44 Epic Gifts for Dad in 2025

Amazon's newest Kindle Paperwhite, released in October, boasts a slightly larger 7-inch screen and improved performance over its predecessor, with 25% faster page turns. According to CNET's David Carnoy, "The new Paperwhite does seem like a legitimate upgrade from the Paperwhite (2021), and I suspect people who've used that previous-gen Paperwhite will be tempted to make the jump to this model." 

CNET's David Carnoy says this magnetic stand and grip is one of his favorite MagSafe accessories. It makes it easy to hold your phone and is also handy for when you use the kickstand feature to make calls or watch something.

The JBL Go 4's durable design, coupled with surprisingly decent sound for its tiny size, makes it one of the top micro Bluetooth speakers out there. Available in multiple color options, it has an IP67 water resistance rating, meaning it can be dunked in water, and it's dust-proof. Battery life is rated at up to seven hours (versus five hours with the JBL Go 3), which Dad will appreciate. And he can also clip it onto things, like his belt loop or bag, making it convenient to bring along anywhere.

Dads who are into 3D printers (or would like to explore them) will love the Bambu Lab A1 Combo. “I rarely find a product that impresses me, but the A1 Combo left me genuinely amazed with its performance and value,” says CNET’s James Bricknell. He adds that it produces quality printing at a great price: Four-color printing for less than $600? Amazing. This model also made our pick for best overall 3D printer.

Read our Bambu Lab A1 Combo review.

A dog may be man’s best friend, but this human dog bed is definitely in the running, too. From the moment he tries it, your dad will get hooked and look forward to leaning back and relaxing in his Plufl, which has a memory foam mattress and super plush fabric that’ll suck him right in. CNET's David Watsky says, “It is by far the coziest spot in my house to curl up.”

Read our Plufl review.

Dad can keep this multitool hammer and wrench anywhere -- in his car, pocket or wherever is most convenient. And everyone will know it’s his, since it can be engraved with his name or a personal message.

If Dad likes whiskey or bourbon, this decanter is perfect for when he has company or just to keep on display. To spruce up the gift, include his favorite liquor. You can get the decanter and glasses engraved with his name and order up to eight glasses.

DIY dads will love churning out pizzas from this compact, gas-powered pizza oven. CNET's David Watsky says there is little room for error with this model versus Ooni's bigger ones, since "smaller pizzas typically net better results." It'll take about 15 minutes to heat up to 900 degrees Fahrenheit, but then your pizza will be ready in under 2 minutes, which is pretty amazing. You can even include some pizza-making ingredients and Dad's favorite toppings with this gift. The Ooni Koda 12 also made our pick for best overall pizza oven.

Help dad add mood lighting to the TV without spending a fortune. These smart lights from Govee add an ambient light behind your TV or gaming rig and can change to music and other sounds. And with the Govee app, you can select their color and brightness.

Govee has earned a solid reputation for offering high-quality products at budget-friendly prices, and these lights are no exception -- they look and feel more expensive than they are.

What dad doesn’t appreciate a good fire pit, especially a smokeless one? Well, Solo Stove is a master when it comes to smokeless fire pits. CNET’s David Carnoy notes in his review that while he started off using the smaller Mesa model, he preferred the Mesa XL after it launched. “It looks and feels a little more substantial while remaining compact,” he says. Warmth-wise, it produces a heat radius of two to three feet, versus the Mesa's one to two feet. It’s also portable enough to move around, which you can’t say about all fire pits. If you order through Solo Stove, you can personalize the stove for just $10 with NFL logos, college logos or custom text, which is a pretty cool touch.

Looking for a record player that won't break the bank? The Audio-Technica AT-LP60X is an affordable turntable that brings an automatic play option to the mix (but Dad can still futz with the tonearm if he'd like). It comes in four colors: red, black, white and silver. According to CNET's Ty Pendlebury, this is a turntable that "offers excellent midrange and bass response for the price of a nice night out."

Amazon's smart thermostat sets a new standard for the category. It has a clean, modern touchscreen design and is easy to use, whether you're adjusting the temperature at the thermostat, through the Alexa app or with Alexa voice commands via a compatible Alexa-enabled speaker or display. It also earned a CNET Editors' Choice award for best value smart thermostat.

Read our Amazon Smart Thermostat review.

For dads who want freshly brewed coffee every morning -- but don’t want to deal with coffee filters and measuring out the grounds or beans -- the Keurig K-Mini is the solution. All he has to do is put his coffee or travel mug under the coffee dispenser, and voilà! The K-Mini comes in six colors, so you can choose the best one for Dad’s kitchen or office decor, and you can always include some coffee pods and a countertop organizer, too. 

You can't go wrong getting dad CNET's topic pick for air fryers, the Ninja 4-quart air fryer. Big enough to roast a chicken, but small enough that it won't dominate counter space, this air fryer can cook up wings, burgers, fries and much more.

