Grandparent Gifts That Actually Land (From Someone Who's Tested Them)

Grandparents are the hardest gifting target in the family. They've been acquiring stuff for sixty years. They already own twelve candles, four scarves, and three kitchen gadgets they're never going to use. Every year you swear you'll do better and every year you end up panic-buying a bottle of wine at the gas station.

Here's what we've learned testing gifts on our own grandparents:

Things about the grandkids beat things for them

Grandparents want proximity to the grandkids. Anything that brings the kids closer — photos, video calls, visits, letters, art, books — outranks anything for the grandparent's own use. A framed photo of the kids is better than a cashmere sweater. A voice memo from a five-year-old is better than a bottle of scotch.

The specific thing we think works best (biased, we make them) is a custom storybook starring the grandchild. The grandparent opens a hardcover book, sees their grandkid as the hero, and reads an adventure written specifically about them. It's closer to getting a letter than getting a product.

Things they actually use

Really good coffee or tea. Not the grocery store kind. The kind from a local roaster. Consumables don't clutter.

Experiences, not stuff. A restaurant gift card to their favorite place. A ticket to a show they'd never buy themselves.

Subscriptions. A year of their favorite magazine. An audiobook credit. A wine club if they drink.

Things to skip

Kitchen gadgets. They have a drawer of unused ones already.

Anything with a screen they'd have to learn.

Scented anything, unless you know exactly what they like.

More candles. Always the candles. Please stop.