Boyfriend Gifts Made Easy

Having a hard time finding the right boyfriend gifts? These creative ideas will put you on the right track for finding gifts your boyfriend will really love!

Before you start, ask yourself:

• What’s the occasion?
• How serious is the relationship?
• What does he need?
• What does he want?

Also, keep in mind:

• Homemade gifts are great!
• His friends and family can help
• Give freely

What’s the occasion?

Different occasions call for different gifts. If it’s his birthday (and you’ve been together for awhile), consider giving a little more.

Anniversaries are also great opportunities to give meaningful, thoughtful boyfriend gifts. Spending a little more thought and money here is OK. No, not for the 3-month anniversary. That’s a little strange…save it for 6-month intervals at a minimum.

For all other gift giving occasions, less is more. The focus is on your thoughtfulness and appreciation, not on the gift itself. Extravagant gifts can set an expectation, and he may feel pressured to spend as much or even more in order to give you a gift that “measures up.”

How serious is the relationship?

Before thinking of the gift itself, consider your relationship with your boyfriend.

More serious?

• Pick a gift you can share
• Concert
• Weekend getaway
• Camping
• Etc.
• Thoughtful, romantic gifts are great! Especially if they’re homemade.
• Significant or more expensive gifts can be OK (especially for birthdays or anniversaries), but not required by any means

Relatively new boyfriend?

• Less is more – costly or extravagant boyfriend gifts may scare him off
• Give something that says “I saw this and thought of you” or “I thought you could use this” instead of “here’s an amazing gift – now marry me!”
• Give him something he needs – it shows you’re paying attention

What does he need?

The best gifts come from paying attention to your boyfriend. This requires some advanced planning, but it’s easy. Just listen during conversation for needs, and write them down so you don’t forget.

When the time comes, revisit your list. You’ll find tons of great gift ideas that he’ll love and that show you care.

Listen for common problems

Let’s face it. Little things in life can bug us. We break and lose things. Our favorite possessions often wear out after awhile. Give them a gift that makes life a little easier. Listen for:

• Something falling apart
• Something broken / not working
• Something uncomfortable
• Something they’ve misplaced

Replace it or fix it, and you’ve got a great gift!

Solve Daily Annoyances

Sometimes, your man needs your help to solve everyday annoyances.

• Always getting lost? Consider a GPS.
• Can never find the right tool for the job? Give a well-organized tool kit.
• Trouble lighting the charcoal grill? Give a charcoal chimney starter.
• Dog needs more exercise? Sign up for a trial with a dog walker while he’s at work.
• Does he forget birthdays? Give him a personalized calendar with all his friends’ birthdays on it.
• Lawn problems? Pay for a professional treatment.

Give Practical Gifts

While most women would never want to be given an iron, a man without an iron probably would (just make sure to give him an ironing board, too…before he ruins his kitchen table).
Most men like practical gifts, especially if they tend to be frugal. They don’t want to clutter their house with another decoration, they want a new hammer. Consider:

• Tools
• New wallet
• Clothing / accessories
• Battery-based car jumper
• Subscriptions / memberships
• Services – small repair jobs, cleaning, etc.
• Self-help / guide books
• Common household products

 However, there is a fine line between a helpful gift and one that says “you need to shape up.” Avoid boyfriend gifts like:

• Nose hair trimmer
• Gym membership (unless they’ve expressed an interest)
• Hair loss treatment

What does he want?

Wow, that’s a loaded question! To simplify, just ask yourself…what does he talk about?

Listen for:

• I’ve always wanted to…
• My dream day would be…
• I used to do (whatever) all the time, and I miss it.

Does he talk about how he never camps anymore? Get some new camping equipment and book a campsite.

Does he love the outdoors? How about:

• Canoeing
• Kayaking
• Rock climbing
• Picnicking
• Hiking

Is he a thrill seeker? Consider:

• Bungee jumping
• Parasailing
• Paragliding
• Skydiving
• Vertical wind tunnels
• Gliders

Is there a new food or restaurant he’s wanted to try? A new city he wants to visit? Ask these questions, listen to his dreams - make his wishes come true!

Make him a gift

Some of the best and most memorable gifts are the ones we make ourselves. Put your time and effort into creating something unique that he’ll enjoy.

Consider giving your boyfriend a homemade gift. If you’re not ready to go completely homemade, give the homemade gift along with a small store bought gift and card.

Great homemade boyfriend gifts include:

• Food!
• Favorite baked goods
• Nice, romantic dinner with his favorite dessert
• Local map of us – label a local map with your first date spot, first kiss, favorite coffee shop, etc.
• Book of messages – copy all of your IMs or emails into a word processing file and send it off to be printed professionally.
• Picture collage / timeline
• Personalized calendar

For more homemade gift ideas, check our homemade gift section.

Ask Friends and Family

Still stumped? Ask his best friend or family members. Maybe there was something on his Christmas list last year that he didn’t receive.

They’ll enjoy helping someone they care about, and they’ll appreciate your including them.

Give Freely and Unconditionally

Lastly, no matter what you give, give it without expecting anything in return.
Sure, they probably got you something. But they probably didn’t come across this article and won’t know how to plan an amazing gift like you have.

So share your joy and appreciation as part of your gift to him, no matter what he gives you. Trust me, if you keep giving gifts like those discussed in this article, he’ll catch on and start to do the same in no time!

More Boyfriend Gifts

Don't forget - your boyfriend is "one of the guys" too! Check out these great gift ideas for men.

Or, see what gifts others are recommending for boyfriends.

Also, take advantage of our interactive community. Check out our gift reviews for feedback on gift given by others.

Or, search through our gift questions and answers for gift ideas and advice. If you don't find the answer you're looking for, please post a new question!