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With Mother’s Day quickly approaching, it's high time to start shopping for the moms, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, and mother-in-laws in our lives again. Whether you're celebrating with a large family brunch or taking your mom out for a spa day, a well-thought-out gift is always appreciated. For those who can’t be with their mothers this year but still want to send something to make her smile—we’ve got you covered. Below, we've rounded up dozens of thoughtful Mother’s Day gift ideas for all kinds of moms, from the ones who taught you to love the great outdoors to the ones who appreciate a trip to a winery, and the ones whose ideal vacation is sitting in a beach chair with a good book in hand.
As a reminder, Mother's Day is on Sunday, May 12, this year, so be sure to give a week or two of buffer time if you're shipping a gift directly to mom, or need to wrap it yourself at home.
Find the best gifts by interest:
- For the outdoorsy mom
- For the organization guru
- For the spa devotees
- For the homebody
- For the beach lovers
- For the the environmentally conscious mom
- For the mom who loves to cook
- For the green thumb
- For the wine connoisseur
- For the bookworm
- For the coffee or tea lover
- Even more gift ideas
This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date. Additional reporting by Madison Flager.
For the outdoorsy mom
The Daylite Backpack is simple, durable, and comfortable—all the attributes for a great hiking backpack. It features a large main compartment, a hydration reservoir, and an internal laptop sleeve. It's made from recycled polyester and comes in 12 colorways your mom will love.
These lightweight sunglasses block 100 percent of UVA and UVB rays. While protecting your eyes from the sun’s beaming light, they manage to eliminate a harsh glare, too.
Treat mom to a new pair of hiking shoes for your next trek together. Merrell designed this pair with KineticFit Advanced footbeds that contour to the foot to create a custom comfort for rugged terrain and more support in the ankles. The outer shoe features a Vibram outsole, rubber heel, and toe cap—so you're protected from harsh weather conditions. It’s also made from 100 percent recycled laces, webbing, and mesh lining—making this the most eco-friendly Moab boot Merrell has released.
If your mom feels most at home on the trails and in a national park, she'll appreciate a US Park Pass. The annual card grants access to all national parks, monuments and, battlefields in the United States. At parks where per-person fees are charged, passholders can bring three adults in, so her friends or your family can tag along, too.
For the organization guru
For the mom who swears by Marie Kondo, make the organizer in her happy with Bellroy's Tech Kit; it's filled with loops and pockets to give every cord and earphone its proper place.
Packing cubes are a game changer—and our editors love this personalized set from Paravel. It come with four cubes—a large, a medium, and two small ones—all of which are easy to wipe clean and even easier to store (just nest them all into each other).
No one wants to lose valuable jewelry while in transit or arrive at their hotel with a bag full of tangled necklaces. This pretty case from Mark & Graham will hold all her earrings, necklaces, rings, and bracelets the next time she travels for a special occasion.
This chic Metro sling bag from Monos will let mom move hands-free at the airport while still keeping her smaller essentials easily accessible. It can be worn across the chest or around the waist.
For the mom who picks hotels based on the spa
This spa-like duo promotes full body blood circulation with each glide. The Shape Shifter expertly works into muscles and aids in lymphatic drainage. The Featherweight Body Gloss assists with each movement, delivering intense hydration and collagen-enhancing goodness that plumps and smooths the skin.
The brand was started by Helen Yin and is deeply rooted in both her family's approach to stress relief and research that she’s done on ancient herbal bathhouse practices. The nutrient-rich bath blends feature hojicha tea, mugwort, jasmine flowers, and other ingredients that will help to release tension in the body with added skincare benefits.
Your mom can contour, tone, and firm her skin without even visiting the spa with the NuFace facial toning kit. It gently massages the face to smooth skin and decrease wrinkles over time. Use it with the gel primer daily for the best results and instant de-puffing.
We love a good robe here at Traveler, especially when it reminds us of something we'd find at our favorite hotel or spa. Parachute's waffle robe has long sleeves and hits around the knee, and is lightweight enough to wear year round, regardless of the climate.
