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30 Thoughtful And Practical Thank You Gift Ideas
From wine glasses to a cheese sampler, these will be much appreciated.
A good thank you gift is tricky to get right. You want something thoughtful and appropriate for the situation. The best present is also likely an item the person would either not buy for themselves or that they’ll get plenty of use out of. Whether you’re in need of a token of appreciation for the person who dog sat your pup for a week or you’re looking for a way to show gratitude to the mentor who helped you negotiate a raise, we got you covered. From a twist on flowers (that won’t die!) to really good wine to quirkier items like beeswax wraps and a cheese tasting, these are our favorite thank you gift ideas. The best part? Plenty of them are under $25 so you can shop on a budget.
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For the Eco-Conscious Chef
Help your friends reduce their single-use plastic consumption with our favorite eco-friendly food wraps. They’re made from 100% cotton and coated in water-resistant beeswax, so they can be used to repackage everything from lemon wedges to cheese slices.
Get Bee Kitchen Reusable Beeswax Food Wraps ($24)→
For the Herbal Tea Lover
This fragrant blend of purple shiso, amrita tulsi, lemongrass, and blue cornflower is the beverage equivalent of a big hug. The herbs are wild-harvested and regeneratively farmed in North Carolina, so you can rest assured that you’re gifting responsibly.
Get Heilbron Herbs x East Fork Color Therapy Tisane ($16)→
For the Friend Who Loves Soup
Soup tastes better when it’s eaten with a wooden spoon—especially if it’s this Japanese-made one. Buy a few (they’re only $6 each) and tie them together using decorative string. Or attach one to a gourmet packet of soup mix.
For the Coffee Lover
It’s difficult to buy gifts for coffee people that are notoriously hard to please and set in their own ways, er, tastes. But a bag of robusta coffee from Nguyen Coffee Supply is sure to please. The brand is the first specialty coffee company in the U.S. to import beans directly from family-owned coffee farmers in Vietnam, and the brew is smooth and full-bodied.
Get Nguyen Coffee Supply Truegrit ($14)→
For the Wine Lover
You know how we said that it’s hard to buy a thank you gift for coffee people? It’s infinitely more difficult to impress wine people. Hence why you should leave the selection process to the pros. We joined forces with Parcelle—a New York wine shop run by sommeliers at the city’s top restaurants—to create a wine club that delivers three bottles per month. Each one is carefully vetted and selections might include a rosé crémant, an affordable White Burgundy, and a biodynamic Syrah blend.
Get Zagat x The Infatuation Wine Club ($125)→
For the Snacker
Nut butter goes with everything (toast, apple slices, smoothies, etc.), and a good smear goes a long way. So if you’re buying for a snack-lover, splurge on this decadent almond and hazelnut-based butter, which combines coconut crystals, cinnamon, sea salt, and espresso powder.
Get Big Spoon Tigerwalk Espresso Nut Butter ($13)→
For the Dinner Party Host
Nothing signifies the return to post-pandemic-life like the return of dinner parties and casual Wednesday night hangs at a friend’s place over takeout. For the person who inevitably winds up hosting the bulk of these, get them an elegant set of organic linen napkins as a thank you. These ones come in 7 different colors like moss green and harbor blue, as well as a variety of different sizes.
Get North Linen Store organic linen napkins ($6)→
For the Smoothie Lover
Nobody needs a curly glass-blown straw to drink their strawberry smoothie but they would definitely appreciate getting one. These whimsical sippers are made from a heat-proof glass, so they can be used for both hot and cold drinks alike.
Get La Bleu Boutique Art Glass Straw ($15)→
For the Traveler
This just-dropped cookbook from Seattle-based chef Renee Erickson takes readers on a culinary journey from Rome and Paris to Baja, Mexico and the Pacific Northwest. It’s the next best thing to actual travel plans.
Get Getaway: Food & Drink to Transport You by Renee Erickson and Jim Henkens ($37 was $40)→
For the Friend Who’s Back in the Office
The aspect of office life we don’t miss? Sad lunch salads. So if your friend is heading back to cubicle life, save them from drab greens by giving them one of our favorite olive oils, which will spice up any salad dressing.
Get Kosterina Greek Herb & Lemon Olive Oil ($25)→
For the Multi-Tasking Home Chef
An automatic pan stirrer may sound like a kitschy gadget but trust us: this is one your friends will actually want. It basically acts like a third arm, allowing home chefs to slice, dice, and chop while their scrambled eggs or tomato sauce effectively stirs itself.
Get Automatic Pan Stirrer with Timer ($25)→
For the Person Who Brings Bagged Lunch
A fancy piece of Tupperware might not seem like the sexiest of gifts but it’s the perfect purchase for the person who’s always packing bagged lunch. This BPA-free plastic bowl is sleekly designed, dishwasher-safe, and has a non-leaking seal—so it can really go the distance.
Get W&P Design Porter Reusable Portable Lidded Bowl ($20)→
For the Person Who Loves a Crafty Project
This tie-dye starter kit contains a cotton scarf, three dye powders, and a trio of pipettes. It’s perfect for anyone who want to unleash their creativity or parents of school-aged children, who are looking for an activity while stuck at home.
Get We Gather Neutral Kaleidoscope Dye Kit ($45)→
For the Person Who Loves Wine and Fashion
A collaboration between Belgian fashion designer Ann Demeulemeester and homeware brand Serax, this mouth-blown wine glass will make an elegant addition to any stemware collection.
