If you haven’t secured the perfect Mother’s Day gift yet, rest easy. Okay, not that easy, because it’s literally just a few days away. But if you hustle, we can still help you out with these awesome last-minute gifts that don’t feel improvised at all.
Even if they are, just a little bit.
Aside from being procrastination-friendly, these gifts are hand-picked by real moms, so you know for sure they’ll be something she actually wants. Perfectly curated gifts for deserving moms? That’s kind of our thing. – Caroline, Liz, Christina, and Lisa
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This post has been updated for 2022
Top image: Alvaro Reyes on Unsplash
15 wonderful types of last-minute Mother’s Day gifts: Hundreds of ideas for every kind of mom
While we know you’ll enjoy the ideas here, be sure to find even more ideas in our Mother’s Day Gift Guide archives. We’ve been seeking out and sharing the best Mother’s Day gifts for 15 years now!
Got you covered, promise.
1. Last-minute Mother’s Day gifts: A handmade gift
Mother’s Day jewelry is always special, but it’s just a little bit more special when the kids make it. We included this DIY popsicle stick photo bracelet by It’s Always Autumn in our roundup of 13 creative DIY Mother’s Day gifts kids can make and give, because we knew it’s exactly the kind of thing that stays in the jewelry box forever.
You don’t even have to run to the craft store! Here are 15 easy recycled Mother’s Day gifts your kids can make from stuff you have right at home
The handmade gifts don’t have to stop with jewelry, either. We have tons of crafty Mother’s Day gift ideas that even the littlest kids can help make, from DIY wreaths and felt flowers to board books and body scrubs.
You could even turn some of Mom’s favorite handmade Mother’s Day gifts from years past of art using TilePix (a recent sponsor who we really love!) so she can preserve it forever.
Even a special card can become a forever keepsake with a handmade cards for Mother’s Day.
Color blocked chocolate bark with flower sprinkles recipe by Paper & Stitch
You can also DIY your own box of chocolate for Mom (we like the recipe for raw cacao truffles in our roundup of yummy food gifts for Mother’s Day, or even whip up a pan of the the gorgeous chocolate bark, above.
DIY Sharpie mug from Jennifer Maker
This lovely DIY Sharpie mug from Jennifer Maker has been one of our favorite suggestions for a handmade holiday gift, but it’s pretty perfect as a last-minute Mother’s Day gift, don’t you think? And all it takes is a quick trip to to the store for a few supplies (and your own steady hand).
We also love the DIY Mom fuel coffee mug tutorial by Michael’s that we included in our handmade Mother’s Day gifts list, because it is last-minute at its very finest. And of course, be sure to add her favorite coffees or teas!
Related: 15 of our favorite Mother’s Day food gifts for every kind of mom
2. Last-minute Mother’s Day gifts: Books. Always books.
I always think a book — as well as a promise to provide the quiet time for mom to read the book — is a perfect last-minute Mother’s Day gift. In fact, we just finished rounding up a list of our 8 wonderful Mother’s Day gift book ideas to celebrate all she is, and all she loves.
In addition, whether the mom in your life loves non-fiction or a page-turning novel, there are so many choices for diverse books from women authors available. A copy of Viola Davis’s new memoir Finding Me along with a hand written note thanking mom for being just herself would be incredibly meaningful. And if mom needs a bit of an escape, you can always get her a fun, indulgent rom com.
Whatever she loves, that’s what matters.
Bonus: books they’re so easy to get when you’re out of shopping time. All it takes is a trip to your local bookstore, or a few clicks on Amazon Prime — or support indie booksellers around the country by shopping from our storefront on Indiebound!
(Of course Kindle and Audible downloads work too.)
3. Last-minute Mother’s Day gifts: Subscription boxes and gift boxes
What do moms love? Subscription boxes. Yes, even if the actual box hasn’t arrived by Sunday, an IOU for one of these amazing subscription box gift ideas will go a long way. That way we have something great to look forward to every time we walk to the mailbox — beyond those lovely orthodontist invoices that keep arriving.
Also, consider practical subscription box gifts if she’s not someone who indulges in baubles like we do.
If you’re shopping for a mom who’s not only enjoys a good cup of coffee, but also is passionate about supporting small businesses, we love that Trade Coffee gives you the convenience of a subscription totally built around her tastes, while helping support local roasters around the country. We can so get behind that! (Note that they’re a recent sponsor but we’ve loved them for-e-vah.)
Related: 7 easy Mother’s Day cake recipes for a delicious last-minute surprise
4. Last-minute Mother’s Day gifts: Subscription to a fitness app or exercise equipment that can be here in a couple of days
It can be tough for moms to get to the gym, especially if when have little kids. So a subscription to an app like 8fit would make such a thoughtful gift for a mom who wants to practice good self-care right in her living room.
