It can be tough each Father’s Day to look for unique gifts for dads, grandpas, or stepdads, especially when you’re shopping for gifts for dads who have everything already — or worse, they say “I don’t need anything.”
(C’mon… a little help please?)
My go-to source for unique gifts for dads — or anyone really — is often Uncommon Goods which has so many cool, creative Father’s Day gift ideas mainly from small makers and smaller businesses we love. That makes them the perfect gifts for the dad who has everything. Plus, they donate at least $1 from each order to a nonprofit of your choice at checkout — that’s over $2.8 million donated since 2001 to organizations like the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, International Rescue Committee, and American Forests.
Pretty awesome, eh?
Best of all, these Father’s Day gifts aren’t unique for the sake of being unique — so no glow-in-the-dark paperweights shaped like dinosaur bones, or reclaimed wood robot butlers. I’ve chosen each gift because it’s something I love, and because I can think of a dad in my life who would love it too.
Hopefully, there’s at least one unique Father’s Day gift here perfect for the dad you’re shopping for — and that I highly doubt he already owns. – Liz, with Christina
Reminder: Personalized and custom gifts may take 2 weeks to create and ship, but an IOU and a card may be totally worth it if you find something you know is perfect but aren’t sure it’ll make it here by June 19th.
20 unique Father’s Day gifts for dads who have everything
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This post has been updated for 2022.
My Life Story So Far journal
($32)
Whether you’re shopping for a dad, a grandfather, a stepdad, or any dad whose story you want to preserve, this is a unique Father’s Day gift that’s not just for him, but for every subsequent generation. (It’s also one of our readers’ favorites!)
Custom Mega Dad personalized comic book
($40, approx. 2-week lead time)
So cool that you can incorporate your child’s name into this story about the adventures of their Mega Dad. And love that your superhero can be personalized in one of three skin tones too since we know superheroes come in all shades.
Baseball park map glasses or pint glasses
($35-$38/pair)
Choose from among 30 MLB park maps printed on these very cool glasses that will be a home run among any baseball fan. When the drink is gone, he’ll find his team logo right on the bottom.
Personalized plates from a child’s drawing
($100)
While there are a lot of “your kids artwork on X” gifts, these are really special. I also love that even the plates are handcrafted by Seowoon Oh with a traditional Korean clay casting method.This is definitely a keepsake worth its cost, because he’ll treasure it forever.
Grandparent pen pal set
($30)
We are all fans of the lost art (sniff) of letter writing, and this kit is a beautiful way to help kids and grandparents forge a relationship through snail mail. In the end, they’ll both love the memories they get out of it.
Related:11 easy Father’s Day crafts for kids that celebrate #1 dads, rock star dads, and superhero dads.
Nitro cold brew coffee maker
($219, $17 for additional nitro refill kit)
Now that so many dads are working from home, gift him this shiny nitro cold brew coffee maker, and he’ll become his own favorite barista. Sorry Starbucks.
Custom family portrait
($85-$175, other products available)
We’ve featured Shelly Klein’s wonderful custom family portraits many times, and they’re still a favorite gift for a sentimental dad or grandpa. Love the options she has, like one above featuring each family member’s favorite hobby, or get your family stitched on pillows, printed on mugs, or even turned into a puzzle!
Burgers for dinner seasoning kit
($20)Â
Featured in our holiday gift guide featuring 12 creative gift ideas for the man who has everything, this set of four burger spice seasoning kits from Occo will help him become King of the Grill this summer. Just don’t let it go to his head.
Related: 15 delicious Father’s Day food gifts supporting black-owned businesses
Authentic Thai chef’s knives
($70-$80 each)
Any chef or grill-master would be lucky to own a gorgeous hand-forged cleaver or moon knife, handmade by artisans in a small Thai village and sourced by a cool mother-daughter team who scour the globe for authentic cultural experiences.
IOU tokens for dad in a customized box
($40)
Give dad 10 special IOUs with this sweet and unique customized wooden box of vouchers by artist Sandrine Froehle. Pick which vouchers to include from among 40 prompts that include ideas like giving dad plenty of bear hugs, helping him with the chores, or heading out for an adventure together. Each voucher is printed on a wooden token and tucked into a customized box.
Another unique Father’s Day gift idea from Sandrine Froehle, this wooden box of Reasons I Love Dad tokens makes for a super sweet keepsake he’ll love.
NYC Skyline Chess Set
($120)
Modern design lovers and architectural fans — you know, the ones who can linger in museum shops for hours — will swoon over this gorgeous chess set. It was created by two London-based architects and features New York’s most recognizable buildings, from the Guggenheim to the Flatiron.
Related: 12 creative gift ideas for the man who has everything. Or…does he?
Smokeless portable fire pit & grill
($300)
Shopping for a unique Father’s Day gift for a dad who has everything? This easy-to-carry portable grill burns either charcoal or wood without smoke while a rechargeable solar battery pack allows him to control flame size and airflow via Bluetooth. This is not your grandad’s fire pit!
Make your own hot sauce kit
($42)
It’s so easy for him to DIY a ton of spicy condiments to his satisfaction with this kit! A spice-loving dad may never use store-bought again. Have a glass of milk nearby, just in case.
Uncommon Experience Gifts for Dads
(price varies)
Maybe he’d like to take a romantic painting class, make smoked cocktails or delicious dumplings, or learn how to make music with the cool handheld Orba device. Check out the unique Father’s Day gift ideas from Uncommon Experiences, which make an awesome gift for a hard-to-shop-for dad. He just tunes into one of the live virtual classes for hands-on instructions from experts in their respective fields.
All classes can be purchased on their own or you can add on the suggested kit or item that goes along with the class to make the experience even more fulfilling. Check out this calendar to see what is available on Father’s Day and beyond.
Cool (get it?) ice cream canteen
($45)
Have ice cream, will travel: If the dad in your life looooooves ice cream, he’ll dig this clever, stylish, keep-cold canteen. Maybe pair with a special delivery of ice cream flavors from eCreamery that come complete with Father’s Day themed labels.
Personalized Socks
($50 for set of 5)
You can be pretty sure he won’t already have these! Personalization available both across the toe and ankle, with room for “#1 Dad”, his initials, or even a family nickname.
Related:Â 14 brilliant last-minute gifts for Dad. So many ideas!
West-coast style IPA beer brewing kit
($45, refills $20)
Dads and beer may be a cliché Father’s Day combo, but for good reason. If he’d like to experiment with making his own, I found quite a few beer brewing kits on UncommonGoods. However I’d say an IPA sounds delicious for summer.
Master Theorem book of puzzles
($30)
If he’s the smartest guy you know, gift him this clever and fun book of puzzles and really test his brainpower. Letting him know how smart you think he is is always a solid Father’s Day gift idea!
Set of 3 boozy caramels
($36)
Gourmet goodies are always great gifts for dads who have everything, and Seattle-made Jonboy’s boxes of chewy caramels includes flavors like artisanal Seattle absinthe, Washington state whiskey, and French sea salt. Oui, please!
Our Adventure map art
($155-225)
Love this personalized map that will remind him of all the amazing places you have traveled as a family. Just send in up to 10 addresses or locations, and their map locale will be printed directly on wood. Guaranteed this will be something new he doesn’t already have, but he’ll love it!