Should I bring a gift when first meeting my mother-in-law?

"If you are going to her home, then yes," says Jones-Hennessy. "It shows good manners and respect—just keep in mind that the gift should be something reasonable in price so it doesn’t look like you are trying to buy her affection." Otherwise, bringing a gift is unnecessary and may even seem like you are trying too hard, continues Jones-Hennessy. In this case, what’s most important is being polite, well-mannered, and actively giving her your attention.

Is it appropriate to give a funny gag gift to my mother-in-law?

This obviously depends on your MIL's sense of humor and appropriateness of the gift, but Jones-Hennessy advises to avoid gag gifts in general. "That said, a small tasteful gag gift can sometimes work, if you two share an inside joke for example."

What’s a nice luxury gift idea for my mother-in-law?

You should never break the bank on a gift, but if the occasion warrants something special, then a nice bouquet of flowers or a gift basket will more than suffice. Use your significant other as a resource to learn about your MIL's likes, dislikes, hobbies, and lifestyle.

The 32 Best Gifts for Mothers-in-Law of 2023

Mother-in-law gifts — The Spruce / Kevin Liang

Whether it’s her birthday, Mother's Day, or your first time meeting your mother-in-law, you’ll need a great gift to impress her.

We researched countless products, looking for uniqueness, customizability, meaning, and appeal to different types of people. Our favorites include the Custom Flower Birth Chart, the Sugarfina Champagne Bears Party Pack, and the Allbirds Wool Runners.

Kodak Step Wireless Mobile Photo Mini Printer

Amazon

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Created by Zink Technology, this nifty wireless portable mini printer is a great gift for any MIL who loves to take pictures. Compatible with most devices, it can print either black and white or color pics instantly regardless of her location, creating photos she can frame, post on the fridge, or hand out to family members and friends by hand. The downloadable app offers a vast array of editing options too, including customization, collage-making, various filters, and more. The printing paper used has a peel-and-stick backing and is rip and smudge-resistant.

Price at time of publish: $70

PaperDaisyBespoke

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Personalized in several ways, this pretty craft incorporates the birth flowers of her family members into a unique and colorful, frameable bouquet. Aside from the birth month flower, you can modify the family name, individual names, and watercolor colors, and add up to 10 flowers to your portrait.

Note that the art piece comes in a digital file only, which is ready to ship one to three business days after you've placed your order. All PDF's come in vector format, meaning they're ready to print at any size and are fully editable.

Price at time of publish: $6+

With Love from Julie

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Perhaps one of these personalized vaccination card/passport holder combos could fit in her purse. Choose from up to 30 cover options and a bevy of other customizations for this delightful combination. It also comes with RFID blocking for identity protection, is made of cruelty-free vegan leather, and fits all standard-sized passport booklets from anywhere on the globe.

Price at time of publish: $15

Kate Spade New York

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If she’s the type to write down her recipes, you could gift your MIL this bright and cheery Kate Spade recipe box, featuring 40 double-sided recipe cards, eight divider tabs to organize recipes by meal, complexity, or otherwise, and a strong base to hold everything in place. The bottom is crafted of non-slip cork so it stays in one place, and it fits easily into most standard-size kitchen cupboards for storage.

Price at time of publish: $58

4.7

Royal Craft Wood Luxury Bathtub Caddy Tray

Amazon

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Let her lounge in the bath with all her favorite things—a new book, a scented candle, assorted bath gels—and whatever else she may need with this luxury bathtub caddy. Adjustable to fit your mother-in-law’s bathtub precisely, this waterproof bathtub tray fits most standard tubs and is expandable with slip-resistant grips on the bottom in case any adjustments need to be made. Crafted of bamboo, this caddy comes in a pleasant natural wood color. There’s a space made specifically for holding your MIL’s phone, a glass of wine, and a spot for a candle, in addition to two removable trays and a tablet or book holder. Best of all, it comes with a money-back guarantee in case it doesn’t work out for your MIL’s bathtub or her tastes.

Price at time of publish: $58

Material

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If your MIL entertains guests for dinner, let her serve up her finest fare on this stunning tableware. Made from hand-finished natural Korean clay, Material’s ceramic plates are chic, yet surprisingly durable. At 11 inches wide, each plate has unique qualities and is dishwasher and microwave safe. Available in the posh colors Grotto (shown above) and Dune (like sand), both delivered in sets of two, these plates are best purchased in sets of four or more— if you like discounts, that is. They’re applied at the checkout automatically.

Price at time of publish: $50

Grown Alchemist

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Every lady needs a good-smelling soap, and we think this option is ideal for the discerning MIL. Blending together the aromas of sweet orange, cedarwood, and sage, with the skin-nourishing and antioxidant benefits of coconut oil and sweet almond oil, this hand wash gel is pure bliss from the first pump. Your mother-in-law will notice smoother, calmer skin after using this gentle hand wash, which was developed by a team of nutritionists and skin scientists.

