Gifts for Your Father-in-Law

For the man who decides when the steaks come off, a wireless probe shows the temperature inside the meat on his phone, so he doesn't have to cut into it. The MEATER 2 Plus costs about $120–130 and reaches up to 250 ft from the grill. Its charging dock runs on a AAA battery — put a spare one in the box.

A cast iron pan goes straight onto the coals for steak, sausages or Sunday eggs at the cabin, and it outlasts any nonstick pan. A Lodge 10.25-inch skillet costs around $25–35. If he wants to use it in the oven too, avoid models with a fixed wooden handle — pick all-iron or one where the wood comes off.

His big grill stays on the patio, but a small one can come along to the lake, a picnic or a tailgate. The Weber Go-Anywhere charcoal grill costs about $90; its legs fold up over the lid, so it fits in a trunk. Ask your spouse whether he actually cooks away from home before you buy.

For a father-in-law who already owns every grill tool, something for the table works better: a meat and cheese box from a good deli runs about $50–100. Choose cured meats and cheeses he can put out at the next family dinner. Ask your spouse first about diets and whether he eats pork.

When he assembles a bookshelf for the grandkids or swaps an outlet cover, a pocket-size screwdriver saves dragging out the full drill. A Bosch IXO 7 or a DeWalt 8V costs around $50–70. Pick a kit that comes with a set of bits in the case, so it's ready to use straight out of the box.

If one afternoon means fixing a gate latch, trimming fishing line and opening a stubborn package, a multitool on his belt replaces a trip to the toolbox. The Leatherman Wave+ costs about $110 and often drops to around $90. Choose a model whose blades lock open, so they can't fold back mid-job.

Still borrowing a socket wrench from the neighbor? A compact mechanic's set covers bikes, faucets and the lawnmower. A DeWalt mechanics set runs about $100. Skip the 200-piece cases full of bits nobody uses: 60–100 pieces with a metal ratchet and a case that latches firmly is plenty.

Spring pruning of his fruit trees and roses goes easier on the hands with a good pair of pruners. Fiskars PowerGear X comes as hand pruners for roses and as long-handled loppers for thicker branches. Ask your spouse what grows in his yard before you pick between the two.

A rocking chair for the porch is a gift from both of you for a milestone birthday — the spot for his coffee on summer weekend mornings. A solid wooden outdoor rocker costs around $150–300. If it will stay outside, choose hardwood or a weather-treated finish, and have it delivered straight to his house.

Anglers are picky about rod weight, line and lure brands, so a gift card to Bass Pro Shops or Cabela's, around $50, lets him choose for himself. It also solves the 'he has everything' problem. Add a note naming the reel or lure your spouse heard him mention, so it feels personal.

Night fishing, a dark garage or a cabin with no yard lights: a headlamp keeps both hands free. A Petzl Tikka or a Black Diamond headlamp costs about $30–50. Pick one that charges over USB-C and has a red light mode, so he doesn't blind everyone around the campfire.

Hours on the bank go by easier in a chair with a real backrest. A Coleman camping chair with armrests and a cup holder costs about $30–50. Check the weight rating and how small it folds, so it fits in his trunk next to the rods and the cooler.

For whole weekends at the lake or the cabin, a car fridge keeps the catch, the bait and the drinks cold without bags of ice. For one or two people, 20–30 liters is enough. It's a bigger gift, better from both of you; check that it runs off his car's 12V socket.

A day of fishing together is time with his son-in-law or daughter-in-law that he doesn't have to plan himself. Book a day at a stocked fishing lake or a guided half-day trip, and go along. Ask in advance what he likes to fish for, and check whether a local fishing license is needed.

For the early riser who wants a strong cup before anyone else is up, a Bialetti Moka Express makes it right on the stove. The 6-cup size costs around $40–50. Those 'cups' are espresso shots, so for two big mugs take the 6-cup. The classic aluminum pot won't work on induction — for that, choose the steel Venus.

