20 Perfect Mother’s Day Gift Ideas
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SPEAKING AS A mom myself, I know that the best gift you can give your mother is you. If you can swing it, you should make it point of seeing her on Mother's Day. If you think you'd like to bring her a gift, now is the time to start thinking about it, because Mother's Day is approaching on May 11, 2025. Scrambling for ideas? We've got gift recommendations below.
Your mom may be the person who loves you the most in the world, but she probably has a lot of other things going on, like traveling for work, working out, or hanging out with friends. I consulted other WIRED parents for their favorite picks. These are our best Mother's Day gift ideas to help moms work from home, annotate their books, or dip into the world of gaming in their downtime. While you're at it, check out our many other buying guides, like the Best Gift Ideas for New Parents, Best Kid Podcasts, or the Best Kid Tablets.
Updated April 2025: We've added the Aura Aspen Digital Photo Frame, Parallelle Traveller, Atlas Coffee Club Coffee and Chocolate Set, and more to this guide.
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- Photograph: Chatbooks
Monthly Photo Books
Chatbooks Chatbooks Instagram SeriesNow that we all carry a camera with us everywhere, no one knows what to do with the thousands of photos taking up space in the cloud. Mom can obsessively organize them. Or she can easily put them in a picture book and automatically send ’em to grandparents. Chatbooks is a service that connects to a camera roll, Instagram, or Facebook account. When you get up to 60 pictures, the service will let you know that a book is ready. You can edit your book before it gets printed and sent out. For more photo printing services, we have a guide. —Adrienne So
- Photograph: Amazon
A Delightful Beverage
Thomson & Scott Noughty Sparkling Rosé Non-Alcoholic WineThere are a lot of reasons why Mom might not be drinking. Maybe she’s a mom-to-be or with kiddo number two on the way, maybe she’s sober, or maybe she’s an embarrassing lightweight like I am and doesn’t want a hangover in two hours (brunch cocktails exist to ruin my day). No matter the reason, Thompson & Scott Noughty’s nonalcoholic wines are some of the best to gift her for worry-free bubbles. It’s a dealcoholized wine, meaning it's made from grapes like your usual wines and then the alcohol is removed afterward. Noughty’s wines are still fantastic without adding a ton of sugar, which many dealcoholized wines do to replace the alcohol. I fell in love with the sparkling rosé and chardonnay while pregnant, and I’m still always excited to have a bottle even though I’ve long since given birth. Don't just take my word for it—a bartender even agrees with me. —Nena Farrell
- Photograph: Parallelle
A Chic Toiletry Bag
Parallelle TravellerIf the mom in your life loves keeping her makeup organized everywhere she goes, she will love the Parallelle Traveller cosmetic bag. It took career bag designer Annie Fan 60 iterations to realize her idea of a perfect makeup and toiletry bag, and it shows. The Traveller's thoughtful design and details are sure to impress anyone who has ever had to do their makeup in a car, gym, or hotel bathroom. Zip it open and the sides peel down like a banana to reveal a makeup caddy with up to 20 pockets in varying sizes. Zip it back up and it’s a sleek bag sturdy enough to toss into a tote or carry-on. The only difficult decision you’ll have to make is choosing from among the available four sizes and nine colors. —Kat Merck
- Photograph: Aspen
A Sleek Digital Frame
Aura Aspen Digital Photo FrameAura's been around for a while, but its newest digital frame, the Aura Aspen (9/10, WIRED Recommends), just launched a few weeks ago and is perfect for the iPhone photography mom. If her camera roll is bursting with photos she loves and there are too many to fit into a photo book, she (and anyone else in the family!) can send an unlimited number of them to the Aspen or any other Aura frame. The new Aspen is a little larger than the popular Carver, and can sit either landscape or portrait, depending on her photography preference. The mat frame makes it look almost like a real analog picture frame—until the picture switches, of course. —Nena Farrell
- Photograph: Nena Farrell
A Planner Made for Lists
Roterunner Purpose Planner B5I love a paper planner, but I too often find that I also need a second notebook to keep the rest of my thoughts and to-do lists somewhere. That changed once I tried the Roterunner Purpose Planner. The wide B5 design has space for multiple lists, and even organizes them for you in advance: each week spread has a checklist for work, home, projects, and friends, plus a little buy and not-buy section, and even habit and gratitude trackers. Extra bonus? There's a blank two pages after every week for writing out more random ideas, specific to-do lists for a certain day (each day has a checklist of five on the main spread, but sometimes that's not enough for me), or brainstorms for future projects. It's finally one planner that can do it all. It's an undated six-month planner, so you can start it whenever you like and skip a week if you needed to, or even an entire month, without needing to deal with tons of blank pages.
