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Mother’s Day is this Sunday, May 14. If you’re still looking for the right gift for mom, that’s okay — you still have time. We here at the Strategist have spent the past several weeks digging up the best Mother’s Day gifts for all types of moms — from long-distance moms to foodie moms to new moms. But at this point, you probably just want to know which gifts are going to arrive in time.
To make things easy for you, we’ve pulled together a list of 30 Strategist-approved, last-minute gifts that will arrive by Mother’s Day at every price point. It might be too late to order a personalized gift, but that doesn’t mean your gift can’t be personal. Order any of these today (with expedited shipping) and they’ll arrive on her doorstep on or before May 14. And if you’re looking for more inspiration, we’ve put all of our favorite Mother’s Day gift ideas in one page.
Gifts under $25
If your mom prefers to read in bed, she’ll love this amber-hued book light that writer Molly McGhee says “keeps the blue-light blues at bay.” In addition to helping her wind down without a screen, it doesn’t keep her partner up when she reads late into the night.
One of our favorite Mother’s Day gifts under $30, this stand can prop up a phone for video calls or recipe videos — or just serve as a charging station. It’s perfect for your Mom’s weekly FaceTime calls.
This set of 20 iconic, brightly patterned notecards will make any mom smile. Just make sure you include a note as well.
While she counts the days until her next vacation, these nontraditional wineglasses will let her at least feel like she’s getting away.
While gift cards are often the mark of a last-minute gift, they can still be quite thoughtful — like this one from Keepsake Frames, a service that will allow her to have photos from her phone printed, placed in a handsome frame, and mailed directly to her house.
Gifts under $50
One step up from a disposable camera, this 35-mm. reusable camera is still pretty bare bones with a fixed, focus-free lens and automatic flash. You’ll get the same unexpectedly cool results, but it’s more eco-friendly since you don’t have to buy a new camera body each time.
One of my favorite tumblers for coffee on the go, this elegant stainless-steel model from Kinto has a double-lid system that prevents even the tiniest bit of liquid from escaping.
John Bettencourt, the head roaster at Oslo Roasters, says you don’t need to be a barista or coffee nerd to make delicious coffee with a Chemex. “It’s simple to use, elegant, and the specially made paper filters contribute to a very clean cup of coffee,” he says.
If all that caffeine keeps her up at night, give her one of these luxuriously soft weighted eye masks to help her sleep.
Give her something to look forward to every month (or every week) with Bouqs’ subscription delivery service, which lets you regularly send either roses, a rustic farmers’ market arrangement, or a bouquet of roses, calla lilies, and alstroemerias.
This is a great book for moms who already have some wine knowledge but want to dive deeper into tasting theory and learn about different wine regions.
One way to save your mom a few trips to the grocery store is to buy her a subscription to a meal-delivery service. Strategist writer Lauren Ro likes Marley Spoon, which she says works fairly similar to other meal-delivery kits (premeasured ingredients, step-by-step recipes) but has slightly more generous portions and particularly fresh produce.
All moms could use a vacation, and a gift card from Airbnb will let them plan exactly when and where to go — whether to a house in Joshua Tree or an apartment in Paris.
Gifts under $100
These best-in-class pillows from Beckham Hotel Collection are filled with a down-alternative gel, and senior editor Jen Trolio describes them as the “epitome of plush yet supportive.” They’re also a reader favorite.
A Strategist-reader favorite, this wireless mini printer makes it easy for Mom to print out her favorite iPhone photos to hang on the fridge. (The white, black, and teal versions might arrive after Mother’s Day.)
For the mom who used to have more time for gallery visits, this hardcover (a companion to MoMA’s exhibition of the same name) touches on everything from abstract art to Dada, marionettes, embroidery, furniture design, and architecture.
A good gift for an artsy mom looking for a new medium to explore.
For the gourmand mother, this tinned fish sampler pack from Matiz Seafood came recommended to us by Dimes co-owner Alissa Wagner (who appreciates that the company’s sustainably packed fish are good for both your health and the planet’s).
For new moms or moms-to-be struggling to plan healthy meals, a Splendid Spoon subscription will deliver delicious smoothies, grain bowls, and soups right to her door. Get her a meal plan like this one or let her build her own box online.
StoryWorth is a service that sends your mom open-ended questions every week for a year before collecting all of her stories in a book. Strategist contributor Sarah Z. Wexler bought one for her dad last year and says, “As a big reader and an author myself, I can honestly say I’ve never been more excited for the release of a book. It’s been a true joy for me to open my inbox and see my dad’s stories each week.”
An Ancestry.com membership is thoughtful and requires no shipping time. It’s the perfect gift for moms who are obsessed with possibly being related to the guy who invented the egg cream or other niche delights. Memberships come in three tiers, and you can give a six-month or yearlong membership starting at $99.
Gifts over $100
This portable speaker from Bose offers up the same crisp sound as the brand’s pricier picks, can be toted around anywhere (inside and outside), and plays for up to six hours on a single charge.
These sleek wireless headphones sound great, sanitize themselves with UV-C technology as they charge, and come with an airplane-outlet adapter so you can use the case as a dongle while watching in-flight rom-coms.
This electric kettle from Fellow has appeared in our gift guides for both tea lovers and coffee lovers; it might be the only thing those two fandoms agree on.
For the mom concerned about getting her steps in, this FitBit doubles as a smartwatch (it tracks sleep quality and has a built-in Alexa).
If your mom has caught every episode of Master Chef, she’ll likely enjoy this Gordon Ramsay–led Masterclass, which tech strategist James Matthews called “very Gordon Ramsay.”
If your mom is always craving truffle fries or crispy wings, gift her this expert-recommended, best-in-class air fryer. It has handy presets for cake, meat, and fish, it’s easy to use, and it’s the model that Vanderpump Rules star Lala Kent raved about to us.
This attachment will elevate a basic stand mixer (if she doesn’t have one, you can grab her one at Best Buy as well) to a bona fide pasta maker.
Give her the gift of never having to vacuum under the couch again.
With additional reporting by Liza Corsillo.
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