Reads every evening, and the shelves are already full? An e-reader holds hundreds of books, weighs less than a paperback and lets him set the font size he likes. The Kindle Paperwhite (2024) costs about $160. Load a few books he's mentioned before you wrap it.

When he wants the game loud and everyone else wants to sleep, TV headphones with a charging base settle it. The Sennheiser RS 120-W costs about $130 and is sometimes backordered in the US. Check the back of his TV first: the base connects through an optical or analog audio output.

A game of chess after family dinner gives him and you something to do besides small talk. A wooden set with weighted pieces costs around $50–100. Make sure the squares are big enough for the pieces, and check whether he already has a favorite old board.

If he still has a turntable, a reissue of an album from his youth — Abbey Road or Led Zeppelin I — will get played the same evening. A new LP costs about $25–40. Ask your spouse what he listened to at twenty; with no player at home, it becomes a bigger gift, like an Audio-Technica AT-LP60X at about $150.

For a father-in-law who likes building things with his hands, a Ugears kit turns a few evenings into a working wooden mechanism: a mill, a motorcycle, a car. Kits cost roughly $40–120. Ugears is a company from Kyiv, Ukraine; start with a mid-size model rather than the most complex one.

A cordless compressor in the trunk saves a gas-station stop for someone who checks tire pressure before every long drive. The Xiaomi Portable Electric Air Compressor 2 Pro costs around $60–80 and fills up to 25% faster than the basic 2. Look for an auto-stop at the set pressure.

For a father-in-law who washes his car every Saturday, a full detail gives him the 'like new' result without the work. Pick a detailing shop near his house and a package that includes interior cleaning, not just an exterior wash. Check that the certificate is valid for at least six months.

If he plugs his phone in for navigation on every trip, a wireless adapter connects it to the car's screen as soon as he starts the engine. It only works with cars that already have wired CarPlay or Android Auto, so check his model first. More car ideas are in our gifts for drivers.

A photo book of the grandkids and family trips from the past year is something only you can give him. Shutterfly books cost about $30–70. Write a short caption under each spread with the date and place, and only include photos of other people if they're fine with it.

When the grandkids live in another town, a Wi-Fi frame lets you send photos from your phone, and they show up on his side table the same day. The Aura Carver lists at about $149 and has dropped to around $100 in sales. Set it up before wrapping and preload a few dozen photos.

Storyworth emails him one question a week for a year — his first car, his first job, how he met his wife — and turns the answers into a hardcover book. Plans run $59, $109 or $199. It works best if he's comfortable writing emails; if not, someone in the family can type up his answers.

If he never misses his team's games, two tickets — one for him, one for you — turn a gift into an afternoon together. Pick a home game and decent seats rather than the cheapest ones. Ask your spouse which team he follows before you buy anything with a logo on it.

A family photo session with all the grandkids gives him a print for the living room wall and a reason to get everyone together. It's about the whole family, not portraits of him alone. Agree on a date that works for everyone, and ask the photographer for a few printed shots, not just files.

A thermos comes along fishing, to the cabin and on winter drives. The Stanley Classic Legendary 1.1 qt bottle costs around $45–55. Stick to the Classic line: in December 2024 Stanley recalled about 2.6 million Switchback and Trigger Action mugs because their lids could come off.

With a coffee maker already on his counter, a bag of good beans or loose-leaf tea gets used up instead of collecting dust. Pair it with the moka pot above, or choose a roast from a local roaster. Ask your spouse whether he drinks it black or with milk, and whether he grinds his own beans.

For the armchair in front of the TV, a wool or fleece throw covers the evenings before the heating comes on. Pick a large one, about 60 by 80 inches, so it reaches from shoulders to feet. A plain color that fits the living room works better than a pattern you're guessing at.

Only if you know what he drinks: a bottle of his usual whisky with two glasses shows you've paid attention. Skip trophy bottles like Johnnie Walker Blue — the price makes him feel he owes you. Ask your spouse for the brand; if he rarely drinks, choose coffee or a deli box instead.