27 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. Try asking a few questions to figure out why he’s avoiding presents — does he have too much stuff already? Does he hate being in the spotlight while 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 jokey or esoteric, and nothing you have trouble imagining him actually using.
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. And to browse even more ideas for the hard-to-shop-for folks in your life, check out theStrategist Gift Scout.
Update on December 14, 2024: Noted products that won’t arrive in time for Christmas; checked stock and updated prices on all products.
Under $25
For the dad who’s the designated box breaker-downer
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A sleek and safe utility knife 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 USB-C to USB-C cable lets you connect the newest 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’re low on juice and just need a simple way to plug in.
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 wine 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 picky dad
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Buck Mason Gift Card
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Bookshop Gift Card
A gift card is the best gift for a dad who doesn’t want anything. Two options that show him you didn’t pick it up in the grocery store checkout aisle: 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 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 (there are 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 sweet tooth
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If he loves dessert that’s “not too sweet,” this boxed cake mix that comes with its own mini-bottle of olive oil isalmosta perfect gift. Bake it for him to get the rest of the way there.
For the dad who hates shaving
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A longtime Strategist favorite, the One Blade has been recommended byprofessional barbersand stylish men for its ease of use, compact size, and do-everything versatility. You can use it to trim long facial hair, shave down to the skin, or maintain just the right amount of stubble.
For the dad who struggles to unplug
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Brick
Along with its app, this 3-D-printed gadget allows you to temporarily block access to specific apps and notifications on your phone. Simply tap the physical cube to activate or deactivate your personal screen-time ban.
For the dad with a baseball cap collection
There’s always room for one more, whether he’s agolfer, aBed-Stuy creative, or a jazz fan.
For the dad with a threadbare tote
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Whether he’s going to work or the beach, this sleek and durable black tote bagwill be an upgrade.
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.
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 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.
[Editor’s note: This item will likely arrive after Christmas.]
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.
For the dad who takes a million pictures but never looks at them
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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.
For the dad who prefers his coffee iced
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An espresso machine that makes cold brew in minutes.
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.
