20+ unique Father's Day gifts for 2023

Don't look now, but Father's Day is just upon us — June 18 — and, frankly, it's a bit more challenging than Mother's Day, isn't it? Probably because the near-universally loved option of flowers is not quite as universal an option. So, you need to be extra creative when it comes to getting Pops a little (or, especially, a big) something. Luckily, we’ve found impressive gift options for any budget, from a $10 bug bite suction tool to a $299 top-rated pizza oven, with plenty of mid-range gifts in between.

We spoke to commerce industry expert Eric Dahan, CEO/Co-Founder of creator marketing company Open Influence about shopping for Father's Day gifts this year. "Take a minute to think about your father's lifestyle, hobbies and passion," he advises. In other words: While you think something will be super cool, it might leave dad utterly cold. And keep your eyes peeled for manufacturers whose stuff seems to be discounted on multiple retail platforms. "There are many brands looking to move old inventory," Dahan notes, "which typically means good deals."

And, yeah, we get it: many folks are watching their budgets. But that doesn't mean you can't deliver an inspired gift choice. To wit: dad might appreciate something like the latest SodaStream, so he can make his own bubble water and beverages (and stop shelling out for canned drinks). Or an indoor putting mat so the golfer in your life can get some swings in at home for free — it's only $50! If you need even more solid gift ideas, give our list a look. The best Father's Day gifts might be just a click away.

Celebrate Father's Day by getting to know your dad a little better. Gather all his wit and wisdom (and funny stories) in one place, and you've got a gift for him and for future generations. Dad, I Want to Hear Your Story is a guided journal that also makes a memorable present. Pages of prompts coax dad or grandpa to share their interesting anecdotes and memories. You'll learn a lot from reading the resulting entries.

A duffel bag is a great gift because it's so versatile. Take Patagonia's Black Hole on any trip, from a weekend at the in-laws to a two-week backpacking excursion. This 55L carry-all can organize and store all of dad's clothes and gear and then some. Available in seven colors, it also comes in other sizes, from 40L to 100L. Shoppers rave about it: "Love this bag for a million reasons, but most importantly its sleek design and durability put it over the top — 5/5 would recommend for all uses, from work to travel." We think the dad in your life will love it, too. Bonus: It's made from recycled fabric and is Fair Trade–Certified sewn.

Like dad, Sperry boat shoes are classic. There's a reason they have over 18,000 amazing Amazon reviews. The original two-eye style is timeless enough to go from meetings to backyard BBQs and yes, even boats!

Sperry boat shoes come in a wide range of neutral colors and sizes (and even narrow and wide widths, so dad can get the perfect fit). And the Amazon Prime "try before you buy" feature is available for extra assurance — it allows a free seven-day trial period. They're easy to gift, and Sperrys are a tried-and-true dad favorite. "I have worn Sperry Topsiders for probably the last 40 years," wrote one devotee, who calls this his favorite shoe for decades. "They are the most comfortable, stylish and versatile shoe on the market."

Shoppers love this 16-piece grill set, and it's no wonder — it has everything! If dad loves a cookout (and what dad doesn't?), this'll make his day...and year.

Some dads are just drawn to the grill. If the guy on your list loves a barbecue, this 16-piece grill set will light his fire. Stainless steel tongs, skewers, a basting brush, spatula, cleaning brush and corn holders are among the handy tools tucked inside a sturdy case. We love the heat-safe handles and the fact that these tools are dishwasher-safe.

And thousands of Amazon shoppers agree! "This is simply the best gift item at a low cost for any man in your life," wrote one happy buyer. "If they are anything like me who BBQ occasionally they more than likely don't have a good set of equipment. I found mine at a low cost (on sale) and stock up on three units and when those special occasions arrive, guess who brought the very best gift? Oh, and yes, I have one for myself."

Sipping his morning coffee from this 15-ounce speckled stoneware mug will put a smile on dad's face.

We have a feeling this will be dad's new favorite mug. The generously-size 15-ounce stoneware mug boasts the title "Papa bear" as a reminder of his special status. Hundreds of Target reviews give this mug an average 4.9 out of 5 stars. Buyers note that it's especially sweet for a new parent. "Got this as a gift for my husband because it's his first one as a human father instead of just dog dad!" reads one review. "[H]e was so excited when he saw it! the quality is great and hot coffee doesn't make the cup too hot to touch!" Bonus: it's dishwasher- and microwave-safe.

Purple isn't just about comfy mattresses; the company also offers incredible latex pillows. The latest, the Purple Harmony Pillow, features a moisture-wicking material over a honeycomb-patterned grid and an inner supportive core made from hypoallergenic, ventilated latex. This isn't your grandpa's pillow (but it could be if you buy it for him.) So much goes into these! And to ensure the most comfortable sleep, you can choose your pillow height (low, medium, tall) and size (standard or king). "These are the best pillows we have ever tried to date," wrote one customer. "They keep us cool and don't lose their shape, so you don't have to continually fluff them back up."

