The 60 Best Gifts for Every Type of Brother
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Whether he’s a stepbrother, half-brother, brother-in-law, or biological brother, he’s probably special to you. (Special enough, at least, that you’re reading a story on thebest giftsfor brothers.) With that uniqueness comes the need for an equally exceptional present that shows how well you know him — and his very specific interests. My own brother is very particular. But after years of gifting him birthday presents andChristmas gifts— some winners, some duds — I’ve learned that the more the gift speaks to one of his specific hobbies or tastes, the better. (He’s a comic-book nerd, and the best gift I’ve gotten him was an ultrarare Batman figure.) And as a brother myself, I can say that all the best gifts I’ve received have been hyperspecific.
Maybe your brother is afitnessfanatic, likemine, or aplantenthusiast who likes to listen to records in his spare time, or someone who is alwaystraveling. His hobbies may range fromcooking and bakingtohiking, or maybe he’s the type of brother who just got intopickleball. He may be abookworm— or maybe he’s the biggestStar Warsfan that you know.
Whatever the case, finding the perfect gift for your brother (or brothers) can be tough.To help save you time, I pulled together a list ofproducts we loveand have written about before, plus a few more gift ideasany brother would appreciate.
Update on November 16, 2025:
We checked stock and updated prices on all our gift picks.
Under$25
For the brother who prefers a watch that’s just smart enough
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This retro-looking calculator timepiece is casual enough for everyday wear, and it won’t break the bank if he loses it.
[Editor’s note: This watch may arrive after Christmas.]
For the brother who’s been using the same 3-in-1 body wash since high school
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I’m somewhat of an evangelist for this energizing peppermint-and-eucalyptus bar soap, which has little bits of pumice in it that help exfoliate the skin.
For the brother who’s too busy for coffee some days
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Theseespresso-filledchocolates deliver caffeine with a little sweet kick. Senior editor Jen Trolio gave her brother two packs for his birthday. “He’s a personal trainer and loves them as apre-workouttreat-slash-boost,” she says.
For the brother who volunteers for spider catch-and-release duty
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With this magnifier, he can inspect each bug he catches — and release it into the wild safely. It’s one of ourfavorite toys.
For the brother with a desk job
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Who knew cleaning up crumbs could be actually fun?
For the artistic brother
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Thiswatercolor setis small enough to fit in a jacket pocket and pairs well with thesewater-bearing brush pens.
For the outdoorsy brother who likes to show off his cool camping gear
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LighterBro Multitool
This sleeve fits on a standard lighter, and turns it into a multi-tool — perfect for having around the camp site. It’s one of writer Ali Slagle’scamping-van essentials.
For the brother who adopted a cat
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This cute catnip toy also comes in apple, rainbow, and lemon shapes.
For the brother who wants to pack a bowl with his multitool
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The Geekeycomes with the usual tools: a screwdriver, bottle opener, ruler, serrated edge, and more. But our favorite feature is the bowl and pipe stem built into the tool’s body.
For the outdoorsy brother who gets his gear soaked
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I take a dry sack on mosthikes and backpacking tripsso I can keep my valuables dry — even if my backpack gets drenched by a storm.
For the brother who’s always on a bike …
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I’ve used these bike lights as my main set for three years. Despite their small size (either can fit easily on a keychain or in a pocket), they help me stay visible at night and during the day. They come in a bunch of colors and make greatgifts for cyclists.
… Or on his feet
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Jason Stewartcan’t live without these massage balls, which can be used for working on the feet, the back, and basically any other muscle in the body.
For the brother who’s always prepared
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A multi-tool that slides right into his wallet.
For the brother who just moved into a new apartment
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A woody incense that will make the place feel more homey.
Under$50
For the brother who finally got some grown-up furniture …
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Graf Lantz Bierfilzl Felt Coasters
These felt coasters help absorb moisture and come in a wide variety of colors.
[Editor’s note: These coasters will arrive after Christmas.]
… and the brother who’d probably lose those coasters anyway
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Glasses that stay cool to the touch with hot beverages and don’t sweat with cold ones because of their double-walled design.
For the musically inclined brother
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A pint-size synth that produces analog sounds. Great for recording and mixing or just noodling around.
For the productivity-obsessed brother
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This visual timer is handy for toddlers and procrastinators or anyone who wants to get things done, and it’s one of our100 favorite products.
For the brother who’s ready to start cultivating his green thumb
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An easy-to-care-for instant collection.