Price at time of publish: $39

Sugarfina

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Holiday gifts can be a challenge to find, especially when it comes to great stocking stuffers. In keeping with the champagne-lovers theme, we’re confident this cube of Sugarfina champagne-flavored gummy bears will hit the mark with anyone’s champagne-loving mother-in-law, though, either tucked into her stocking or included in a clever bundle with other gifts like a champagne stopper, a bubbly cocktail recipe book, and an iceless bottle cooler. Be creative and make sure your bundle is highly personalized.

Price at time of publish: $50

4.4

Allbirds

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The perfect errand-running shoes, Allbirds are still considered to be the most comfortable ladies’ sneakers on the market. They comprise the best of all things: breathability, coziness, eco-friendliness, and epic cuteness with availability in six classic colors and 11 limited edition colors. They’re also machine washable (but not dryer-friendly). If you buy them on the Allbirds site, you’ll get free shipping, and they offer a no questions asked 30-day return policy just in case she doesn’t love them (but we think she will).

Price at time of publish: $110

Demdaco

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Gift this lavish shawl to any mother-in-law going through a hard time, and you’ll win her gratitude forever. A unique blend of super-soft nylon, each of these shawls is like a big comforting hug, complete with pockets on each side, carefully folded into a tasteful gift box. Perfect for lounging around in the house, it also comes with a bookmark for the MILs who love to read.

Price at time of publish: $49

Personalization Mall

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If your mother-in-law makes a special dish she’s known for, consider giving her a special personalized dish to serve it. This large serving bowl holds up to five quarts of any type of food, so anything from Mary’s Avocado Potato Salad to Audrey’s Famous Black-Eyed Peas to Lulu’s Amazing Sugar Cookies works (you can enter two lines with up to 15 characters on each). Measuring a generous 5 "H x 10 1/2" in diameter, this bowl can fit every dish your MIL dreams of.

Price at time of publish: $75

Society6

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Ideal for mounting on the wall of the right office or study, living room, or bedroom, this is a great birthday or other holiday gift for a mother-in-law who loves puzzling or sea life. Select from among 200, 500, or 1,000-piece puzzles, with every one made to order. The final artwork is shown on the front panel of the puzzle’s box so you can view it to measure progress as you go, and any basic white glue or puzzle glue will work if your mother-in-law wishes to glue it together for wall-hanging after it’s finished. If you think your mother-in-law would like this design, but not the puzzle, check the artist’s page. There are several options featuring this same octopus image, including a shower curtain, a throw pillow, and a throw blanket, among other items.

Price at time of publish: $45

Courtesy of Le Creuset

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This single serving-sized (8-ounce capacity) stoneware Dutch oven is safe for use in the oven, microwave, broiler, and freezer. Crafted of enameled stoneware, the Le Creuset Mini Round Cocette is a tiny version of their regular Dutch Oven, which is said to be their most popular and best-selling product. Buy her a few of them so she can make her own delicious version of rice pudding, baked custard, French onion soup, or other dishes for her next intimate dinner party.

Price at time of publish: $22 for 8 fl oz

Cozy Earth

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Described as buttery soft and made of an eco-friendly viscose blend (primarily from bamboo), Cozy Earth’s long sleeve stretch-knit pajama set will ensure you’re in your mother-in-law’s heart from the moment she puts them on. Wearable in any weather, these PJs are especially great for those who sleep hot, wake up with hot flashes, or have trouble sleeping in the summer heat as they have moisture-wicking, temperature-regulating qualities alongside superior breathability. Available in seven sizes, six colors, and two lengths, these are best machine-washed cold.

Price at time of publish: $185

Spongelle

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Replace several steps of her beauty process every morning by gifting your MIL this innovative new body wash-infused sponge. Using patented technology, Spongelle has created body wash-infused buffers that resist contamination and bacterial growth in spite of multiple uses. The Spongelle Bath Sponge comprises a proprietary blend of moisturizers, sea minerals, and more, made in California USA. Spongelle Bath Sponges only need to be dampened in warm water and used as one would normally use a sponge for washing up. As the sponge cleans and exfoliates her skin, your MIL will enjoy relaxing rejuvenation coupled with the fragrance of your choice.

Price at time of publish: $16

The Sill

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The Sill makes giving orchids easy as you can order them shipped directly to your mother-in-law’s doorstep. This choice, the Petite Orange Orchid, is not only graceful, but also remarkably easy to grow, and can be expected to bloom once annually for three months of outstanding beauty. Your MIL will need to give it bright indirect light and a watering every week or two.