Try pairing it with a gift card to lululemon or a sweet new water bottle to make it more “gifty”.
And if you want to splurge a bit, a new Fitbit activity tracker or smartwatch or Shokz’s OpenRun Pro bone conduction headphones can all be ordered via Amazon Prime with super-fast delivery.
5. Last-minute Mother’s Day gifts: Breakfast in bed. Or just a homemade brunch.
Printable room service brunch menu door hanger from Hostess with the Mostess
Yes, I know this one’s been done a few times, but trust me. It never gets old. Getting served breakfast by the ones who woke you up countless times in the wee hours of the night? Priceless.
And if you want to add some extra oomph to the presentation of this gift, print out this adorable free Mother’s Day breakfast door hanger so that Mom can order what she wants and then snooze until it’s ready. Not sure what to put on the menu? Glad you asked. We have some ideas.
- As for the breakfast itself, start with these 75 of the best Mother’s Day recipe ideas. . .
- Plus… 5 beautiful and easy cakes that kids can make themselves (because yes, we are not above eating cake for breakfast)
- 9 impressive brunch recipes so Mom doesn’t have to lift a finger (except to devour these fruit and yogurt granola cups at House of Yumm)
- 5 easy Mother’s Day brunch recipes that kids can help make
- A Mother’s Day tea party
- An amazing recipe for maple glazed bacon
- 8 decadent Nutella breakfast recipes
- 6 stellar make-ahead breakfast recipes (so you can all chill on Mother’s Day morning)
- Perfect mimosa recipes to raise a glass on a special day
- Mom’s very own cold-brewed coffee — just add a coffee-lover’s mug!
6. Last-minute Mother’s Day gifts: A handmade card
Flower petal card with free printable from Hello, Wonderful
Handmade Mother’s Day cards will always have a special place in our hearts (and on our walls). I love this sweet card above, originally shared in a post about lots of ideas for handmade Mother’s Day cards from the kids. Or search our post on DIY Mother’s Day gifts for the kids, which includes some card ideas. We’re utterly in love with the things that are made with our kids’ own little hands. (Or big hands!)
We’ve also created some of our own free printable Mother’s Day cards like these two — they’re themed around glitter, rainbows, flowers, and empowerment, so you can find one that makes a gift that much more special. Click over and scroll down for a link to the printable PDF.
7. Last-minute Mother’s Day gifts: A DIY spa treatment
Gift cards for massages at a local spa may be off-limits right now, and while mani-pedis may be appreciated, we also love a good DIY alternative. Check out Kate’s round-up of DIY face mask recipes, or try this homemade mint sugar scrub.
In fact, we have an entire post on homemade mason jar spa gift ideas all with safe, edible ingredients — or grab Liz’s favorite essential oil for de-stressing and turn it into a homemade spa gift. Then set mom up with candles and a hot bath. Oooh, ahhh.
Of course, a gift card to a real spa (like Spafinder) is a sure thing, too, provided she can use it in the future.
8. Last-minute Mother’s Day gifts: Mother’s Day coupons and gift cards
Printable Mother’s Day coupons by Clementine Creative
You can’t go wrong with Mother’s Day coupons — especially when they’re for things that moms actually want and the kids promise to actually honor them when they’re redeemed. The printable Mother’s Day coupons by Clementine Creative are lovely options that we included in a past roundup of cool Mother’s Day printables.
Get creative! Try cards for:
- iTunes
- Amazon
- Sephora, Bliss, or anywhere she loves to buy her favorite mascara
- Her favorite department store (Nordstrom, anyone?)
- Her favorite local restaurant — or Grubhub, Seamless, Uber Eats, or Caviar, so she can choose her own
- A cause like Donor’s Choose (we love them!)
- NOT her kids’ favorite fast-food restaurant
9. Last-minute Mother’s Day gifts: Baked goods…made by someone else.
The past few years have been especially tough on small, independent businesses, and that includes bakeries. For a last minute Mother’s Day gift, consider looking up local bakeries in your area (bonus if they are women-owned, we say) and order a few treats for mom.
We’re partial to the sweet little cake jars from our good friend Erin at Sugarhouse Cake in Oregon — some of you may recognize her as one of the mods in our Recipe Rescue FB group! Like lots of small bakers, they generally need at least 24-48 hours notice so make sure that your plan for a last-minute Mother’s Day gift isn’t literally last minute.
Related: Luxurious, edible gifts for Mother’s Day that will definitely make you Mom’s favorite.
