60 Gifts to Give Every Type of Mom
This Mother's Day, give your mom a gift she'll love. Here are a few of our suggestions for gifts for every type of mom, from coffee lovers to skincare enthusiasts to Doctor Who fanatics.
For Moms Who Love to Cook
1. Compact swivel cheeseboard; $42-$64
Coming in both 13-inch and 17-inch versions, this cheeseboard unfolds from a wedge shape to a fully circular board when it's time to serve. Great for saving space, each segment unfolds onto a different tier, making it easy to separate cheeses from the fruits and crackers. Plus, it comes with a fork and knife set for cutting and spreading. When you're all done, put the utensils in the built-in drawer and fold the whole thing back up.
Find it: UncommonGoods
2. Mason Jar Herb Garden; $20
These mason jars are a cute way to grow herbs. Simply add water and find a nice sunny spot for the plants to grow—the jars have an interior hydroponic system that makes sure the plants get the right amount of moisture.
Find it: UncommonGoods
3. Chop Wizard; $25
If your mom is looking to save some time in the kitchen, this device will make quick work of dicing up onions, peppers, or any other vegetable in need of chopping.
Find it: Amazon
4. Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat; $20
If your mom was a big fan of Netflix's Salt Fat Acid Heat with chef Samin Nosrat, give her the cookbook that started it all. This innovative cookbook (which features 100 core recipes with endless spin-offs) teaches home chefs how to harness the four elements of cooking—salt, fat, acid, and heat—for more delicious meals. Illustrations and infographics bring the recipes to life.
Find it: Amazon
5. Make Your Own Hot Sauce Kit; $35
Hot sauce tastes even better when it's homemade. This kit comes with gloves, bottles, ingredients, and everything needed to make six 5-ounce bottles of hot sauce at home.
Find it: UncommonGoods
For Moms Who Love Coffee and Tea
6. Animal-Shaped Tea Infuser Set; $20
These charming animal-shaped silicone devices can be filled with loose tea leaves and hooked onto the side of a mug to steep. The five-piece set comes with a shark, a monkey, a platypus, an elephant, and a squirrel.
Find it: Amazon
7. Death Wish Coffee; $20
If your mom is always asking for an extra shot of espresso, you should introduce her to this super strong coffee. Considered one of the most caffeinated coffees in the world, Death Wish packs a punch of 708 milligrams of caffeine per 12-ounce cup (a regular coffee will run 195 milligrams or so).
Find it: Amazon
8. Heat-Changing Constellation Mug; $16
This mug just shows a blank starry sky, but with a little hot liquid, constellations will appear.
Find it: Amazon
9. Blooming Tea Flowers and Teapot Set; $48
These tea-infused flowers blossom when they're placed in hot water, creating a beautiful (and delicious) teatime experience. Each flower is good for about three infusions, and you can choose two flavors from six options. The set comes with a glass teapot with a built-in wire filter.
Find it: The Grommet
10. Ninja Hot and Cold Brewed System; $180
Whether your mom is a coffee snob, a tea connoisseur, or a latte lover, Ninja's all-purpose brew machine can do it all. The smart system can detect whether it's brewing tea or coffee and adjust water temperatures accordingly, can make specialty drinks with frothed milk, and can make cold brew in just a few minutes. It has a delay-brew function and can be adjusted to make everything from a single cup of coffee to a travel mug to half a carafe to a whole carafe. Though there's a cheaper glass-carafe version, both Mental Floss Editor in Chief Erin McCarthy and Associate Editor Shaunacy Ferro swear by the slightly pricier model with a thermal carafe, which can keep drinks hot or cold for hours.
For Moms Who Are Into Wellness
11. Fitbit Inspire HR; $100
The Inspire line packs a lot of features in to a small band that doesn't take up too much wrist real estate. The sleek bracelet keeps track of heart rate, steps, and sleep patterns, among other health information. It can also guide the wearer through breathing exercises based on their heart rate, keeps track of pace and distance in real-time, and automatically recognizes different types of exercise. Oh, and it is waterproof, so it works in the swimming pool. If mom doesn't love the original band, Fitbit also makes plenty of alternative accessories that will allow her to personalize and dress up her tracker.
