It can be hard to know what to get the dad in your life, especially if he claims he already has everything he needs. So with the holidays around the corner, I wanted to help you with some gift ideas for busy dads.
For inspiration, I went to my partner, who said he truly enjoys games and books from his own childhood that help him tap into his playful side and bond with the kids. So we’ve got a healthy dose of nostalgia in this gift guide (marble tracks, anyone?). We’ve also added a handful of gift ideas that help dads relax, reclaim their time, and enrich the moments spent with their family.
Below are 27 gifts for busy dads they'll actually use.
Our Top Picks For Busy Dads
Short on time? Start with our top gifts for busy dads:
- Best overall: Ask Proxy™ subscription (from $39)
- Best nostalgic gift: Nintendo Switch 2 ($499)
- Best splurge: Aventon Electric Bike ($1,999)
- Best under $50: Star Wars Pancake Molds ($19.95)
- Best for playing with the kids: Spikeball Set ($70)
- Best for Christmas morning: Little Sleepies Matching PJs ($34)
- Best for relaxation: SaunaBox (from $349)
- Best personalized gift: Leather tray with kid's artwork (from $109)
What To Get A Busy Dad? Leather Tray With Kid’s Drawing
This handcrafted leather tray is such a great gift for dads with young kids. It gets engraved with their kids' actual artwork or handwriting, and is practical enough to hold keys, watches, or cufflinks. It's guaranteed to make him smile every time he sees the drawing or note!
What To Get A Busy Dad? An AI Wife (yep, you read that right)
Full disclosure: Ask Proxy is something we created, so I'm admittedly biased. But it's also the gift I'm most excited to share this year.
Ask Proxy™ — a personal AI assistant that works entirely by text — is a great gift for any dad who struggles with thinking and planning ahead when it comes to family life. Some moms are calling Ask Proxy an “AI Wife” because it thinks ahead and sends short texts to their husbands with small ways to be more actionable at home.
The best part? Your husband doesn’t need to know what to ask, because Ask Proxy proactively texts him with personalized ideas ahead of time. (One dad calls it his “dad insurance policy.”)
Things like:
- "What are your plans for Mother's Day? Here are a few ideas..."
- A reminder to book the birthday dinner. Here’s the OpenTable link.
- Here’s an idea for something fun to do with the kids this weekend.
That proactive piece is what makes Ask Proxy such a smart gift for dads. Instead of you always being the one to remind him about things, you’re giving him something that actually helps him think ahead and take the lead.
I saw the magic this can create firsthand during our recent family vacation to Vancouver. Ask Proxy helped my husband plan several of our favorite moments of the trip. It gave him so much joy to be the one taking charge of creating these special moments, and I got to enjoy taking more of a backseat to the planning for a change! It's one of those gifts that starts out being for Dad but ends up benefiting the whole family.
You can gift Ask Proxy (aka an AI wife) for as many months as you want ($39/mo), or go all in with a yearly subscription for $348 (save 25%).
What To Get A Busy Dad? SaunaBox
The SaunaBox is a great gift for the busy dad who loves a good steam room, but doesn't have the space — or patience — for a full home installation. This portable steam sauna is super easy to assemble and takes less than 20 minutes to set up. (There’s also an infrared version if he prefers a dry sauna, though it’s a bit more expensive.)
You know I’m a big proponent of paying wellness services to come to my house. For busy parents, anything that shaves off drive time and makes relaxing more convenient has a much better chance of actually happening. The SaunaBox does just that by giving your busy dad an easy way to squeeze in a steam session without having to drive to the spa/gym.
It’s a great gift for those hard-to-shop-for dads who already have enough stuff, but who would appreciate an excuse to shut the door, put on a podcast, and disappear for a little while.
It’s available through SaunaBox and Amazon.
What To Get A Busy Dad? Bird Buddy
This bird feeder is a really unique gift for the busy dad who likes nature. It has a built-in camera and takes photos of the birds that come to feast. The app uses AI to identify quality photos, so it’s not spamming you with notifications of blurry or bad pictures. It also identifies the species and includes some basic facts about them. It can be fun to share the photos with the kids and teach them about the different birds coming into your backyard. You can see how the bird species change throughout the year, too, depending on who is migrating through!
What To Get A Busy Dad? Massagers
I used this gua sha scalp massage comb at the In goop Health event, and gave it to my partner for Father’s Day last year. It’s the best kind of gift to give — the one you secretly want for yourself too! It gently massages your head and is very relaxing. Using it over time will allegedly reduce hair loss and improve your sleep and mood. We’ll see about that! In all honesty, it’s great for giving each other neck rubs in all the right places while we watch a show together, so I suggest keeping it near your living room sofa.
