51 Surprisingly Thoughtful Gift Card Ideas for Birthdays, Special Occasions, and Holidays

Jet-setters on your gift list will be thrilled to receive a gift card from Away, an editor-favorite, go-to brand for stylish, durable luggage. With it, your recipient can choose the piece (or pieces) of luggage that they want, from large checked bags and tech-friendly wheeled carry-ons to totes, pouches, and waterproof duffles.

Have a friend who can’t get enough caffeine? Trust us, their eyes will light up when they receive your gift card from Fellow. The San Francisco-based company is known for its array of barista-worthy gear for the home, whether that means sumptuous coffee beans, an elegant French press, stylish mugs, or Stagg kettles that look gorgeous on the table, stove, and countertop.

For the plant parent in your life, a gift card from The Sill opens the door to a long list of happy, healthy potted plants to choose from. From stylish varieties like monstera and fiddle leaf figs to pet-friendly plants such as majesty palms and air plants, you’ll find options for every personality type. The site also sells sculptural planters and stands for your plant-loving pal who’s full up on greenery but always in the market for accessories.

Help them make the most of their family memories — or at the very least, get their photos off their phone — with a gift certificate to Framebridge. Through the company, they can custom-frame practically anything (including clothing and objects, like matchbooks!) and rely on the pros at Framebridge to help them pull together the perfect gallery wall.

Help your favorite pet parent show their fur baby some love with a thoughtful gift card to pet mega-site Chewy. Your contribution will give your giftee the funds to score everything from food and medicine (necessities!) to toys and costumes (arguably also necessities?).

Giving someone the invitation to splurge on new sheets is an excellent idea — and Brooklinen’s bedding collection is well-loved by Apartment Therapy editors. The brand’s cozy clothes are also pretty darn nice, so your giftees can treat themselves to something comfy that they’ll practically live in but probably wouldn’t buy for themselves.

We love this gift idea for Fly By Jing fans and for those who have yet to try these Sichuan pantry staples and meal starters. The gift card comes in a variety of dollar amounts, and it’s good for everything on the website, including their highly craveable chili crisp and Hot Ones’ famous hot sauce.

Sometimes escaping the walls of one’s own home is the only way to maintain sanity. Gifting your parent or loved one the chance to choose an experience or accommodations from Airbnb is a great bet for anyone who needs a break.

You know how you sometimes buy notebooks and cute stationery intending to use them, but then you never do? Well, not with Poketo! They sell lots of super-cute stuff, but Poketo’s stationery is on another level, with splashy designs like the Tutti Frutti Postcards and even a holographic notebook. A Poketo gift card gives your friends and family the freedom to pick their own snazzy patterns.

Working with an interior designer might sound like it’s only for champagne budgets, but companies like Havenly offer relatively affordable decorating services online. Know someone who’s been complaining about not knowing which colors to paint their bedroom or what art to choose for their living room? Try a Havenly gift card, which can be purchased as a merchandise credit or in the form of a personal consultation. (Check out our review here.)

You know you’re an adult when you’re excited about a gift card for groceries. If you have a loved one who lives in New York, New Jersey, or parts of Connecticut (see the whole list here), give them the gift of free food with a FreshDirect gift card. It makes an especially thoughtful gift for new parents or recent college grads who could use some extra help — they can splurge on that specialty Gruyère they wouldn’t have stuck in their cart otherwise.

Apartment Therapy readers are usually inclined to refresh their living spaces as often as possible. If your loved one is a fan of the site and hard at work on a new gallery wall layout, an Etsy gift card is just the ticket for the finishing touches. Because art handcrafted by real people is one of the best gifts of all. Check out our top recommendations for Etsy gifts, too.

Made In is a chef-inspired (and pro-loved) cookware company with attractive prices. It’s a great choice for hardworking kitchen tools, like nonstick pans that last and super sharp knives. Luckily, outfitting your favorite home chef is easier than ever with their convenient digital gift card.

Everyone has a friend or parent who’s obsessed with checking home projects off their list. If that’s the kind of person you’re shopping for, a Lowe’s gift card will do the trick. If you’ve ever gone through a home renovation, you know that you wind up at the store way more often than you think and a gift card just might ease that pain for someone else.

A gift card from Global Giving allows your recipient to give the funds to a project or charity that matters to them. They can choose one or several initiatives to support, from education to human rights, and still get those warm, fuzzy feelings that come from donating.

With more and more people getting outside each year, there’s a very good chance someone on your gift list can’t get enough of the great outdoors. Whether it’s hiking, camping, biking, or simply going for more walks, outdoor activities call for rad outdoor gear. With an REI gift card, your recipient will be able to select the stuff that’s right for them online or in stores.

If you’re sick of your parents or loved ones using your streaming account, this Hulu gift card might be the perfect way to gently encourage them to spring for their own login. Then you’ll both finally get to enjoy all the “Handmaid’s Tale,” “Only Murders in the Building,” and “The Kardashians” without locking the other one out.

