Sympathy Gifts

Sympathy gifts

A sympathy gift isn't there to cheer anyone up. It's there to say you noticed, and to keep saying it after the funeral when everybody else has gone quiet.

Something for the house works best — a candle they can light for the person, or a print that stays on the wall.

Say the name of the person who died. People are far more frightened of the name than the bereaved are.

Sympathy gift ideas

What to write

What to spend

  • £5–£10 is plenty. Cheer-up gifts work on timing, not on price. Shop this card
  • Two small things a fortnight apart beat one big parcel. Shop this card
  • Anything over £30 starts to feel like an obligation to reply. Shop this card
  • A card on its own is a real gift, not a cop-out. Shop this card
  • Group chipping in? £3–£5 a head and one card everybody signs. Shop this card
  • Spend the effort on the message, not the object. Shop this card

Funny candles

Hand-poured in the UK, with a line on the label that does the talking.

Coasters and desk pieces

Small, funny, and in front of them every day.

Prints for the wall

Something cheerful for the kitchen, the hallway or the desk.

Pin badges

A pound or two, posted in an envelope, and worn for years.

Cards to send with it

Add the card and it all arrives in one UK parcel.

Where to shop next

Frequently asked questions

What is an appropriate sympathy gift?

Something quiet for the house — a candle or a print — with a card that names the person who died. Avoid anything cheerful or task-based.

Is it too late to send something?

No. Six weeks to six months later is when the post has stopped and a card matters most.

Should you send a gift or just a card?

A card on its own is completely enough. The gift is a bonus, never the point.