While the Yina comb is perfect for head scratches, if the busy dad you’re shopping for prefers deeper massages, then I highly recommend the Theragun. It’s small and lightweight and perfect for massaging muscle pain and soreness.
You’re overdue for delegating the invisible stuff.
What To Get A Busy Dad? Star Wars Pancake Molds
As I said before, sometimes the best gifts for dads are items that give him an excuse to be a kid again, which is why we love these Star Wars pancake molds in our house.
They're inexpensive, easy to use, and give Dad something silly to do with the kids that doesn't involve planning an elaborate outing. Plus, the kids have fun deciding if they would rather eat Darth Vader or Yoda. Pair the molds with his favorite pancake mix and maple syrup.
Or, if he’s more of a waffles guy, there are also Millennium Falcon and Darth Vader waffle irons…
What To Get A Busy Dad? Outdoor Cooking Supplies
Many busy dads will appreciate items that help them relax outdoors with the family. Recently, we finally made the time to have a s’mores-making experience as a family and loved it! The kids were more excited to eat the marshmallows dry than toast them, but they still enjoyed all the steps of assembling the s’mores: breaking apart the graham crackers, putting on the chocolate, and smooshing the marshmallow on top. All the steps seem so obvious to us as adults, but when we pause to enjoy the kids’ perspectives and schedule the time to make a full activity out of it, well, that becomes the real gift.
This little fire-burning pit is a genius way to make it all easy and doable without the mess. For a present, include his favorite type of chocolate, graham crackers, roasting sticks, and marshmallows.
If grilling is more his vibe, gift this Smokehouse spice set. It comes with 15 spice rubs, ranging from Caribbean to lime chipotle, four different specialty salts, and an Italian seasoning.
What To Get A Busy Dad? Vuori
Vuori makes ridiculously comfortable clothes that can go from school drop-off to working from home to an actual workout without making him look like he's been wearing pajamas all day. All the men in my extended family are OBSESSED — even the ones who don’t usually get excited about clothes.
I especially like the Sunday Performance Joggers, Kore Shorts, and the super, super soft Strato Tech Tees. They all come in lots of different colors to choose from.
What To Get A Busy Dad? Books from His Childhood
Books that he used to love reading as a kid — and can now read to his own kids — are a great gift idea for a busy dad with younger kids who needs to slow down. Some of our favorites are Where the Sidewalk Ends, Where’s Waldo?, The Chronicles of Narnia, and The Phantom Tollbooth. Our four-year-old is currently obsessed with Where’s Waldo?, and Hungry Mungry from Where the Sidewalk Ends (my personal favorites are still LOVE and Hug o’ War). Reading old-school books with him makes us feel like we’re both kids again, and it has a wild way of bringing back a memory of doing this exact same thing 30+ years ago.
If he has a daughter, then Ask Me is another good book to give a busy dad. The story is about a father and daughter walking around their neighborhood, and it’s a nice reminder to get out of the house with your kids and take a walk — even if it’s just 10 minutes around the block, listening to the ramblings of a toddler.
If you're looking for book recommendations for first-time dads, check out our post on The 11 Best Books For New & First-Time Dads.
You don’t need another app. You need a brain double.
Proxy helps you think through the who, what, and where of home life — so you can stop doing mental math at 2AM.
What To Get A Busy Dad? A Yummy Cologne
A nice smelling cologne is a classic gift and will be especially appreciated if your partner isn't the type to splurge on himself, but does enjoy these types of luxuries. My husband and I are big fans of Maison Francis Kurkdjian. Both the Amyris Homme Eau de Toilette (also available at Amazon) and 724 Eau de Parfum (also available at Amazon) are nice for men and will keep him smelling fresh on the go. If the busy dad you're shopping for travels a lot, consider getting him the travel size so he can easily take it with him on work and family trips.
What To Get A Busy Dad? An Electric Bike
Busy dads will enjoy the extra speed that electric bikes provide as they get some alone time exploring the bike paths in their city. It’s also great for a family bike ride if the kids are old enough.
My own dad introduced me to these foldable electric bikes! They’re not as sleek-looking as the bike above, but since they fold up, you can easily take them in a normal car, without needing bike racks, which is super convenient.