For the brother who likes to keep his protein shakes cold
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This is the superior shaker bottle. It’s made of stainless steel, so it keeps smoothies and shakes cold for hours, and its mixing ball is integrated into the lid, which shuts tight and doesn’t leak.
For the brother who’s getting into foraging
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I gave this field guide to a friendlast Christmasafter he got sick from making a soup with some mushrooms he foraged in Colorado — help for picking out the right ones in future foraging sessions. In general, the National Audubon Society Field Guides are great gifts for any nature lovers (Irecently boughtthe field guide to the night sky for myself), and the flexible vinyl cover gives them a timeless feel.
For the brother who’s a creative
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An illumination of the artistic process, from the germ of an idea to the finished work, as recounted by writers, musicians, painters, filmmakers, choreographers, and many other creative luminaries.
[Editor’s note: This book will likely arrive after Christmas.]
For the brother with a stiff neck
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This massage cane is one of the ten things that directorDaniel Kwan can’t live without.
For the brother who took up cooking (and went plant-based)
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A book packed with delicious, inventive, and easy ways to prepare vegetables (sometimes as complements to meat and seafood), divided by season.
For the brother who loves adventure photography
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Featured in our roundup of thebest gifts for outdoorsy types, this book showcases photos taken by director and mountaineer Jimmy Chin, who co-directedFree Solowith his wife, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi. In it, he documents his journeys in Nepal, Antarctica, and Tibet, among other destinations.
For the brother who can’t talk right now because he’s golfing
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These areRob Lowe’s all-time favorite golf balls because they offer a solid combo of distance and control.
For the brother who watches every Knicks game
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Written and illustrated by the co-hosts of the podcastCookies Hoops,Ben Detrick andAndrew Kuo, this encyclopedia is filled with hot takes that are accompanied by colorful graphics, illustrations, and charts.
For the brother who lost his wallet this year
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This leather card holder and stand snaps onto the back of his phone so he doesn’t have to carry — or lose — his wallet.
For the brother who likes to watch his shows in bed
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With this charger, he won’t need to plug a cable in his phone’s charging port — this Belkin gadget charges his iPhone battery from the back, plus it has a kickstand.
For the brother with hoop dreams
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Instead of daydreaming about hitting buzzer-beating shots, he can actually practice them in his bedroom.
For the aspiring pizzaiolo brother
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This recipe book from chef Chris Bianco is refreshingly simple and easy to follow. It’s the book I referred to when I first started makingpizza.
Under$100
For the brother who is happiest in the winter
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Rick Stevescan’t live without these socks, which he says “feel like a Norwegian handwoven sweater with a leather bottom.”
For the brother who’s in his element around the campfire …
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This attachment is a handy way to use up leftover camp fuel, and a satisfying way to start a fire without a lighter.
… Or who likes to be extra comfortable when car camping
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This puffy polyester-fill cover is like a down jacket for his camp chair.
For the athlete brother whose feet are constantly sore
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Hoka Ora Recovery 3 Slide
If your brother is the active type, he will appreciate the soft, cushioned support of these Hoka slides, which feel like walking on clouds, according to Timothy Grindle, co-founder ofCanoe Club. We picked the Oras as thebest overall men’s slipperin our roundup.
For the brother who grew up glued to his Game Boy
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A pocket-size handheld console that can play games from all the old Game Boys, as well as the SNES, Dreamcast, and even PS1.
For the brother who always stuffs his running shoes with newspaper
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For the brother who has to fly home to see the family
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This gadget makes long flights a little more bearable by allowing you to connect your wireless headphones to the in-flight entertainment system.
For the brother who would enjoy a new food project
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If your brother has ever mentioned how cool it would be to pickle vegetables or make kimchee, consider giving him this kit, which we featured in our list of thebest gifts for gardeners. It has everything he needs to get started, including a recipe book.
For the brother with a sweet tooth
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He might love candy, but if your brother wants to maintain a dazzling smile, a water pick could make all the difference. This one is Dr. Inna Chern’s (of New York General Dentistry) model of choice for those who want to see “massive improvement instainsand between-teeth plaque buildup.”
For the brother who will challenge you to any lawn game
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Spikeball Standard 3 Ball Game Set
If your brother’s still in grade school, chances are they’re familiar with Spikeball, the sport that combines elements of volleyball and foursquare and is played in elementary- and middle-school P.E. classes across the country. While we featured the portable set in our roundup of thebest gifts for 9-year-olds, Spikeball is also a great lawn game for brothers of all ages.
