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The Best Gifts For Men | Mega Guide for Gift Inspiration

by on Nov 18, 2018

Shutterstock / g-stockstudio

It’s that time of year where you scour shops for the perfect gift for the guy in your life. You want something that will make him “ooh” and “ahh,” or smile and chuckle. We know coming up with gift ideas for men can be tough. Lots of guys aren’t willing (or able) to tell you what they really want. And thinking of holiday or birthday gifts for men that are really unique can feel overwhelming.

We’ve taken out a lot of the work and rounded up the coolest gifts for men from around the web! From tools to gourmet food kits to wooden cuff links, there’s something for every man on your list. Here are our favorite gifts for men, in varying price points (and from a variety of shops). We’ve also included a bunch of DIY gifts – cool ideas you can make yourself!

If you scroll down this page, you’ll find we’ve done hours of research looking for the best holiday gifts, birthday gifts, and DIY ideas.                

Birthday Gifts for Men

Franklin Barbecue recipe and meat smoking book
Amazon

Franklin Barbecue: A Meat-Smoking Manifesto by Aaron Franklin and Jordan Mackay: $30

A complete meat and brisket-cooking education from the country’s most celebrated pit-master and owner of the wildly popular Austin restaurant Franklin Barbecue.

A glossy cookbook like this one is one of my favorite birthday gifts for men to give. Why? Because it’s informative, useful, and it makes for a great addition to the coffee table.
Moscow mule cups
West Elm

Moscow Mule Cups from West Elm: $24.

Perfect for celebrating with his friends. Cheers to great gifts!

Cedar sage candle
GH Bass & Co.

Whiskey Glass Candle – Cedar Sage from GH Bass & Co.: $28

This gift is simple and restrained – could be just right for a co-worker, cousin, or even a father-in-law!

Buffalo check blanket
Kaufmann Meracntile

Rob Roy Buffalo Check Throw from Kaufmann Mercantile: $85 

Simple accessories like this are always a safe bet. Plus, what person doesn’t need more blankets in their life?

Timex watch
Cool Material

Timex Weekender Oversized Chrono from Cool Material: $80

Watches make great gifts for your boyfriend, husband, or any other special boy in your life, and this weekender watch is fashionably flexible. It’s perfect for office dress, going out on the town, or anywhere in between.

Oak night stand
Etsy

Oak Wood Charging Station and Nightstand from Paybacks A Beach: $40

So organized, so suave.

Wood handled french press
World Market

Wood-handled French press from World Market: $25

Tall, dark, and handsome – just like your man.

Bath and body kit
Birchbox

Off the Clock Bath and Body Kit from Birchbox: $55

Birchbox has a lot of great gift ideas for men, including a few bath and body kits, like this one.

Stainless steel straws
Food 52

 Stainless Steel Straws – Set of 10 from Food 52: $32

Not only do they save the sea turtles, but they look so classy doing it.

Bike pack growler holder
Food 52

Bicycle-Mounted Growler Holder and Stainless Steel Growler from Food 52: $90

Guys love their gear. This one is definitely an attention grabber.


Cool Christmas Gifts for Men

Liquid plastic welder

 

Amazon

Bondic Liquid Plastic Welder from Amazon: $24

This little tool is a must for any fixer upper. Repair toys, glasses, jewelry, and more! It can even fill in 3D sections and be sanded down!

 

Baseball Bat Bottle Opener from Uncommon Goods: $115

For the guy who loves baseball, this little opener is handy enough to keep in a pocket, and looks great on any bar cart.

 

Set of Beer Jelly from Uncommon Goods: $30

If you know a guy who’s into gourmet food, this set of beer jellies make perfect gifts for him. Comes with an oatmeal stout, pale ale, IPA, and porter! $30

 

Gift Guide: 25 Gifts For Guys That Will Rock Their World

 

Photo: Amazon

Guitar Pick Punch from Amazon: $25

A great gift for a musician or guitarist. Turn old cards, hotel keys, and more into guitar picks.

 

Man Crates: $55

Forget gift baskets… it’s all about gift crates now. These curated crates come chock full of small gifts for guys, based on his interest. From meats and Bloody Marys, to DIY kits and grilling gear, there’s a crate for everyone.

 

Solid cologne

 

The Mod Cabin

Solid cologne by The Mod Cabin: $24

If he could live outdoors, but is stuck in the office all day, these scents are perfect gifts for him to help him smell the mountain air indoors.

 

OrbitKey

 

Amazon

OrbitKey Leather Key Ring from Amazon: $39

This gift is pretty cool – keep keys in a neat, tight bunch and pull them out one at a time, pocket-knife style!

 

Rib-O-Lator

 

Amazon 

Rib-O-Lator BBQ Rotisserie Attachment from Amazon: $99

He can rotisserie all his favorite foods at the same time, without any of them burning or drying out. Fits most gas grills and smokers.

 

John Lennon Letters - The book

 

Amazon

The John Lennon Letters from Amazon: $20

For the ultimate Beatles fan, a book compiled of letters written by John Lennon throughout his life.

