Why You Can Trust CNET Personalized Gifts to Show Your Dad Love on Father's Day
Give Dad a customized Father's Day present he'll treasure forever.
Shopping for a dad who seemingly already has it all can make Father's Day particularly tricky. Of course you want to give the dad in your life something special, but what? In this case, personalized gifts can be the perfect option. Chances are he doesn't have the item and it was made just for him.
We know there are many, many personalized products out there. However, we've combed through the vast online selection and picked the standouts for Father's Day this year. We've chosen budget-friendly picks (like funny socks), more extravagant gifts (like personalized luggage) and plenty of options in between (like a personalized whiskey bottle).
There's something on this list for every kind of dad too. Opt for customized Vans sneakers for the cool dad. Personalized golf balls will delight the aspiring golf pro. A customized barbecue set is perfect if Pops is a grill master. Whatever he's into, the personal touch will put a smile on his face.
Vans already come in a ton of cool color combinations, but did you know you can take these comfy kicks to the next level and personalize most every aspect for Dad? You can choose the shoe style and functional features (like width and adding more cushioning for comfort) as well as all the aesthetic elements. You can choose from more than 90 color, pattern and material options for all the little details -- the toe, tongue signature side stripe, you name it. Plus, you can add your own photo, embroidery or art. The possibilities are endless and the dad in your life will think of you every time he slips them on. Prices start at $80.
Looking to make your favorite dad shed a happy tear? Personalized Wonderbly books might just do it. These sentimental books can be customized with Dad's name or nickname and up to four children's names and characters so the whole family is represented. You can also add your own dedication and pick from four colors for the book cover. Wonderbly offers a variety of dad-oriented books, from fun superhero stories that can be read with kiddos at bedtime to more humorous books meant for grown-ups.
Those Stanley tumblers have been having a moment for a while now, but don't sleep on the brand's other great offerings. We're quite fond of its beer steins, which are super sturdy, keep two cans of beer cold, are dishwasher safe and can even be personalized for Dad. Engraving starts at $10 and there are endless options: You can add text, a monogram, a graphic or even upload a photo. (Note that simple illustrations tend to turn out better than photographs, which will be rendered in black and white.) Prices start at $35.
There are tons of photo-based gifts out there, and we love that this one is a bit of a different spin on personalized art. "The Days You Became Our Dad" print highlights a custom star map based on the time and place you and your sibling were born. You can add personalized text to the print, as well as include planets, constellations and the Milky Way too if your dad is an astronomy buff.
If your dear old dad is the type who prefers to spend most of his free time on the back nine, these personalized Titleist golf balls are a grand slam gift. You can customize a dozen golf balls ($55) with text on one side ($5 extra) or two ($10 extra) and you get up to three lines of text (17 characters per line) per side. You could go with the classic "World's greatest dad" sentiment or get as creative and clever as you'd like. Aside from the cool factor of having custom golf balls the next time he goes out on the green, he'll instantly know which are his too.
What's even better than a puzzle? A 1,000-piece Ravensburger puzzle with a photo of your family. Or make Dad laugh with a silly pic of the family dog. You can get totally creative here. You can even customize the box with a personalized message. Be sure to order this one in advance since it can take up to 10 business days to arrive.
If Dad enjoys whipping up meals, give him a personalized apron to protect his clothing from spills and stains. We love the quality of these thick, durable aprons from Williams Sonoma. They have an adjustable neck strap and spacious pockets for storing spatulas and other tools. And if Dad wants a cooking buddy, you can order a matching smaller apron for the aspiring kid chef in your house.
Nalgene has an online custom bottle-maker that's perfect for churning out Father's Day gifts. Choose your type of water bottle, color and even cap hue, then add a message, graphics and even a photo for dad. The result is a unique gift that he can tote on walks and hikes, or anywhere Dad needs hydration. Bottles start at $25.
A personalized AirPod (or AirPod Pro) case is a practical gift that's sure to be appreciated. Mark & Graham's rugged Nomad cases protect dad's wireless headphones and allow the charging light to shine through. Choose from two different leather colors and add up to three characters in the font of your choice.
If the dad on your list loves whiskey, a custom engraved bottle of the smooth sipping spirit might be the perfect gift. Online beverage purveyor ReserveBar will etch your text onto a bottle of award-winning Uncle Nearest 1884 Small Batch Whiskey for dear old dad.
Compiling and creating a custom album for Dad is a fantastic gift. That thoughtful effort will go a long way because you know he'll love looking back at some of his favorite parenting memories. Shutterfly makes it easy to create a Father's Day-themed album; choose your length, size, cover type, page type and more. The smallest soft-cover book costs $21, and prices go up from there.
Sending a Sugarwish snack box is a great idea for out-of-town dads. You can choose all his favorite snacks (trail mixes, dried fruit, nuts, candy and more options). Sugarwish will pack them in a gift-worthy box and they'll arrive at Dad's door. A medium-size box contains six snacks for $47, but you can go all the way to XL and give him 12 types of treats.
If you've got a dad who loves a particular musician, actor, athlete or comedian, you might be able to get a video from them. Cameo is a platform that allows fans to buy a personalized video from a wide array of celebs. Pricing ranges from $1 to $2,000 depending on the personality, but the average cost is under $100. Some popular Cameo choices include Kenny G and The Office's Kate Flannery.
Starting at $10, you can put photos of Dad -- or his beloved children or pets -- on his socks. This is one gift that's pretty much guaranteed to get a chuckle. If you've got a fun-loving dad on your list, you've gotta get a pair. Bonus: They come in seven colors.
Grilling season is upon us and many a dad will be firing up the ol' Webster and searing some meat. If you've got a barbecue dad, this stainless steel and wood set from Personalization Mall is tops. A spatula and fork will read "[dad's name] is flippin' awesome" so he's reminded of his admiration each time he cooks. Tongs and a basting brush round out the set.
Away's personalized luggage tag is just $10 when you buy The Carry-On ($275) for a luxe Father's Day gift. Available in 10 colors, this durable, hard-shell suitcase is an investment made to last. Top it off with a stamped leather tag and send Dad on his merry way.
Dad will love this comfy blanket, which you can personalize with a photo of the family. Choose a size (50-by-60 inches, or 60-by-80 inches), upload a photo, pick a design, and your blanket will be shipped out and ready to gift. Bonus: VistaPrint's photo blankets are machine-washable, which is good news for snack spillers.