Silk pajamas, without the hassle of having to wash by hand—a dream. This Lunya set, now available in a limited-edition light green hue, is the kind she'll want to wear to bed every single night. It's also a great set for hot sleepers as the silk keeps you nice and cool.
This bamboo bath caddy will elevate anyone's at-home spa experience. Not only does this one look pretty, it's so functional and easy to set up. Grab a book, some tea, and a candle to set up a spa-worthy bath from the comfort of your own home.
If she's not a Tatcha fan yet, this starter kit will convert her. Meant to soothe dry skin, it comes with a cleansing oil, polish, hydrating serum, skin cream, and eye cream.
La Mer's beloved serum, which moisturizes and smooths skin, makes a great gift for mothers who want a little extra pampering this year.
A spa gift card will help her support her favorite spot and have a reason to book an extra appointment or two. SpaFinder makes it easy to search for places by location and service, so she can book something close to home or on her next vacation.
Buying skincare products for someone else can be risky, but this starter set lets her sample some of the latest beauty trends to see what works. It comes with a micro-needle Dermaroller, Cloud Whip face moisturizer, a mud mask, and vitamin C serum.
For the homebody mom
Nothing makes a room feel as cozy and warm as lighting your favorite candle. Beloved candle brand Voluspa, known for its sleek glass candles with delicious signature scents, recently launched a refill system that adds an additional 60 hours of fragrance. Instead of mom buying a brand new candle every time she burns through one, she can simply refill the same gorgeous candle with her go-to scent, from Baltic Amber to French Cade Lavender. And if you're not sure what her favorite scent is, go for a gift set, featuring three best-selling fragrances.
Traveler readers went wild for these hotel-quality sheets, recommended by Jonathan Webster, the vice president of lodging at Geronimo Hospitality Group. If mom's in the market for an upgrade, we bet she'll enjoy this silky smooth set.
There's a good chance your mom is ready for a new pair of house shoes. Made from 100-percent Turkish cotton terry, Parachute's plush slippers are soft and breathable, with rubber soles for a solid grip.
Give your mom the best sleep of her life with these luxurious silk pillowcases from Brooklinen. Not only are they comfortable, they are also better for your skin and reduce hair frizz. Sweet dreams!
This dreamy sleep mask is soft, noise-reducing, and the wide elasticized band prevents hair creases. Mom can throw it in her tote to get some rest on her next flight.
For the mom who wishes they were on the beach
Petoskey stones are found deep beneath the sands of Michigan shores and are calcified remnants of ancient coral reefs. Shinola pays homage to the mitten-state with its Petoskey collection that features polished stones that are one-of-a-kind (just like your mom). The stacked beaded bracelet has been crafted with a silver closure and features a variance of tan colored stones that have the unique six-sided “sunray” pattern.
The canvas material makes this tote incredibly durable for the beach. The colorful stripes and leather metallic detailing gives it a playful yet striking look. It’s super spacious so it can hold all the necessities for a perfect beach getaway.
The vibrant and sunny memory of a walk along a sandy beach is hard to forget. The scent notes include bergamot, coconut milk, and musk—transporting mom to her favorite place.
Bring the smell of salty sea air to wherever she may be with Homesick's beach cottage candle, made with bergamot, plumeria, cedarwood, sandalwood, tonka bean, amber, and musk. And while you're at it, grab one that smells like her home city or favorite vacation destination, too.
There's no better feeling than getting home from a day at the beach, taking a hot shower, and slipping into a silky smooth robe. Whether or not the afternoon on the sand is in her immediate future, you can at least help her achieve that level of after-sun comfort with this Lunya robe. For silk, it's remarkably easy to maintain, given it can be tossed in the wash.
For the the environmentally conscious mom
As summer approaches, consider upgrading your mom’s current ride. Bluejay’s Premiere Edition electric bike is made for paved bike paths. It can reach up to 20 miles per hour and provides 75 miles of cycling before it needs a charge. Although it looks like a blast from the past, the bike itself is loaded with the latest technology such as a control panel with USB charging ports that displays speed, battery life, lights, and mileage.
Traveler editors practically live in Girlfriend leggings when we work from home, so we can strongly vouch for their comfort level. Another plus: Each pair is made out of recycled water bottles, and comes in a reusable pink pouch instead of plastic wrap.
