40 thoughtful gifts your girlfriend will love - at every budget
A customized map of her favorite place
Grafomap lets you design custom maps of anywhere in the world — like the first place you met, the best trip you ever took together, or the hometown she couldn't wait to show you. It's unique, thoughtful, and pretty inexpensive. You can find the full Insider Picks review here.
Plan a trip for the two of you to take together — and maybe use this online travel concierge to help
If you want to gift an experience for the two of you to enjoy together, grab a card, a gift card to Journy or Airbnb, and come with a few location ideas in mind.
If you haven't heard of Journy, it's a startup that matches you with an expert travel planner to design the ideal trip for $25 per day — complete with booking hotels, making restaurant reservations, and keeping landmarks and local haunts in mind. If you want to surprise her with a trip already planned, go through Journy yourself and present her with the full, detailed plan.
A monogrammed jewelry case from a minimalist fashion startup
Keeping track of tiny and delicate jewelry is difficult — but jewelry cases are a pretty and useful solution. Especially if you've gotten her jewelry in the past, or plan to in the future, this is a thoughtful and personalized gift. It's made from premium leather, comes in six colors, and can be monogrammed with her initials. Cuyana is also a cool leather bag startup she may have already heard of.
A beautiful diamond necklace she'll have forever
A diamond necklace doesn't have to be thousands of dollars, as fine jewelry startups like AUrate are proving. This necklace is something she can keep and wear forever, and both the solid gold and conflict-free diamonds are of the highest quality.
A new waterproof Kindle Paperwhite for reading anywhere
Amazon's new Kindle Paperwhite is its thinnest and lightest yet, with double the storage. Perhaps the best features are that it's waterproof and has built-in adjustable light for the perfect reading environment indoors or outdoors, day and night. If she loves a nice, relaxing bath, pair this with a caddy, bath bombs, and a glass of wine for a relaxing night in that you've already taken care of.
A beautiful cashmere sweater in tons of colors
Everlane is a cult-favorite startup, and its $100 cashmere sweaters are one of its most popular products ever. Thanks to the company's transparent pricing, you get a really nice cashmere sweater for the price of a not-so-nice one — and this classic crewneck comes in 18 colors.
If she's especially environmentally conscious, check out Reformation's cashmere. It's more expensive ($148), but it's made from 70% recycled cashmere. If you're looking for something even less expensive, cashmere startup Naadam has fantastic cashmere sweaters for $75, but they're prone to sell out.
A cult-favorite hair towel that reduces damage and cuts drying time by 50%
Aquis' cult-favorite hair towels can cut the amount of time it takes your hair to dry in half — a claim we're happy to report holds up. The proprietary fabric also means there's less damage to wet hair while it dries.
Comfy, high-end sheets at the best price on the market
Brooklinen is one of our favorite companies, point blank. We think they make the best high-end sheets at the best price on the market, and most of the Insider Picks team uses Brooklinen on their own beds.
The Luxe Hardcore Sheet Bundle comes in 15 colors and patterns, and you can mix and match them to suit your taste. Grab a gift card (delivered digitally or in a gift box) if you want to give her more freedom. If you opt for a sheet bundle, she'll receive a core sheet set (fitted, flat, two pillowcases), duvet cover, and two extra pillowcases in soft, smooth 480-thread-count weave.
A funny and unique handmade card
You can pick up a card from Walgreens on your way to exchange gifts, but it'll mean more if you think just a few days ahead. Etsy has great options for cheap, unique, handmade gifts that are cool and thoughtful. This one is handmade watercolor print, and it's lovably funny and sweet.
A 100% silk pillowcase that reduces frizz and keeps skin hydrated overnight
Silk pillowcases reduce frizz and damage to hair and make it look shiny and healthy. It also reduces the likelihood of wrinkles and keeps skin hydrated overnight by absorbing less of the moisturizer in her skin as she sleeps.
This particular Celestial Silk pillowcase is one of the internet's hidden gems. It's $40 on Amazon (lesser quality options go for $85), but we rated it the best silk pillowcase you can buy in the Insider Picks buying guide. It's the one I personally own, and it makes a big difference for frizzy hair.
A houseplant that arrives already potted and is easy to care for
Leon & George is a San Francisco startup that will send beautiful plants — potted in stylish, minimalist pots — to her door. All she has to do is to occasionally add water. Flowers are wonderful, but houseplants have a much longer shelf life, and most of Leon & George's options are very easy to care for.
A nice gold vermeil and sapphire zodiac sign necklace
Mejuri is a Canadian startup created in 2015 to make fine jewelry affordable to buy — and it has racked up wait lists with more than 40,000 people on them before. Their popular Zodiac Necklace is cool, minimalist, and something she can wear every day. It's made in gold vermeil with AAA quality white sapphires. Mejuri's affordable pricing means the estimated traditional retail price of the same necklace elsewhere would be closer to $235.
