Checklist · 16 picks · 6 categories
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Uncles are tricky because nobody writes a lot about them. Most outlets lump them in with dads, so I looked for the picks that fit an uncle best: useful, easy to like and not too personal.
This list comes from two published guides. NBC Select's Father's Day guide has a section for uncles and father figures, and Yahoo Shopping's best gifts for men guide covers tech, style and kitchen picks. I only kept products sold on Amazon, and I only repeat what those editors said. Tip: for an uncle you don't see often, pick something he can use every day, like a mug, a speaker or a wallet, rather than something that needs his taste figured out.
Who this is not for. If you are shopping for your dad or a grandfather, try the dad gifts or grandparent gifts lists instead.
| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ember Temperature Control Smart Mug 2 | splurge | $100-150 | a coffee or tea drinker | 1 outlet |
| AeroPress Coffee Press | mid | $50-100 | a coffee fan who travels | 1 outlet |
| Meater Pro Smart Meat Thermometer | splurge | $100-150 | an uncle who grills | 1 outlet |
| Vinglacé Wine Chiller | splurge | $50-100 | an uncle who hosts | 1 outlet |
splurge smart mug
Best for a coffee or tea drinker
Yahoo Shopping's best gifts for men guide lists a self-heating mug that holds his preferred temperature for up to 80 minutes, longer on the charging coaster.
Picked by Yahoo Shopping best gifts for men.
$100-150
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mid coffee press
Best for a coffee fan who travels
Yahoo Shopping's best gifts for men guide describes a portable press that works as a French press, pour-over and espresso maker.
Picked by Yahoo Shopping best gifts for men.
$50-100
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
splurge meat thermometer
Best for an uncle who grills
Yahoo Shopping's best gifts for men guide lists it in its kitchen and grill section.
Picked by Yahoo Shopping best gifts for men.
$100-150
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
splurge wine chiller · Black or Navy
Best for an uncle who hosts
NBC Select's Father's Day guide lists it in its uncles section as a vacuum-insulated stainless steel chiller that cools wine and other bottles without pre-refrigeration.
Picked by NBC Select Father's Day gifts, uncles section.
$50-100
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
budget shave set · 3 pieces
Best for a clean-shaven uncle
NBC Select's Father's Day guide lists it in its uncles section: a cleanser that doubles as a clay mask, a moisturizer with SPF 20 and a shaving cream meant to reduce razor burn.
Picked by NBC Select Father's Day gifts, uncles section.
$25-50
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple AirPods Pro | splurge | $150-200 | a tech-friendly uncle | 2 outlets agree |
| Marshall Emberton Portable Bluetooth Speaker | splurge | $150-200 | an uncle who likes music | 1 outlet |
| Tile Mate Bluetooth Tracker | budget | $15-25 | an uncle who loses his keys | 1 outlet |
| Twelve South AirFly SE Bluetooth Wireless Audio Transmitter | budget | $25-50 | a frequent flyer | 1 outlet |
| PowerUp 4.0 Paper Airplane Kit | mid | $50-100 | a fun uncle who likes gadgets | 1 outlet |
splurge wireless earbuds
Best for a tech-friendly uncle
NBC Select's guide lists them under stepdads, highlighting Transparency mode, IPX4 sweat resistance and a charging case with over 24 hours of battery life.
2 outlets agree. NBC Select Father's Day gifts, stepdads section. Scary Mommy gifts doctors would not buy themselves.
$150-200
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
splurge bluetooth speaker
Best for an uncle who likes music
NBC Select's guide lists it under stepdads and notes that the newer Emberton II was sold out when it was written.
Picked by NBC Select Father's Day gifts, stepdads section.
$150-200
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
budget bluetooth tracker
Best for an uncle who loses his keys
NBC Select's guide lists it under father figures: it attaches to keys or bags and works with an app and voice assistants.
Picked by NBC Select Father's Day gifts, father figures section.
$15-25
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
budget travel audio adapter
Best for a frequent flyer
Yahoo Shopping's best gifts for men guide lists a transmitter that plugs into airplane audio jacks so he can pair wireless headphones.
Picked by Yahoo Shopping best gifts for men.
$25-50
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
mid paper airplane kit
Best for a fun uncle who likes gadgets
Yahoo Shopping's best gifts for men guide lists a Bluetooth sensor that powers paper airplanes for up to 10 minutes and 230 feet.
Picked by Yahoo Shopping best gifts for men.
$50-100
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
budget neck reading light
Best for a late-night reader or tinkerer
Yahoo Shopping's best gifts for men guide lists a bendable light for reading in bed, and says crafters and handymen like it too.
Picked by Yahoo Shopping best gifts for men.
$15-25
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
splurge indoor garden
Best for an uncle who likes fresh herbs
NBC Select's guide lists it under father figures: it uses 20-watt LED grow lights and includes a seed kit and nutrients.
Picked by NBC Select Father's Day gifts, father figures section.
$100-150
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travelambo RFID Blocking Slim Wallet | budget | under $15 | an uncle who needs a new wallet | 1 outlet |
| Bindle Stainless Steel Double Walled & Vacuum Insulated Water Bottle | mid | $25-50 | an uncle on the go | 1 outlet |
| Shanker Frustrated Golfer Socks | budget | under $15 | a golf-loving uncle | 1 outlet |
budget wallet
Best for an uncle who needs a new wallet
Yahoo Shopping's best gifts for men guide lists a 100 percent leather, RFID-blocking wallet and quotes a reviewer who said it was still in great shape after two years.
Picked by Yahoo Shopping best gifts for men.
under $15
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
Best for an uncle on the go
NBC Select's guide lists it under father figures, with a bottom compartment for an ID, credit card or keys.
Picked by NBC Select Father's Day gifts, father figures section.
$25-50
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
budget novelty socks
Best for a golf-loving uncle
Yahoo Shopping's best gifts for men guide lists them as novelty socks and names them a Best Gift Ever Awards winner.
Picked by Yahoo Shopping best gifts for men.
under $15
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
mid neck massager
Best for an uncle with a stiff neck
Yahoo Shopping's best gifts for men guide lists an electric massager with three speeds, and quotes a reviewer who said it hurts and heals in equal measure.
Picked by Yahoo Shopping best gifts for men.
$25-50
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
means three independent outlets recommend a pick, means one, and limited evidence means none has yet. I research these picks. I have not tested them myself. How I pick · Spot a mistake? A broken link, a wrong price range or an outdated pick: tell me at hello@allsetlist.com and I'll fix it.
Pick something he will use daily or burn through, like coffee gear, a mug or a wallet. The guides I read favor practical tech and kitchen picks for this reason.
A slim wallet, a neck reading light, a Tile tracker or a pair of novelty socks are the lowest-cost picks here. They come from the Yahoo Shopping and NBC Select guides.
Only partly. NBC Select has an uncles section, and the rest come from guides for men and father figures. I picked items that suit an uncle and say where each one came from.
Yes, every pick on this list is sold on Amazon, so you can have it sent straight to him.
USPS's recommended last send dates for December 25 in the contiguous US are December 17 for Ground Advantage, December 18 for Priority Mail and December 19 for Priority Mail Express. Retailers set their own order-by dates, so check at checkout.