Find it: Amazon
12. N.O.W. Mindfulness Tone Therapy System; $149
Solu’s N.O.W. (New Origin Waveforms) meditation speakers are designed to help the user attain inner peace in a cacophonous world. The dual speakers generate calming tones that are designed to aid in focus. The relaxing tones, which never repeat, play for three minutes, then shut off automatically, giving mom the perfect moment of calm.
Find it: The Grommet
13. Running Belt; $17
Running with a smartphone can be tricky, what with the lack of pockets. This subtle fanny pack offers a zippered belt to store items while jogging.
Find it: Amazon
14. 24-OUNCE INFUSER WATER BOTTLE; $20
Fruits like strawberries and lemons can give water a nice little kick. This water bottle has a chamber for fruits and vegetables that give the water a refreshing taste.
Find it: Amazon
15. Doga; $21
Yoga is a lot more fun with a furry friend. This hardcover book comes with full color photographs and tutorials showing the reader how to incorporate their pets into their yoga routine.
Find it: Amazon
16. My Athlete Subscription Box; $20 to $51
If your mom loves to hit the gym, then get her a box filled with goodies that will make her workout even better. The My Athlete Box from Cratejoy is a monthly subscription service that sends out healthy snacks, apparel, and fitness and beauty products geared toward women. If your mom has a particular athletic passion, you can also choose a more tailored subscription box—Cratejoy offers subscriptions for hikers, yogis, jiu-jitsu enthusiasts, cyclists, tennis players, lifters, and more. (See the site’s full health and fitness options here.)
Find it: Cratejoy
17. Sunski Sunglassess; $58
These stylish, durable sunglasses are lightweight (they're made with polycarbonate), and, thanks to flexible arms, they stay put on your face—they won't slide down your mom's nose during a workout. They're not so expensive that mom will be kicking herself if she breaks them, but even if she does, it's not a big deal: They come with a lifetime warranty.
Find it: Amazon
18. Chaco Women's Outcross Evo 1 Hiking Shoe; $97
These hiking sneakers slip on and off easily, breathe well (and dry quickly) thanks to a mesh upper, and are built to endure serious wear and tear, so mom will get great use out of them.
Find it: Amazon
For DIY Enthusiast Moms
19. Candle-Making Kit; $43
This kit has everything you need to make your own candles at home. From fragrances to different dyes, your mom will be in complete control of the four candles she wants to make
Find it: Amazon
20. Fix It Kit; $30
This vegan leather case pretty much has all the tools your mom might need to fix things around the house. The case, which comes in black or pink, contains a hammer, flashlight, long-nose pliers, tape measure, screwdriver, interchangeable handle, four sockets, 10 screwdriver bits, and a socket extension.
Find it: UncommonGoods
21. Geometric Terrarium; $22
Why give mom flowers when you can give her a DIY garden that will let her express her creative side? This glass geometric case can house all sorts of succulents, moss, cacti or any other items your mom wants to pack inside. KooK, the company behind the terrarium, also suggests you put a candle and colorful stones inside for some unique home decor.
Find it: Amazon
22. The Kaufmann Mercantile Guide: How to Split Wood, Shuck an Oyster, and Master Other Simple Pleasures; $18
This how-to book from Alexandra Redgrave and Jessica Hundley is designed to teach the reader how to be an expert at all of life’s tasks, from the simple (brewing the perfect cup of coffee) to the utilitarian (reading the night sky). In each of the five sections—kitchen, outdoors, home, gardening, and grooming—your mom can find numerous projects that will allow her to “experience the singular satisfaction of doing it yourself.”
Find it: Amazon
23. Beer Making Kit; $47
Beer tastes so much better when someone you know brewed it. This kit provides everything needed to create an IPA right at home. With replacement ingredients, the whole kit is reusable.
Find it: Amazon
For Moms Who Are Skincare Obsessives
24. Conair Double-Sighted Lighted Makeup Mirror; $64
Light-up mirrors are so helpful, your mother is going to wonder why you didn't buy her one sooner. The ring around the mirror gives off a natural hue with LED lights—with low, medium, and bright settings operated by touch control—and offers magnification that helps her see tiny details for precise makeup application. Oh, and it's great for selfie lighting, too.