What To Get A Busy Dad? Legos
Busy dads want to spend quality family time with their kids, but it can be hard to transition from a long day at the office to playing make-believe on the floor. The solution for the busy dad in our family was to find an activity to do with the kids that he also loves: Legos! I guarantee you that the dad in your life will also love building Legos with their kids, and this play table makes it so easy. If they have young kids, I recommend the Super Mario set to go with it since it’s interactive and fun to play with after it’s built. (This Princess Peach one is just as fun too!) There are some fun options for dads to do with older kids too.
I also love this Lego board that hangs on the wall to create a building zone that doesn’t clutter the floor. It’s perfect for a playroom — or even a busy dad’s office if they’re the creative type who enjoy building with Legos to unwind.
You don’t have too much to do. You have too much to decide.
What To Get A Busy Dad? Sweet Treats
These gift ideas are for the busy dad who always has room for dessert. Our personal chef bought this compact ice cream maker and uses it every couple of weeks to make homemade ice cream and sorbet. Our favorite sorbet flavors have been mango, honeydew, and pineapple. He also made toasted milk and horchata ice cream that were crazy good. The kids also love pressing the buttons to make it churn!
The best part is that you can be in control of the ingredients, so your busy dad can make healthier options or mix in his favorite toppings. It’s available at Amazon, Ninja, Crate & Barrel, and Best Buy.
Dad not into gadgets? A cookie subscription guarantees fresh, ready-to-eat treats without lifting a finger. Cravory Cookies is one of my favorites, and they’ll send half a dozen cookies each month featuring their different flavors each time (I also love sending cookies as house-warming gifts, hosting gifts, or in lieu of flowers for celebrations). A 3-month subscription comes out to roughly $70 with tax and shipping.
What To Get A Busy Dad? Nintendo Switch 2
If the dad you’re shopping for is into video games, he will love a Nintendo Switch 2 (assuming he hasn’t already bought one for himself!). It's perfect for the dad who grew up playing Nintendo and wants to introduce his kids to Mario Kart and Zelda — just don't be surprised if it ends up becoming a gift for the whole family.
The other nice thing about the Switch is that it can be played on the TV or picked up and played on its own, so he can also play by himself when he wants some alone time to recharge.
It's available at Amazon, Target, and Best Buy.
What To Get A Busy Dad? Jigsaw Puzzle
Find a puzzle with a theme the dad in your life would enjoy. It gives a busy dad something relaxing to work on in the evening, instead of just watching TV. They’re perfect for unwinding after a long day of work.
My partner loves doing puzzles by the Magic Puzzle Company because of their unique and interesting details. I also recently got him a Liberty Puzzle. They make gorgeous wooden puzzles with very uniquely shaped pieces. According to my husband, it's the hardest puzzle he’s ever done and that’s saying something (he’s really good at puzzles!). It was only 350 pieces, but the unique sizing makes it more difficult and less intuitive than you’d think…with that said he really enjoyed it!
For a more sentimental route, you can also turn a favorite family photo into a keepsake puzzle. Shutterfly has great options for creating your own photo puzzles. A few years back, I used it to make my dad a custom puzzle that was a collage of family photos, and he loved it.
Or if there’s a vacation you want to go on, buy him a puzzle with a beautiful picture of that location. Incept his ass! 🙂
Deciding everything is more exhausting than doing everything.
What To Get A Busy Dad? Spikeball Set
For the dad who would rather do something than sit around, Spikeball is a family-friendly game that is super portable and can easily be played anywhere from the beach to your backyard or in a park.
It takes just a few minutes to learn, but it can get surprisingly competitive, making it fun for adults while still being something kids will enjoy too.
It's also exactly the kind of activity a busy dad might never think to buy for himself, but once it's sitting in the garage, suddenly there's an easy answer to “What should we do this afternoon?”
What To Get A Busy Dad? Board Games
We were introduced to Azul by a friend, and are obsessed. You don’t have to talk a lot, and it’s not super complicated. There’s enough strategy involved to keep you entertained, but it’s also simple enough that it still feels relaxing. It’s a nice way to connect with your partner after a long day because conversation happens organically as you play. So really, Azul is the gift of decompressing slowly and together — the perfect answer to what to get a busy dad.
Another option for dads who like word games is this Scrabble edition that’s designed to look like a book. It makes for a unique way to display a game on your shelf, and if it’s not hidden away in a drawer, you all might play it more. Besides Scrabble, there are a bunch of other games available, including Monopoly, Life, and Clue.
