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55 Gifts for Moms (at Every Price Point)

Best Gifts for Mom
Photo-Illustration: Courtesy of the retailers

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I get more delight out of buying gifts for my mom than for anyone else (sorry, Dad). Part of that comes down to the challenge. What do you get someone when you’ve already exhausted every obvious gift option? She displayed my preschool scribbles on the fridge for years. I’ve sent flowers enough times. So my philosophy now is to either go for something she needs (but hasn’t gotten around to buying) or surprise her with something she would never, ever buy for herself. Sometimes I go the replacement route, like switching her well-worn slippers for brand-new ones. After gifting her countless candles, I eventually found an absurdly large one that she hasn’t yet burned through, even years later. But I always need new ideas.

So if you’re in the same boat, I’ve curated an assortment of the best gifts for moms (ahead of Mother’s Day, which is on May 12 if you needed a reminder), including a few that have been personally vetted by me and favorites of Strategist writers and editors — an admittedly picky group. I also combed our archives for unexpected items, like a mushroom-shaped, color-changing nightlight, and clicked through hundreds of Amazon pages to unearth extra-giftable versions of everyday items, like a status-y water bottle, a luxurious body wash, and sinfully comfortable cashmere socks. Everything here is available at the megaretailer for quick shipping and organized by price so you can easily stay on budget. (And if you’re on the hunt for someone else, we have an all-encompassing gifting hub that truly has something for everyone.)

Under $25

For the mom who loves a deal

You simply won’t find a dupe of those Bottega Veneta earrings that’s as cheap, convincing, and well reviewed as this pair.

For the mom who never knows where her keys are

It’s hard to lose a key this big — it’s cast from silicone, more than six inches long, and comes in in-your-face colors like chartreuse, mustard, and brick.

For the mom who pops melatonin gummies like candy

For the mom who’s big on ambience

For the mom who dreams of sleeping on silk

Parachute’s silk pillowcases start at $89; these are just as soft and wrinkle fighting, for a quarter of the price.

For the mom who gets the 3 a.m. thirst

This bedside carafe-and-tumbler set from half-a-century-old glassmaker Godinger will save her from a barely awake walk to the kitchen and look especially elegant on her nightstand.

For the mom who reads before bed

She can clip this doo-dad (that happens to be a Strategist favorite) onto whatever page turner she’s reading into the wee hours of the night. Pair it with an indulgent book that she wouldn’t get herself, like the Babs memoir.

For the mom whose feet hurt

You may hear an incredulous “What is this?” when she unwraps these funny-looking contraptions. But overnight, too-tight shoes will feel as if she’s been wearing them for weeks, and she’ll be eternally grateful.

For the mom whose fridge is covered in sticky notes

She can still hang photos, kid art, and all those passwords — but with a neater-looking, floating effect.

For the mom who’s a kook in the kitchen

For the mom who tops everything with a runny yolk

Not only does this egg poacher come in an especially charming yellow, but it actually works, giving you soft whites with a liquid-y center, according to our kitchen and dining writer.

For the mom who is the dishwasher

Here’s a fruit basket of dish scrubbers that will make the decidedly unglamorous task slightly more fun.

For the mom who wants her skin to feel like Flipper’s

The Japanese exfoliating towel is so beloved it has its own Wikipedia page, and Strategist writer Kitty Guo says it’s even superior to Korean scrubbing mitts for smoothing hard-to-reach spots.

For the mom who prefers bodywash over bar soap

Glow Getter is right — Naturium’s beloved bodywash makes even the driest skin look radiant.

Under $50

For the mom who prefers bar soap over bodywash

This set from legacy soapmaker Caswell-Massey features notes of tart cherry and sweet almonds.

For the mom whose ends are fried

This “repairing treatment” has bond-building technology to help with damage — in other words, the hair mask will give her smoother-looking strands.

For the mom who never leaves the house without putting on her face

Replace her concealer-coated makeup bag with an organizer that can sit proudly on top of her vanity. It has drawers and removable dividers to separate eyeliners from lip liners.

For the mom who’s always looking for lost earrings

The small but mighty jewelry box comes tricked out with earring boards, necklace hooks, ring slots, and pockets for bracelets, watches, and even sunglasses.

For the mom who’s crafty

Put all the laser-cut wood pieces of this craft kit together and you’ll get a model bookstore that can be nestled in between actual books on a shelf. It has “almost the same level of satisfaction that you get from Magna-Tiles,” according to designer Yvonne Lin.

For the mom who gets cold feet

Splurge a little on these fancy socks from Falke — a well-known name in the hosiery business — that are made from a blend of warm merino wool and cashmere.

For the mom who has texting thumb

This cute polka-dot cat will give her a place to prop up her phone.

For the mom who’s up all night

This sleep mask is filled with weighted beads and finished in microfleece to create a mini weighted blanket for her eyes.

For the mom who runs a “shoes off” household

This shoe organizer can expand to fit her ever-revolving rotation of shoes — and will tuck neatly into a mudroom corner.

For the mom who’s veg-curious

There are recipes ranging from za’atar onion rings to corn fritters with Sichuan chive butter — delicious — in this veggie-focused cookbook.

For the mom who makes her own dressings

This olive oil has notes of artichoke, green olive, and Granny Smith apple along with a finish of arugula, mustard greens, and peppercorn. Bonus points if you gift it with a baguette.

For the mom who needs to up her H2O intake

No less than 11 Strategist staffers own this water bottle, which has a hidden straw for sipping and a wide mouthpiece for gulping to get those recommended liters in.