Price at time of publish: $78

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For the MIL who enjoys her afternoon tea, this ornate three-quart kettle should do the trick. Uniquely hand-decorated on heavy-gauge steel with a tasteful antique brass finish, this sturdily built but charming kettle will surely take your MIL’s teatime up a notch. Your purchase of this kettle will receive free two-day shipping and free returns within 30 days of the transaction.

Price at time of publish: $168

Yellow Leaf Hammocks

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Made popular through an appearance on ABC’s television show Shark Tank, the Yellow Leaf Hammocks company now makes the perfect product for a single hammock lounger—The Chair Hammock! With this brilliant product, one can either sit upright as you would in a chair or recline as you would in a hammock. Either way, it’s handmade, super soft, and attractive with a capacity for up to 330 pounds.

Price at time of publish: $179

Sugarwish

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First, choose what you think she’d like best: candy, cookies, popcorn, snacks, or otherwise. Then decide which size box you’d like to send—there’s a mini size with two choices, small with four choices, and medium with six choices, large with eight choices, and X-large with 12 choices. From there, your recipient (your MIL) will get to choose her own treats, from candies like jawbreakers, gummies, hard candies, or chocolates, traditional cookies or stuffed gooey types, keto varieties, vegan and gluten-free, and popcorn with savory flavors, butter, caramel, or fruity types, and various kinds of trail mix. There are also coffee and tea boxes and some options for dogs (for the pet-lovers) if you think she’d prefer those.

Price at time of publish: $34 for Small

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

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This Tiffany peacock feather shawl is a stunning piece inspired by a Louis Comfort Tiffany iridescent glass vase crafted in the year 1900, which is on display in The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection today. The colors and design make it a great option to match with a variety of outfits, or your MIL could simply drape it over a dresser for a conversation starter on display in her home. It is made of a mix of wool, viscose, and silk.

Price at time of publish: $89

Ballet Beautiful

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With a focus on toning, strength, and flexibility, the workouts on Ballet Beautiful are available in live online classes (group, custom, or private) and via video streaming. The site also has an extensive activewear selection your MIL can browse between workouts for the best looking leotards, legwarmers, ballet slippers, and much more.

Price at time of publish: $40 monthly

Cratejoy

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The perfect gift for the MIL who loves to read while sipping a cuppa, the My Coffee and Book Box from Cratejoy lets you choose between one, three, six, or twelve-month subscriptions, and you’ll pay a slightly different amount per box. Inside each box, she’ll find a 12-ounce bag of gourmet coffee (choose whole bean or ground), two brand-new hardcover books, and an ebook selection.

Price at time of publish: $39 monthly

Maison de la Truffe

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This fancy finishing condiment can spruce up anything from meat to veggies to eggs and potatoes—and a sprinkle of truffle salt goes beautifully with most of the same dishes.

Price at time of publish: $37

Universal Yums

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Universal Yums brings home tasty snacks from around the world. Just choose ‘Give as a gift’ on their site’s main page and pick the size box you would like to send her each month. The most popular size features between ten and 12 snacks from wherever they’re focused on that particular month.

Price at time of publish: $15 monthly

Olive & June

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Treat your MIL to a quality at-home manicure with a Mani System set from Olive and June. It comes with absolutely everything she’ll need for a professional-looking manicure, including instructions and a long-lasting vegan, cruelty-free nail polish (or six) color/s she can pick herself. The system comes with salon-quality supplies, such as a nail clipper, nail file, nail buffer, a polish remover pot, clean-up brush, the poppy (for flawless painting), cuticle serum, and a top coat. Plus, if she wants to, she can refer a friend to Olive and June and get another nail polish free to boot.

Price at time of publish: $55

Amazon

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This innovative, machine-washable product is made of 100 percent cotton on the outside and filled with 100 percent BPA-free polyethylene, offering all the beneficial qualities of a weighted blanket in the form of an eye mask. One side is covered in jersey cotton for a cooling feel, while the flip side is a super soft micro-fleece for warming up. It’s designed with key pressure points in mind with the ideal weight amount spread across the eyes, available in color-bursting Flamingo Pink or Cherry Red. Cozy and thoroughly light-blocking, she’ll notice a difference in her sleep quality right away.

Price at time of publish: $34

Minted

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This photo calendar is simple and tasteful. With a choice of two sizes and four color schemes, this photo calendar lets you personalize it with as many photos as you’ve got room for. Measuring 8 x 11.5 inches, this calendar is printed on high quality paper usually reserved for writing stationery and is designed by independent artists you might want to support with your purchase.

Price at time of publish: $42 for 11.5 x 14

Unicef

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If your mother-in-law likes supporting artisans and charity with her purchases, this gift from the UNICEF Market is superb. Made in Mexico by artist Guillermo Arregui, these sterling silver earrings hold teardrops of natural turquoise with a chic polished finish. Signed by the artist with delicate lever-backs, a purchase of these beauties can provide up to 31 doses of the measles vaccine to children worldwide. The UNICEF Market provides unique, handmade products made by highly skilled artisans for the benefit of UNICEF’s efforts to help children throughout the world. Every purchase made through their organization provides a benefit to children in need such as vaccinations, nourishment, rehydration sachets, and more.