Lastly, we have also been loving the Slip It In Game! (I know it's not technically a board game, but I still wanted to include it on the list!) Another genius parent brought it to the school fundraising gala, and it made the whole evening much more entertaining. The goal is to sneak assigned phrases into everyday conversation without getting caught.
We immediately bought it and shared it with my in-laws on a family vacation. I’m happy to report that I was the only one able to “slip it in” without any detection!
It’s the perfect game for busy dads who love a little friendly competition. It’s quick, funny, and works for everything from family dinners to guys’ nights — basically, a way to turn ordinary chats into a game.
What To Get A Busy Dad? Handprint Kit For Kid’s Hand
This handprint kit is super special for those with small kids or even a beloved family pet! It includes soft clay that you roll out before pressing your baby’s hand or footprint in it. It also comes with letter stencils and ribbon, so you can customize it with a name and turn it into a Christmas ornament if you desire. The kit includes enough materials to create both a hand and footprint version.
What To Get A Busy Dad? Aura Carver 10.1" WiFi Digital Picture Frame
This digital picture frame is a nice touch for an office desk. Or you could do what our good friends do and set it near your dining room table, so that the entire family can enjoy watching the photos scroll by. It allows the no-screen time rule at dinner to be adhered to, but the photos spark conversation, laughs, and reminiscing as they pop up. You can also invite other family members or friends to add photos to it, so it’s a surprise when they pop up.
“Proxy doesn't just wait for me to ask, it brings things up I wasn’t even thinking about!”
- Susan Ayala, Proxy User
What To Get A Busy Dad? Matching PJs
Our family absolutely adores matching pajamas. This is something we do all the time and my husband legitimately enjoys it. This is an especially great gift idea for a busy dad because it takes no time for him to put on a pair of matching pajamas and have a bonding moment with the kids. Little Sleepies makes great options for family pjs with a fun array of rotating prints.
What To Get A Busy Dad? A Picture Frame Candy Dispenser
This framed gumball machine is such a fun gift for a dad with a sweet tooth. He can hang it as art in his office, the den, or a game room. Keep it filled with M&Ms, Skittles, or his preferred candy or nut.
Do you absolutely need this? Of course not. But I am truly blown away by the joy this has brought into our home. Friends and visitors light up when they see it, smiling and laughing as they turn the knob, unsure if a framed gumball machine is really going to dispense candy into their open palms.
What To Get A Busy Dad? Packing Cubes
These travel cubes will make packing for a trip easier, whether it’s for business or pleasure. They have a compression feature to maximize space in your suitcase and keep everything organized. In order for this gift to be useful, make sure to send a YouTube video to your dad to help explain how to efficiently use the travel cubes. Because let’s face it, they are too busy to look it up themselves and will appreciate you taking the time to help teach them.
What To Get A Busy Dad? Personalized Golf Towel
Busy dads who like to unwind by golfing will like this personalized golf towel. Made from a soft and absorbent terry, it’s useful for drying golf balls or dusting off dirty clubs. It also has a metal hook at the top so it can easily clip onto a golf bag. If you don't want to have to create another login, this golf towel is another good and less expensive option through Amazon. You could also have the gift include a day to golf with his friends. Do you need a break too? Give the gift of lining up childcare so you both get some self-care time that day.
Stop asking ChatGPT.
Just text Proxy.
What To Get A Busy Dad? TableTopics To Spark Convo With The Kids
Dads will appreciate the TableTopics kids conversation pack as a way to connect with the kids around the dinner table. We have something similar provided to us by the school. It’s a question jar that asks them different things like, “How can we make tomorrow a better day? Did you make a good choice today? What did you have for lunch?”
I’m also into the original version, too, that’s just for adults to help start great conversations. I’ve used these under chargers at dinner parties (although I suggest pre-selecting the questions so you take care of your guests in case there’s one that touches on a sensitive issue).
What To Get A Busy Dad? Robot Vacuum Cleaner
This Ecovacs robotic vacuum cleaner and mop is truly a godsend for any busy parent. It auto-empties the dustbin and self-cleans the mop head with hot water to sterilize it. If you take the time when you first set it up to map out your house, you can ensure the vacuum/mop combo doesn't miss any spots. Or, on the flip side, if there's a specific spot you want it to avoid — like bumping into your dog's water bowl or a cord on the floor — you can program it to go around that area. Even if you have a house cleaner, this vacuum is amazing for daily cleanup, especially if you have a dog or young children. It works on carpet, tile, and wood floors.