Etsy's VividCustomPrints shop will create a personalized cap that lets everyone know the year he became a father. Trust us; he'll wear this with pride!

This is the sweetest idea: this Etsy shop will create a customized hat for dad that lets everyone know when he earned this title.

Choose your hat colors for further customization. VividCustomPrints has over 26,000 sales and scads of glowing reviews like this one: "I love it! Can't wait to gift it to my husband for his first Father's Day."

At 3' x 10', this putting mat is perfectly portable. A great gift for the dad who loves to golf, he can work on his putting skills from the comfort of home.

If the dad on your list loves to golf, he'll thoroughly enjoy this putting mat. It's a convenient surface for golfers to home their skills. The two included plastic cups can be placed into the putting mat's hole or anywhere else to sharpen dad's long or short shot.

"This putting mat was rolled in a box when it arrived," wrote one happy Amazon reviewer. "When I opened it, the mat unfurled with ease and there were no kinks, wrinkles or folds. It was good to go for my first practice session. The ball rolled like it would on a natural green and the 10-foot length is great for distance as well as close putts. I like that it is two-way and I can play with another person, taking turns without having to retrieve much at all."

Warm dad's feet with a comfy pair of plush slippers from SeaVees. Made from recycled fleece, these slides used to be plastic bottles!

Slippers are a classic Father's Day gift, and a good one! Replace dad's worn slippers with a new pair of high-quality slides from SeaVees. Made from recycled PET fleece and canvas, SeaChanges boast a rubber sole so they can go indoors and out. The mostly common recycled plastic, PET often utilizes plastic bottles. Despite its origin, this is seriously soft fleece. Available in Cocoa or Flame on Amazon, and you can use Prime's Try Before You Buy feature to make sure dad's gift fits perfectly.

If Dad doesn't have a SodaStream yet, you’re in luck, because they make great gifts. The E-Terra is a new model (just released in March) that has all the features Dad could want. It comes with a two-year limited warranty, a dishwasher-safe plastic bottle, and preset carbonation levels for the perfect beverage in seconds. Those presets allow customization at the touch of a button, and we love how a blue light illuminates the water as its bubbling. (It's just fun, okay?) Hot tip: use code ETERRA30 for $30 off on sodastream.com.

Does Dad own a lot of threadbare socks? Upgrade his drawer with a pair of cushioned, merino wool-blend socks from Darn Tough. Available in olive, denim and oatmeal, these mid-weight socks have a bit of Lycra for stretch and are seamless. Knit in Northfield, Vermont, Darn Tough socks are guaranteed for life. They may seem a little pricey for one pair, but Darn Tough's longevity and comfort make them a great value. "I bought a couple pairs of these over six years ago and they remain just as solidly and comfortably built as when I first got them with no holes or tears!" writes one happy Amazon reviewer. "Highly recommend the investment, I'm going to order four more pairs!"

Give Dad peace of mind with a handy Tile Sticker. Affix the tracker to any item that gets misplaced and find it easily with the Tile app.

A remote control, a glasses case, keys, even a dog tag can be tracked with a Tile Sticker, making this a very useful Father's Day gift. Attach it to an oft-lost item and next time it goes missing you can retrieve it via the Tile app. One tag is $30, or you can purchase a two-pack for $53 or three for $77.

Thousands of glowing reviews attest to the Stickers’ efficiency. "These are great for small things without a good place to hang a standard Tile," says one of them. "I use one on the case for my earbuds and two TV remotes. It does have a high profile, but it's still quite small and the adhesive is very strong."

If Dad appreciates a great dessert, here's a winning Father's Day gift. Salty-sweet with an oat-cookie crust, this 10-inch pie has over 3,000 reviews. "I ordered the Milk Bar Pie and some truffles for my husband's birthday, and it was a hit," said one happy customer. "The pie is incredibly sweet, so you don't need much, and it stretches far. I was skeptical that it could serve eight to 10, but it can. It also came right on time, and the company was very communicative." Milk Bar ships nationwide and you can order up to 30 days in advance. They'll even add a gift note if you request one.

Made of an impressive material called Supernatural Paper (created from responsibly-sourced resources from managed forests), the Walrus cooler is a great pick for Dad. Measuring 12.8 x 12.4 x 7.1 inches, this sturdy insulated bag is great for packing lunches, drinks, groceries or whatever needs to be kept cold.