Get Serax X Ann Demeulemeester set of four wine glasses ($91)→
For the Person Who Is Particular About Ceramics
This elegant terracotta vase looks like it was sourced from a ceramic store in Portugal or Spain. Maybe just peel off the sticker from the bottom.
For the Person Who Really Needs to Relax
This all-natural shower set—which contains shampoo, conditioner, and body wash—features fragrant botanicals like lavender, eucalyptus, and bergamot, to create a spa-like experience. Aluminum bottles and reusable pumps makes it ideal for the eco-conscious recipient.
Get by Humankind Shower Routine Set ($40)→
For the Friend Who Wants to Head to Shanghai, but Can't
Shanghainese cooking is characterized by fresh, seasonal flavors and signature techniques like red braising. In her debut cookbook, writer and photographer Betty Liu (who wrote the book while in medical school) shares dishes inspired by Jiangnan cuisine—the region home to Shanghai and the neighboring provinces of Jiangsu and Zhejiang. Recipes for scallion oil noodles and red-braised pork belly are accompanied by evocative descriptions of China’s waterfront metropolis.
Get My Shanghai: Recipes and Stories from a City on the Water by Betty Liu ($32, was $35)→
For the Person Who Doesn't Drink Alcohol
Usually nothing’s easier than a bottle of wine but if the person doesn’t drink, get them one of our favorite alcohol-free spirits instead. Ghia is an aperitif is formulated using plant-based botanicals like rosemary extract, ginger extract, and gentian root extract, and and reminds us of a non-alcoholic version of Campari or Aperol. Slightly sweet and pleasantly bitter, It would be excellent in a zero-proof Negroni or Aperol spritz.
Get Ghia Non-Alcoholic Aperitif ($33)→
For the Person Who Moved Into a New Apartment
Sometimes you need both a housewarming giftand a thank you gift. That’s where this fan comes in to spruce up the place.
For the Baker
Baking may be an exact science, but with a stylish set of kitchenware, it’s also an art. The design of this iconic glazed mixing bowl dates back to 1901, and its patterned exterior helps chefs keep their grip while stirring vigorously.
Get Mason Cash Cane Mixing Bowl (from $44)→
For the Person Who Loves Flowers
Ok fine, an $185 bouquet of dried flowers is a little extra. But isn’t the whole point to give your loved ones something they wouldn’t buy for themselves? This arrangement is bursting with different colors and textures, so it’s guaranteed to be a show-stopper in any space. The best part? It won’t die.
Get The Quiet Botanist King Flower Bouquet ($185)→
For the Homebody
After 1.5 years of being stuck at home, the majority of us are looking to completely redesign our living situation. This cozy multicolored mohair and wool blanket–which was handmade in Spain’s Upper Oja Valley— is a good place to start.
Get abcdna Mohair Plaid Throw Yuzu ($375)→
For the Person Who Discovered a Love of Cooking
So you have someone in your life who did you a major favor and now you want to give them an extremely nice thank you gift? There’s nothing better for a person who loves cooking than some shiny new cookware. Caraway is one our favorites and their set includes a frying pan, saucepan, sauté pan, and a hefty Dutch oven as well as magnetic racks and a canvas lid holder for storage. Coated in non-stick ceramic, it comes in a range of gorgeous colors to suit any kitchen style.
Get Caraway Cookware Set ($395)→
For the Person Who Loves to Entertain
Gorgeous glassware will make any table setting pop. These mouth-blown glasses are so elegant that you may be tempted to buy yourself a pair at the same time.
Get Luisa Vino Glasses ($104)→
For the Person Who’s Always on Dish Duty
Not only is this vintage-inspired rug a beautiful interior accent, it’s also spill-proof, no-slip, and has a nice cushiony feel.
Get Food52 Vintage-Inspired Persian Vinyl Runners ($120)→
For the Person Who’s Crazy About Cheese
In our opinion, the best gifts are the ones that can be spread over a cracker and washed down with a nice glass of Pinot Noir. This smorgasbord of 8 different cheeses comes from San Francisco’s award-winning Cowgirl Creamery, which uses only locally sourced ingredients.
Get Cowgirl Creamery Organic Cheese Tasting Box (from $55)→
For the Friend Who Loves a Weekend Trip
This lightweight tote is one our favorite weekend bags that’s also perfect for the gym, office, beach, or grocery store. The bottom compartment will fit your shoes or dirty laundry, the spacious interior can hold surprising amount of stuff, and it can easily be slung over the shoulder or slipped onto the handle of a suitcase.
*Get Lo & Sons The Catalina Deluxe Tote ($103, was $205)→
For the Person Who Is Obsessed With Redecorating
If you know someone who’s been spending too much time on TikTok and now all they want to do is repaint their apartment or refurbish furniture, they’ll love this handy gift. All you have to do is hold this gadget up to any object—a wall, upholstered furniture, a plant—and it will match the color of that surface to a catalog of 150,000 paint swatches from the likes of Benjamin Moore, Behr, and Sherwin-Williams.
Get Nix Mini 2 Color Sensor Colorimeter ($99)→
For the Dog Person
We all know someone who loves their dog more than anything, Express your gratitude by splurging on a gingham pup tent.
Get Fringe Studio Pup Tent ($88)→
For the Aspiring Sushi Chef
A chef’s knife, a serrated knife, and a paring knife are essential tools for any home cook. This good-looking set is a solid choice with its carbon-infused, rust-resistant Japanese steel blades and lightweight polymer handles.