10. Last-minute Mother’s Day gifts: A family getaway
Christina and her family love family biking trips | Photo © Christina Refford for Cool Mom Picks
Want to make a big gesture without breaking the bank? Now that more and more people are getting vaccinated, we are traveling again! Mom may appreciate nothing more than a family trip outside of her own backyard!
You can get a few ideas for trips from these fun and affordable destinations, or see if there’s one of hundreds of US National Parks and Sites within driving distance. Even a hotel stay somewhere local could be a joy. Or, just play a day-trip like, a safe family day of biking somewhere near home.
Whether you present mom with actual plane tickets on the big day or just a handmade coupon for the future, the idea of being able to travel this year makes me down right giddy.
11. Last-minute Mother’s Day gifts: An IOU for custom artwork
You can’t get these customized family portraits by Tamerswork, which we featured in our post 25 special Mother’s Day gifts under $25, which we totally want ourselves, in time for Mother’s Day arrival, but you can place your order and print out one of her gorgeous samples to show Mom that she’s got a unique piece of art on its way, hand-drawn just for her. She’ll agree it’s worth the wait, we’re sure.
We love art as a Mother’s Day gift, and included an important print in our feminist Mother’s Day gifts round-up that will mean a lot to her.
Etsy also has tons of printable art — just add nice paper and ideally, a frame.
Art doesn’t just have to be on paper though. We recently discovered the incredible Quiltlove site, run by an incredible mom who creates one-of-a-kind quilts incorporating your own decorated squares. They’re incredible! And totally worth an IOU for a last-minute Mother’s Day gift.
Related: 15 beautiful Mother’s Day gifts that give back, beautifully
12. Last-minute Mother’s Day gifts: A subscription to her favorite magazines and newspapers
With Apple News+, Mom can have hundreds of magazines and leading newspapers right at her fingertips to read whenever she has the time. (Oh, that’s another thing you can give her: time.) It’s just $9.99/month with the first month free. Bye paywalls!
An Apple gift card is always a good bet for purchasing apps, music, movies, and TV shows of all kinds. Or hey, if she needs a new pair of AirPods, plenty of Apple Store locations offer incredibly speedy delivery. Sometimes even same-day.
Related: 10 tech gifts for the mobile mom, all are as cool as they are practical
13. Last-minute Mother’s Day gifts: Some peace and quiet
Couple this with one of the printable coupons above for free time, and you’re set for a thoughtful last-minute Mother’s Day gift.
Related: 31 affordable Mother’s Day gifts, and how to make them even more special.
14. Last-minute Mother’s Day gifts: A donation to a cause that makes a difference in others’ lives.
From Olde Soul Barbershop, from our article on
Gifts supporting Ukraine with 100% of proceeds giving back to Ukrainian causes
Sometimes, the best Mother’s Day gifts are the ones that someone else benefits from. Here are just a few issues we’re all thinking about these days.
Related: Gifts supporting Ukraine: 11 wonderful ideas with 100% of proceeds giving back to Ukrainian causes
- Ukraine: Lately, we’ve been supporting World Central Kitchen and other orgs that are giving back to Ukraine in big ways — donate in her name to an organization supporting those affected by the war in Ukraine.
- Domestic issues: At home, we are longtime supporters of Feeding America’s efforts to help food-insecure families across the country, the ACLU for…everything, really.
- Public schools and teachers: Donors Choose to allow her to select her own classroom to support based on her own interests.
- Maternal health: If she’s a fan of global health initiatives, you can donate newborn kits or mother-child care to the International Rescue Committee in your mom’s name. If she’s an advocate for education, these organizations support children and education.
- Election protection and voting rights: During this important midterm election year, Fair Fight is working to preserve democracy through voting rights for all, and other favorite orgs include Democracy Docket and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund
- Reproductive freedom: There are also plenty of organizations working harder than ever to ensure reproductive justice and just overall essential healthcare access for women, something a lot of the moms in our lives are very concerned about.
- Support for marginalized groups: This month in also AAAPI Heritage Month, and a contribution to Stop AAPI Hate helps them with their incredibly important work protecting vulnerable communities.
Really, there’s no ends to the possibilities when you think about what she’s passionate about — the environment, improving her own community, healthcare for children, fighting disease, support for elders, support for other mothers in need.
Just pick the cause or organization that means the most to her and simply make a donation in her name — because that’s what a gift from the heart is all about.
15. Last-minute Mother’s Day gifts: A call or FaceTime from you.
If you can’t be together right now, this may be the most meaningful of all. Just don’t forget her.
Thanks so much for including my printable coupons in this amazing list, Caroline!
You really shared an amazing list of last-minute Mother’s day gifts. It really helped me a lot I cooked breakfast for my mom and she was very happy. Thanks a lot for sharing this amazing list.