: first steps, school pictures, the beach trip. Add captions in the kids' own words if they're old enough.
personalized - 10~$25
Custom Photo Jigsaw Puzzle
Turn a favorite photo of him with the grandkids into a puzzle, then put it together as a team on your next visit.
Puzzle LoversArtists & Crafterspersonalized - 11~$90
Smart Speaker with Display
One-tap video calls plus a slideshow of family photos. Set it up before you hand it over, and add your household as a contact.
Tech LoversHomebodiespractical - 12~$65
Custom House Portrait Illustration
An illustration of the house your partner grew up in. Especially meaningful if he's thinking of downsizing. Ask your partner for a clear photo of the front.
Artists & CraftersHomebodiespersonalized
Once you've worked out his thing
Sooner or later you'll discover what really lights him up: the lake he fishes every summer, the weather he tracks like a stock price, the records he still keeps in the basement. That's when you can stop playing it safe.
These are bigger, more specific picks, best chosen with your partner's confirmation that the hobby is current and not something he gave up in 1998.
- 13
Portable Castable Fish Finder
~$130
A sonar sensor he casts out on his line that shows depth and underwater structure on his phone. It suits the angler who fishes from the shore or a small boat and loves figuring out a new stretch of water. He'll need a reasonably recent smartphone, so check that before you buy.
- 14
Desktop Weather Station with Outdoor Sensor
~$55
An indoor display with an outdoor sensor that reports the temperature and humidity in his own yard. Made for the father-in-law who checks the forecast four times a day and announces the overnight low at breakfast. Offer to mount the sensor for him on your next visit.
- 15
Bluetooth Record Player
~$70
A suitcase-style turntable with built-in speakers, for the man with a box of old records he hasn't played in years. It's an easy way back to the music of his youth, and a nice excuse to ask about it. A serious audio buff will want better gear; this one is about the albums, not the sound system.
Small gifts that don't look like an afterthought
For a stocking, an add-on to a joint gift or a low-key occasion. Each costs about $30 or less and is specific enough to show you put some thought in.
16.Flavored Sea Salt Sampler ~$25
Six small jars of finishing salts, such as smoked and lemon. For the father-in-law who cooks and seasons with great ceremony.
17.Rechargeable Hand Warmer ~$25
Pocket heat that doubles as a phone charger, for cold mornings walking the dog or watching the grandkids play soccer.
18.Gourmet Chocolate Truffle Box ~$30
Handmade truffles for the father-in-law with a sweet tooth he pretends not to have. Easy to share around the table.
19.Engraved Insulated Tumbler ~$25
A steel tumbler with his name on it, for the man who takes coffee everywhere: the truck, the yard, the hardware store.
Shop this guide by price
Under $25
$25–$50
$50–$100
Keeping it comfortable
Match the gift to how well you know him. In the early years, choose something good he can use or enjoy; save the deeply personal gifts until you've built some history together.
Avoid clothes unless your partner is certain of his size and taste. Shirts and sweaters are the gifts most likely to end up at the back of a closet.
Don't outspend his own children. A gift that dwarfs what your partner's siblings give can feel awkward for everyone, and a joint gift with your partner sidesteps the problem.
Write a line in the card yourself. One or two sentences in your own handwriting about something you appreciate in him can matter more than the gift.
Still unsure? Describe him to our gift finder, mention that he's your father-in-law and what your partner says he enjoys, and you'll get a shortlist with reasons.
Father-in-law gift questions
What's a good first gift for a new father-in-law?
Something good that he can eat, drink or use every day: a box of steaks, a coffee sampler, a set of tasting glasses or a leather valet tray. Give it from you and your partner together, and save more personal gifts for later years.
How much should I spend on a gift for my father-in-law?
Roughly what your partner would spend on their own parent, which for most families is somewhere between $30 and $80. Going far above that can feel like showing off, and going far below can look careless.
Should the gift be from me or from both of us?
In most families, both of you. A joint gift is normal, it lets your partner weigh in, and it takes the pressure off. You can still add your own line to the card if you want him to know you had a hand in choosing it.
What do you get a father-in-law who has everything?
Choose something consumable, an activity you can share or a gift that features the grandkids. For a man whose garage and closets are already full, those three routes are the least likely to add clutter, and you'll find plenty more in our gifts for someone who has everything guide.