10 things to buy your uncle for his birthday

Buying for your uncle 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 uncle

• 1. Coasters for the table he's already ruined.
• 2. A print about his team, his trade or his favourite film.
• 3. The good bottle of the thing he drinks. Shop this card
• 4. Tickets to a match or a gig, ideally with you going too.
• 5. Something for the garage, shed or allotment.
• 6. A photo of the family printed and framed.
• 7. A book about the subject he'll talk about for an hour unprompted.
• 8. A puzzle, a game or a quiz book for the Christmas table.
• 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 pack of 6 fun cartoon coasters - daft, cheap, and they'll be on the table every time you visit.

How much to spend

• £15 to £30, and something for the kitchen or garage is safer than clothing.
• 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 ties.
• Aftershave he'll never open.
• 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 uncle - 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: Pack of 6 fun cartoon drinks coasters
• Shop birthday cards
• Shop all cards
• Posters and prints
• 10 things to buy your uncle for Christmas
• 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 uncle 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 uncle?

£15 to £30, and something for the kitchen or garage is safer than clothing.

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.