Gift IdeasGift ideas for your brother
With brothers, usefulness and humour go further than sentiment. Think of what he is into this year: a sport, a game, a bike, a new job.
A handwritten letter
Say three specific things you are grateful for. It is kept longer than any object.
A framed photograph of the two of you
Choose a photo they have not seen for years. Print it larger than you think.
A box of their favourite sweets
Find out the exact shop and the exact sweet. Precision is the gift.
A good pen
For someone who still writes by hand. Have the name engraved if the shop offers it.
A book you loved
Write a line on the first page saying why you chose it for them.
A jar of homemade pickle, jam or laddus
Label it with the date and what is inside. Homemade food carries your time in it.
A photo collage printed as a poster
Collect pictures from friends and family first, then join them in any collage maker and print the result.
A keychain with a name or a small photo
Useful every day and impossible to have too many of.
A desk organiser or good notebook
Neutral, useful and right for the office.
A rakhi with sweets and a small gift
For brothers far away, post it two weeks early.
A homemade cake or batch of cookies
Bake their favourite flavour and pack it in a tin they can keep.
A good umbrella or raincoat
Unromantic and thanked for every monsoon.
A steel water bottle or lunch box
Sturdy, daily and impossible to dislike.
A board game for the whole family
Choose one that grandparents and children can play together.
A cricket bat, football or badminton set
Outdoor toys get used the most. Check the right size for the child's age.
A shirt or kurta
Check the size from a shirt in his cupboard, not from memory.
A day out together
A film, lunch and a walk. Put the phone away for the day.
A toolkit for the house
Every new home needs a hammer, a screwdriver set and a measuring tape.
Money in an envelope (shagun)
Welcome on almost every family occasion, and the giver never has to guess a size or a taste. By custom the amount ends in one.
A gift card for a shop they use
Less personal, never wasted. Good when you live far away.
A phone cover, stand or power bank
Check the phone model first.
A fitness band, skipping rope or yoga mat
Only for someone who has started exercising, never as a hint.
Sports gear for their game
A racket grip, a pair of gloves, a jersey of their team.
A grooming kit
A good razor, trimmer or a set of skin care basics.
A scarf, tie or pair of cufflinks
Accessories need no size.
A handbag or wallet
Look at the one in use now, and choose the same style in better quality.
A wrist watch
A classic gift for a milestone: a first job, a wedding, a retirement.
Perfume or attar
Buy the one they already wear, or go together to choose.
Tickets to a concert, play or match
For the fan of a band, a team or the theatre. Go with them.
A class or workshop
Pottery, cooking, music, dance, photography: something they said they would try one day.
A travel bag or backpack
For someone starting a new job, a new city or a long-planned journey.
Headphones or earphones
Find out whether they prefer wired or wireless, and what they listen on.
A first-job kit
A formal shirt, a good bag and a notebook for someone starting work.
No idea matches these choices. Set one of the boxes back to "Any".
Your shortlist
How to choose for your brother
- Ask his friends or his partner what he has been talking about.
- For a younger brother, something that makes him look sharp at college or at a first job is well received.
- An old photo of the two of you, framed, works at any age.
About the spending levels
This site does not quote prices, because prices change with the city, the shop and the year. Each idea is marked with one of four levels instead:
- Token: A small gesture: the cost of a snack or a few cups of tea.
- Modest: An everyday gift for friends and family.
- Generous: A special gift for someone close or a big occasion.
- Grand: A once-in-years gift, often given by a family together.
Questions people ask
What is a good gift for your brother?
Start from what the person does every day and what they would not buy for themselves. On this page, "A handwritten letter" and "A day out together" are two ideas that suit most people.
What if I have very little to spend?
Choose the Token level in the filter. Handmade and personal gifts, such as a handwritten letter, cost little and are often the ones remembered.
Gifts for other people
Guides
- Shagun: giving moneyThe envelope, the extra rupee and how to decide the amount.
- Gifting etiquetteGiving, receiving, regifting and gifts to avoid.
- Return giftsIdeas for birthdays, weddings, pujas and housewarmings.
- Gift wrappingWrap a box neatly, or wrap without paper at all.
- Gift messagesShort lines to write on a tag or card, to copy.
- Secret Santa name drawerPair everyone for a gift exchange on one phone.