If she's already got a planner she loves, then gift her these beautiful highlighters from Passion Planner. I use colors from both the Essentials Set ($16) and the Vintage Set ($16) in my personal highlighting system so that I can see what's for me, what's for my kiddo, and when I'm supposed to work out at a quick glance. The colors are beautiful and vibrant from both sets, and have both a wide highlighter end and a pen end if she's more of a doodler. —Nena Farrell
- Photograph: Matthew Korfhage
Coffee and Chocolate
Atlas Coffee Club M-Day Coffee and Chocolate SetChocolate is a guilty indulgence, while coffee is a necessary vice. But combine the two into a curated pairing and it’s a sophisticated pleasure perfect for Mom. At least, it’s perfect for my mom. So much so that while testing and tasting this coffee and chocolate Mother’s Day gift set from Atlas Coffee Club, I felt guilty for not sharing it with her. The handsomely wrapped little gift set contains six 51-gram sample bags of Atlas’ highest-selling single-origin roasts, each one paired with two luxuriant and complex little bonbons from luxe Beverly Hills chocolatier AndSons, already among WIRED’s favorite chocolate makers.
Do the light notes of cardamom in your single-origin Kenya coffee beans play nicely with the coconut and almond praline in your paired bonbon? Does the lemon pâte de fruit in a macadamia meringue find similar notes in a dark roast from Nicaragua? The pairings are generally quite apt, making both chocolate and coffee taste exponentially better together. Besides, playing sommelier is a little game that allows Mom to feel OK about eating marzipan in the morning. Just make sure your mom has a coffee setup that lets to easily switch out small quantities of beans. Or just skip the chocolate and buy her one of our favorite coffee subscriptions. —Matthew Korfhage
- Photograph: Dryrobe
A Changing Robe for Everything
Dryrobe Dryrobe Advance Long SleeveThe biggest misconception about changing robes is that you only need them when you're going into, or out of, cold water. A giant, warm, fleecy robe that fits over whatever you're wearing (or not wearing), has a weatherproof exterior, and has deep internal and external zip pockets? And a big hood? Sign me up! In addition to outdoor adventures, I also wear one around the house while I'm working, when walking the dog, and when I'm playing video games on the couch at night.
Dryrobe was founded by British surfer Gideon Bright and offers a variety of robes in a bunch of bright colors and sizes, for both adults and kids. The synthetic lambswool interior feels the heaviest and the most premium of the robes we tested. The only downside of presenting your mom with one of these is that you will then have to buy one for everyone else in your family. —Adrienne So
- Photograph: Amazon
A Fascinating, Challenging Book
Doppelganger: A Trip Into the Mirror WorldI have made this mistake before, but do not buy your mom a book about motherhood. If you're old enough to read this, your mom is also old enough to be an expert at mothering (you), and you should probably get her a book on something else she likes, like photography or fishing.
On our list of the best tech books for gifting, the one that all my friends recommend is Naomi Klein's take on how she dropped into an alternate universe when she started getting mistaken online for her namesake, Naomi Wolf. To be clear: Naomi Klein is a climate journalist, and Naomi Wolf used to be a feminist but is now a Covid truther. Especially in an election year, it is timely and important to read about social media and the spread of misinformation online. —Adrienne So
- Photograph: Creative
A New Pair of Headphones
Creative Aurvana Ace 2If you're reading WIRED, you are probably nerdy. And it is very possible that you, like me, are this way because your nerdy mom watched Star Trek and The X-Files with you as a kid. (Thanks, Mom!) If that's the case, then you are going to thrill and delight her with the first pair of earbuds that have solid-state drivers (9/10, WIRED Recommends). They look insanely cool and don't cost $500. They have ground-breaking tech, and she gets to spend all morning listening to you explain it all to her.