Find it: Amazon
25. Nature Republic Sheet Mask Variety Pack; $8
Face masks are one of the easiest ways to relax and take care of your skin. Mom will love these luxurious pre-moistened sheet masks from Korean beauty staple Nature Republic. This variety pack comes with 10 masks in great smells like aloe, cucumber, green tea, and avocado. (If you know your mom really loves face masks, we also recommend this massive 100-pack of Korean masks for just $40.)
Find it: Amazon
26. Bath Bomb Gift Set; $27
Bath bombs can be a pricey luxury, but this set offers 12 for just $27. The scents included are angel, black raspberry vanilla, shower, beach, kiwi strawberry, lavender, lemongrass green tea, love, mango papaya, melon ball, shea and coconut, and Victorian rose.
Find it: Amazon
27. PEACE OUT Microneedling Dark Spot Brightening Dots; $28
Not everyone can afford laser treatments to minimize dark spots caused by aging, sun, or acne. If getting a laser session for mom is out of the question, PEACE OUT’s budget-friendly alternative will make a great gift. The patch’s microneedles deliver a type of Vitamin B called nacinamide, skin-brightening licorice extract, and tranexamic acid directly into the skin; all mom has to do is press the patch, microneedle side down, onto clean skin for 10 seconds, then leave on overnight. Doing so twice over two weeks, for four treatments total, will visibly lighten dark spots.
Find it: Sephora
28. Dermalinfusion Facial; Prices Vary by Location
This skin-resurfacing treatment is so relaxing, your mom might drift off to sleep. The facial combines exfoliation and extraction while injecting serums that target conditions like aging, hyperpigmentation, congestion, and dry skin. Aestheticians run a tool equipped with an exfoliating, recessed diamond tip and pneumatic suction across the face. The tips come in various levels of abrasion and can be swapped out based on your skin type. (They can even be used under the eyes and on the lips!) Mom’s skin will be plumper—and glowing—after treatment, and she’ll get to see all the stuff that came out of her skin, which ends up in a jar she can scope out afterwards.
Find out where you can book one at EnvyMedical.
For Moms Who Love to Travel
29. Shrimp Travel Pillow; $12
Have a humor-loving mother who loves to fly but hates neck trouble? This neck pillow will help mid-flight naps be more comfortable—and best of all, it looks like a gigantic shrimp. For Francophiles, there's also a croissant version. (If your mom wouldn't be caught dead with plush seafood around her neck, the compact, unobtrusive Trtle travel pillow is an excellent low-key choice.)
Find it: Amazon
30. Scratch-Off World Map; $17
Travelers can mark their progress on this world map by using a coin to scratch off areas of the map after they've visited. After enough trips, the maps will turn from gold to Technicolor.
Find it: Amazon
31. Pack This! List; $7
When packing, it's good to have a mother around to ask "did you remember to bring … ?" But who helps mothers pack? This helpful pad lists out all the usual things that someone might want to bring on a trip.
Find it: Amazon
For Moms Who Love Books
32. Bamboo Bathtub Caddy; $40
Reading in the bath is a lot easier with a place to put the book. This bamboo stand balances over the lip of the tub and even has a place for a glass of wine.
Find it: Paper Source
33. SCRATCH-OFF BOOK POSTER; $35
Like the scratch-off map, this poster lets the owner show off. The chart has 100 "essential novels" with gold covers. As your mom works her way through the books, she can scratch off the foil and reveal a new cover underneath.
Find it: Pop Chart Lab
34. Bicycle Book Ends; $65
These carbon steel bookends look like a bicycle, suggesting that each book is a journey.
Find it: UncommonGoods
35. Tequila Mockingbird; $12
Fans of literature and puns will be tickled by this clever book, which features cocktail recipes with names inspired by classic books. There are 65 recipes in total along with blurbs about the books' history, recipes for bar snacks, and charming illustrations.
