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The best Christmas gifts for dad are the ones he uses the same week, like jerky he can snack on, a tray for his keys or a basket of the tools he always borrows. A lot of dads say they want nothing, which usually means they do not want another tie.
Below are 18 Christmas gifts for dad that you can make or put together at home, plus a few baskets and crates that need only a trip to the store. Each idea says what goes in it and how to make it, and most take an afternoon or less. If you are shopping for more people on your list, try our Christmas basket ideas and white elephant gift ideas.
1. Homemade beef jerky
SaveCredit: Once Upon a Chef
A bag of jerky you made yourself beats anything from the gas station, and most dads eat it within a week. It is a good gift if you already have a freezer full of beef.
Slice lean beef as thin as you can across the grain, soak it in a soy and Worcestershire marinade overnight, then dry it in a low oven around 170 to 175 degrees for several hours. The USDA says to heat meat to 160 degrees before or during drying, so check that first, and keep it in an airtight bag.
2. A set of four BBQ rubs
SaveCredit: Making Manzanita
Four small jars of rub make a gift that looks like a store set and costs a few dollars. Label them for what they are good on, such as steak, chicken, blackened and herb.
Mix each blend from pantry spices like paprika, brown sugar, garlic powder, pepper and salt. Paint the lids with chalkboard paint and write the names with a chalk marker.
3. Bourbon bacon jam
SaveCredit: Cravings of a Lunatic
Bacon jam on a burger or a cracker is the kind of thing dad never buys for himself. Two small jars tied with twine look generous.
Cook chopped bacon with onion, brown sugar and a splash of bourbon until it turns dark and sticky. Keep the jars in the fridge and tell him to eat them within a couple of weeks, since this is not a canning recipe.
4. Homemade bacon salt
SaveCredit: Not Quite Nigella
Bacon salt turns eggs, popcorn and baked potatoes into something dad asks about. It is a small gift that pairs well with a bigger one, like a cast iron skillet.
Crisp bacon until it is completely dry, crumble it fine and stir it into coarse salt. Spoon it into a swing top jar, label it and keep it in the fridge.
5. A wood slice serving board
SaveCredit: Man Made DIY
If you have a downed tree or a woodpile, you already own the best part of this gift. A rustic slice holds sausage, cheese and crackers, and it looks great on a game day table.
Cut a round from a seasoned log about an inch thick, sand it smooth and rub in food safe mineral oil. Add a pocket knife and a few links of summer sausage to make it a gift set.
6. Wood slice coasters
SaveCredit: Garden Therapy
Coasters from a branch are a ten dollar gift that suits a cabin, a shop or a workbench. They are also a good way to use up limbs after a storm.
Cut a dry branch into half inch slices, sand both faces and seal them with a clear finish. Stack four or six and tie them with a leather cord or a strip of twine.
7. A leather mug sleeve
SaveCredit: A Beautiful Mess
A mason jar with a leather sleeve and handle makes a rugged mug for coffee, iced tea or a cold drink on the porch. It is a gift for a dad who likes things that look worn in.
Cut a strip of leather to wrap the jar, punch holes for stitching or rivets and shape a handle from a second strip. Fill the jar with a bag of coffee and a few wrapped chocolates if you like.
8. A leather catch all tray
SaveCredit: Something Turquoise
Every dad has keys, a wallet and loose change that end up on the counter. A leather tray gives them a place to land and looks nice on a dresser.
Cut a flat piece of tooling leather, wet it, and press the edges up over a form like a baking pan until it holds the shape. Let it dry fully before you use it.
9. Homemade beard oil
SaveCredit: Brooklyn Berry Designs
Beard oil is a gift for the dad with a beard who never buys it. A small dropper bottle costs very little to fill and lasts for months.
Mix a carrier oil such as jojoba or sweet almond with a few drops of an essential oil, like peppermint, and pour it into a dark dropper bottle. Add a label and a sprig of evergreen for the photo and the wrapping.
10. Whipped shaving cream
SaveCredit: The Garlic Diaries
Whipped shaving cream looks fancy in a small jar, and it uses ingredients you may already have. It is a kind gift for a dad who still shaves with a brush or a razor.
