Father’s Day Gifts Under $30 (that Dad will love)

Father’s Day is just around the corner, and it has plenty of people stumped as they’re trying to think of great Father’s Day gift ideas. Why are dads so difficult to shop for?

Maybe it’s because they’re so practical. Or maybe it’s because they don’t casually drop hints about what they want.

Either way, try asking yourself a few questions to start brainstorming…

What are Dad’s hobbies and interests? Which sports does he enjoy? What does he like to spend his free time doing? What makes him laugh? Which foods are his kryptonite?

Admittedly, it’s easier to shop for men who have hobbies and clear interests, but just try not to overthink it.

The Father’s Day Dilemma

When I used to ask my dad what he wanted for Father’s Day (or any other holiday), he would laugh and tell me, “Socks!” I’d let out a frustrated sigh, because his answer was always the same.

“No really, Dad! What do you want?” I’d press him, but he was always serious about the socks. So I’d trudge off to brainstorm with my brother.

Socks were never an exciting enough gift for me.

Last year was my husband’s first Father’s Day. I was less than 4 months pregnant with our little peanut, Jack, but I wanted to make his first Father’s Day special.

I bought Benj kombucha brewing books because he was really getting into making his own kombucha, and he loved them!

This year, Jack will be 6 months old, so Father’s Day will be even more fun. Benj is such a wonderful father, and I want to let him know just how much I appreciate the love and care he shows our little guy every day.

I have too many Father’s Day gift ideas for him at the moment, so the trick will be whittling them down and staying in budget!

This post contains affiliate links. You can read my disclosure policy here. Some of the links below will take you to Amazon, where you’ll find more details and current pricing on each item!

Father’s Day Gift Ideas Under $30

All of my Father’s Day gift ideas are $30 or less to help you pick out something awesome without breaking the bank! I hope they give you some inspiration and help you choose something special.

1. The Grill Master

Most men love to grill, and grilling season is now in full swing! Treat your guy to specialty BBQ spice rubs, a nice set of grilling utensils, heat resistant grill gloves, or a wireless digital meat thermometer.

Barbecue books like Project Smoke, Franklin Barbecue, and Barbecue Sauces, Rubs, and Marinades–Bastes, Butters & Glazes, Too are great resources to inspire his culinary genius.

If he doesn’t currently own a grill, the Weber Smokey Joe Portable Grill gives you amazing bang for your buck!

2. The Movie Lover

If you’re buying for a dad who loves movie night, make him a giant gift basket chock full of goodies!

Fill it with his favorite kinds of candy, fizzy drinks (anything from Lacroix to soda), popcorn, popcorn bowls (you can also find these at Dollar Tree), and movie tickets or a movie theater gift card.

You could even give him a Netflix subscription, if he’s not signed up!

3. The Handyman

Maybe the father in your life loves to fix or build things. He might have had his eye on a particular power tool for a while, or maybe he could use a new toolbox to replace his old one. You might have to do a little snooping to figure out which tools he needs and which ones he already has!

A large screwdriving set, an adjustable wrench, and a heavy duty tape measure are great ideas for the man who’s starting to build a basic tool collection.

4. The Sentimentalist

Some mens’ love languages are words of affirmation, quality time, or acts of service. This might be one reason why dads can be difficult to buy for.

If your guy’s love language is one of these, then you might try giving him a different sort of gift.

Create a photo book and fill it with great memories. Cook a gourmet-style dinner, bring him an elaborate breakfast in bed, or pack a special picnic lunch. Spend an entire day doing whatever Dad wants to do. Create sentimental handmade gifts with the kids.

Your options are endless, so be creative and come up with an idea your guy will treasure!

5. The Music Lover

There are lots of great gifts that both the musician and the casual listener will love.

A Spotify subscription or an iTunes gift card, along with a pair of wireless headphones or bluetooth speaker would be a nice gift for the man who loves his tunes.

If Dad plays an instrument, he might enjoy some accessories to go along with it. For instance, if he plays the guitar, he might enjoy some custom guitar picks, a tuner, a gig bag, or some sheet music.

Concert tickets are another good gift (though they could easily run you over $30). No matter what genres he loves, you can always find great concerts to go to.

6. The Foodie

They say that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, and I’d say that there’s a lot of truth to that! If you’re truly stumped for Father’s Day gift ideas, then this one is perfect.

Fill a big basket with your guy’s favorite drinks and snacks. Jazz it up and add in things like micro-brewed beer, summer sausage or salami, hot sauce, specialty cheeses, chipotle spiced, honey roasted peanuts, his favorite candy, or a box of his favorite donuts.

You can also add in a gift card to his favorite restaurant, donut stop, or coffee shop!

7. The Well-Groomed Man

Men who take pride in their facial hair like to take care of it. You can make their job easier by putting together a nice kit, complete with a beard brush and beard comb, Beard & Stache Oil and Balm, and a trimming apron. While you’re add it, you might as well throw in a bar of beer soap!

For shaving cream, my husband really likes Taylor of Old Bond Street, and I love the mellow avocado scent. He also uses this shaving brush with it.

8. The Well-Dressed Man

Maybe the dad in your life is the kind that enjoys looking sharp and put together. Accessories like a handmade leather wallet, fun socks (not the plain white kind), and tie clips are all great options. Of course, cufflinks can be a lot of fun, too! You can find all kinds of neat ones, from classic to superhero. These seriously cool steampunk watch cufflinks are probably my favorite!

If he brings a lunch to work, then he might like this Classic Roll Top Insulated Lunch Bag. It’s got a manly, old-school, slightly rugged edge to it.

9. The Early Bird

If your guy likes to wake up before the sun, then try one of these Father’s Day gift ideas to make his mornings even more enjoyable!

Early mornings are such a nice time of peace and solitude. Coffee is a must for most, so treat him to some specialty java and a new coffee mug he’ll love using. He might also appreciate either an Aeropress or French press coffee maker.

Also, breakfast time is always better with delicious, hot waffles! Just sayin’.

If you’ve never seen sunrise wake up light alarm clocks, then you have to check them out! They’re a gentle way to wake up because of the way they simulate the sunrise. The premise is really neat, and the prices and quality of wake up light alarms are all over the spectrum.

You could also pick out some fitness gear if he likes working out in the morning, or a good book or magazine if he prefers to sip his coffee in quiet solitude.

10. The Health Nut

Encourage the healthy habits of the men in your life by giving them gifts that help them make good choices. Pick out a healthy cookbook, a juicing guide, a smoothie recipe book, or even a book about culturing vegetables!

If he’s into fitness, maybe he’d appreciate a stainless water bottle, some free weights, weight lifting gloves, extra Fitbit bands, or a new gym bag. Think about his favorite ways to work out and choose something you know he’d be able to get lots of use out of!

I hope these ideas have taken some of the mystery out of how to shop for Dad this Father’s Day.  Don’t forget to give him lots of hugs, if you’re able to spend it with him!

What Father’s Day gift ideas do you have to add? Leave your suggestions down in the comments!