This Tree Napper blanket blends the benefits of a weighted blanket—better sleep, peace of mind—with the comfort of a big, cozy knit sweater. Plus, it's made with a plant-based tree fabric (Tencel), organic cotton, and a little bit of spandex for stretch.
Made entirely from bamboo and recycled plastics (even the laces come from recycled plastic bottle threads), Cariuma sneakers are eco-friendly and extremely comfortable. Moms will like this rose knit pair for city vacations and puttering around town alike.
For the Ina Garten–obsessed mom
It comes as no surprise that the Always Pan has a cult following: This all-in-one pan does the work of eight traditional pieces of cookware. It will save space in your mom's cupboards and make cleaning the dishes a breeze (what better gift is there than that?).
Upgrade mom's kitchen counter with a gift set from Brightland. Our friends at Epicurious categorized the design-forward brand's Awake oil as a top-tier olive oil; this set comes with a bottle of the good stuff, plus champagne vinegar, California orange blossom honey, and the spout.
There's no greater gift for a home chef than something from Le Creuset. The French cookware company makes the best of the best when it comes to pots, pans, and Dutch ovens. This essential oven will last forever. The hardest part? Choosing a color.
While Tartine's bread cookbook got a lot of love as everyone hopped on board the sourdough train in 2020, the San Francisco bakery's other cookbook is worth reading through, too. It comes with well over 100 recipes for breakfast pastries, cakes, cookies, tarts, and more.
For the mom who wishes she had a British passport, this loud and proud Smeg toaster will get a laugh. Like most Smeg products, it has a retro look and practical features, including six browning levels and a removable stainless steel crumb tray.
With Rifle Paper Co.'s recipe tin, your mom will have a much prettier way to store all those family recipes floating around in her brain, and any new ones she can't wait to try this summer.
For the green thumb mom
You know her birthstone and zodiac sign, but did you know every month has a birth flower, too? Satisfy her gardening itch in a low-key way with this all-in-one kit. It comes with seeds, a glass bottle to grow them in, potting mix, and instructions, plus a cork lid that doubles as a coaster for the bottle.
Blundstone's iconic Tasmanian boots have been around for 150 years, and can withstand anything from slushy winter sidewalks to afternoons stomping through the garden. The Chelsea boot is a favorite for being fairly light and super comfortable, with a leather upper and durable, slip-resistant TPU outsole. If she spends most of her time outdoors, these boots will become a go-to.
We've never seen a watering can as chic as Hay's—its matte color and sleek design are too pretty to keep hidden away in a closet or garage, making it both functional and decorative.
Bloomscape describes this plant's care level as no-fuss and carefree, making it a great pick regardless of her skill level. Plus, it's pet-friendly and will thrive even with partial lighting.
For the mom who loves to visit wineries
The Wine-Down tote is made from upcycled leather that is durable and both water- and stain-resistant. The unique design features a knot that serves as a handle. It's the perfect gift for a wine connoisseur who is always introducing a new bottle during dinner parties or girls’ nights.
For a zero-fuss way to make red wine taste better, she needs a decanter like this one. It's easy to use and easy to clean (it's dishwasher safe), and comes with a travel bag for the aerator, which can sit on top of any wine glass when using the large decanter isn't an option.
If a visit to wine country isn't in her near future, a wine delivery is the next best option. Sign her up for a subscription, or pick out a handful of bottles based on her favorite varietals or wine regions.
This is, by far, the most ridiculous gift on this list, but there is a mom out there who will absolutely love it. It is a suitcase meant specifically for bringing home wine safely, whether she's returning from California, South Africa, or Spain.
Traveler transportation editor Jessica Puckett found these vintage-inspired wine goblets that remind her of the ones she drank from in Italy on Amazon. Spruce up your mom's tablescape with a colorful set of her own.
For the bookworm mom
For the women in your life that have small scale libraries in their home, this scanner will help them to catalogue their books and stay organized. When paired with an app like Libb, users can set up their own library system on a phone or computer.
