37 Father’s Day Gift Ideas

13K Shares

May is almost over, which means Father’s Day is just around the corner. My husband and kids spoiled me with a wonderful Mother’s Day (it helps when you publish exactly what you’d like on the internet!), so I want to make sure my husband has the Father’s Day he deserves.

In our family, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day aren’t big gift-giving occasions. We occasionally use them as an excuse to buy a big ticket item we’ve been eyeing, but more often than not they’re simply a day for all of us to let Mom or Dad know how loved and appreciated they are.

With that in mind, I’ve compiled a list of 37 Father’s Day gift ideas. You won’t find expensive or extravagant gifts here – most of the items on the list are less than $20. What you will find are unique and thoughtful ideas that you can combine into the perfect gift to show Dad just how much he’s appreciated.

Experiences

I love experience gifts (no “stuff” we have to find a home for!). These can be a perfect way to give the Dad in your life a well-deserved break!

A round of golf. 5 hours of peace and quiet – what more could he ask for? If golf isn’t his thing, there are plenty of other ways to give him some “me” time. Fishing, camping, or even a night out with his friends – give him time to enjoy his favourite hobby.
Tickets to a sporting event or concert.
Alone time in the house, with no to-do list. Now that I’m a parent, alone time in my own house is rare and AMAZING! Take the kids out of the house, so he can have time at home to do whatever he wants.

Crafts

My older boys love to make gifts. Crafts are a great way to get the kids involved in creating something special for their Dad.

Have the kids draw a picture of him. Whether it’s scribbles or an elaborate masterpiece, it’s always fun to see what they come up with.
Decorate golf balls with this cute activity from Laughing Kids Learn.
Check out these ideas from Parenting the Principal – I love the “following in my Daddy’s footsteps” craft!
Handprint keychains from Grey House Harbor. Sidenote: I just re-discovered Shrinky Dinks a few weeks ago, and my kids had a blast watching their creations shrink in the oven. I highly recommend them as an easy no-prep activity!
All About My Dad questionnaire. These are an annual tradition at my kids’ daycare, and we always get such a kick out of them! I created a printable with some of my favorite questions, which you can download for free here.
All About My Dad interview. Along the same lines, I’m going to attempt a video interview with my kids this year (shhhh…). It may be a disaster, but hopefully we’ll have fun doing it! Click here for the list of questions I’m going to (try to!) use.

Photo Gifts

I’m definitely the keeper of the memories in our family, but my husband always appreciates it when photos actually make it off my computer! Here are some of our favourite photo gift ideas.

Personalized coffee mug.
Personalized coasters.
Personalized magnets.
Personalized puzzle (“We love you to pieces!“).
Personalized desk calendar.
Update the pictures for his office. My husband has photos of each of the kids on display in his office, but if it weren’t for me, those photos would never be updated!
D-A-D photo. Take photos of your kid(s) holding the letters D-A-D, then place them together in a frame. This is a fun tradition to update each year.

Books

Children’s books about Dad are a special addition to any Father’s Day gift, and also make a wonderful gift all on their own. There are a ton of books that celebrate the father-child relationship. Here are some of our favourites, and a few I’d like to add to our collection.

I Love My Daddy by Giles Andreae (Canadian link). This is a favourite in our house. We read this book over and over for MONTHS when one of my sons was in the height of his “Daddy” stage. Fortunately it’s one of those books that’s an enjoyable read for adults and children alike – it has great rhythm.
Your Baby’s First Word Will Be DADA by Jimmy Fallon (Canadian link) – a fun choice for a new Dad.
My Dad is the Best Playground by Luciana Navarro Powell (Canadian link). We love the Mom version of this book (My Mom is the Best Circus), and my kids do love to climb all over my husband, so we may need to add this to the list!
My Dad Thinks He’s Funny by Katrina Germein (Canadian link). If the Dad in your life is all about the corny Dad jokes, this is the book for you!
Because I’m Your Dad by Ahmet Zappa (Canadian link). This celebrates the goofy, fun side of Dad and the father-child relationship. A word of warning – it ends with “…because that’s what my Dad did for me”, so it won’t be the best choice for every Dad.
Just Me and My Dad by Mercer Mayer (Canadian link). The Little Critter books are a sentimental favourite for me – I loved these as a kid. This is a cute story about a father-son camping trip.
Berenstain Bears. Berenstain Bears are another sentimental favourite, and my boys are also big fans of their books. They have a couple of great Dad-themed books – Papa’s Day Surprise (Canadian link) and We Love Our Dad! (Canadian link).
My Dad is Big and Strong, BUT…: A Bedtime Story by Coralie Saudo (Canadian link). This is a good one if you have a child who fights bedtime!
How to Cheer Up Dad by Fred Koehler (Canadian link). An adorable tale of Little Jumbo’s attempts to cheer up his Dad – this one is going on our list for Father’s Day.
Be Glad Your Dad (Is Not an Octopus!) by Matthew Logelin (Canadian link). A hilarious book reminding children that they should be grateful for the Dad they have.
Nelly Gnu and Daddy Too by Anna Dewdney (Canadian link). A wonderful story of a little girl’s day with her father, from Llama Llama creator Anna Dewdney.

Miscellaneous

Finally, some treats and classic Father’s Day gifts that Dad is sure to appreciate.

Speciality coffee. Coffee is a need – not a want – for most parents, but speciality roasted coffee can elevate his morning brew to something special.
Craft beer. Treat him to his favourite, or introduce him to a new beer that he hasn’t tried before.
Kit Kat (“You deserve a break”).
Reese’s Pieces (“We love you to pieces!”).
Hershey’s Hugs & Kisses.
Nuts (“We’re nuts about you!”).
Lottery tickets (“We’re so lucky that you’re our Dad!”).
Adult Colouring Book. Colouring is excellent stress relief and an easy activity to do alongside the kids. This one is a great option (Canadian link).
Fun socks. Bonus points if you can find socks he’ll actually wear with your child’s favourite character on them!
Best Dad Ever T-Shirt or Coffee Mug. Classic Father’s Day gifts that every Dad should receive at least once in his life!