10 things to buy your dad for his birthday

Buying for your dad goes the same way most years: you get to the week before, panic, and buy the safe thing he already has three of.

These ten are here because they either get used weekly or they mark something. UK prices, one pick from our own range, and the card sorted at the end.

10 his birthday gifts for your dad

• 1. A print for the shed, garage or the wall he's claimed as his.
• 2. The good version of whatever he drinks - one nice bottle beats a three-pack of the usual. Shop this card
• 3. Coasters, because his mug has already left rings on everything.
• 4. Tickets to see his team, his band or a comedian he quotes constantly.
• 5. A tool he'd never buy himself but would absolutely use.
• 6. A photo of the family printed and framed, not sent to WhatsApp.
• 7. A subscription to something he already reads or listens to.
• 8. A day of jobs done together - the gutters, the fence, the loft.
• 9. Something with the year on it - a print, a photo book or a framed ticket from the last twelve months.
• 10. Our pick: the 'Line Them Up' Guinness print in A4 or A3 - designed in house, printed in the UK, and it ends up in the kitchen or the shed within a day.

How much to spend

• £20 to £50 for most people, more if siblings go in together on one bigger thing.
• Pooling with siblings or friends on one bigger present beats three separate medium ones.
• A £15 thing used weekly beats a £60 thing kept in a cupboard.
• If money is tight, give time with a date attached instead - it isn't a lesser gift.

What to avoid

• Novelty mugs he already has four of.
• Anything that needs an app to work.
• Anything that's really a hint.
• Gift sets you'd be embarrassed to receive.

Getting the timing right

• Order a week ahead so the card and gift arrive in one parcel.
• If you've missed it, send a belated card and say so plainly - it lands better than a silent late gift.
• Put next year's date in your phone now, with a reminder two weeks before.

Don't forget the perfect card

• The gift gets opened in a minute. The card sits on the shelf for weeks and in a drawer for years.
• Write something only you could write about your dad - one specific thing from this year.
• Sign it properly. A name and a real sentence beats 'love from all of us'.
• Every card we make is designed in house and printed in the UK, and it posts in the same parcel as the gift.

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How to write it so it lands

• Specific beats expensive - the best gift is the one only you would think of.
• Order the card with the gift so they arrive together.
• Write the card before you wrap, while you still have something to say.

Where to shop next

• Our pick: 'Line Them Up' Guinness print (A4 & A3)
• Shop birthday cards
• Shop all cards
• Posters and prints
• 10 things to buy your dad for Christmas
• 10 things to buy your dad for Father's Day
• Planning the party? Birthday party ideas
• Birthday badges & party pins
• How to make a balloon arch
• Photo booth prop ideas
• Party bag ideas for adults
• How much helium do you need for balloons?
• Birthday pin badges
• All guides

Frequently asked questions

What should I buy your dad for his birthday?

Something he uses weekly or something with a date attached - a print for a wall, the good version of an everyday item, or an outing already booked. All three beat a gift set bought in a hurry.

How much should I spend on your dad?

£20 to £50 for most people, more if siblings go in together on one bigger thing.

What should I write in the card?

One specific thing from the last year, then how you actually feel about it. That single line is remembered long after the present has been put away.