33 Best Gifts for Parents: Useful and Unique Ideas for 2024

Gifts for parents can be one of the most challenging things to shop for. After all, they’ve given you so much to help you succeed in life. When we want to repay the favor, what gifts can we give to our parents?

Even though they say they don’t need anything, what do parents want for Christmas, birthdays or just because?

Step aside, socks and candles. Whether you’re on the hunt for birthday gifts, thank you gifts or anniversary gifts for parents, these unique ideas are sure to help you show your appreciation.  

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• Creative Gifts for Parents
• Foodie Gifts for Parents
• Unique Gifts for Parents
• Useful Gifts for Parents
• Luxury Gifts for Parents
• Personalized Gifts for Parents

Creative Gifts for Parents

1. Paint and Sip

Need gifts for parents who have everything? Encourage them to relax and let loose at a paint and sip in Atlanta, paint and sip in Washington, D.C. or paint and sip in Tampa.

Joining your parents at paint and sip near you can also be a great way to spend time together, and quality time is the best gift of all!

2. Pottery Classes

At pottery classes in Minneapolis, pottery classes in San Diego, pottery classes in the Bay Area or pottery classes near you, your parents will get to sculpt and shape their own glazeware to take home.

With this great experience gift, they’ll not only walk away with one-of-a-kind home décor but some fun and unforgettable memories. 

3. Dance Classes

Raising kids is tough. Luckily, studies by Harvard University show that dancing is a great way to relieve stress, improve your mood and stay healthy. 

Let your parents boogie all night and melt away the stress of your terrible teens at dance classes in Chicago, dance classes in Houston or dance classes in Las Vegas.

If they’re a little shy on the dance floor, online dance classes can be a great way for them to get active and have fun from the comfort of their own home. 

4. Custom Jigsaw Puzzle

There’s nothing better than a cozy night in with a glass of wine and a jigsaw puzzle. One of the best gifts for parents from their child, PuzzleYou lets you make your own customized jigsaw puzzle so they can be reminded of your appreciation on their quiet night in.

Pick a family portrait from your last beach vacation or a funny childhood photo they’ll love piecing together! These also make some of the cutest gifts for grandparents who love to solve puzzles together.

5. Candle Making Kit

If your parents are already creative folks, it can be tricky to find fun gifts for artists. A candle making kit like this one from Etsy is sure to inspire their crafting skills and fill their home with soothing, natural scents! To complement your gift, include face masks and a few other essentials for a spa night in. 

6. My Life In a Book

My Life in a Book is a journal with questions and prompts for your parent to fill out about themself. Like an autobiography, these touching journals show your parent that you really care about their advice and experiences. Once it’s complete, the journal can be passed down for generations to honor their legacy. 

7. Handmade Scrapbook

What is the best gift for Mom and Dad? You — or something made by you! Get them started on a new scrapbooking hobby by filling out the first few pages with some fun family photos.

A scrapbook or photo collection can easily be one of the best gifts under $50, and it’ll give them the perfect excuse to take more photos. 

Foodie Gifts for Parents

8. Cooking Classes 

What should you do when you need gifts for parents who don’t want anything? Experiences can be worth much more than things, especially if your parents are foodies!

Sign them up for cooking classes in St. Louis, cooking classes in Dallas, cooking classes in Pittsburgh or cooking classes near you so they can enjoy a fun night out while honing their skills. 

9. Online Cooking Classes

Do in-person classes sound like too many chefs in the kitchen? If you know that one or both of your parents are homebodies, sign them up for online cooking classes.

Classes are ideal gifts for foodies, but come holiday season, you’ll get to experience how this gift for parents is really a gift to yourself and your tastebuds. 

10. Virtual Wine Tasting

Does your parent love a boozy brunch or late-night glass of Bordeaux? A virtual wine tasting is one of the best gifts for wine lovers. They’ll learn how to savor some delicious beverages and pair them with complimentary meals. 

