Gifts for Dad Under $50: 8 Practical, Low-Fuss Ideas
Dads are famously hard to shop for, mostly because they say they don’t need anything. The gifts that work tend to be small, practical and used every week: something for the car, the commute, the golf bag or the couch.
Here are eight ideas, each under $50, with the real sizes, materials and prices. One note first: our designs lean calm and botanical, with short encouraging messages, rather than jokes. If he’d like something plain, the minimalist tees at the end of this list are simple outline drawings of everyday objects.
1. A cap he’ll actually wear: $29.99
The Dad Cap with the “Do More of What Makes You Happy” embroidery is an unstructured, six-panel cap in 100% cotton (one color option is a cotton and polyester blend). It has a pre-curved visor and an adjustable strap with a brass buckle, so there’s no size to get wrong. It suits coffee runs, yard work and weekend walks.
2. A tumbler for the commute: $36.99
The 20 oz “Choose Progress Over Perfection” tumbler is double-wall, vacuum-insulated stainless steel with a push-on lid and a rubber gasket. It keeps coffee hot on the way to work and iced drinks cold on a walk, and it’s dishwasher safe. The lid is spill-resistant rather than fully leakproof, so keep it upright in a bag.
3. Golf balls: $30.99
The six-pack of “Begin with a Little Hope” golf balls has a durable Surlyn cover and a rubber core. All six balls carry the same design. It’s a small, encouraging present for the golfer who has plenty of equipment already, and since balls get lost, it will be used.
4. Crew socks: $20.99
The “Trust the Seeds I Plant” crew socks are mostly recycled polyester (58%) with nylon, cotton and elastane for stretch, and they come in one size that fits women’s 5 to men’s 12. The color can bleed on the first wash, so wash them cold and separately at first.
5. Playing cards: $21.99
The “Keep Choosing What Matters” poker deck has 52 cards plus 2 jokers on 300 gsm coated cardstock in standard poker size, 2.5 x 3.5 inches, in a clear acrylic box. It’s a good gift for a dad who hosts game night or packs a deck for camping.
6. A car air freshener: $10.90
The “Make Room for Better” air freshener hangs from a white ribbon on the rearview mirror and comes in three scents: Onyx Frost (citrus), New Car (leather and green florals) or Pine. It’s the cheapest idea on the list, so pair it with something else.
7. A mug: $15.99
The “Keep Your Light” ceramic mug comes in 11 oz and 15 oz. If you’re not sure which size, read our 11 oz vs 15 oz mug guide. It’s a safe pick for a dad who drinks coffee or tea every morning.
8. A plain tee: from $17.13
If he’d rather not wear a message, browse the minimalist outline tees in the apparel shop. They’re simple drawings of objects like a mug, a camera lens or a sneaker. Check sizing before ordering, because made-to-order items can’t be returned for a wrong size. Our size finder helps.
Easy pairings under $50
- Tumbler ($36.99) + air freshener ($10.90) = $47.89
- Dad cap ($29.99) + air freshener ($10.90) = $40.89
- Mug ($15.99) + playing cards ($21.99) = $37.98
- Golf balls ($30.99) + mug ($15.99) = $46.98
Prices are as listed at the time of writing and don’t include shipping. Everything is made to order, so for a birthday or holiday, check our order-by dates before you buy.