Gifts for Groomsmen That Won't End Up in a Junk Drawer
By the Giftruly editorsUpdated 17 hand-picked ideas
Somewhere in the back of a lot of kitchen drawers sits a flask engraved with someone else's wedding date. It was a kind thought, and it has never once been filled. That's the risk with groomsmen gifts: they're often bought in a hurry, all the same, and stamped with details that matter far more to the couple than to the friend receiving them.
This page takes the opposite approach. It's about thank-you gifts your groomsmen will actually use in the years after the wedding, chosen for the kind of person each of them is. We start with a short word on what tends to go wrong and how much to spend, then group ideas by the life they fit into: the friend with a home bar, the things a guy carries every day, the outdoors and game-night crowd, and a few inexpensive extras.
For things to use on the day itself, such as cufflinks, socks, flasks for the getting-ready room and rehearsal dinner gifts, see wedding gifts for groomsmen. If you're thanking the other half of the wedding party too, there's a matching guide to gifts for bridesmaids.
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Why so many groomsmen gifts get forgotten
The usual mistake is buying one engraved item for six very different people. Your college roommate who lives on bourbon, your brother who's training for a marathon and your partner's cousin who doesn't drink do not all need a flask. A better plan is to set one budget and pick something different for each person, or choose a single type of gift with enough range to suit everyone (a good knife, a wallet, a watch) and personalize it lightly. Initials age better than the wedding date and a hashtag.
Most couples spend around $50 to $100 per groomsman, a little more for the best man. Remember that your groomsmen have probably paid for a suit or tuxedo rental, travel and a bachelor weekend, so the gift is a real thank-you, not a formality. And if your wedding party includes women on the groom's side, give them something chosen for them at the same budget, not a leftover from the men's order. Whatever you buy, write each person a note. Groomsmen are often less effusive than bridesmaids, but plenty of them keep those notes.
For the friend with a home bar
If your groomsman is the one who makes a proper drink when friends come over, a bar upgrade is a gift he'll use every weekend. These are better than the standard engraved flask because they make something he already enjoys a little better.
Skip this section entirely for anyone who doesn't drink, or who's cutting back. It's an easy thing to check.
- 1
Whiskey Decanter Set with Glasses
~$45
A glass decanter, two rocks glasses and a wooden tray, which looks handsome on a shelf even when it's empty. It's a grown-up gift for a groomsman who has recently got his first real place or likes to pour a drink for guests. A light engraving of initials on the decanter is plenty; leave the glasses plain so they mix with others.
- 2
Cocktail Smoker Kit
~$45
A small torch-top smoker and wood chips that add a smoky note to an old fashioned. It's a bit of theater, which makes it fun at a gathering, and it's the kind of thing he'd never buy for himself but will show off to everyone. Best for friends who already enjoy whiskey cocktails.
- 3
Clear Ice Cube Maker
~$40
A mold that makes large, crystal-clear ice, the kind served in good cocktail bars. It sounds fussy until he tries it, and then cloudy freezer ice feels like a step backward. It's a quietly clever gift for a friend who cares about the details of a drink, and it's more useful than another set of glasses.
- 4
Home Cocktail Bitters Discovery Set
~$35
A collection of small bottles of bitters in different flavors, from aromatic to orange to chocolate. A few dashes change a drink completely, so it's an inexpensive way to give a home bartender a whole new set of recipes to try. Pair it with a classic cocktail book if you'd like to round it out.
Things he'll carry for years
Everyday carry is the safest category for a mixed group of groomsmen, because nearly everyone uses a wallet, a watch or a bag. Choose a quality version and it will be with him long after the wedding photos are in an album.
Personalize lightly. Initials on the inside of a wallet or the blade of a knife are a nice touch; a full wedding date on the outside is not.
- Our favorite5
Personalized Engraved Pocket Knife
~$35
A folding pocket knife with initials or a short message engraved on the blade or handle. It's useful for opening boxes, slicing an apple on a hike or cutting rope at a campsite, and a good knife is the sort of thing people keep for decades and eventually pass on. It suits groomsmen who spend time outdoors or simply like a well-made tool. Remind him to pack it in checked luggage, not a carry-on, if he's flying home from the wedding.
