Father’s Day is in two weeks, so the pressure’s on to find a gift dad actually wants. If your dad’s anything like mine, you don’t even bother asking him for a wishlist—since, he always says “I don’t know” or “I don’t need anything.” Trust me: He doesn’t want another cliché “World’s Best Dad” mug, striped tie, or useless gag gift that’ll collect dust in a drawer. But, if you’re struggling to figure out what dad wants for Father’s Day, it turns out, you’re not alone.
A new survey of more than 1,300 Good Housekeeping readers shows that people were 3x more likely to select Father’s Day over Mother's Day as the hardest gift giving holiday to shop for. We asked readers about their most difficult gifting occasions, and 12.2% said Father’s Day was the most challenging, while only 4.2% said Mother’s Day. (Christmas, Secret Santa gift exchanges, and birthdays were the top three difficult gifting occasions). Father’s Day isn’t harder because people care less—it’s harder because people want to avoid giving something generic, repetitive, or unnecessary.
When in doubt, you can always get your mom flowers for Mother’s Day—but what’s the equivalent for men? There isn’t one obvious gift for dad. Father's Day gifts tend to be more practical and hobby-based, whether he’s into building LEGOs, golfing, barbecuing, fishing, reading, or gaming. Think custom golf balls with your face for the dad who spends weekends on the course, barbecue grill baskets for the dad who hosts, or multi-tool pen for the handy dad—all gifts we recommend for dads.
On the other hand, Mother's Day gifts tend to be more universal with clearer gifting categories, like flowers, jewelry, and self-care, making it easier for shoppers to default to something that feels meaningful. Of course when you’re shopping for anyone, the best gifts are specific to the recipient. That means avoiding gag gifts, generic items that’ll turn to clutter, or impractical gifts they’ll never use.
If you’re stumped this year, don’t worry. We’ve got a ton of Father’s Day gift ideas that go beyond the basics and that’ll make dad feel spoiled.
Alyssa Gautieri (she/her) leads Good Housekeeping’s gift guide strategy. She writes and edits commerce content, where she analyzes lifestyle trends, shopping data, and works closely with the Good Housekeeping Institute to recommend top-tested products. Previously, she was the associate lifestyle editor for GH and wrote for publications including ELLE Decor, BobVila.com, and Unique Homes Magazine. When she’s not tracking down buzzy products, you can find her walking her dog, Skye, around Jersey City.