David Watsky, CNET's resident food and drinks wizard, has tried out a lot of coffee subscriptions, and Atlas Coffee Club is his favorite, hands down. Not only is the quality top-notch, but it's budget-friendly, too. Gift subscriptions start at $50 for three months and you can choose how you'd like the coffee: ground, beans or in Keurig or Nespresso pods. Each shipment comes with a 12-ounce bag of single-origin coffee (or pods), along with tasting notes and postcards from its country of origin. This subscription not only makes coffee drinking fun, but also educational.

For the dad who hasn’t yet embraced sparkling water, consider the SodaStream Terra. As SodaStream’s entry-level model, it still impresses enough to top CNET's list of best soda makers. That's because it makes consistently fizzy water with simple manual pumps and doesn't take up much space on the counter. This kit bundle includes two flavors also -- lime and blackberry -- in case Dad wants some variety in his bubbly water.

When cooking with a Lodge cast iron pan, you're operating on a whole other level. Yes, this cookware requires a different type of cleaning regimen -- soap and water can be used, as long as the pan is dried promptly with a lint-free towel -- but its ability to hold high heat is the secret weapon that'll make your "grilled" steak dinner go from fine to fantastic. If it's too cold outside to grill, this pan is the perfect solution.

J.A. Henckels' Zwilling Gourmet 8-inch chef's knife is CNET's top pick for the best midprice chef's knife, one you don't need to spend hundreds of dollars on but that still feels good in your hand. The large blade allows it to tackle most kitchen tasks, and Dad can slice and dice meat and vegetables with ease thanks to the ergonomic, polymer handle.

The Fizzics DraftPour makes any beer better by converting natural carbonation into microfoam, which gives beer the aroma and flavor you usually get only from a bar tap. The beer dispenser works with most beer cans and bottles, and any type of beer: lagers, IPAs, ambers, porters and more. This will elevate your dad's beer drinking experience and impress his friends, too.

If Dad is a committed carnivore, imagine his delight when he gets a box of premium meats as a gift. This sampler from ButcherBox includes 100% grass-fed ground beef, filet mignons, boneless pork chops, apple gouda sausage, sirloin tips, bacon and free-range organic chicken. All the meat is vacuum-packed and frozen, and shipping is free. 

There's a reason Scottevests are so popular -- not only are they comfortable, but all of Dad's items will feel safely hidden among the 16 pockets. There's a cellphone pocket, key holder, RFID-blocking pocket and so many other nooks and crannies that he may even feel like a spy while wearing the vest. If your dad is more of a jacket or hoodie guy, Scottevest makes those, too, though I the vest since it's light and easy to throw over other clothing.

After a long day, your dad can sit back and relax in this super soft robe. But it's not just any robe -- it's a weighted one, with 3 pounds around the neck area (which is removable) that will help him decompress.

For fathers who are minimalists, or aspire to be, this leather wallet is perfect. It has RFID protection and Dad can pop out his ID or credit cards at the touch of a button. And even though it’s oh-so-slim, it can still hold 10-plus cards.

A lot of dads are into fun socks and you can’t get more fun than these customized ones. There are a lot of patterns and colors to choose from and you can even feature Dad’s (or someone else's) face on them. Prices start at $14 and vary depending on things like how many faces you’d like on each sock.

If your dad is a golfer -- or just likes polo shirts -- this is the perfect gift for tee time. It’s 100% breathable ring-spun cotton, so it’ll keep Dad cool on the course. And, you can personalize it.

Athleisure brand Vuori has taken dads by storm with its comfortable performance wear. Most notable are the Sunday Performance Joggers, a favorite for their relaxed, yet tapered cut. This pair of pants can go from the home office to school pick-up to the grocery store and everywhere in between. They're available in nine different colors and the dad in your life will want to collect them all.

OluKai does footwear differently. The company's Hawaiian roots can be felt in every product it creates and these Kīpuka Hulu slippers are a prime example. Whether Dad is relaxing around the house or out running errands, these kicks deliver the goods. An on-the-go slipper like no other, these are designed with premium nubuck leather on the outside and soft shearling lining on the inside to keep toes nice and cozy. They have a "drop-in heel design," which allows the heel to fold for easy foot access and more of a slip-on approach.

L.L. Bean consistently delivers quality, comfort and style on the cardigan front. The vintage vibe is off the charts here, but the company has upgraded the formula, adding new cotton yarns to the mix for even more comfort and versatility. Refined yet rugged, this cardigan comes in four colors: beige, cadet blue, navy blue and olive gray. 

Introduce your dad to a new world with a VR headset. The Meta Quest 3 is one of the best VR headset in its price class, according to CNET's resident VR expert Scott Stein. This model is an upgrade from the Quest 2 and features some mixed reality games and apps. "Seeing your surroundings with the headset on (and even checking messages on your phone) is a lot easier now," he notes. Not only did it make our pick for best VR headset, but it also received a CNET Editors' Choice award.

These days, we've noticed many dads are fans of Kan Jam and pickleball -- and this set combines the best of both worlds. It includes four pickleball paddles, four pickleballs and two cans that act as the goals. With it, Dad can get in a game of pickleball anywhere -- in the backyard, at the park, while camping, you name it -- or just use the set to practice. 