- 6
Personalized Leather Toiletry Bag
~$30
A leather dopp kit stamped with initials. Most men are still using a plastic bag or a free airline pouch for their razor and toothbrush. This is the kind of upgrade that gets packed for every trip from now on, starting with the wedding weekend if you give it early.
- 7
Monogrammed Leather Wallet
~$45
A slim leather wallet with a monogram, for the groomsman whose current wallet is held together by habit. It's practical, used every day and feels like a proper gift. Ask a partner or roommate what style he prefers (bifold, card holder) before you buy.
- 8
Timex Weekender Watch
~$45
A simple analog watch with interchangeable straps, at a price that makes it possible to buy one for every groomsman. It's an easy, classic thank-you that works with a suit on the day and a T-shirt afterward. Swap in a different strap color for each person so they're not identical.
For the outdoors and game-night crowd
If your groomsmen are the friends you go camping, golfing or play cards with, give them something for the next trip. It's also a quiet way of saying the friendship doesn't change now that you're married.
- 9~$100
Portable Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker
A rugged speaker for the campsite, the boat or the backyard. Goes everywhere with the friend who always controls the music anyway.
Music LoversHikers & Camperspractical - 10~$35
Insulated Stainless Steel Beer Growler
Keeps a growler of local beer cold and fizzy all day. A good pick for the friend who likes to visit breweries.
Beer LoversHikers & Camperspractical - 11~$40
Personalized Golf Balls
A dozen balls printed with initials or a joke from the friend group. Only for regular golfers; for everyone else they're just expensive balls.
Golferspersonalized - 12~$25
Titanium Camp Mug
A light, near-indestructible mug for coffee at the campsite. A modest gift that will be on every trip for years.
Hikers & CampersCoffee Loverspractical - 13~$30
Poker Chip Set with Case
A proper chip set in a carry case, for the monthly game night. Give one to the groomsman who usually hosts.
Board Game Fansfun
Extras under $30
Small things to add to a bigger gift, or to stretch a tight budget across a large wedding party.
14.Whiskey Barrel Stave Coaster Set ~$18
Coasters cut from old whiskey barrels. A small, handsome add-on for a decanter or a bottle he's been saving.
15.Beef Jerky Gift Box ~$30
A sampler of different jerky flavors. Easy to love, and handy for the long drive home after the wedding.
16.ThermoPro Instant-Read Meat Thermometer ~$25
A fast, accurate thermometer for the groomsman who mans the grill. Useful every cookout, and cheap enough to add to anything.
17.Custom Face Socks ~$20
Socks printed with your face. A running joke for a friend group with that sense of humor; skip it for anyone who'd find it odd.
Shop this guide by price
Under $25
$25–$50
Choosing well for your groomsmen
Set one budget, then choose for each person. A whiskey drinker and a runner shouldn't get the same gift.
Use initials, not the wedding date. It keeps the gift about him rather than your big day.
Ask a partner or roommate if you're unsure. They'll know if he already owns three pocket knives.
Write a short note to each groomsman. It's the cheapest and most remembered part of the gift.
Still stuck on one of them? Describe him to our gift finder and you'll get a shortlist with reasons.
Groomsmen gift FAQs
How much should you spend on groomsmen gifts?
Around $50 to $100 per person is typical, with a little more for the best man. If your groomsmen have spent a lot on travel and suit rental, lean toward the higher end, or add a personal note and a round of drinks.
What is a good gift for a best man?
A step up from the other groomsmen, chosen for him: a decanter set, a quality watch, a leather weekender, or an experience you'll share, like a round at a good golf course or tickets to a game.
Do all groomsmen need the same gift?
No. Matching gifts can be fun, but giving each person something suited to them, at the same budget, is often more appreciated. If you prefer matching, pick something with broad appeal like a wallet or watch.
When should you give groomsmen their gifts?
Most couples hand them out at the rehearsal dinner or on the morning of the wedding. Keepsakes can also be given after the honeymoon, which gives you time to write a proper note.
Your groomsmen agreed to rent a suit, give up a weekend and stand next to you while you tried not to cry. The right thank-you doesn't need to be extravagant. It needs to fit the person, and it needs a few words from you that say why you asked him (or her) to stand there in the first place. Get those two things right and the gift will outlast the reception by a long way.