The Very Best, Most Thoughtful Christmas Gifts for Grandparents

Whether they're weekend babysitters, world travelers enjoying retirement, or holiday reunion chefs, grandparents will enjoy one of these great gifts. Surprise them with something to add something sentimental to their home, grow their hobbies or interests, or make everyday life more pleasant. Here are our favorite Christmas gifts for grandparents, from a comfy weighted blanket to a high-quality cutting board.

Prices and availability are subject to change.

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$17 from Amazon

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Here's a clever gift idea for the craft-loving grandparent who is also your fun-loving BFF: a cross-stitch homage to "The Golden Girls." The kit includes everything for two complete projects.

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$60 and up from Etsy
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Display up to five generations — rings of your family tree — for all to see. These genealogical gems are made in Austin, Texas, from sustainably harvested wood and are available in two sizes.

$29 and up from Sur La Table

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Give grandma and grandpa a gift they can both enjoy — and savor afterwards. Each online cooking class lasts between 90 and 120 minutes, led by a professional chef. You'll find everything from seasonal favorites like pumpkin pie to classics like coq au vin.

$11 from Amazon
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A perfect way to preserve and organize family recipes so they can be passed down easily from generation to generation. This journal includes pages broken down by appetizers, side dishes, main courses, desserts, and more.

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$150 from Best Buy

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Odds are, your grandparents owned an original Polaroid camera once upon a time. Well, Polaroid instant photography is back, and it's still a fun way to take and share family photos. This kit will get 'em started with camera and two packs of color instant film.

$36 from Amazon

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For those grandparents (or anyone else you know) who love to watch birds, a new pair of binoculars is a can't-miss gift.  A compact pair that can be slipping into a coat pocket or shoulder bag like this would make a great second pair for a devoted birder or a good starter gift for a novice.

$25 from Amazon
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For family gatherings at the grandparents' house, give the Rememory game. Players pick cards that indicate a person, time frame, and a loose prompt, and each player shares an associated memory. Consumers have given it solid reviews.

Price varies from Caddis

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Growing older often means eyesight that isn't as sharp as it once was. But who says reading glasses have to be boring? Caddis sells reading glasses and sunglasses, progressives, and more in a range of funky frames you definitely won't find at the drugstore.

$90 from Amazon

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Amazon's updated Echo Show 8 can play movie trailers, TV shows, and the news, as well as radio stations, audiobooks, and podcasts. It's also got video-calling and messaging, is compatible with Alexa-enabled smart home devices, and includes plenty more features that help make you and your family's day just a bit more manageable.

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$4 and up from Home Depot

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You can never have too many pairs of good gardening gloves on hand, especially if you've got a large yard. A well-made pair of gardening gloves like this pair would make a nice stocking stuffer for the grandparent with a green thumb. Gloves for men and women in a variety of sizes.

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$56 and up from Amazon

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This plush heated blanket is an ideal gift for any grandparent who lives in a colder climate or just enjoys snuggling in a blanket. It's available in six colors and in sizes from twin to king.

$16 and up from Trade Coffee
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Coffee lovers can sip to their hearts' content via Trade Coffee's relationships with over 450 noteworthy coffees, including roasters like Cuvee Coffee in Austin, Caffe Vita in Seattle, and PT's Coffee Roasting Co. in Topeka, Kansas.

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$30 and up from Personalization Mall
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This giclée-print comes in four sizes and can be personalized with the couple's names and wedding date. Some of the information it includes is the headline news from their wedding year, along with items like top movies, songs, sports results, and more. The finished canvas is mounted on a wood frame.

$50 from Amazon

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If you know a light sleeper or someone who has trouble falling asleep because it's noisy outside, a white-noise machine like this one can be a game-changer.

$60 and up at Crown & Paw

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The company that started the trend of pets depicted as historical leaders2, Crown & Paw offers numerous options for memorializing your pet as a soldier, superhero, king and more. You can also choose everything from blankets to phone cases decorated with your pet as a masterpiece.

$19 from Amazon
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For wine loving grands, the only thing better than bonding over a bottle of vino is to play a round of Wine Wars while they're at it. Online reviewers disagree about whether the questions are easy or difficult, but a sentiment expressed on several occasions was that the game is fun and instructive — so no matter what, you get to label your wine night an educational experience.

$250 from Gravity

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Your grandparents can get cozy under the weight of Gravity’s Chunky Knit Blanket, a 10-pound hug hand-knitted from breathable bamboo fleece. Customers rave about the weighted blanket’s warmth and durability, along with the added benefit of improving sleep quality. Choose from four different colors — soft gray, deep forest, sapphire blue, and clay — and, for the ultimate in total relaxation, pair it with Gravity’s new heated mini massager.

$3 from Cost Plus World Market
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There's no need for an eyeglass hunt with a quirky, stylish eyeglass holder on a living room side table or bedroom dresser. Handcrafted in India, this design was inspired by the stone statues of Easter Island.

$130 from Amazon

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By the time you're a grandparent, you've put in plenty of years on your feet. A heated foot massager like this one with a variety of massage and pressure settings (plus a remote control) would make a soothing gift.

Related: 50+ Great Gifts to Buy Your Grandkids

Price varies from Cameo
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Give them a gift they will never forget: a personal video message from their favorite actor, athlete, musician, reality TV personality, or other celeb. There are literally thousands of famous (and not-so-famous) people to choose from on Cameo, and prices vary accordingly.

$59 from Baronfig

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In this era of email and text messages, writing by hand is a simple pleasure. Dedicated writers know a good pen, one with a nib that floats over the page and ink the flows smoothly, is worth its weight in gold. The Squire pen is a reviewer favorite, available in five pastel colors.

