All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
The first step to buying great gifts for grandparents is admitting you've never really bought them a gift before. That's right. We see you. We know you've offloaded this task to your parents your whole life, merely signing your name to a gift you had no part in picking. (Heck, you didn't even buy the card.) That off-loading stops now. Your grandparents are gold; it's time to treat them as such. Of course, each grandparent comes with their own sets of interests—hosting, cooking, or gardening, maybe—and it’s key to get them a thoughtful gift that shows just how much you love them. Read on for the best grandparent gifts.
For grandparents who need to upgrade their coffee (or tea) setup
I love my grandma and grandpa, but staying at their house means enduring K-cups of Folger’s. (My grandpa doesn’t drink coffee, so they can’t justify a whole pot, and my grandma likes that inky-black burnt flavor.) If your grandparents similarly need to be persuaded to upgrade, here are some coffee gifts—including one of our favorite coffee makers, new coffee mugs, and a subscription to great beans—that will put them on the third wave. (Also included: a few tea-related gifts for non-coffee drinkers.)
For grandparents who love experimenting with new technology
Grandparent cooking shouldn’t be relegated to the realm of cozy old-fashioned casseroles and trays of homemade cookies. (Though, if you’re reading this, Grandma, please never stop making cookies!). Learning how to sous vide could be just the project for a newly retired grandfather or grandmother who has plenty of time to master a new skill. Or they can jump on the air fryer train with the Epi-staff favorite Joule toaster oven/air fryer combo. And smart speakers and tablets in the kitchen are a great way for them to access a whole host of cooking intel they’ve never had before (plus, it's just fun to hear your grandma ask Alexa to set a timer). A robot vacuum will bring them joy and mean less sweeping up after their grandkids when they come over for cookie decorating during the holiday season.
For grandparents who might need to downsize their cooking gadgets
If your grandparents have downsized, they may be paring back their pots and pans and kitchen tools. So why give them more stuff to deal with? Because the right kitchen tool can do the work of many. (Yes, I’m obviously referring to the Instant Pot, but also this crazy Euro gadget, the Thermomix, which you can read more about here).
For grandparents looking to lighten their load
My grandmother is also currently on the hunt for cookware that’s lighter since she has trouble lifting heavy things. Here are some double- or triple- duty workhorses—as well as some lightweight options, like the Dansk Dutch oven, which is easier to maneuver than its cast-iron counterparts but can still go from stovetop to oven. Also included: one of our favorite lightweight cutting boards, which is made of recycled materials.
For grandparents who love to entertain
Do your grandparents have a more robust social calendar than you? If they're like mine they have an inspiring amount of beautiful servingware accumulated over many years—and their appetite for more trays, bowls, and serving utensils is never satiated. Still, that doesn’t mean they won’t appreciate a pretty new piece here and there for all of the times they invite friends over for dinner, like this cutting/serving board with a nifty groove for a phone so your grandparent can entertain you via FaceTime even when they’re chopping onions. Or opt for a new cookbook or two to freshen up the recipes they’re preparing for their guests. The ultimate sentimental gift idea, though? Gather all of your family recipes together and print a personalized keepsake cookbook and have it printed at Shutterfly (warning: your whole family, not just your grandparents, will likely want a copy of this).
For grandparents with a green thumb
What’s more quintessentially grandparent than a gardening habit? My grandma has a meticulously maintained garden, so giving her a gardening gift can feel a bit intimidating. Luckily, we've got on on-site gardening expert at Epi, and I tapped him for tips. Put together a gift set with some test-winning gloves, pretty plant markers, and a quirky pot. For even more ideas, check out our gardening gift guide.
Kitchen gifts for new grandparents
For the people in your life who have recently become grandparents, holiday gifts that celebrate spending time with the new loved one are a great idea. For grandparents that live close to their grandkids and will be looking after them a lot, you could opt for practical baby gifts like a clip-on high chair, a drying rack for bottles, or a bib. Of course, personalized gifts like picture frames to display family photos are easy go-tos—but photo frame coasters make for a more unique gift. Or: allow them to look forward to tons of time spent in the kitchen with their grandkids in the future by giving a kitchen activity kit and arming them with heaps of ice cream.
For grandparents who just want something delicious
Nobody loves a piece of candy (or a slice of coffee cake) (or a bagel and lox) like a grandparent—you can hopefully sit down and eat it together. Here are a few of our favorite treats that can be delivered nationwide as an edible Christmas gift, Hanukkah gift, or any-old-time-of-year gift.