11. Online Mixology Class

When it comes to choosing gifts for cocktail lovers, nothing beats online mixology classes. After this fun experience gift for parents, they’ll be able to enjoy their favorite bar drinks without ever leaving home.

Whether they’re completely new to mixology or they have their cocktail routine down to a science, they’ll love learning about new techniques and food pairings. 

12. Universal Yums Snack Subscription

A Universal Yums subscription is one of the best gifts for anyone who loves to try new things, whether it’s traveling, food or fun experiences.

Starting at just $15 per box, they’ll receive snacks from unique destinations around the world. Each box also includes some cultural trivia and mini-games so they can explore the world from the comfort of home. 

13. Picnic Date Basket

Date experiences make great gifts for parents who don't want anything because it’s one thing they never knew to ask for but will certainly appreciate in the moment.

A picnic date is one of the best last-minute gift ideas for foodies, but it won’t feel last-minute at all! Pack a picnic kit complete with a blanket, snacks, desserts, water and a bottle of wine or bubbly for them to enjoy on a sunny weekend out.

Unique Gifts for Parents

14. Virtual Game Nights

Show your parents you appreciate their uniqueness with a gift for parents that’s outside the box. Virtual game nights are awesome unexpected gifts, and they can be a great way to spend time together with long-distance parents.

Check out online trivia games, virtual scavenger hunt games or virtual escape rooms to stir up some fun family competition. 

15. A Doggy DNA Test Kit

Their human babies have grown up and flown the coop; now it’s all about the fur baby! A dog DNA test kit like Embark is a fascinating and somewhat silly gift for parents with a mysterious mutt in their household.

They’ll get to know more about their pooch’s breed and background, and the DNA test can also give them a heads-up on any potential health conditions their beloved puppy may face. 

16. A Digital Picture Frame

In our busy day-to-day lives, it’s easy to forget about appreciating all our fun memories. A digital picture frame makes an excellent gift for parents so they can showcase their favorite moments.

For an extra touch, preload your digital frame with a slideshow of funny photos before gifting it to your parents. 

17. A Himalayan Salt Lamp

Give their evenings a soft, comfortable glow with a Himalayan pink salt lamp. Perfect for bedrooms or home offices, Himalayan salt lamps are supposed to help purify the air, set a relaxing mood and help the brain wind down for sleep by counteracting the effects of blue light.

18. A Handmade Chess Set

Need gifts for parents for Christmas that are unique, engaging and aesthetically pleasing? Encourage a little friendly competition in their house with a beautiful hand-carved Soap Stone and Wood Chess Set from Etsy. Even if they don’t play chess (yet!), they’re sure to keep this gorgeous chess set on display. 

Useful Gifts for Parents

19. Woodworking Classes

Trying to find gifts for people who have everything can feel impossible. Give them the gift of knowledge and experience and let them make their own masterpieces to take home!

In woodworking classes, they’ll enjoy cutting, carving and finishing their own wood pieces, and they can build upon these foundational skills for years to come. 

20. Glass Blowing Classes

What do you get parents that already have everything? Experience gifts are worth so much more than clutter, and there’s arguably no more thrilling experience than a glass blowing class!

In glass blowing classes, your parents will get to fire, melt and shape their own creative glasswork, bring home their glass pieces and make some incredible memories. 

21. Sewing Classes

Useful gifts for parents don’t always have to be things. Sewing classes will impart to them the basic knowledge they need to repair, tailor and even design their own clothes and home textiles.

Whether your parent is a seasoned sewist or a novice to notions, they’ll love this unique hands-on gift for parents.   

22. iRobot Roomba Vacuum

If you avoided your chores as a kid, it’s time to let your parents kick up their feet and relax. The iRobot Roomba i3+ EVO is an automatic, schedule-able smart vacuum that even empties itself for up to 60 days.

They’ll love having this efficient little helper to keep up with their regular floor cleaning — plus, they won’t have to bribe it with candy or quarters. 

23.  An Awesome Air Fryer

Air fryers are like the microwaves of the 21st century; every household ought to have one. 

