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Finding a gift for your mother-in-law shouldn’t send you into a tizzy. A foolproof plan is simply to give her something she’ll actually use and doesn’t already have — you might even impress her along the way. But to help you pick out presents more easily, I rounded up a number of the best gifts for mothers-in-law, for any occasion, be it a birthday or the holidays.
To make this list, I picked out surefire “won’t-returnables” for the pickiest MILs from our archives and across pages (and pages) of Amazon products. Whether she’s an experienced world traveler, an adventurous home cook, or a neat freak, there’s something for her here. You’ll find everything from an fish-shaped lemon squeezer and five-pound gummy bear to a Greek-column plant trellis and German hot-water bottle. Each present is available from Amazon for quick shipping, and the list is sorted by price in case you’re sticking to a specific budget. And if you’re looking for more gift ideas, we have a hub with every gift guide we’ve written for the holidays.
Update on November 7, 2024: Added new products; updated prices and checked stock for all other products.
Under $25
For the mother-in-law who thinks a “squeeze of lemon” is a condiment
To get every last drop of a lemon wedge (without the seeds, of course).
For the mother-in-law who can’t stop talking about her last trip to Porto
These tomato-sauced sardines might be close to that seafood dish she remembers.
For the mother-in-law who leaves her nails au naturel
This nail strengthener — a dupe of Dior’s for half the price — will keep her tips in tip-top shape. It comes in “strawberry rhubarb” and “orange marmalade” for a hint of a manicure.
For the mother-in-law who’s a card shark
For the mother-in-law who’s the next Bazille
For en plein air painting, this travel watercolor set comes with a mixing palette on the lid — plus a brush and 12 half-pans — to take with her whenever inspiration strikes.
For the mother-in-law who’s working on her time management
Let her master the Pomodoro technique with this “time ball.”
For the mother-in-law who can never find her readers
This nifty organizer holds six frames and folds up nicely into a carry-on.
For the mother-in-law who’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking
A minimalist cookbook stand to keep her place while she makes coq au vin — or for the New York Times Cooking recipe she has saved on an iPad.
For the mother-in-law who takes her coffee black
For the mother-in-law who takes her coffee cold
For the mother-in-law who’s a toast snob
The beak on these charming duck-shaped toast tongs will hold her sourdough slices tight.
For the mother-in-law who likes to host
A fruit-shaped conversation-starter for her next dinner party.
For the mother-in-law who won’t entertain another candle
Each cone has notes of powdery wisteria and produces “slowly wafting” smoke.
For the mother-in-law whose purse is a pharmacy counter
Former Strategist senior editor Kiki Aranita says this peapod pill case is “perfect for purse Advil, weekend-trip vitamins, and a life of chaos.” It lives at the bottom of her purse, and her pills haven’t ever spilled out.
For the mother-in-law with a burgeoning green thumb
A Greek-column plant trellis for her Philodendron to lean on.
For the mother-in-law who runs ten degrees hotter than everyone else
“On full blast, it stops a stream of face sweat in its tracks before it even has a chance to get into my eyes,” says Strategist writer Dominique Pariso of this powerful portable fan.
Under $50
For the mother-in-law who runs ten degrees colder than everyone else
The small space heater has 11 different temperature settings — as well as a cooling-fan mode (just in case).
For the mother-in-law who’s knotty all over
Our resident exercise expert uses this as a recovery tool and swears it relieves knots better than any of the electric massagers he’s tried.
For the mother-in-law who’s achy all over
It’s the German hot water bottle that author Young Kim describes as a “revelation for any sort of pain you put it on.”
For the mother-in-law who’s always summering somewhere
This foldable sun hat will fit right in her tote. It comes with a bow in the back and a chin strap to keep it on her head when there’s a breeze.
For the mother-in-law who’s a magazine hoarder
This architectural acrylic file holder doubles as a place to organize her back issues of Vogue.
For the mother-in-law whose purse is a bottomless pit
These delightful orange-patterned pouches can hold everything from lipsticks to chargers.
For the mother-in-law who doesn’t believe in store-bought
Put her baked goods on a pedestal (a.k.a. a milk-glass cake stand).
For the mother-in-law with an insatiable sweet tooth
A five-pound gummy bear is about the equivalent of 1,400 regular-size gummy bears. It comes in snake and octopus forms as well.
For the mother-in-law who hears every last bump in the night
Your mother-in-law can toggle between fan sounds and white noise with this LectroFan (a favorite of comedian Samantha Irby and actress Eva Mendes).
For the mother-in-law who’s the first to take a shot (of espresso)
There’s a second cup she can share with your father-in-law — or to have herself another shot of caffeine.
Under $100
For the mother-in-law who’s the first to break bread
This big tin of olive oil will last for many a baguette — and Laila Gohar uses it on everything.
For the mother-in-law who likes her tea piping-hot
For the mother-in-law who’s a proud TSA PreCheck holder
The efficient traveler travels personal-item-only — might I suggest this an underseat suitcase with removable wheels?
For the mother-in-law who’s incapable of traveling light
For the mother-in-law who has her hands full
Nécessaire’s hand cream will heal her calloused palms while its retinol will help with lines and wrinkles.
For the mother-in-law who takes marathon baths
Under $200
For the mother-in-law who does her own brows
Upgrade her bathroom lighting with a lighted makeup mirror. (It might become an invaluable tool for tweezing out her grays.)
For the mother-in-law who’s over wrinkle creams
Because of its size, the Solawave wand can get those delicate spots, like the lip line. And it’s one of the most affordable microcurrent devices on the market.
For the mother-in-law who swapped coffee for matcha
The frothiest matcha needs the right electric whisk. (Designer Suzie Kondi noticed the employees at Cha Cha Matcha using this one.)
For the mother-in-law who guilts everyone into taking family photos
One of our best-in-class digital picture frames, Nixplay’s version lets you pause slideshows without having to get a hold of a remote and flip the frame from landscape to portrait settings right on the screen.
For the mother-in-law who always orders extra ice
This Frigidaire ice machine will rid her freezer of half-empty trays — and it can be left on the countertop or under a kitchen cabinet.
Over $200
For the mother-in-law who’s disgusted by grocery-store basil
The Strategist’s gardening expert, Erin Schwartz, grew generations of arugula, lettuce, and cabbage with Rise’s indoor-garden kit. It all tastes fresher than the produce at the grocery store, they say.
For the mother-in-law who’s the first to get a glass
Keep her wines chilled in this sommelier-approved wine cooler. There are lights inside to tell bottles of Sancerre and Pinot Grigio apart.
For the mother-in-law who (obsessively) tracks her stats
The Oura is not as obtrusive as an Apple Watch, but it comes with all the same trappings, including stress tracking and sleep monitoring.
For the mother-in-law who makes her own orange juice
For the mother-in-law who never has a hair out of place
For a hair-styling twofer, the Airstrait can simultaneously blow-dry and straighten her hair.
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 women’s jeans, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, ultraflattering pants, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
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