Whip shea butter and coconut oil together with a few drops of eucalyptus oil until it turns fluffy. Spoon it into a small jar and tell him to scoop a little onto a wet face.
11. Bottle cap fishing lures
SaveCredit: 2 Little Hooligans
For a dad who fishes, lures made from bottle caps are a gift with a story. Each cap can come from a beer he likes, which makes the set feel like his own.
Flatten and shape bottle caps, drill a hole at each end, and attach a split ring and a hook. Hooks are sharp, so wrap the set in a tackle box or cover each hook before you wrap it.
12. A rustic fish frame
SaveCredit: Growing Up Gabel
A framed set of wooden fish is a nice gift for a dad who has a lake cabin or just loves to fish. It is a project the kids can help paint.
Cut three fish from thin wood, paint them in shades of blue and glue them to a board backing inside a black frame. Hang it above his tackle shelf or his favorite chair.
13. A LEGO key holder
SaveCredit: Man Made DIY
A key rack made of LEGO plates is a quick gift for a dad who loses his keys or who grew up on bricks. It takes less than an hour and costs about what a set of bricks costs.
Glue LEGO plates to a board, spell out a word like KEYS with dark bricks, and add colored bricks that stick out to hang the key rings on. Screw the board to the wall by the door.
14. Giant yard dice
SaveCredit: Blue I Style
Yard dice are a family game for the backyard, and they make a gift the whole house will use. Dad gets a game and an excuse to put the phone down.
Cut six inch blocks from a four by four, sand them smooth and mark the dots with a drill bit and black paint. Sew or buy a plain drawstring bag and stencil a name on the front to hold the set.
15. A beer carrier made from paper
SaveCredit: Gathered
A four pack of his favorite beer in a custom carrier is the quickest gift on this list. Pick four craft beers from your local brewery, or four sodas if he does not drink.
Cut and fold the carrier from heavy cardstock, add a message or a family photo to each side and slide the bottles in. It holds up for one evening of sharing, so this one is a gift for the day you hand it over.
16. A handyman gift basket
SaveCredit: Mums Make Lists
Fill a toolbox or a tote with the things dad always borrows, and he will use every piece. This is the one to build when you do not know what he needs.
Pick a tape measure, a roll of duct tape, work gloves, a few pens and pencils, a small flashlight and a few packs of batteries. Tuck in a shop towel or two and set a bigger item on top, like a cordless drill, if the budget allows.
17. A DIY man crate
SaveCredit: Mums Make Lists
A crate of jerky and outdoor gear is a gift that feels like it came from a catalog. You can build it for a fraction of the price at home.
Start with a wire basket or a wooden crate, then fill it with bags of jerky, a bandana, a good pocket knife and a few camp supplies. Add black and white ribbon for the finish and a handwritten card.
18. A custom bottle opener key chain
SaveCredit: Mad in Crafts
A bottle opener key chain is small enough to go in a stocking. A photo or a team logo under the clear top makes it his.
Print a small picture, cut it to fit the opener and seal it under a clear dome or resin. Attach the key ring and let it cure before you wrap it.
How to pick Christmas gifts for dad
Start with what he does on a normal weekend. A dad who grills gets rubs or jerky, a dad who fishes gets lures or a frame, and a dad who is always in the garage gets the handyman basket.
If you are on a budget, make two or three small gifts from this list and pack them together in one box. Check the label on any oil, salt or jar gift for allergies, and add a card that says how long it keeps, because homemade food gifts do best in the fridge.
Christmas gifts for dad FAQ
What do you give a dad who says he wants nothing? Give him something he can eat or use up, like jerky, bacon salt, beard oil or a set of rubs. Consumable gifts never pile up in the garage.
What are good cheap Christmas gifts for dad? Wood slice coasters, a LEGO key holder and a bottle opener key chain all cost under ten dollars to make. A jar of rub or a bag of jerky costs about the same.
What can kids make for dad? Kids can paint the wooden fish, stack and tie the coasters, decorate the labels on rub jars and add a handwritten card to any basket. Keep sharp tools and hot ovens for the grown ups.
