Gift IdeasGift ideas for grandparents
Grandparents usually have everything they need and little space for more. What they want is comfort, contact and to feel remembered.
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 potted plant
Pick a hardy one that survives missed waterings: money plant, snake plant or jade.
A bunch of fresh flowers
Ask the florist what came in today. Fresh and simple beats large and tired.
A good pen
For someone who still writes by hand. Have the name engraved if the shop offers it.
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 cooked meal delivered to the house
Ask what day suits them and bring it in containers that need not be returned.
A book of messages from everyone
Pass a notebook around quietly, or collect messages on the phone and print them.
A hand-knitted or hand-stitched item
A scarf, a cushion cover, an embroidered handkerchief.
A hand-painted card
Children's drawings are the best cards a grandparent can receive.
A tree or fruit sapling
For someone with a garden. Planted on the day, it marks the year.
A pack of dry fruits
Keeps for weeks, suits every age, and nobody has to guess a size.
A shirt or kurta
Check the size from a shirt in his cupboard, not from memory.
A warm shawl or stole
Wool for the north, light cotton or silk for the south.
Reading glasses case, magnifier or reading lamp
Small comforts for someone who reads every day.
A soft cushion, backrest or foot rest for their favourite chair
Comfort gifts are the right gifts for elders.
A large printed family photograph
Get everyone into one picture, print it big and frame it.
A photo album you have filled yourself
Printed photos, with dates and names written underneath, in an album they can hold.
A day out together
A film, lunch and a walk. Put the phone away for the day.
A hamper of snacks and tea
Build it yourself in a reusable basket. Choose things the person actually eats.
A hobby kit
Gardening tools, a painting set, a fishing rod, a set of chess pieces: whatever the next chapter is about.
A subscription to a magazine or newspaper
A gift that arrives again every month.
Dates and dry fruits in a decorated box
A traditional gift when visiting on Eid.
A donation in their name
To a cause they care about. Give them the receipt in a card.
A fruit basket
Seasonal fruit, well arranged. A good gift for elders and for visits to the unwell.
A wall calendar of family photos
A year of pictures on the wall, one for each month.
Their old photographs scanned and restored
Collect the family's loose prints, have them copied and give back both the originals and a new album.
A saree, suit piece or dupatta
If you do not know her taste, choose a classic colour and a fabric she already wears.
A silver coin
A traditional token of good fortune at Diwali, weddings and the birth of a child.
A pair of comfortable walking shoes
Take them along for the fitting. Feet do not forgive guesses.
A brass or silver item for the puja room
A diya, a bell or a small plate. Only when you know the family's faith and practice.
A music player or radio
Loaded with old songs, bhajans or ghazals for an elder who finds phones fiddly.
A piece of gold or silver jewellery
Small and classic, such as earrings, a chain or a ring, is worn more often than large and elaborate.
A pilgrimage or a trip to their home town
Plan every detail: tickets, stay, a companion. For elders, the planning is the gift.
A big family gift bought together
A television, a washing machine or a holiday, given by all the children or all the friends as one gift.
No idea matches these choices. Set one of the boxes back to "Any".
Your shortlist
How to choose for grandparents
- Comfort gifts suit the age: warmth in winter, good light for reading, a soft cushion for the favourite chair.
- Photographs of the family, printed large, are looked at every day.
- Your visit is the real gift. Bring something small, stay long.
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 grandparents?
Start from what the person does every day and what they would not buy for themselves. On this page, "A handwritten letter" and "A large printed family photograph" 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.