What To Get A Busy Dad? Nostalgic Games
Another nostalgic gift idea for busy dads is to give them one of their favorite games from when they were a kid that they can now teach their own kids to play. Warning: it can get pretty addicting to play the Hasbro Gaming Simon Handheld Electronic Memory Game as an adult! Our kids laugh hysterically watching us sweat a little as we try to remember the order of all the colors. Monopoly is another classic game choice, and you can’t go wrong with Hot Wheels, Yahtzee, or a marble track.
What To Get A Busy Dad? Sand Timers (For The Kids)
One of the hardest things about being a busy dad is the push/pull we all experience as working parents, and the all-hours demand that often comes with it. When a parent needs to focus on work while in a house of kids itching for attention, these sand timers are a fantastic way to let kids know and measure how much more time is left until dad can play. Sure a cell phone timer can do the same, but a 30-minute sand timer is way more fun and minimizes the screen time in our lives. Plus, the sand timers can give the children a feeling of control, which is a nice feeling to instill.
If your busy dad has trouble disconnecting from tech and relaxing, these sand timers can also be a way to set a timer for 30 minutes to read or do some other relaxing activity, while leaving his phone in the other room. For another screen-free option, I also recommend this visual timer that uses colors to show how much time remains, and can be set for up to 60 minutes.
FAQS: Best Gifts For Busy Dads
Below are some quick answers to common questions we get about finding the best gift for busy dads.
What is the best gift for a busy dad?
The best gifts for busy dads either give him back time or help him be more present with his family. An Ask Proxy™ subscription — a personal AI assistant that works entirely by text — proactively sends him personalized ideas and reminders ahead of time, so he can think ahead and take the lead at home. For connecting with the kids, Star Wars pancake molds or a Spikeball set give him easy, no-planning-required ways to play together. And for his own downtime, a SaunaBox for at-home steam sessions or a Bird Buddy for the nature-loving dad helps him actually unwind.
What's a good Christmas gift for a busy dad?
For the holidays, look for gifts the whole family can enjoy with him. A Nintendo Switch 2 ($499) is perfect for the dad who grew up on Mario Kart and wants to pass it on to his kids. Matching Little Sleepies pajamas ($34) make for great Christmas morning photos, and Vuori joggers ($110) are the kind of ridiculously comfortable upgrade he'll wear all winter. If you want a gift that keeps giving into the new year, an Ask Proxy™ subscription texts him personalized ideas and reminders ahead of time — so he's the one planning date nights, birthday dinners, and weekend fun with the kids.
What do you get a working dad?
Working dads tend to appreciate gifts that help them decompress and take some of the mental load off. An Ask Proxy™ subscription — a personal AI assistant that works entirely by text — proactively reminds him about the family things that slip through the cracks during a busy workweek, like booking the birthday dinner (with the link to do it). A Theragun ($220) works out sore muscles after a long day, packing cubes ($40) make business trips easier, and if he works from home, sand timers ($22) are a screen-free way to show the kids how long until Dad can play.
What are good gifts for busy dads under $50?
Some of our favorite gifts for busy dads under $50 include Star Wars pancake molds ($19.95), TableTopics conversation cards ($20), the Azul board game ($40), sand timers ($22), a handprint keepsake kit ($16), and childhood classics like Where the Sidewalk Ends ($11). You can also gift a single month of Ask Proxy™ ($39) — a personal AI assistant that works entirely by text and sends him personalized ideas ahead of time — so he can try it before you commit to a full year.
What should I get a young dad?
Young dads tend to love gifts that tap into their own childhood while giving them a reason to get on the floor and play with their kids. A Lego play table with a Super Mario set, books he loved as a kid like Where's Waldo?, and matching family pajamas are all big hits. For a dad still finding his rhythm, Ask Proxy™ texts him ideas for things to do with the kids before the weekend arrives, so he's never stuck coming up with a plan on the spot. And for something sentimental, a handprint kit lets him keep a keepsake of those tiny hands.
What do you get a dad who has everything?
For the dad who has everything, thoughtful experiences and personal touches beat more stuff. An Ask Proxy™ subscription texts him personalized ideas and reminders before he even thinks to ask, so he can take the lead on family plans. A leather tray engraved with his kid's artwork ($109+) or a Cravory cookie subscription (about $70 for 3 months) are gifts he'd never buy himself. And a picture frame candy dispenser ($40) is the kind of fun surprise that delights everyone who visits.