$18 from Amazon
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Everyone loses their keys (and other things) once in a while. The Tile Mate finds them. Its app is easy to use, and the tile itself is small, with a practical design. Simply attach it to a keychain or anything else the recipient is prone to lose track of — a four-pack is $80 — and let the app find it for them. There's also a find-your-phone function.

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$84 from Sur La Table

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For that grandparent who takes tea time seriously, there's the Le Creuset Demi kettle. Its small, time-honored design boils water quickly; the handle is sturdy; and the colorful, enameled steel surface looks at home in any kitchen. Available in five colors.

$21 and up from Amazon
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This shirt designed by ThisWear suits the grandpa who likes to help, whether it's bandaging a grandkid's boo-boo or repairing faulty furniture. The T-shirt is made of 100% cotton, and nearly all customers report that it fits as expected. It's double-sewn at the collar and sleeves for durability and comes in nine colors.

$60 for two from Sur La Table

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Bakers know the secret for crisp cookies starts with the baking sheet. These half sheets are made of heavy-duty aluminized steel with a textured surface to promote even browning. Measures 17.25 inches by 12.25 inches.

$9 from Amazon
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Give this cute story to keep at grandma and grandpa's house as a fun book to read when the little ones visit.

Related: 50+ Great Gifts to Buy Your Grandkids

$28 from Personalization Mall

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Give grandma and grandma a customized gift they'll love: photos of their loved ones. This photo frame can be personalized with a message and comes in six colors. Measures 27 inches by 7 inches.

$16 from Amazon
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Help grandparents stay limber and active. This DVD includes three complete yoga practices, including an introductory 26-minute session performed while seated in a chair. The DVD is designed to help improve balance, flexibility, muscle strength, and mental clarity. Pair it with a new water bottle and make time to practice together.

$12 from Amazon
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Not everyone has the space for a well-placed nightstand. No worries: They can stash their stuff in a handy organizer right at their bedside — just install it between their bedframe and mattress. It holds the remote, a cellphone, a water bottle, books, and more.

$10 and up from Shutterfly
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What grandparent wouldn’t want to look at their sweet family members’ faces while enjoying their morning hot drink?

$16 and up from Amazon
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Got a great pic of your friend or family member's current or past pet? Turn it into a throw pillow. There are six sizes to choose from, and the pillow can be printed on either one or both sides.

$11 from Amazon
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Give the kids a chance to learn more about grandpa with this keepsake book that contains questions to help document some of grandpa's greatest memories and stories.

$99 from Amazon
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A great buy for a genealogy buff, this 23andMe kit can give a detailed breakdown of DNA background and more insight into heritage. It’s as easy as providing a saliva sample.

$20 from Amazon
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This cookbook from American's Test Kitchen earns rave reviews on Amazon, and it'll take your twosome some time to get through the more than 650 recipes contained within.

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$50 from Amazon
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Dinner at home is all well and good, but dinner at a restaurant (plus a movie after) is pretty special, too. This gift card can be used at more than 2,200 restaurants around the United States, including Olive Garden, Longhorn Steakhouse, Red Lobster, and more, followed by movie tickets courtesy of Fandango.

$180 and up from Amazon
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Digital photo frames require little fussing and can provide a steady stream of new photos and even short video clips. This Nix Frame, for instance, can be easily preloaded with pictures and videos from a USB drive or camera memory card.

$27 and up from Etsy
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Sure, watering cans are functional, but there's no reason they can't be pretty, too. This sleekly styled version is made of plastic and stainless steel and comes in three colors: white, pink, and minty green. It would make an idea gift for a grandparent with an indoor garden or houseplants aplenty.

$29/month and up from Cratejoy
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If they grew up eating Pop Rocks, Sugar Babies, Chuckles, Mallo Cups, Charleston Chews, and the like, the Classic Candy Box will ignite their sugary nostalgia in a big way. Expect 1 to 1.5 pounds of candy each month.

$150 and up from The New York Times Store

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The Ultimate Birthday Book is a personalized gift that contains The New York Times’ front page from the gift recipient’s birthday, as well as from every following birthday for a walk down memory lane that grandparents and grandkids will love to share. You can choose a premium linen or leatherette cover, and the book comes in a box ready for gifting.

$52 from Stitch & Story

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Grandparents who can't put down the crochet hook will enjoy making this adorable Hello Kitty-wearing-a-Pusheen-costume figure. The kit comes with everything they need, including a pattern, crochet hook, yarn, stuffing, and instruction booklet.

$14 from Amazon

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Crafty grandparents who cross-stitch, embroider, and do needlecrafting will appreciate this 17-compartment organizer that helps keep floss and bobbins untangled and organized. It could also be used for jewelry-making and other crafting organization.

$40 from Amazon

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It's no secret that with age comes quite a few more aches and pains, and this soft heating pad will help ease that discomfort. This unit offers six heat setting, a machine-washable cover, and an extra large size.

$12,000 and up from LifeTime Memoirs

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What better gift for grandma or grandma than the opportunity to capture their own history in a memoir? A ghostwriter will craft a hardback memoir based on meetings and interviews with the gift recipient, creating a keepsake your whole family will treasure. This gift does come at a premium price, but it’s also the gift of a lifetime for someone you love.

Call (833) 260-9049 to find out more. 

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$80 from Amazon

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If your grandparents are home cooks, they're sure to appreciate this American-made maple cutting board. Reviewers rave about the small business' s stellar customer service.

$35 from Uncommon Goods

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Your grandparents can relive their golden years with this custom reel viewer. After they receive their package, they can use the included code to upload seven of their most cherished photos, which the company will print as a reel — a one-of-a-kind sentimental gift.