For the brother who likes to host
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Hedley & Bennett Crossback Apron
Hedley & Bennett aprons are beloved by chefs for their sturdy construction and lifetime guarantee. Plus, they’re available in many different (non-boring) colors and patterns, likejalapeño orange,aubergine purple, or classics like this one in midnight blue. The brand also offers custom embroidery.
For the brother who still loves LEGOs
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This set, inspired by the famous Japanese woodblock print, can be hung on the wall once he’s completed it.
Under$200
For the brother who likes to prepare steak dinners
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Meater Pro
Tom Colicchiosays the smart thermometer from Meater is the best one he’s ever used.
For the brother who always borrows your gloves during ski season
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These cowhide leatherglovesare stylish enough to wear when he’s not on the slopes. Plus, they come with a removable wool liner.
For the brother who’s always training for a marathon
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Massage guns tend to be bulky and loud, but not this one — it’s my go-to recovery tool, especially when I’m traveling. It packs a punch for its relatively small size, and its motor is whisper quiet.
For the brother who lives far away
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Aura Mason 9”
One of ourmost-recommended gifts, thisdigital picture frameallows you to view and share photos with loved ones no matter where you are. It also works with the iCloud photo library and Google photos.
For the brother who always dresses in athleisure
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These premiumsweatpantsare a major upgrade to the standard cotton pair that he’s been wearing since high school.
For the brother who’s had to call AAA one too many times
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I recommend keeping aportable jump-starterin your car for any road trips or outdoor adventures, because you never know when your battery might crap out (or your road-trip buddy might accidentally leave a light on overnight).
For the brother who loves to travel
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Thiscarry-on backpackis our favorite. Thenewest versionof the Allpa is made entirely out of recycled fabrics and has a few new features, like a water-bottle sleeve and phone pocket.
Over$200
For the brother who tracks everything
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Whoop 5.0
When I rounded up thebest fitness trackers, I picked the Whoop as the best for recovery. It uses heart, respiratory, stress, and sleep data, it paints a holistic picture of your health. It’s also a favorite of many athletes, includingSue BirdandAryna Sabalenka.
[Editor’s note: This may not arrive before Christmas.]
For the brother who likes to write in the margins
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Kobo Elipsa 2E
Strategist tech writerJordan McMahonprefers hisElipsaover his Kindles because it allows him to jot down notes on articles and books, which make his thoughts “a part of the text and easy to take in at a glance, rather than something hidden that I have to dig up later,” he writes.
For the brother who wishes his Kindle fit in his pocket
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ThePalma’s e-ink screen is easy on the eyes like other e-readers, but it’s more portable — about the size of an iPhone. Plus, it runs Android.
For the brother who just started collecting vinyl
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If your brother is starting a vinyl collection and needs a turntable, go with this one from Audio-Technica. We picked it as thebest-overall turntable. Jake Sullivan, co-owner ofWooden Tooth Recordsin Tucson, Arizona, says it’s great for beginners. “Somebody who has no experience with records can look at it, figure out how to play a record, and get good sound out of it,” he says.
For the brother who loves throwing pizza parties
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Ooni’s ovensmake excellent gifts for aspiringchefsbecause they’re great at achieving temperatures above 900 degrees — that’s hot enough tocook a pizzain well under two minutes. This model can be powered by either gas, wood, or charcoal, and if your brother can operate a barbecue grill, he’ll be able to cook with the Karu easily.
For the brother who lives for podcasts
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Apple’s widely beloved pair ofheadphones(with noise canceling) will help him catch up on politics, basketball, or true-crime podcasts — or get a little privacy for his Zoom calls.
For the brother who’s more of a tea guy
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This electric kettle comes with a built-in metal-mesh basket that robotically dunks loose leaves in boiled water for the exact steeping time and then removes them for the ideal brew.
For the brother who loves a design object
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A really nice-looking high-fidelity portable speaker that can record what he’s listening to and remix it, too.
For the brother who had Michael Jordan posters in his childhood bedroom
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This arcade set comes loaded with three games:NBA Jam,NBA Jam Tournament Edition, andNBA Hangtime.
For the brother who wants to go treasure hunting
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Garrett Ace 250
This metal detector comes recommended by tworeal-life treasure hunters. While you can’t ensure he’ll actually find anything, experts think this is a pretty good model for the money, and it’ll definitely get him started.
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.