Every so often, the editors of Apartment Therapy light up one of our Slack channels with their thoughts on candles. One of the most popular? P.F. Candle Co., a chic candle brand with some really unique scents. A gift card will let your wick-burning loved one pick out their own flame from a superb selection, though we are partial to this particular fragrance.

If you’ve never used Thrive Market before, it’s like virtually stepping into the biggest organic grocery store you’ve ever seen. The online retailer stocks 6,000 different organic, non-GMO, and nontoxic products from sustainable brands, all with the benefit of wholesale markdowns. Whether your giftee is prone to bouts of Whole30 or just loves artisanal energy bars, a Thrive Market gift card enables a specialty store online shopping experience for pantry staples.

New Englanders know that there are no bad choices when it comes to L.L.Bean, so let an L.L.Bean gift card fill in the gaps in your loved one’s outdoor gear arsenal. They can score everything from wintertime mittens and sweaters to summer essentials like fire pits and s’mores kits.

If your giftee is a bookworm and you’re finding it tough to wrangle a gift card from a local shop in their town of residence, might we suggest Bookshop.org? The online store helps support local booksellers across the country by giving 75 percent of its profit margins to independent shops.

Perhaps your loved one has been putting off subscribing to Disney+? Let them start sooner rather than later by gifting them a year-long subscription. While this isn’t a gift card in the traditional sense, it’s a present that’ll bring joy all year long.

Deliver a nutritious dinner to your loved one tonight without lifting a finger. Blue Apron, a meal kit service, offers gift cards that can be used toward their signature meal plan offerings. Give them in any denomination, though we recommend starting with at least $70, the cost of a one-week delivery.

Putting its own unique spin on the concept of the gift card, Sugarwish is all about presents. You choose the category (cookies, candy, cocktail mixers, cocoa, and even candles, to name a few) and quantity that you want to give. Instead of receiving a gift card for a specific dollar amount, your loved one will get to choose from a slew of items within the category you chose. It’s a great way to show that you care while also guaranteeing that your giftee gets exactly what they want.

There’s no better way to say you care about someone than by giving them the gift of self-care — and making your home a comfortable space is key to taking care of yourself. Whether it be in the form of the retailer’s fresh-scented candle, linen spray, or luxe, hotel-favorite hand soap, an Aesop gift card is always a good idea.

A good night’s sleep is invaluable and Cozy Earth has a range of products your loved one can choose to help them upgrade their bedding. We love the brand’s Oprah-approved linen sheet set, which we found to be extremely breathable and seriously soft.

When it comes to home furnishings at Wayfair, the sky’s the limit and your giftee will certainly appreciate the online mega-retailer’s giant collection. From small upgrades such as lamps, organizers, and kitchen tools, to rugs, furniture, and bedding that can completely spruce up a room, Wayfair has it all. Anyone who is in the market for baby gear or pet products will also make excellent use of this gift card.

Well-made, long-lasting furniture is an investment, and a gift card to Article helps someone special in your life get the sofa, chair, or table they really want. Article also sells modern storage pieces, outdoor sets, and beds, so whatever kind of furniture upgrade you want to help someone with, they’ll find the perfect thing at Article.

If the person you’re shopping for hasn’t tried eucalyptus bedding (or they haven’t found the right brand yet), get them a gift card to Sijo so they can experience the difference of sleeping on certifiably luxurious bedding. We recommend Sijo’s bed sheets, duvet insert, and comforter to everyone because these products offer a superior blend of coolness, smoothness, and durability. Their mattress protectors and pillows also have the power to enhance anyone’s sleep sanctuary.

Parachute has earned a reputation for making fantastic all-season bedding, such as their Cloud Cotton Quilt. With a gift card to this bed and bath destination, your giftee will have the chance to experience better rest and enjoy a cozier home. Our editors were also thoroughly impressed with Parachute’s mattress, which is made all the more affordable with the right gift card.

New blankets, bed sheets, and bath towels are always a welcome gift, but they are one area where people often resist the urge to splurge — and thus miss out on some game-changing home items. A gift card to Boll & Branch gives your giftee permission to treat themselves to bedding and bath essentials that they’re going to enjoy every single day. Our editors have personally tested a number of their products (and are so glad they did).

A gift card to one of the most coveted home goods and furniture stores is sure to surprise and delight anyone on your list. This present can make West Elm‘s high-end sofas, tables, and outdoor furniture more affordable, which is great news for anyone looking to outfit or refresh their living space. Of course, the bedding and bath essentials, as well as West Elm’s wide selection of kitchenware, would all be smart choices, too.

Crane & Canopy‘s ultra-plush bath towel is so delightful to use, our contributor Jasmine wrote that she wanted to gift it to everyone on her list after trying it herself. Whoever you give this gift card to will be equally excited at the prospect of refreshing their bedroom or bathroom with new linens, bath mats, shower curtains, and more. They could also pick up one of Crane & Company’s exquisitely smooth silk sleep mask and pillowcase sets to enjoy a better night’s sleep every night.

