Mother’s Day — which falls on May 14 this year — is this weekend, so it’s crunch time to find the perfect present for your mom, grandma, mother-in-law, or mother figure in your life. Whether you’re celebrating one mom or several generations of them, we’ve curated a lineup of gift guides for each and every type of mother on your list.
To get the lowdown on the things she’ll love most, we consulted actresses, beauty gurus, singers, and chefs — many of whom are at varying stages of motherhood — to bring you dozens of standout gift ideas. We’ve included many mom-approved Strategist favorites — some that we own ourselves or have given to our own moms and others that are longtime top sellers on our site. Finally, we made sure to choose gifts at every price point, so you can spoil your mom with something special no matter your budget. Most of the items below will arrive on time if you place your order today, though we’ve noted any possible exceptions. Note that we’ve updated this post for the last time, so pay close attention to stock and shipping times. And, if you want to stay on top of all of our gift coverage, sign up for our newsletter and you won’t miss a thing.
If you’re reading this and still in need of a gift, we suggest consulting our guide to the best last-minute Mother’s Day gifts at every price point. Some top picks that’ll arrive in time: Writer Molly McGhee’s under-$25 book light that doesn’t keep her partner up as she reads late into the night, a weighted sleep mask that medical professionals use between shifts, and a reusable 35-mm. camera she can keep filling with her favorite film. Read more here.
If you’re more of a one-stop shopper, browse our Mother’s Day roundup of 40 more gifts for every type of mom. Best of all, each one is available on Amazon — including strappy, stylish Tevas (which Strategist senior editor Simone Kitchens once spotted on Mary-Kate Olsen), Anderson .Paak’s motivational water bottle, and a kit for growing her own mushrooms indoors. Read more here.
For extra shopping intel, our year-round edit of gifts for every type of mom has 73 excellent options — from restaurateur Annie Shi’s non-fussy wine key to the handy kids’ carry-on that Amerie, the Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, would put on her baby registry if she could redo the list. And though pajamas might not seem like the most out-of-the-box idea, none can beat this Eberjey pair that Cup of Jo’s Joanna Goddard says is “the softest, most buttery version — which, unlike the cotton ones, never wrinkle.” Read more here.
Fresh flowers (or a flowering plant) are a classic way to show appreciation, and we’ve found 20 bouquets that you can order online — like a seasonal arrangement of garden roses and carnations created by Vogue editors. Other highlights: a blooming magnolia tree and an immortal LEGO sculpture she can display all year long. Read more here.
A thoughtful present doesn’t always require a splurge, which is why we’ve curated the best Mother’s Day gifts under $30 — like this callus-removing mask Strategist beauty writer Rio Viera-Newton says is gentler than the cult-favorite Baby Foot. Or scroll through all 41 picks to shop our best clean moisturizer for dry skin, which comes recommended by makeup artists and author Stephanie Danler, and one of Vulture’s best comedy books of 2022, written by Conan O’Brien’s personal assistant, Sona Movsesian. Read more here.
We’ve found edible gifts that are a bit more creative than a box of grocery-store chocolates. There’s a subscription that lets her try coffee beans from roasters all over the country (more than 450 varieties, to be exact) and our best overall matcha powder, which comes recommended by confectionery chef Justin Iso for its “forward flavors.” And for the food-obsessed mother with a green thumb, Via Citrus sells Meyer-lemon, Key-lime, Buddha’s-hand, and other citrus trees. Read more here.
For the mother with a taste for the finer things in life, gift-giving can be challenging — not to mention pricey. To help you find fancy goods that won’t drain your bank account, we rounded up the cheapest, nicest items from designer brands such as mini-cocottes from Staub, delicate Laura Lombardi hoops, and a water-lily-scented soap from fragrance house Claus of Porto. Read more here.
[Editor’s note: The Laura Lombardi earrings may arrive on time if you order using the fastest shipping option.]
We surveyed new and not-so-new mothers about the items they swear will make the transition to parenthood a little smoother. The result is a gift guide of 59 picks at different prices — including a refreshing ice roller for de-puffing her face; Earth Mama’s five-piece, all-organic toiletry set (that’s safe for both mother and baby); and an “award-winning zipper swaddle that literally takes five seconds,” says Jessie Mooney DiGiovanna, a mom and copywriter for Levi’s. Read more here.
Being away from your mom (or grandma) on Mother’s Day can be tough. That’s why we compiled a list of 30 gift options for long-distance mothers — including gadgets to make FaceTime calls easier (like a ten-foot charging cable). Or, if your mom isn’t smartphone savvy, try this indoor garden, which Strategist writer Erin Schwartz says will produce “a prodigious quantity” of herbs. And to calm her racing mind until your next visit, there’s the lavender-scented stick Strategist contributor Sara Gaynes Levy describes as “Ambien without the side effects.” Read more here.
While the kids may (or may not) have breakfast in bed covered, she’d probably appreciate a gift from her spouse (on top of the wonky pancakes). As seen in our roundup of 63 stellar items for every type of wife, this silk pillowcase comes recommended by Viera-Newton, who says it’s a dupe for the pricier Parachute ones. There’s also the linen overalls Elyse Inamine, Bon Appétit’s digital restaurant editor, told us she lives in, or this pen-size brush for wiping down her phone screen or sweeping away crumbs from laptop crevices. Read more here.
One way to do good this Mother’s Day is to give directly to a charity, and we’ve rounded up some gifts that give back — like a T-shirt that supports an experimental art school teaching radical Black history in New Orleans or a candle from Flamingo Estate, which donates all proceeds to the People Concern, a nonprofit working to end homelessness in Los Angeles. And for every pair of Cariuma sneakers purchased, the brand will plant two trees in the Brazilian rainforest. Read more here.
[Editor’s note: The T-shirt and sneakers may arrive on time if you order using the fastest shipping options.]
We’ve rounded up delightful gifts for the grandmothers in your life — according to, well, other grandmothers. Donne Davis, founder of the GaGa Sisterhood — a community for grandmothers who go “gaga” for their grandchildren — recommends this journal, which includes creative prompts to help your recipient reflect on their first moments as a grandparent. We also found a cookbook with kid-friendly recipes to introduce the joys of being in the kitchen together, and a frame in which she can proudly display her grandchild’s latest artwork. Read more here.
To help a newer mom feel refreshed this Mother’s Day, treat her to our favorite moisturizing hair mask to leave her strands “looking beautiful and bouncy and feeling extremely silky and conditioned,” Viera-Newton says. We found 34 other pampering and de-stressing gifts — all of which cost less than $100 — from the reusable earbuds Strategist writer Latifah Miles wears to mute her partner’s snoring to these gold patches that hydrate, plump, and soothe tired under-eyes. Read more here.
The Strategist is 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 best women’s jeans, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, ultra-flattering pants, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
Every editorial product is independently selected. If you buy something through our links, New York may earn an affiliate commission.