The competition is on! Your dad will love this addictive table game, which is reminiscent of air hockey and foosball. It comes in two- and four-person versions, so the entire family can play.

If your dad has always wanted to complete a Rubik’s cube, now’s his chance. “The GoCube connects to your phone or tablet and takes you through the steps of solving a cube using ‘algorithms,’” says CNET’s James Bricknell. When using it, he says it was the first time he felt he had a handle on manipulating a puzzle cube without it being completely random. “Learning a new skill as a dad, especially one that can impress your kids, is always worthwhile -- and the app even lets you play battle games with your kids to make it more family-oriented,” he adds. 

If Dad has always wanted to try out D&D but has never gotten a chance, there's never been a better time to try and this starter kit is the perfect gift to get started. As CNET's James Bricknell says, "I'm an avid tabletop gamer and I love giving these starter kits out to friends and family." He says this box has everything someone needs to start their first adventure. Imagination is the key to a good D&D campaign, but you also need rules and dice. This set gives you both.

Like previous models, this version of Nintendo's hit mobile gaming system offers the goods, but there's also a substantial set of improvements here. The 7-inch OLED screen, wide adjustable kickstand, enhanced audio and 64GB of internal storage create a supremely enjoyable tabletop gaming experience that can also be plugged into a TV or monitor. According to CNET's Scott Stein, "The Switch OLED is the best Nintendo Switch there is, period."

Is Dad a comic book lover but unsure of what the cool kids are reading? Amazon's Comixology is a digital storefront that has more than 230,000 titles, from comics and manga to graphic novels. With Comixology Unlimited (its monthly subscription service), visitors can peruse over 45,000 comics, including Comixology Originals, creator-owned works by popular scribes like Scott Snyder, for only $6 a month. It comes with a free 30-day trial and the Comixology app is available to download from the App Store.

CNET’s James Bricknell, who's a dad, says that King of Tokyo is a longtime favorite family board game in his house since it’s easy to learn and also strategically satisfying. “Each player takes control of a monster -- think Godzilla or King Kong -- and attempts to control Tokyo on the central game board,” he explains. The game is over when just one monster remains alive -- unless someone reaches 20 points before then.

Ice baths -- also known as cold plunges -- are backed by research to help all sorts of ailments, from muscle soreness to anxiety. If Dad has always wanted his own ice pod, now he can have one with this portable version. It fits someone up to 6'7" and even folds up when not in use. A dad friend has one and has made it part of his morning routine -- even during Chicago winters. He swears it's changed his life and says his mind and body both feel better.

Read more: Ice baths for fitness.

Dads always seem to need a good duffel bag -- whether it’s for the gym, a day trip, you name it -- and this one is the one. You can choose from a 35-liter ($160) or a 51-liter ($180), depending on Dad’s needs. It also has a lifting belt attachment, so the belt doesn’t have to take up any interior bag space.

If Dad isn't exfoliating properly (please tell him to toss out that bar of soap), this skincare set is the perfect starter kit to get him on the road to hydrated skin. A face wash, exfoliating scrub, morning facial moisturizer and evening moisturizer all come in this collection. It's a simple and speedy routine, and the simplified user's guide will help keep him on track to radiant skin.

Maybe you've eyed pricey Theragun massagers (which we're big fans of, by the way), but haven't pulled the trigger. The affordable Mini size is here to change that. With the Theragun Mini, Dad can knead his sore muscles using three speeds. The ergonomic handle is easier to use than a bulkier, bigger massage gun and helps reduce wrist strain. It's also quite quiet, making it nice and portable for travel use too.

Rent Dad his dream car with Turo, a peer-to-peer car-sharing company (like Airbnb, but for cars). Not only are there all kinds of vehicles on the app, but the prices are more reasonable than many car rental companies too. This present makes a great, unique gift, and for the gift card, you can choose any amount from $25 to $2,000.

With plenty of pockets, this Dopp kit keeps Dad's toiletries neatly organized for travel -- and it looks great, too. The sturdy handle hangs easily on a hotel bathroom hook, and the rugged material ensures it lasts through countless trips.

It's fair to say that we can all use more AirTags in our lives. Whether or not your dad is a pro at misplacing things, these are the perfect travel must-have. He can put one in his checked bag, one in his carry-on, one in his briefcase -- you get the picture. I love the fact that when you order them through Apple, you can get Dad’s initials on them for no extra cost.

Read our piece on some unexpected places to plant your AirTags.

The Nomatic Travel Pack is great for every occasion. Yes, there's enough room in the main compartment for books, lunch, clothes or other work items. Its computer pocket can hold laptops up to 16 inches in size. That's all well and good, but this bag offers so much more.

It's expandable, TSA-ready, water resistant and offers a collection of external and internal pockets for all sorts of storage (including an RFID pocket for your credit cards). Small details like the retractable clip-on key leash and secret AirTag/Passport pocket make this bag a cut above the rest. “What's unique is that when you expand the bag, it reveals another zipper that opens the backpack like a clamshell for easy packing,” says CNET’s Josh Goldman. It also made our pick for the best carry-on luggage.