 

Beard grooming kit

 

Amazon

Beard Grooming Kit from Amazon: $65

A kit is one of the best gifts for men, and this one is ideal for your bearded beau. Complete with oil, soap, a comb, beard balm, and shampoo! It’s the ultimate in beard-grooming.

 

Slim Wallet from Supr Good Co.: $25

For the card-carrying minimalist, these wallets are super thin and lightweight, and will help him carry only the necessities.

 

Ticket stub organizer

 

Amazon

Ticket Stub Organizer from Amazon: $16

This is one of those unique gifts for men. If he’s nostalgic and has a collection of tickets from every concert and show he’s ever been to, help him keep them safe and organized.

 

Steak thermometer

 

Amazon

SteakChamp Steak Thermometer from Amazon: $50

He can cook it right every time with the ultimate steak thermometer. Goes right into the steak and cooks with it. A light goes off when it has reached the desired temperature.

 

Heat-resistant gloves

 

Amazon

BlueFire Pro Heat Resistant Gloves from Amazon: $30

If you have a fire-pit in your backyard, or you just camp a lot, these heat resistant gloves will keep you out of the emergency room!

 

Taco tee

 

Etsy

Taco Tee from Xenotees via Etsy: $25

Gift ideas for men who love tacos! Not just for Tuesdays.

 

Dollar Shave Club Membership: $100 for 12 months

Looking for gift ideas for men that just keep on giving? Have new razors and skincare products sent right to his door each month! The first month comes in a super stylish and sturdy wooden box.

 

Drink Rocks from Areaware: $35

Keep beverages undiluted and chilled in style. Bonus: these rocks double as office art!

 

Concrete Desk Set from Areaware: $40

Organize odds & ends in the office with these sleek concrete desk accessories. Comes with a pencil cup, tray, and tape dispenser.

 

Laptop table

 

LapPad

Laptop Table & Mobile Workstation from LapPad: $110

He’ll be able to work anywhere in the house with this mobile workstation. We recommend the couch.

 

Defrosting tray

 

Amazon

Defrosting Tray from Amazon: $24

Gifts for men don’t have to be impractical – thaw meat FAST with this super magic tray! Takes only 30-60 minutes depending on thickness!

 

Hot sauce kit from Williams Sonoma: $50

Here are some unique gifts for men: How about gifting creative kits? With this kit, he can create his ideal hot sauce at home, and transform the way food tastes.

 

Touchscreen watch

 

Target

Touchscreen Brown Leather Watch from Target: $255

This would look good on any wrist. The touchscreen gives it that “Apple watch” feel, but in a more stylish way.

 

Wood cufflinks

 

Etsy

Wooden Cufflinks from The Shameless via Etsy: $23

If he’s an outdoorsman, add these to your hubby’s sleeves.

 

Portable golf net

 

Amazon

Portable Golf Net from Amazon: $130

Hit anywhere with this portable net to perfect your drive and your game.

 

Headphone organizer

 

Amazon

Headphone Organizer from Amazon: $7

Now he’ll be able to keep his headphones tangle-free!

 


The Best DIY Gift Ideas for Guys (With Buyable Options!)

So, you’ve been through all the store-bought gifts for men, but you want something more personal. Not a problem! Here are some really thoughtful DIY gift ideas for men in your life. While guys always seem a little bit more tricky to make gifts for, these cool gifts are too cool not to try. Here are some awesome gifts for him you can make yourself.  

I love making gifts for them whenever I can, but it can be difficult to come up with a super awesome DIY idea that men will actually like/want to use. So, here are some awesome gift ideas for men, each paired with buyable alternatives if you run out of time and just want to buy something similar.

Knitted cowlSusk and Banoo

 

Mama In A Stitch

Manly Man Beginner Knit Cowl from Mama in a Stitch

A warm, handmade cowl is a great gift to give the special guys in your life. Don’t know how to knit? There are some great options for purchase on Etsy.

 

Electric camp lamp DIYBryson for ManMade

 

ManMadeDIY

DIY Electric Camp Lantern from ManMadeDIY

This vintage lamp that’s been brought into the 21st century belongs in your dude’s life. Make one yourself, or purchase a version from Etsy.

 

DIY shaving creamThe Chic Self

 

The Chic Site

DIY Shaving Cream from The Chic Site

This gift is easy to create, and he’ll appreciate the effort. If you’re looking for a quick but organic shaving cream, try TICO* shave oil.

 

Leather-wrapped flaskI Spy DIY

 

I Spy DIY

DIY Leather Wrapped Flask from I Spy DIY

Want one monogrammed? For $15 you can!

 

Personalized tie clipWholly Kao

 

Lovely Indeed

Personalized Leather Tie Clip from Lovely Indeed

Also, there are tons of styles on Etsy for around $20 apiece.

 

DIY leather walletThe Merrythought

 

The Merrythought

DIY Leather Wallet from The Merrythought

For the minimal man in your life. Or, get one monogrammed for around $20.