For the mom who has been hunting for new glassware

These sleek drinking glasses have a well-rounded base for a good grip.

For the mom who sleeps through the “road” part of road trips

Strategist readers have bought our best-in-class travel pillow in bulk. It’s more of a “padded scarf” to support her head so she won’t wake up with a sore neck.

For the mom who hates the sight of wilted stems

An afternoon of LEGO assembly will yield a truly unkillable orchid.

Under $100

For the mom who has killed generations of windowsill basil

An indoor-garden kit means she’ll have fresh herbs with minimal maintenance — and this model features an adjustable lamp to get the light just right.

For the mom who likes her steak exactly medium-rare

Top Chef judge Tom Colicchio uses this smart thermometer to get “perfect meat every time.”

For the mom who likes her seasoning right where she can see it

Fill one with a generous pour of Maldon salt and the other with ground-up Tellicherry peppercorns.

For the mom who’s always schlepping

You can’t go wrong with a fits-it-all bag. This Baggu number has ample room for her wallet, book, and water bottle — plus the black nylon has a hint of Prada to it.

For the mom who has perfected the weekend getaway

A one-and-done duffel for the light packer — or, for the overpacker, an easily folded second bag to haul souvenirs back home.

For the mom who sleeps in

This Marimekko sheet set features the iconic Unikko print from the 70-year-old Finnish design house.

For the new mom who could use some pampering

A hydrating face oil can be a quick pick-me-up, and Aēsop’s Fabulous formula will be just the thing thanks to calming notes of ylang-ylang and jasmine.

For the mom who has a stiff neck

The knobs on this heated neck and shoulder massager “genuinely feel like hands, kneading aching muscles and working out sore spots,” according to former Strategist senior writer Karen Iorio Adelson.

For the mom who does shots (of espresso)

She’ll never have to take Alessi’s sculptural espresso pot off the stovetop — it’s that nice-looking.

For the mom who stays in the tub until her fingers prune

Brooklinen Super-Plush Robe
$84
$84

I’m always going on and on about this robe — on more than one occasion, post-shower, I’ve fallen asleep in it.

Under $200

For the mom whose slippers have holes in the soles

$121

These handsome slippers have a wool lining that’s sweat-wicking — so no more clammy toes.

For the mom whose sweatpants have holes in the knees

From one of our favorite cashmere makers, these knitted pants have a waffle texture that’s perfect for lounging in.

For the mom who wants to smell like a garden

It’s very flowery with notes of bergamot, mandarin, jasmine, tuberose, and gardenia. Designer Agnès B. has been wearing the perfume for decades, while musician Courtney Love compares it to “a field of dreamy white meadow flowers.”

For the mom whose kids keep her on her toes

$140

This best-in-class foot massager comes tricked out with air compression, heat, round nodes, and a rolling spool for deep, Shiatsu-style massages.

For the mom who’s looking a little dry

$108

It’s a high-design, low-maintenance humidifier with a dishwasher-safe tray and a good-size tank that won’t require constant refills.

For the mom who’s trying to cut back on takeout

The wide, high-sided wok heats up quickly for fried rice or stir-fry — and comes with a lid for steaming dumplings.

For the mom who orders sweet-potato fries

This air fryer is basket style, so you can “fit way more than a skillet” and “just shake things up” (rather than doing sheet-tray flips), according to cookbook author Julia Turshen.

For the mom who’s always candid

“It’s clunky, the photos take about 20 minutes to develop, and they always look just a bit ‘off’ — and that’s the point,” says former Strategist staffer David Notis of this mobile printer that transforms digital photos into Polaroids.

Under $500

For the mom whose gallery wall is getting crowded

Aura Walden Photo Frame
$259

This larger-format digital picture frame is from Aura, the makers of our best-in-class pick. Every member of the family can add photos with the user-friendly app, and the frame can be wall-mounted to display thousands of memories in a single piece of wall real estate.

For the mom who knows what hyperdecanting means

Riedel Wine Decanter
$300
$300

Riedel is king when it comes to wine decanters. Instead of a standard vase-shaped version, go with this charmer that has a heart-shaped handle.

For the mom who needs to share her mental load

Think of it as a planner with a touchscreen. She can sync multiple online calendars, make a grocery list, and start a “chore chart” to help kids keep track of their to-dos.

For the mom who could use a nap

Actress Kathryn Hahn has taken the greatest naps of her life under this handknitted, breathable weighted blanket, which happens to be supremely good looking, too.

For the mom who swears vinyl sounds better

Unlike turntables of the past, the Spinner is Bluetooth-enabled, so it can pair with her speakers or headphones.

For the mom who doesn’t want a TV in her room (but sometimes watches Netflix in bed)

Though it’s small, this tablet has a solid enough resolution — according to Strategist tech writer Jordan McMahon — that she won’t have to put on readers to see her novelas.

For the mom who’s so over wrinkle creams

Its Hannibal Lecter appearance aside, this LED mask can help stimulate aging skin and comes recommended by facialists and dermatologists.

For the mom who has a mane to maintain

The British brand has been in the brush business for over a century — and its wares are the sort of expensive-but-worth-it item that’ll make her feel especially appreciated. Act+Acre founder Helen Reavey — who has owned hers for more than 20 years — says “it detangles gently, brings everything together, and gives my hair a natural feel.”

The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best hostess gifts, gifts for dads, baby-shower gifts, gifts for bosses, bar mitzvah gifts, and things on sale. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.

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55 Gifts for Moms (at Every Price Point)