A membership to a popular skin-care and makeup subscription that sends new, cool, and best-selling products once per month
Birchbox is a skincare and makeup subscription that sends tons of samples of new and cult-favorite products to subscribers so they can find products they love without much commitment or cost upfront. Makeup and skin-care products can be expensive, so this is a particularly helpful service. The gift box above includes a selection of best sellers plus a three-month subscription.
A fun, unique local date
Local pasta-making classes, wine tours, pottery workshops, secret concerts, nature outings — you can book from thousands of fun classes and experiences on Airbnb Experiences to make wherever you live feel new, exciting, and full of possibilities. It's also an under-utilized part of Airbnb, making it a thoughtful and unusual gift — and one you may keep using yourselves for out-of-the-box date nights in the future. Find out more here.
A stylish leather makeup pouch that's thoughtful and easy to travel with
Dagne Dover is quickly becoming one of the best women's handbag companies to know, and their Lola Toiletries Pouches are a great and relatively affordable gift. The small size ($75) is perfect for everyday makeup essentials, and the large ($105) can be used for toiletries, makeup, or as a small purse. It's made from beautiful pebbled leather, and you can pick from seven foolproof color choices.
40 thoughtful gifts your girlfriend will love - at every budget
Sonos is one of the best — and most affordable — speakers on the market. It's powerful, learns how to play for the dimensions of your particular room, and has Amazon Alexa voice control. We think it's the best multi-room speaker.
A subscription to a coffee service that sends coffees specifically for her taste preferences
If she loves coffee, she'll probably love to try Driftaway. It's a gourmet coffee subscription that gets smarter the longer you use it, remembering your preferences and steering you towards increasingly accurate brews for your specific tastes. The first shipment will be a tasting kit with four coffee profiles, which she'll rate online or in the app to start getting personalized options.
A book of love letters written by history's great men
It can be hard to do yourself justice in words — whether they're spoken or written in a card. This compilation of love letters written by great men can help you say it without actually technically saying it. Bonus points if you write your own, or mark the ones in the book that most closely resemble your own feelings.
A pair of leggings from an eco-conscious startup
Girlfriend Collective is an affordable, unique fitness startup that makes stylish workout gear — which also happens to be made out of eco-friendly materials like recycled fishing nets and plastic water bottles — in ethical factories.
The best bathrobe that money can buy
Snowe's $98 unisex bathrobe has been called the best and most absorbent terry robe on the market, and I'm just one more fervent believer. The cotton fiber traps air for extra absorbency, is soft and plush, and the unisex sizing means it will feel like a blanket-turned-robe. Perfect functionality, and extra points for coziness.
One of the most well-made, comfortable blankets she's ever used
The Leesa Blanket is one of the best bedroom accessories we've discovered— well-made, soft and supple, and perfect year-round. It has two layers so it's weighty enough to feel warm and substantial, and we've seen it hold up well over time without pilling or breaking down.
A mug that keeps hot drinks hot for up to six hours straight
This mug is a common desk companion for the Insider Picks team. The 12-ounce coffee mug has the company's proprietary TempShield insulation that made its water bottles famous. This mug will keep hot drinks hot for up to six hours, and cold drinks cold up to 24 hours. Read a full review of it here.
Limited-edition candles with scents of cedar wood and sandalwood
Byredo creates everything from parfum, to lotion, to hand wash — now they have beautiful smelling candles. This limited edition set comes with three mini candles that encompass notes of cedar wood and sandalwood.
A plug-in that adds voice-control to outlets
These plug-ins will turn a "dumb" outlet into a smart outlet. Plug in the WeMo Mini Smart Plug, download the free app, and that's it — you control your lights and appliances from your phone anywhere and your voice through Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple Home Kit. It only needs WiFi — no expensive hub.
A gift card to a popular wine subscription club
Winc is a personalized wine club — and we think the best one you can belong to overall. Members take a wine palate profile quiz and then choose from the personalized wine suggestions. Each bottle has extensive tasting notes and serving recommendations online, and makes it easy to discover similar bottles.
Gift her a Winc gift card, and she can take a wine palate profile quiz and get started with her own customized suggestions.
A gift bundle of the best hair dryer ever invented and popular hair products from a celebrity hair stylist's line
This gift may seem inexplicably expensive, but it's actually considered a steal to those with either product on their wish lists (retail value: $466). The award-winning Dyson blow dryer is covetable, and lauded as the best one ever invented; It prevents hair damage by measuring air temperature 20 times per second, has a specially designed Dyson motor for fast drying, and reduces static, breakage, and makes hair look smooth and shiny.
The Ouai products are from celebrity hairstylist Jen Atkin's personal line. She's best known for stylish the Kardashians, Jessica Alba, and Sofia Vergara.
A high-tech towel that keeps her from slipping around during yoga classes
Manduka is known for making the best yoga products, and their Yogitoes towel is one of the most loved. It has tiny 100% silicone nubs on one side that grab yoga mats and keep yogis from slipping around during the exercise. Having a good towel can make a big difference.