Find it: Amazon
36. STORIARTS Book-Themed Infinity Scarf; $48
Whether your mom is a fan of Dickens, Charlotte Bronte, Roald Dahl, or Louisa May Alcott, STORIARTS has the scarf for her. The literary-themed jersey cotton infinity scarves come in a variety of colors and fonts designed to match the text it celebrates, from “The Raven” to “A Tale of Two Cities, to The Little Prince.
Find it: The Grommet
For High-Tech Moms
37. Tile Bluetooth Tracking Tags; $100 for Four
Save your mom the trouble of searching for missing belongings with tracking devices for her keychain and wallet. Tile trackers connect to an app via Bluetooth so that the user can easily locate them. The combo pack comes with two Tile Mate keychain trackers and two Tile Slim trackers designed to be slipped into a wallet or bag or stuck to a laptop.
Find it: Amazon
38. Fujifilm Instax Instant Camera; $69
This fun, brightly colored camera takes instant pictures that are perfect for sticking in a cubicle or on the fridge. The four-piece starter bundle comes with enough film for 10 prints, a carrying case, a strap, and batteries.
Find it: Amazon
39. ECHO DOT; $30
The Echo Dot is the perfect virtual assistant for all your smart home needs. Moms just need to say "Alexa," and they can turn smart devices off and on, order pizza, or call a cab.
Find it: Amazon
40. Oculus Go VR Headset; $149
Proof that we're living in the future: Virtual reality is now a thing, and it's relatively affordable. This lightweight headgear can virtually transport the wearer to any environment, playing 360-degree games, videos, and images. It has social features that allow users to watch movies together, play a game, or meet up in virtual reality—get one for yourself, too, so you and mom can get some face-to-face time when you're far from home.
Find it: Amazon
For Audiophile Moms
41. DOSS Portable Bluetooth Speaker; $30
Give mom the gift of some sweet tunes with this Bluetooth speaker. Though runs for less than $30 on Amazon, it punches above its weight in terms of sound quality. It offers impressive stereo sound and enhanced bass on the move. With 12 hours of battery time and a weight of just over 1 pound, it's perfect for the park, the camp ground, or a backyard barbeque.
Find it: Amazon
42. Record player suitcase; $42
Moms can take tunes on the go with this record player that folds up like a suitcase. The baby blue device comes a with a three-speed vinyl record player with auxiliary inputs and built-in Bluetooth capabilities.
Find it: Amazon
43. Music Transposition Ring; $17
This ring comes with a music transposition chart that can be kept on hand at all times. The lovely homage to music theory is both fashionable and practical.
Find it: UncommonGoods
44. JBL Noise-Cancelling Headphones; $200
As much as your mom loves you and your family, she probably needs some peace and quiet occasionally. Give her the ability to tune out the chaos of the world with sound-cancelling wireless headphones. These wireless JBL headphones boast Alexa and Google Assistant compatibility and 30 hours of battery life, and were one of CNET's best noise-cancelling headphones for 2019.
Find it: Amazon
For Geeky Moms
45. Doctor Who Cookbook; $15
Have a Whovian for a mother? Now she can make all kinds of meals and treats loosely based on the popular franchise. The cookbook comes with 40 time-bending recipes to try.
Find it: Amazon
46. Geologic Time Mug; $30
With this geologic time scale mug from the Unemployed Philosopher's Guild, your mom can observe billions of years of Earth's history all while sipping her morning coffee. And once she downs her precious java, she'll be treated to the engraving of a trilobite fossil at the bottom of the mug. From the formation of the planet (called the Hadean Eon) to today's Anthropocene age, this is probably the most informative coffee mug on the market (outside of one that says "World's Best Mom," of course).
Find it: Amazon
47. SOLAR SYSTEM NECKLACE; $55
Deck your mom out in jewels that represent the planets of the solar system. The 18-inch bib necklace contains high-quality digital images of the sun, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and, of course, Pluto. Each necklace is also handmade, for a more personal touch.
Find it: UncommonGoods
48. GAME OF THRONES WINE GLASSES; $70
Celebrate your mom's love of George R.R. Martin's fantasy epic with this set of Game of Thrones wine glasses, each of which features the sigil of the major houses of Westeros.
