25 Father’s Day Gifts for Dads Who Don’t Want Anything
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Even when the dad in your life insists he doesn’t want a gift, you might feel like a jerk giving himnothing. When he tells you for the millionth time that he doesn’t want anything, try asking a few questions to figure out why — does he have too much stuff already? Does he hate the drama of opening a gift? Has he never gotten a gift he’s actually liked? — and decide your strategy from there. If your giftee really,reallywants nothing, consider an experiential gift that’s an excuse to spend quality time together, like a trip to the movies, a sports game, or help on a project around the house. But if he’s open to a physical gift, a few rules to follow: nothing huge or difficult to store, nothing too jokey or esoteric, and above all, nothing you have trouble imagining him actually using. Gift-phobic dads are easily spooked, so there’s no shame in going for something obvious and practical over a really creative idea that holds a higher risk of being a miss.
To find the best gifts for no-nonsense dads, I went through the Strategist’s deep archive of eminently practical gifts. Most of the items are available on Amazon for quick shipping, but there are a few options at other retailers for those who like to shop around. I’ve organized the list by price, so you can use the table of contents to jump to the section that works best for your budget. If he’s given you the slightest hint of a preference for a certain kind of present —golf gifts,beer gifts,outdoorsy gifts— you can find more ideas at ourFather’s Day gift hub.
Updated on June 11, 2025
We made sure all of our picks are still in stock and priced correctly. We also added an editor’s note regarding shipping times forPrintique’s photo book.
Under $25
For the dad who really doesn’t want anything
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Buck Mason Gift Card
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Bookshop Gift Card
If your dad really,reallydoesn’t want anything, a gift card is your best call. They can skew impersonal, but you can avoid the vibe that you picked it up in the grocery store checkout aisle by choosing a store you know he really likes, like a local bookshop or a supply store for his favorite hobby. Two Strategist-favorite options: Buck Mason’sT-shirts,chinos, andoxford shirtsconsistently top our lists ofmenswearbasics, and Bookshop allows him to pick out his own gift while supporting independent booksellers.
For the dad who’s the designated box breaker-downer
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A sleek and safe utility knife (it auto-retracts)to help him flatten cardboard in no time.
For the dad who never takes a rain check on a hike
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Rite in The Rain On-The-Go Notebooks
If he tells you that there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing, he’ll loveJohn Wilson’s favorite waterproof notebooks.
For the dad who always needs a charge
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Strategist senior writer Liza Corsillo bought this keychain charging cord for her husband — the mini cable lets you connect the new-generation iPhones and iPads, or a pair of Bluetooth headphones, to your laptop or a USB-C port in the car. Though it doesn’t hold a charge itself, it’s a lifesaver for those days when you forget the right charger or can’t find an outlet.
For the dad who’s too busy to water the plants
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Pair these little terra-cotta cone stakes with an upside-down bottle and his plants will become self-watering.
For the dad who’s too busy to tie his shoes
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According to Adam Scott, these elastic shoelaces save himsecondsa day. So, technically, this is a gift of time.
For the dad who gets teary looking at old photos
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Corsillo also recommends this customizable coffee mug, which she gave her husband for his very first Father’s Day. “I was astonished not only by the print quality but the quality of the mug itself — and now we both consider it the best mug in the house,” she says.
For the dad who reads in bed
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A small yet powerful book light with a soothing amber glowthat’ll let his bedmate sleep.
For the dad who just wants a six-pack
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Pair his favorite beer with thisgadget, which trims off the tops of cans to turn them into wide-mouth cups.
For the superfan dad
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For an immaterial gift, buy a Cameo personalized video from his favorite celebrity. Pick from sports stars, reality-TV characters (so, so manySurvivorplayers), actors, musicians, and more.
Under $100
For the dad with a sore neck
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A heated neck and back massager to get out any aches and pains.
For the dad with a baseball cap collection
There’s always room for one more, whether he’s afoodie, aBed-Stuy creative, or a jazz fan.
For the dad with a threadbare tote
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A lightweight,art-world-favorite bagthat can function as a backpack or a tote. A present-averse dad may also appreciate thatPatagonia offers repairs.
For the dad who misses paper photo albums
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Start a tradition of printing family photo books so he can flip through something other than his phone.
[Editor’s note: This gift requires a few days’ processing time. You can check their ship-by dateshereto get a better idea of when it will arrive.]
Under $200
For the dad who listens to podcasts while he cooks
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Tivoli PAL BT
This AM/FM radio and Bluetooth speaker is water-resistant allowing it to survive splashes of tomato sauce, coffee, and salad dressing.
For the dad who shaves with an ancient razor
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An updated version of ourbest-in-class razor, a favorite of barbers for ease of use for a close shave.
For the dad who texts you about the backyard birds
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He’ll love this Wi-Fi-enabled bird feeder, which became a hit in Strategist writerJeremy Rellosa’s family group chat.
For the dad who goes on and on about the Maillard reaction
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A griddle he can use indoors and out.
For the dad who’s up all night
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Purple Harmony Pillow - Standard
A supremely comfortable, high-quality pillow is the ultimate upgrade gift. Our sleep writer has tried dozens of pillows and this is her absolute favorite.
$200 and up
For the dad who always reads the Sunday comics
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Kobo’s latest e-reader has a color display that’s awesome for comics, graphic novels, or just highlighting books and articles.
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Because he can always use atop-of-the-line cooler. Per Strategist writer Kat Gillespie, “Multiple catering and food experts said that investing in Yeti’s products was worth it for their business because they are more durable and efficient than the competitors.”
For the dad who takes a million pictures but never prints them out
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Aura is the maker of our favoritedigital picture framesthat are beloved by many a Strategist parent and grandparent. This model is large-format and wall-mountable for an extra-nice-looking display.
More Father's Day Gifts
- 40 On-Sale, Last-Minute Father’s Day Gifts (That Don’t Look Last-Minute)
- 34 Early Prime Day Deals on Last-Minute Father’s Day Gifts
- This On-Sale Indoor Putting Green Will Arrive by Father’s Day
- Make Him Smell Nice: The Best Grooming Gifts for Father’s Day
The Strategistis designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the bestacne treatments,rolling luggage,pillows for side sleepers,natural anxiety remedies, andbath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