"The size of the cooler is perfect for your meal and a drink and still have plenty of space left over," writes one five-star Amazon reviewer. "The cooler has a separate mesh compartment with a zipper underneath the lid where you can put your utensils or any other small items. This cooler works best with a nice size ice pack. The handles were also very comfortable when carrying."

If you've got a dad who loves to garden or cook, we think he'll love this popular kit from Back to the Roots. He'll be able to grow and harvest a batch of organic oyster mushrooms in under two weeks, no matter the time of year. A mister is included for watering, so everything needed comes in one handy package. Each crop yields three to four servings of mushrooms and each kit can grow up to two crops.

Bonus: Tag a photo of your crop with @BacktotheRoots and #GrowOneGiveOne on social media, and Back to the Roots will donate a kit to a classroom of your choice through their Grow One, Give One campaign.

Get some pork belly into Dad's belly on the regular.

He's been bringing home the bacon forever; how 'bout bringing some bacon home to him? You can keep those salty, fatty pork strips coming with a subscription from Goldbelly. Dubbed the "Greatest Bacon Subscription Ever," it offers an array of bacon from various producers, each monthly package hefty enough (ranging from two to five lbs.) to serve at least six people. (If Dad shares, that is.) Opt for a three- or six-month subscription ($70 per month) and treat dad to the Father's Day gift he’ll never forget.

This is a plastic tube-like contraption that takes the sting out of bites without chemicals — it uses simple suction. It's a handy item to have at the ready if you're outdoors often or live in a mosquito-prone area. The Bug Bite Thing works on bites from mosquitoes, bees, wasps, spiders, biting flies, chiggers and more. Just place it over a fresh bite, pull back the plunger and leave the suction for 20 seconds. Fun fact: The Big Bite Thing took off after investment offers on ABC's hit TV show, Shark Tank.

"I'm buying more now because I want a couple on each floor of my house, in my car, in my suitcase, etc." writes one happy Amazon customer. "I never want to be without it in the summer!!" She continues of her skeptical husband: "He got stung by a bee recently and I suggested that he try it. He was amazed that it took the sting out immediately and it was like it had never happened." Bonus: The whole family can use Bug Bite Thing.

There's a lot of hype around Away's sleek hard-sided roller bags, and for good reason. Consistently rated a top choice, you can't go wrong with the Carry-On. It's lightweight yet sturdy and fits conveniently in a plane's overhead bin. You can get an optional built-in charger ($20 extra) so Dad is never stuck with a dead phone. And personalization (three initials) is available for $50 if you want to take this gift up a notch. Away bags feature TSA-approved locks, an interior compression divider and smooth, 360-degree wheels.

Bonus: there's a limited lifetime warranty, so the company will repair or replace functional damage, which takes the sting out of the price tag. Available in seven colors, the current limited-edition drop is Sky, a dreamy light blue color available with the upgraded Flex styles.

A dynamic duo for Dad's showers — an exfoliating towel to replace his worn loofah, and a bottle of fresh-smelling Super Vitamin Body Wash.

Have you heard of exfoliating towels? They're a great replacement for a loofah or washcloth because they can cover more ground (and by ground we mean...body). Goshi's rip-resistant shower towel leaves skin exfoliated and clean. And this set includes the Japanese brand's pH-balanced, paraben-free body wash so Dad has everything he needs for a world-class shower.

Check out this review for the shower towel: "This thing is awesome. It exfoliates your skin very well and because it's so long, you can get your back done really easily," wrote a clean Amazon customer. "Soap lathers well on it, and for smaller areas you can just fold it up. It also dries in no time if you just hang it up after squeezing it out. Bye, loofah!"

Score big savings on this multi-fuel pizza oven — it's $100 off on Amazon! Wood or charcoal can be used as fuel straight out the box, or use the Ooni Gas Burner attachment (sold separately). The Karu takes about 15 minutes to heat up, after which it'll churn out stone-baked pizzas in just 60 seconds. Bonus: At just 26.4 pounds, it's easy to move it around or take it camping or to friends' homes. It's an investment, but a pizza oven is a great value considering all the meals Dad can get out of it. "Wow! what an awesome family gift!" raved one Amazon buyer. "Easy to set up and use! It gets glowing and makes a pizza in about one minute! Perfect way for everyone to make their own 'personal choice' pizza and still have dinner together."

Paula Deen's ready to tell dad just what's cooking.

How ‘bout something dad will really remember? That’ll touch, tickle or (lovingly) tease him? Meet Cameo, a company that's enlisted thousands upon thousands of celebrities from the worlds of sports, television, music, movies and all genres in between, whom you can hire to issue a personalized congratulation — or any message you want, really — to that very special person in your life. Think Paula Deen, Kenny G and...Carrot Top!

The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.