There are dozens of classics to choose from here: Adventures of Tom Sawyer, David Copperfield, Little Women, and The Call of the Wild among them. Any one of them would look great hanging in a study or bedroom.
It by no means replaces the feeling of strolling through a gorgeous library or bookstore, but a Libro.fm subscription does give her access to a boatload of books to be listened to whenever—on walks, while cleaning, working on a puzzle, coloring, you name it—all of which come from independent bookstores.
Our favorite e-reader for travel, the Kindle Paperwhite has an exceptional battery life, pairs with Audible to play audiobooks, and has a familiar, page-like quality book purists will appreciate.
Decorated with quotes from the greats, from Virginia Woolf to Oscar Wilde, she'll enjoying sending off these postcards to fellow literary friends (and keeping a few to use as bookmarks).
The sentimental mom who's not going anywhere near a Kindle will love stamping her collection of books; customize it to say “from the desk of,” “from the library of,” “ex libris,” or “with love from.”
For the coffee or tea lover
This gift set is a sweet introduction to Big Island Roasters. The brand works with Puna farmers in Hawaii to create these alluring blends. This set includes Kona coffee, Ka’u coffee, Māmaki herbal tea, espresso bites, and an organic coffee lip balm. Hazelnut, honey and, chocolate are very present in the blends so it’s perfect for those with a sweet tooth.
Since there's nothing better than curling up on the couch with a good book and a cup of coffee, we're all for upgrading said coffee experience with a Nespresso machine. This version is a little more versatile than most, pouring both espresso and coffee (in five, eight, and 14-ounce increments), and comes with a milk frother, which really makes all the difference in upgrading at-home coffee.
This electric kettle won't only look pretty in your mom's kitchen—it's a game changer. It has to-the-degree temperature control, a 60-minute mode to keep things hot, a precision spot, and weighted handle.
More no-fail gift ideas
A cashmere cardigan is always a great gift for a mom that’s far away. The cashmere and slightly oversized fit of this Banana Republic cardigan feels like a warm hug. Plus, for a mom on the go, it’s a travel essential—easy to pack, easy to layer, and easy to dress up or down.
She's either a flower mom, or she's not. There's rarely an in between. But if she does appreciate a bouquet of flowers showing up at her doorstep, UrbanStems is your best bet for easy, fast delivery. The Good Vibes bouquet, part of UrbanStems' Mother's Day collection, is filled with peach and pink roses, delphinium, veronica, aster, ruscus and more.
She’ll notice her juicing time cut short—with 43 revolutions per minute to mimic the motion of a hand squeezing juice, the natural nutrients are retained while reducing the need to finely chop and prep ingredients. Plus, this slow juicer is equipped with an Easy Clean chamber set that simplifies (and speeds up) the cleaning process.
One of New York City’s most renowned and beloved bakeries has expanded on its famous banana pudding recipe, turning them into delicious cookies. Magnolia Bakery is a must-visit while in the city, but for the mothers who can’t make their way to the Big Apple—send a piece (or a few) to them.
Hamilton Princess & Beach Club Resort just launched its first custom fragrance with Bermudian perfumery Lili Bermuda. Island Rose is inspired by the roses that bloom in Bermuda on the grounds of the iconic pink palace. It has notes of mandarin, pink rosa damascena, and soft white orris.
Add a little spice to everyday recipes. The Variety Pack features three sauces that will serve as your mom’s introduction to the world of Jamaican flavors and cuisine.
If you won't have a chance to see your mom in person for Mother's Day and want to send her an ongoing gift to make up for it, Vellabox allows you to customize a candle subscription based on your mom's favorite scents. Choose from woodsy, floral, citrus, and fresh notes in three different candle sizes. These can be sent monthly for six months, one year, or as a one-time-only gift.
A major upgrade from the traditional bouquet of flowers you usually gift your mom, these elegant eternity roses last a full year (yes, you read that correctly). Your mom can enjoy these on her desk at work or kitchen table until next Mother's Day rolls around.
Whether your mom is a beginner at the gym or a regular hiker, she needs to try the Bala power rings for herself. Press, hold, swing, and squat with these 10-pound props that evenly distribute weight for a user-friendly workout.