Skip the Store: Meaningful Father's Day Gestures He'll Truly Appreciate

Father’s Day is one of those occasions that can feel a little tricky to get right. You want to show appreciation, but another mug or multi-tool just doesn’t quite hit the mark. 

If your dad isn’t the type to drop hints or has everything he needs, the best gift might not be something you can buy. Thoughtful gestures, the kind that show you really know him, go a long way. Whether your dad’s into his record collection, his garden, or a good Sunday roast, we’ve rounded up ideas to help you celebrate him properly.

The Music Dad

He’s still mourning the golden age of rock and has very strong opinions about which albums should never have been remastered.

• Organise his vinyl collection: Use a site like Discogs to help him digitally catalogue his albums! It's free, and makes browsing, tracking and showing off his collection so much easier.
• Make him a playlist: Choose tracks that remind you of him, or songs you think he’d actually love. Add a handwritten tracklist with your reasons for each pick.
• Plan a music night: Queue up his favourite live sets on YouTube, cook his go-to meal, and make it a chill family gig night.

The Car Dad

He knows the exact year any motor came out and will happily spend Sunday morning polishing his wheels.

• Deep clean the car for him: Inside and out, add a little hanging air freshener for extra points.
• Create a photo book: Gather photos of past cars he’s owned (old family photos, scanned Polaroids etc) and create a printed mini-album.
• Book a local car show: See if there’s a nearby vintage or supercar event and treat him to a day out.

The Foodie Dad

The Foodie Dad

He’s either a master griller or watches MasterChef religiously, or both.

• Cook something with him: Instead of cooking for him, cook together. Pick an interesting recipe neither of you has tried and make a bit of an event out of it.
• Homemade food hamper: Fill it with his favourite sauces, a craft beer or two, and maybe some marinated meat or spices.
• Make a family recipe book: Ask everyone to write down their go-to dish and bind it together for him.

The Gadget Dad

If it needs a screwdriver or a firmware update, he’s into it.

• Clear out his cables: Help him sort that infamous drawer of tangled leads and label the ones he actually needs.
• Set up a smart home shortcut: Something like a ‘chill mode’ for evenings (lights dim, music on, heating lowered) if he has Alexa or Google Home.
• Digitise old family videos: If you have camcorder tapes lying around, this one hits right in the feels.

The Outdoorsy Dad

He’s always up for a hike, bike ride, or just pottering in the garden.

• Plan a low-key adventure: It doesn’t have to be a mountain, even a walk in a new park with a packed lunch can feel special.
• Create a plant marker set: If he loves gardening, paint some pebbles or wooden markers with the names of his veg or herbs.
• Build a bird feeder together: A cute Sunday DIY that you can both enjoy watching after.

The Sentimental Dad

He doesn’t say much but he’ll absolutely keep every card you’ve ever made him.

• Write him a letter: Tell him the things you maybe don’t say out loud; what you’ve learned from him, what you admire, what you notice. It doesn’t have to be cheesy, just honest, to be seen is to be loved.
• Make a photo timeline: A little DIY project that shows how your relationship’s grown over time. Photos, ticket stubs, or quotes work well.
• Record a message: Get family members to record short messages or memories about him and compile it into a little audio keepsake.
• Create a memory scrapbook: Use FreePrints to get 45 free photos each month and build a scrapbook filled with shared moments, milestones, and little notes.

You don’t need to spend loads to make your dad feel seen. Just pick one thing that says “I know you” and run with it. Thoughtfulness always wins. If you're still looking for some affordable Father's Day gifts, check out our article on 5 quick tips for saving money on your gifts this year!