Creative's xMems drivers use piezoelectric effect, rather than the dynamic pistons that earbuds normally use (though they do have a pair of dynamic drivers that act as subwoofers, too). That lets them reproduce a much wider range of frequencies much faster, which means more clarity and depth, and shockingly awesome bass. Cowboy Carter will sound so much better. Moms love Beyoncé. (Play “Protector” on Mother's Day and see if she doesn't cry!) If these are a little out of your budget, JLab makes the cutest, tiniest earbuds in the most fun, bright colors that your mom can also pop on your keychain to listen to a podcast while she's waiting in line at the pharmacy. —Adrienne So
- Photograph: Adrienne So
The Best Work Bag
Tom Bihn Nomad ToteWe have yet to add this to our guide to the Best Laptop Totes, but I can't wait any longer. I have tried several tote bags to get me away from my trusty backpacks, and this is the first one that I've started to reach for automatically. It's made by Tom Bihn, which sews and designs all its bags in Seattle, so all the components are top of the line—for example, the bomber coil zippers (rather than toothed zippers) don't tear at my knuckles when I rummage through the pockets, and the nylon is bluesign-certified, which guarantees the safe use of textiles at the manufacturer as well as the removal of known hazardous chemicals.
The handles are slim but reinforced, long enough for me to comfortably tuck the bag under my shoulder but not thin enough to cut into my skin. It has a bit of structure so I can organize the interior, and at 17 inches wide it's big enough for a 13-inch laptop, a little carryall pouch for my lip balms and hand sanitizer, a few water bottles, and you know, all the different random mom necessities, like a Kindle and a half-empty bag of tortilla chips. There's also a luggage pass-through so you can put it on top of your carry-on. —Adrienne So
- Photograph: Twelve South
A Floating iPad Stand
Twelve South HoverBar Duo 2.0If Mom already has a iPad, but isn't using it as much as she could be—I myself am a mom who is guilty of that, as her iPad lays out of battery in a drawer to her left—this handy device can solve that. Twelve South's newest Duo has both a clamp and a stand, so she can clamp an iPad to her nightstand to catch up on her favorite show or read a book on her Libby app. This same stand can easily move to be in the kitchen, letting her follow a recipe or maybe still watch a show as she moves around. You can use either the clamp or the stand, depending on your setup. There's even an included hex key to tighten it up if the hinges start feeling loose. For more, check out our Best iPad Accessories guide. —Nena Farrell
- Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
A Good Photo Printer
Fujifilm Instax Mini EvoI love instant cameras and I have bought several for my family to use at different events (like Mother's Day). But truthfully, it's just easier to take pictures with my phone and print them out later on a smartphone camera printer much more often. I personally own the HP Sprocket ($80), but Gilbertson recommends the Instax Mini Evo in our guide to the Best Instax Cameras. The images on the Link Wide are slightly bigger than the Sprocket. You can also do fun things in the app like add multiple images in a collage, add hearts or glitter, or even add a QR code so that someone with a phone can check out your social media. There are also 1,600 in-app stickers that you can paste on top of your images, which both moms and kids will love. —Adrienne So
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- Photograph: Matthew Korfhage
A Simple Cold Brew Coffee Maker
Mizudashi Cold Brew MakerSummer is coming up, and nothing hits better in the hot heat than a tall, icy glass of homemade cold brew coffee. This is our favorite cold brew coffee maker because it's easy to use and looks elegant and understated in the fridge. It also makes the perfect amount of coffee for one person (600 ml). Hario is a Japanese manufacturer known for its affordable, quality glassware, and that history really shows with this carafe. —Adrienne So
- Photograph: Simon Hill
A Discreet, Attractive Fitness Tracker
Oura Ring 4Even though the Oura ring has been out since 2015, it's been viral now more than ever, especially with the newest Oura Ring 4 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) that's become our favorite smart ring. I attribute this to the fact that in comparison to the premium plans that other fitness trackers have, a $6 per month membership no longer seems absurd. You can also pick the finish and it leaves your wrist free for another timepiece of your choice.