It also comes in 19 great colors and gets eco-friendly points. Each Yogitoes towel is made from eight recycled plastic water bottles, and made with dyes free of azo, lead, or heavy metal.
Beautiful pearl earrings she'll own forever
Stone and Strand is a great one-stop-shop for dainty jewelry that's priced below retail. These pearl earrings are 14k solid yellow gold, have gem-quality freshwater pearls, ethically sourced gold, and conflict-free white diamonds. Stylistically, they're a great combination of new trends and classics, so they're timeless without approaching stuffy.
The "world's most comfortable shoes"
Allbirds' newest launch is a line of cool new high-top sneakers dubbed the Tree Toppers, but for the uninitiated (or anyone looking for new favorite fail-safe sneakers), the classic Wool Runners are ideal.
Cozy fuzzy socks and the tools for a great night in
Pair these with her favorite comfy products for an ideal "night in": bath bombs, sheet masks, candles, wine, and maybe a gift card to her favorite place to order take-out from.
A gift card to ClassPass so she can go to tons of boutique fitness classes without the expense
Boutique fitness classes are expensive. ClassPass makes them less so. With ClassPass, she can drop into diverse exercise classes at tons of different specialized studios for $15 or less per class (about half their traditional cost). If she likes to be kept active, is looking for a newfound favorite class, or likes yoga as much as barre classes, this is a great gift she'll actually use.
An award-winning but pricey at-home facial
This is an award-winning mask with a big following in the beauty and skin-care community. It's $80, but it's an at-home pro-quality facial she can use anytime — which is a fraction of the price required for regular facials.
A stylish, savvy carry-on with an external battery pack
Away's hyper-popular suitcases deserve their hype. Their hard shell is lightweight but durable, their 360° spinner wheels make for seamless traveling, and the external (and ejectable and TSA-compliant) battery pack included can charge a smartphone five times over so she never has to sit behind a trash can at the airport for access to an outlet again. It's also guaranteed for life by Away. Find our full review here.
A stylish weekender with next-level organization tools
Dagne Dover has already made it on this list, but this weekender is another fan-favorite that makes for a particularly great gift. It looks cool thanks to the great color options and unique neoprene material (think: scuba gear), and the stylish organization is second-to-none (think: padded laptop sleeve, water bottle pocket, and stretch key leash for easy access). It's great for weekend trips, staycations, and as a carry-on.
You may also want to check out Lo & Sons bags.
16 highly-rated sheet masks
Grab her 16 sheet masks to make it easier for her to have a frequent and well-deserved "treat yourself" day. These 16 are highly-rated and have both vitamin E and collagen included for healthy, happy skin.
A gift card for delicious healthy meals she can make in about 30 seconds
Daily Harvest is a food startup that makes it possible to eat healthy, delicious meals for less than $10 each even if you only have 30 seconds to spare for prep time. Meals are pre-portioned, delicious, and designed by both a chef and a nutritionist to make sure they're tasty and good for you. It addressed all my healthy eating roadblocks.
A subscription to a famous book club that sends her great hardcovers once per month
If she loves books, Book of the Month is an especially thoughtful and unique gift — it's a book club that has been around since 1926, and it's credited with discovering some of the most beloved books of all time ("Gone with the Wind" and "Catcher in the Rye" to name a couple).
If you gift her a subscription, she'll receive a hardcover book delivered to her door once a month. Books are selected by a team of experts and celebrity guest judges.
If she's really more into audiobooks or e-reading now rather than hardcovers, check out a gift subscription to Scribd (full review here).
Fancy popcorn and a movie night
Grab these handmade popcorn seasonings (white cheddar, salt & vinegar, buttery garlic, and smokey BBQ) from Uncommon Goods and make some fancy popcorn for a movie night. Or, make a reservation at a nice restaurant, stock up on her favorite movie candy and some fun drinks ahead of time (wrap them for an extra wow-factor), get a Fandango gift card, and take her out for a dressed-up version of the classic movie date.
A gift set of six vegan bath bombs that smell like essential oils
This bath bomb gift set has six vegan bath bombs made with natural essential oils. Each bath bomb's scent corresponds to a specific use: lavender for relaxation, grapefruit for energizing, and so on. They also have over 3,000 five-star reviews.
Kitchen towels that rate wines by how well they pair with certain foods
If she loves having a nice glass of wine and/or cooking, she'll appreciate the thought behind these unique wine pairing towels. Grab a bottle and some corresponding ingredients for a fun night in for the two of you.
Next Story
Tesla tells some laid-off employees their separation agreements are canceled and new ones are on the way
Taylor Swift's 'The Tortured Poets Department' is the messiest, horniest, and funniest album she's ever made
One of the world's only 5-star airlines seems to be considering asking business-class passengers to bring their own cutlery
The Future of Gaming Technology
Stock markets stage strong rebound after 4 days of slump; Sensex rallies 599 pts
Sustainable Transportation Alternatives
10 Foods you should avoid eating when in stress
8 Lesser-known places to visit near Nainital