Price at time of publish: $60

Cheryl's Cookies

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If she has a sweet tooth, give her something a little different this year with gourmet cupcakes from Cheryl's Cookies, delivered to her doorstep. Baked by the batch, you can count on freshness and flavor and they arrive in a gorgeous themed box for any occasion. While you can only choose one flavor, we guarantee the frosted chocolate and vanilla cupcakes are sure to please.

Price at time of publish: $40

Quince

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Chances are your MIL has a cashmere sweater or scarf or both—but we’re betting she doesn’t have a cashmere tee yet. A great addition to her wardrobe, especially if she likes layering, these cute tees are made of 100 percent cashmere, end stylishly at the mid-hip, and are miraculously machine washable. Plus, they come in tons of attractive colors.

Price at time of publish: $45

Glasvins

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This exquisite set of two glasses is perfect for pairing with your mother-in-law's favorite red or white. The shape of the wine glasses is meant to release aromas while tasting for an elevated drinking experience right at your own dinner table. Just add her favorite bottle for a thoughtful gift basket.

Price at time of publish: $193

Bird Buddy

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For those with extensive gardens or an array of wildlife in their backyard, gift the Bird Buddy, a smart bird feeder that provides days of fun. The AI-powered camera alerts you when you have a visitor, so you can observe the feathered friend even if you're not nearby. Just fill up the feeder and start exploring and learning about the birds in your area. We love this pick for mothers-in-law who double as grandmas and are looking for an educational and exciting activity for the summertime.

Price at time of publish: $249

Uncommon Goods

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Designed by American artist Rachel Austen of Portland, Oregon, these paint-by-number kits are satisfyingly simple and equipped with everything needed to complete the vintage-style portrait in approximately three to five hours. Kits are shipped in sustainable, locally-made packaging.

Price at time of publish: $38

Something Personal

Gift expert Elisabeth Jones-Hennessy of GiftMeChic shares that the most important aspect of choosing a gift for your mother-in-law is taking the time to find out what she likes to make the gift meaningful and personal. If you have any chance to investigate her interests, hobbies, where she hangs out, and how she spends her time, you’ll be better able to make a thoughtful selection she’ll really love.

High Quality

Regardless of the gift’s size, always make sure it’s of a high quality, packaged nicely, and in excellent condition. Jones-Hennessy says it’s of equal importance to keep your gift within a reasonable price range, too, so as to avoid looking like you’re trying to purchase your mother-in-law’s devotion. A charming and thoughtful gift of quality for an affordable price will be ideal for any gift-giving situation with your mother-in-law.

Fun, but Not Offensive

Jones-Hennessy advises generally against gag gifts since they can so easily be misinterpreted, but to think about how well you know your MIL and what her sense of humor is actually like before tossing out the idea entirely. One rule of thumb? “You definitely want to stay away from anything related to sex, drugs, bathroom humor & fake bugs," she says.

FAQ

Should I bring a gift when first meeting my mother-in-law?

"If you are going to her home, then yes," says Jones-Hennessy. "It shows good manners and respect—just keep in mind that the gift should be something reasonable in price so it doesn’t look like you are trying to buy her affection." Otherwise, bringing a gift is unnecessary and may even seem like you are trying too hard, continues Jones-Hennessy. In this case, what’s most important is being polite, well-mannered, and actively giving her your attention.
Is it appropriate to give a funny gag gift to my mother-in-law?

This obviously depends on your MIL's sense of humor and appropriateness of the gift, but Jones-Hennessy advises to avoid gag gifts in general. "That said, a small tasteful gag gift can sometimes work, if you two share an inside joke for example."
What’s a nice luxury gift idea for my mother-in-law?

You should never break the bank on a gift, but if the occasion warrants something special, then a nice bouquet of flowers or a gift basket will more than suffice. Use your significant other as a resource to learn about your MIL's likes, dislikes, hobbies, and lifestyle.

KJ Callihan, a writer for The Spruce, created this gift guide. She’s written numerous shopping, gift, activity and dining guides for other sites and companies as well, including AAA Northeast magazine, Knoji, Finfrock Marketing, CNET, Oh My Veggies, and more. She’s also written product reviews, test prep question/answer sets, and health/nutrition-related articles. For this guide, she interviewed gift expert Elisabeth Jones-Hennessy, Founder and CEO of GiftMeChic, for additional guidance on gift-giving. Jones-Hennessy brings a wealth of experience to the roundup, having been a buyer for stores like Bergdorf Goodman and Saks Fifth Avenue, currently running her own gift curation and luxury gift concierge business.