Buying a gift for a boyfriend might seem easy, but depending on how long you’ve been dating, your budget, and (of course) his interests, a lot can go wrong. So we compiled two-dozen-plus of our favorite gifts at a variety of price points for every kind of boyfriend out there. Looking for further inspiration? You might want to consult our gift guide for dads, too.
For the boyfriend who’s looking to upgrade his watch
Whether he has an upcoming job interview or just got a promotion, this dress watch will give him a boost of CEO confidence — for less than $200. James Stacey, watch expert and senior writer at Hodinkee, opened our eyes to this Japanese watch brand with a cult following. “In the same vein as Seiko, Orient has made a name for themselves with the Bambino because it’s a bit dressier.”
For the boyfriend who prefers drinking coffee at exactly 135 degrees Fahrenheit
This coffee snob-approved travel mug marries coffee obsession with phone-controlled tech enthusiasm.
For the boyfriend who always loses his keys
Great for keys, loose change, and various smoking or vaping accessories, this “full dose” ceramic valet tray from Jonathan Adler will encourage him to organize his desk — or at least keep the mess contained.
For the boyfriend who goes to bed at 8:45 p.m.
For the boyfriend who snores (or endures your snoring)
For the boyfriend who’s kind of modern
Give the gift of better bedroom lighting this year and watch as he (and you) enjoy reading by the warm glow of this spherical lamp.
For the boyfriend who’s always asking for a massage
This back-massager doesn’t just vibrate — it features nodes that knead and engage sore muscles, simulating Shiatsu massage. He can choose between the rotating Shiatsu-style mode or relaxing rolling movements and turn the cushion’s heat up for even more intense relief.
For the boyfriend who just heard about mixology
The favorite cocktail resource of booze connoisseurs is also a great beginner’s guide to all things shaken and stirred.
For the vegetarian boyfriend
For the boyfriend who already has a Switch
So he has a Nintendo Switch, but does he have a nice charging dock for his controller? This official Nintendo-licensed dock features handy red and green lights to let him know when the thing’s charged.
For the day-tripping boyfriend
We spoke to a chiropractor to find out what to look for in a backpack, and his recommendations (belt straps and thick shoulder straps) are all found in this outdoorsy day pack.
For the well-groomed boyfriend
Clothing designer Todd Snyder never leaves home without a tube of this. Snyder uses it to keep his hands from drying out, but it’ll also work wonders on elbows, knees and feet.
For the boyfriend who’s getting into grooming
If you’re dating a man who doesn’t currently own a moisturizer, this is a good one to start him on. It’s lightweight, vegan, not too perfume-y, and doesn’t leave a heavy residue.
For the boyfriend with chronically chapped lips
He could probably use some of these SPF 25, highly moisturizing lip balms in flavors like Basil, Mint or Cucumber Lime.
For the sneaker-head boyfriend who refuses to wait in line
We asked a menswear trend forecaster to let us in his 2018 predictions for the hottest gifts for guys. These sneakers were his pick for men who want the latest kicks but can’t be bothered to fight it out with sneaker-flipping teens.
For the boyfriend whose carry-on is an old gym bag
For the boyfriend who loves ordering Seamless
Wouldn’t he — and you — much prefer some flattering tapered sweatpants for lounging around the house?
For the boyfriend with holes in his socks
If talking to cis, straight men has taught us anything, it’s that men are not great about buying themselves socks. He’ll appreciate the widely beloved SmartWool socks more than you know.
For the boyfriend with (literal, not figurative) cold feet
For the boyfriend with a drafty apartment
Try perhaps the world’s sexiest space heater, one of Amazon’s favorites.
For the boyfriend who’s also a plant dad
He doesn’t have to be a certified plant-fluencer to appreciate the gift of a fiddle-leaf fig tree. And since it’s under $10, you can pick him up a nice watering can, too.
For the boyfriend who works with his hands
These waterproof leather gloves are great for serious outdoor work and are warm enough for playing in the snow, thanks to the fleece lining.
For the boyfriend who used to be a caddy, and will one day be a golf dad
A collapsible net that makes chip shots a fun Skee-Ball-like game.
For the boyfriend who refuses to give in to AirPods
These wireless bluetooth headphones are a lot harder to lose than AirPods and they come highly recommended for working out.
For the boyfriend who’s always hosting
For dinner parties, podcasts in the kitchen, or days at the beach, this bluetooth speaker is an audiophile’s dream come true.
For the boyfriend who’s keeping his toiletries in a Ziploc
For the boyfriend who’s looking to start cooking
Andrea Bucciarelli of Sant Ambroeus West Village likes the way this fry pan maintains an even temperature, as well as the flavor that it gives to food. It’s also stylish enough to bring to the table and serve your guests.
For the boyfriend who likes looking more than actually cooking
He’d be hard-pressed to find anything more gorgeous than these photos of food in various states of preparation — one of our favorite coffee-table books of the year.
The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best women’s jeans, rolling luggage, bed sheets, coffee makers, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
Every editorial product is independently selected. If you buy something through our links, New York may earn an affiliate commission.