 

DIY pomadeRyan Foy

 

Momtastic

DIY Hair Pomade from Momtastic

It’s incredible how few ingredients actually are needed to make hair pomade. You can also find some cute handmade hair products over on Etsy.

 

DIY geo cufflinksAlmost Makes Perfect

 

Almost Makes Perfect

DIY Geo Cufflinks from Almost Makes Perfect

Little gifts for men that are handsome and on-trend! There are plenty of other precious stones on cufflinks to be found online.

 

DIY necktieJoe & Cheryl

 

We Can Make Anything

DIY Neck Tie from We Can Make Anything

Why do ties cost so much? They’re so easy to make on your own – and the man in your life will appreciate the custom attention you’ve given this gift (fortunately the handmade variety are also affordable for purchase). 

 

Swiss Army key ringJason Poel Smith

 

Make:

DIY Key Ring from a Swiss Army Knife from Make:

This is such a cool idea. Instead of blades, it’s keys! You’ll have to be sneaky about getting ahold of his keyring though… we talked about a leather version of this type of keychain earlier – buy it here!

 

DIY beard balmTransient Expression

 

DIY Network

DIY Beard Balm from DIY Network

Know a father with facial hair? A beau with a beard? A guy with a grizzly mug? Make him a batch of beard balm to tame his facial tresses (or spring to purchase a complete beard care kit).

 

Travel pouchMelissa Mortenson

 

We All Sew

DIY Zippered Travel Pouch from We All Sew

If you are looking for cool gifts for a jet-setting man in your life, you could make him this cute travel bag. Or, opt to buy a personalized toiletry bag.

 

Wooden triangle shelvesThe Merrythought

 

The Merrythought

DIY Wooden Triangle Shelves from The Merrythought

Gift ideas for men don’t have to be restrained to personal style or entertainment. Men appreciate good home decor, too. Find a premade version of this shelf style on Etsy

 

DIY leather luggage tagAlmost Makes Perfect

 

Almost Makes Perfect

DIY Leather Travel Tag from Almost Makes Perfect

DIY gifts for men who travel. There are tons of monogrammed and embossed options on Etsy as well.

Studs and Buttonholes
Studs and Buttonholes

Men’s hat makeover from Studs and Buttonholes

Old hat laying around that he never wears? Surprise him by giving it a makeover. There are also lots of various styles on Etsy.

Gifts for men - Leather key cover
The Merrythought

DIY Leather Key Cover from The Merrythought

One of the smaller, yet unique gift ideas for men on this list. You can also purchase a personalized leather key sleeve for around $6.

Hand-painted tie
Momtastic

Hand-painted DIY tie from Momtastic

A handmade look and a thoughtful touch to this typical guy’s gift. Looking to buy? Check out these hand-painted silk options.

Edison lamp
Curbly

Wooden Edison Bulb Table Lamp from Curbly

Show off your woodworking skills to your man. Don’t have any? Don’t worry –  you can buy a version of this lamp here.

Leather iPhone wallet
Melissa Esplin

DIY iPhone Wallet from Melissa Esplin

A useful and cool gift idea for the organized guy. Buy lots of great versions on Etsy.

Tripod camping stool
Design Sponge

DIY Tripod Camping Stool from Design Sponge

This is more of an expert level DIY, so if you’d like to buy one, you can grab a 3-leg stool for around $37.

Wood slice serving board
ManMadeDIY

DIY Wood Slice Serving Board from MadeMadeDIY

You can make this wood serving board for around $15. Pay a little extra to get a pre-made one.

Leather notebook
Paper & Stitch

DIY Leather Bound Notepad from Paper & Stitch

Create these cool gifts for guys in just 10 minutes, or check out this cute leather-bound notebook for $30.

DIY Camera Strap
The Crafty Gentleman

DIY Camera Strap from The Crafty Gentleman

Know a guy who shoots (pictures)? Make him a unique camera strap, or buy a handmade one here.

DIY Leather Tool Grips
The Merrythought

DIY Leather Tool Grips from The Merrythought

Even if he might work hard, he can keep his hands soft with some leather tool grips. We can’t seem to find a buyable version for this project, but a revolving leather hole punch will come in handy when making your DIY leather gifts.

A man in a suit is straightening a salmon colored tie.
Oh Happy Day

DIY Shrinky Dink Tie Tack from Oh Happy Day

These make silly and cool gifts for dad. Personalized tie clips are also inexpensive to order on Etsy.

"Braided rope with watch."
Instructables

DIY Woven Paracord Bracelet Watch from Instructables

The kind of gift a military man might enjoy. Buy a similar version here.

Monogrammed leather cufflinks
Almost Makes Perfect

DIY Leather Monogrammed Leather Cufflinks from Almost Makes Perfect

A perfectly personal gift for him. No time? Buy monogrammed leather cufflinks online.


Gift Ideas for Men
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Have your own gift ideas for men? Share them in the comments below!

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