Give someone special in your life the chance to pick out a blanket or bedding set that will keep them cozy all year round. We’re big fans of Coyuchi‘s throw blankets, which come in heavyweight and lightweight options, and their sheets and comforters truly knocked our testers’ socks off. Your giftee could also go for one of their ultra-comfy robes or a set of luxury bath towels to really feel like they’re treating themselves.

Our editors routinely find incredibly stylish and practical home goods and decor items at Urban Outfitters, so a gift card for this retailer is an all-access ticket to upgrades for the living room, bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom. Their furniture selection is also impressive, so this card could go toward the purchase of a new coffee table, sofa, or storage unit.

Give the gift of luxe bedding with an Ettitude gift card. The brand is home to some of our favorite pieces of bedding made from luxurious bamboo designed to give your giftee the cooling sleep they deserve.

If you have an Anthropologie fan in your life — or someone who usually admires the brand from afar — they’re sure to appreciate the chance to snag something off of their wishlist. It might be the editor-loved (and mega-popular) Capri Blue candle, or maybe it’s a piece of decor from one of its gorgeous holiday collections. Either way, your giftee will thank you for it immensely.

We all know someone who’s been meaning to upgrade their headphones or home office setup — for them, you can’t go wrong with a gift card to Best Buy. Electronics can get pretty pricey, so they’ll be grateful for the opportunity to shave some dollars off of their purchase.

This is a great choice of gift card if you aren’t quite sure what to get your recipient, but you know they’re making runs to Walmart on the regular. It’ll cut down on their weekly grocery cost or allow them to snag a home item from Better Homes & Garden’s or Drew Barrymore’s collections — the options are virtually endless.

Who doesn’t love Pottery Barn? The editor-loved brand has everything your giftee needs to spruce up their space, including stunning decor, bedding, and furniture. They could grab the AT-approved Cloud Quilt if they’re in the market for a year-round bedding staple, or they could put their gift card toward one of our favorite armchairs.

Momofuku, the restaurant-quality ramen noodle brand multiple AT editors swear by, is the perfect gift for someone who prefers fast and easy dinners. (Or anyone who loves good food, really.) Instead of guessing what flavor they’d like best, you can give them the option to pick out their favorite.

Impress your foodie giftee by having high-quality meat delivered right to their door. Good Chop’s gift card will allow them to select whichever top-shelf cuts they want, saving them a trip to the butcher and elevating their weekly dinners. “Every cut I cooked was fresh and delicious, with great color and delicious flavor,” says our sister site, The Kitchn.

Quince is home to some of our favorite bedding, ranging from linen sheets to an airy quilt, as well as many other home essentials, like super-absorbent bath towels. The brand even has an Away carry-on dupe that one of our editors swears by for all of her trips. The plentiful number of options makes Quince a particularly great retailer to get a gift card from.

A good night of sleep is priceless, so if you know they’ve been struggling with getting enough rest, Coop is the way to go. Our editors can confirm that the brand's high-quality bedding is a solid investment, especially if your giftee is a hot sleeper. They’ll love Coop’s cooling pillow and blanket just as much as our editors do.

Home chefs and food lovers will be eager to run to their nearest Williams Sonoma once they get the go-ahead with this gift card. The retailer offers a level of quality in all of its items that anyone would gush over — and if you want to give them some inspiration, you can point them toward The Kitchn’s Williams Sonoma gift guide.

Is your giftee looking forward to a vacation? You can make them even more excited about it by supplying them with a Solgaard gift card ahead of time. The brand is known for its luxe travel staples that will seriously upgrade any travel experience. Its carry-on closet will save the overpacker in your life — you can take it from our editor, Britt.

There’s definitely someone in your life who can’t get enough of wandering the aisles of T.J. Maxx, so a gift card from the brand will be a total hit. You can even plan to join them on their next shopping trip and spend some quality time together, which makes it an even greater gift!

Give them the chance to stock up on their favorite Bath & Body Works scent. The retailer has every self-care product they could ever need, from three-wick candles to lotions and soaps. A gift card could also inspire them to get a scent that reflects the season, whether it’s pumpkin for fall or pine for winter!

Speaking of stores that you can visit with your giftee — who doesn’t love a Target run? With their gift card in tow, you can help them knock off a few items off of their shopping list, whether its a piece of furniture or even a few grocery items.

Le Creuset’s covetable cookware is on the wish list of even casual home chefs — the brand’s quality is that good. The prices reflect that, so a gift card will be much appreciated by Le Creuset newbies and avid collectors alike.

You’re never too old to learn, especially when it comes from gleaning knowledge from masters of their craft like Gordon Ramsay, Alicia Keys, Shonda Rhimes, and more. Master Class gives your recipient access to all the greats, with dedicated lessons geared towards upping their knowledge around the things that interest them the most, like songwriting, cooking, and interior design. Gift a membership, and watch their world open up.