Find it: HBO
For Moms Who Love Animals
49. Custom Pet Portrait; $169
Your mom may already have at least one studio portrait of you hanging at home. Now, give her the chance to celebrate your pet sibling(s) in the same way. Send in a photo of your mom's dog or cat (or any other pet species) to My Pooch Face and an artist will render them in loving color, either in natural hues or with a pop of extra rainbow flair. The portraits are printed with archival-quality ink and paper and mounted on a 1-inch display that begs to be given prime placement around the house. If your mom has multiple beloved pets, you can upgrade to a portrait of two animals for $279. As one reviewer notes, "Don’t give it a second thought. Order your Pooch face product and be amazed!"
Find it: The Grommet
50. Boston Terrier Umbrella; $23
This umbrella has a bubble shape that allows your mom to protect her face from oncoming rain. It's clear so she can still see while walking, but is adorned with two fun illustrations of Boston terriers. (There is also a cat version.)
Find it: Amazon
51. Pet DNA Test; $99
If your mom is a proud cat lady, she'll love getting the opportunity to learn even more about her furry friend. Basepaws, which calls itself the world's first cat DNA test, helps users learn about their cat's breed origins and other genetic information. Mom just needs to send in a little bit of her cat's hair, mail it in, and wait for the result. (If your mom is a dog person, there is a test for that, too.)
Find it: Amazon
For Moms Who Are Art Connoisseurs
52. Frida Kahlo Doll; $19
This 11-inch-tall plus doll of painter Frida Kahlo is clad in a traditional Mexican dress and has a little monkey on her shoulder. The Unemployed Philosophers Guild's Little Thinkers series also features plush versions of other artists, like Andy Warhol, as well as historic luminaries in fields like science, politics, psychology, and more.
Find it: Amazon
53. Vigvog Art Socks; $17
This set comes with eight pairs of socks, all dedicated to different pieces of artwork. Your mom's feet will love paying homage to the classics.
Find it: Amazon
54. Starry Night Puzzle; $18
Van Gogh's Starry Night makes for a surprisingly good puzzle. This 1000-piece jigsaw promises a great family night trying to reconstruct the classic painting.
Find it: Amazon
55. Garden of Earthly Delights Figurine; $49
Action figures aren't just for kids—moms will love them too, especially when they're modeled after classic paintings. Amazon has a whole collection of nefarious characters from Hieronymus Bosch's The Garden of Earthly Delights.
Find it: Amazon
56. The Scream Bandages; $8
Most moms of younger kids have a few bandages hiding up their sleeves in case one of their children gets hurt. Arm your mom with special bandages featuring The Scream. There are 15 large strips in each tin (plus a free prize).
Find it: Amazon
For Moms Who Love the Classics
57. Flowers
If you want to keep it traditional, you can't go wrong with a bouquet of flowers. The Bouqs is a wonderful flower company that gets its supplies from eco-friendly farms. You can order ahead or use their same-day delivery option.
Find it: The Bouqs
58. STATE WINE CORK HOLDER; $35
Wine is a classic gift for mom, but go the more personal route this time around by giving her this cork holder in the shape of any state you want. Whether we're talking about birth states or adopted homes, this gift is great for any mom who takes pride in where she's from.
Find it: UncommonGoods
59. Harry and David Gift Baskets
Harry and David has long been a favorite destination for family gifts. After all, who can resist their chocolate covered fruits or their sea salt caramels? And if your mom doesn't have a sweet tooth, the company offers gift baskets with things like coffee, wine, and other food items. The company's Mother's Day gift basket starts at $89.
Find it: Harry and David
60. Handy Home Cleaning Services
Sometimes, the simplest gifts can be the best. Give your mom the peace of mind of coming home to a spotless house by hiring a cleaning service. (Perhaps one that can arrive while you're taking her out for Mother's Day brunch?) Just tell Handy the size of her space, any extra tasks you'd like the cleaner to perform—we suggest upgrading to an oven cleaning and a fridge scrubbing—and preferred time, and the service will send over a cleaning professional. If you truly want to win Mother's Day, you can set mom up with a recurring appointment. (Or at least get her an autonomous robot vacuum.)
Find it: Handy
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A version of this article first ran in 2017. It has been updated to reflect current availability.