The Oura covers all the bases, including your daily activity goal with calorie burn goals, daytime stress, sleep, and a daily readiness score that takes into account your resting heart rate, HRV balance, and body temperature. A recent (small) study in Sleep Health also found that across six fitness trackers, it was the most accurate at tracking sleep. You'll just have to first get your mom's ring size sneakily (ask your dad, or send her the sizing kit). —Adrienne So
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- Photograph: Yeti
Tiny Stacking Cups
Yeti 6-oz Stackable CupsHere at WIRED, we have a certain fondness for tiny cups. Water bottles aside, no one needs to chug 32 ounces of whiskey or hot chocolate. Yeti's tiny stacking mugs come in a minute 4-ounce size, or a 6-ounce size with a handle. It's perfect for sipping a tiny cortado in the morning, rinsing out, and finishing off with a little splash of whiskey at night. They come in a wide array of colors and have a ceramic lining so that the taste of whatever you're drinking isn't affected, and they're dishwasher-safe. And if your mom is also a lightweight who can't finish a 6-ounce pour in one go, the 6-ounce size is also compatible with the small MagSlider lid ($10). —Adrienne So
- Photograph: Bont
Something for Her Hobby
Bont Glow Light Up Skate WheelsRoald Dahl once wrote that every parent has a secret or two that would make their child gasp if they knew it. Unfortunately, my child already knows mine, which is that I love to roller skate after dark. Your mom probably also has a hobby that reminds her that she was a whole, complete person before she devoted her life to coring your strawberries. Get her something small, like these light-up skate wheels, to show her that you've been paying attention. —Adrienne So
- Photograph: Simon Hill
A Board Game
The City of Games The Isle of CatsEvery Christmas, my mother-in-law made the family sit down for a game of Trivial Pursuit. I didn't like this at the time (she did not feel the need to update her game from the 1976 version, which is before I was born), but now I appreciate the tradition. I also like having an activity besides sitting around bickering. The Isle of Cats is beautifully designed and ideal for cat-loving moms. You have to rescue cats by luring them onto your boat with fish and fitting them on, Tetris-style. Although WIRED reviewer Simon Hill notes that the rules are a little complicated at first, it starts to make sense after a few rounds and it's intended for ages 8 and up. For more suggestions, check out Hill's roundup of the Best Family Board Games. —Adrienne So
- Photograph: Matthew Korfhage
A Chocolate Delivery
Dandelion Chocolate Single-Origin Truffle CollectionNothing says Mother's Day like chocolate does. Instead of just grabbing some grocery store chocolates or waiting in a long line, get a gorgeous chocolate box sure to impress delivered to the front door. WIRED reviewer Matthew Korfhage has tried all kinds of chocolate delivery boxes, and Dandelion's Single-Origin Truffle Collection is his top recommendation. He says each chocolate in the box tastes vividly different, since the flavors are influenced by the different regions they're sourced from. The truffle box was a big favorite from his testing panel, but the single-origin praline box is a good choice if the mom in your life loves things like pistachio and peanut butter with her chocolate. No matter which box you choose, it'll be delicious. —Nena Farrell
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A Beautiful Pen
Baronfig Squire Rollerball PenI am cheating a little bit here when I say that every year, my husband and kids get me a new Baronfig pen for Mother's Day. (I am predictably easy to please.) I am a pen addict who loves going to stationery stores, but so far I have yet to find a pen that I like more than this one. It comes in a variety of beautiful colors, and sometimes there are special editions. It feels pleasingly heavy in the hand. The ink rolls smoothly and doesn't bleed through the pages of my Hobonichi Techo, and it's small and smooth enough to fit in the pen pockets of my Tom Bihn bag. It's refillable and the the cap threads smoothly to exchange cartridges. My first one is five years old now and still going strong. My colleague Parker Hall loves a Lamy pen. —Adrienne So
Photograph: Mats Silvan/Getty ImagesDinner Together
A Restaurant Gift CardAs we said before, you know what your mom really wants? Learning about you, the precious love of her life whom she has watched grow from a kindergartener shouting about how he can't tie his shoes to a fully-grown human who reads novels and has their very own checking account (unthinkable! unbelievable!). She wants to know everything about you (well, not everything), and that means spending some quality time together.
I can't recommend a specific restaurant, but if there's a place near where you or your mom live, where you're comfortable sitting on a patio, eating some pizza or drinking some seltzer, she'd really appreciate it. Or if going out to eat isn't your thing, try exploring a new park or just taking a walk together. Trust me. It's the best. —Adrienne So
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