The Fabuletta 9 Air Fryer from Amazon comes in the perfect size for two to four people and it comes in several colorways to look pretty on their countertop. Out of all the useful gifts, this is one that they’re practically guaranteed to use every week if not every day! 

24. Roku Ultra Streaming Player

If your parents are always complaining about their cable bills, complicated remotes and boring TV shows, pick up the Roku Ultra for just under $100 on Amazon.

This streaming device is one of the best gifts for parents from their child who is more tech-savvy than they are. Easy to install and simple to use, The Roku Ultra includes several free channels and movie services, and even voice control mode, headphones mode and lost remote finder. 

25. A Stovetop Espresso Maker

Stovetop espresso makers like the Grosche Milano Moka Pot are perfect gifts for parents for Christmas. Plus, Grosche pots come in a wide range of colors to suit their kitchen aesthetic. 

Easy to use and easy to clean, this pot creates beautifully concentrated espresso so they can make their own lattes and cappuccinos at home. 

Luxury Gifts for Parents

26. Their Favorite Cologne or Perfume

Before buying luxury gifts for parents, you’ll want to be sure that they’ll enjoy them! 

Next time you visit home, take a peek at your parents’ bathroom vanity to see which scents they use the most and purchase another bottle for them before they run out. This thoughtful gift for parents shows that you pay attention to their wants and needs. 

27. A Luxe Leather Duffle Bag

Next time they come to visit you, let them arrive in style with a fine leather duffel bag. The Kenneth Cole Reaction Duff Guy, originally listed at $249.99 on Amazon, comes in black, brown or cognac and features a full-grain Colombian leather exterior.

The dimensions also comply with most air travel carry-on requirements, so this is the perfect bag for parents who love to travel.

28. A Tempting Bottle of Tequila

A fine spirit is one of the most classic luxury gifts for parents for a reason. Clase Azul Reposado Tequila is a carefully crafted and aged 100% blue agave spirit that retails for around $145 from Total Wine & More.

Not only will they savor every drop of this sipping tequila, but the pretty bottle is sure to complement their bar cart. 

29. A Classy Cashmere Scarf

Any ordinary scarf will do in the winter, but your parents deserve to be wrapped in warmth and luxury! Great luxury gifts for parents are ones that they wouldn’t typically invest in for themselves but will make them think of you every time they reach for it.

A Signature Cashmere Scarf from Coach is the perfect upscale basic to get them through chilly days. 

30. A Fine Set of Sheets

Your parents deserve to feel like they’re wrapped in a hug every night. You may not always be there to hug them, but they’ll know how much you care when you give them luxurious sheets like the Signature Hemmed Sheet Set from Boll & Branch.

A standard king-size set is priced at $298, and the long-staple organic cotton material is designed to get softer but stay durable with every wash. 

Personalized Gifts for Parents

31. An Embroidered Garden Tote

The key to choosing amazing personalized gifts for parents is to lean into their hobbies. If your parent loves to garden, a durable Personalized Garden Tote from Etsy is the perfect gift to keep their favorite tools and supplies at arm’s length.

Choose your font, thread color and brief message like “Julie’s Garden” or “Papa’s Garden Tote.” 

32. Engraved Wind Chimes

Wind chimes are a great gift for anyone who enjoys gardening or relaxing outdoors. A Personalized Wind Chime set from Etsy lets you remind them of your love even on the stormiest of days.

Engrave the windsail with your parents’ names and anniversary date or a message from their children or grandchildren. 

33. A Watercolor House Portrait

Custom portraits are one of the most thoughtful and sentimental personalized gifts. A Watercolor House Portrait from Etsy is a creative take on the typical family portrait.

Transform a photo of your childhood home, their new house or their first house together into a watercolor portrait that will look gorgeous when displayed on the wall. 

After all that our parents have done and continue to do for us, they deserve to receive the best gifts. We hope this list of gifts for parents has inspired you with ways to spoil your loved ones and cherish every moment together! 

For even more fun gift ideas, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!