The 43 best sentimental gifts that’ll make anyone feel loved, from custom portraits to personalized jewelry

Leatherology

Medium Snap Journal with Pen Loop, available at Leatherology, $65 

Best for: The lifelong journaler

Leatherology’s monogrammable, full-grain leather journal is built to last and be refilled as much as needed. If you know someone who loves writing but can’t find the right journal, this will show them that you care. Whenever they write in the journal, they’ll remember who got them started.

Amazon

Personalized Acrylic Song with Photo, available at Amazon, $17.99 

Best for: The music lover

From cassette tapes to CDs, making someone a playlist has always been seen as an act of closeness. Give this classic gesture a modern twist with this personalized acrylic song display. You can customize this gift with a photo and Spotify link to a memorable song or road trip playlist.

COLwoodCraft/Etsy

ColWood Night Stand Book Holder, available at Etsy, $22.50

Best for: The bookworm 

Your book lover can get rid of their paper bookmark and replace it with this wooden book holder. They can place their book on the stand and pick up where they left off later. You can choose from six different wood color options.

LoveBook

Personalized Birthday LoveBook, $39.99

Best for: The bestie

LoveBook has customizable cartoon books for you to create your own nonfiction story of you and your giftee. Whether it’s a birthday gift for a friend or an anniversary gift for your significant other, LoveBook offers over 10 occasions for you to choose from. 

Greetabl

Personalized Gift Box, available at Greetabl, from $19

Best for: The long-distance bud

Let them know you’re thinking of them with a cute custom gift box from Greetabl. Choose a mini gift like caramels or chocolates, a gift card, and add a note and photos to be delivered to their door. 

Mark and Graham

Fillmore Vegan Leather Passport Case, available at Mark and Graham, $49

Best for: The avid traveler 

For the giftee who loves to travel, a passport cover is a great gift. You can have their initials monogrammed onto the cover to add a thoughtful and special touch to the gift. 

Etsy

Handwriting Bracelet, available at Etsy, $25.90

Best for: The romantic

A custom piece of jewelry is already a thoughtful gift but this handwritten bracelet from Etsy goes the extra mile. Surprise your gift recipient with a gold, sterling silver, or rose gold bracelet with words on it written in your or a loved one’s handwriting. 

Uncommon Goods

My Family Cookbook, available at Uncommon Goods, $30

Best for: The family who takes tradition seriously

The My Family Cookbook is a sweet gift that will keep on giving. After having various family members add recipes, the book can become an heirloom gift that gets passed down to generations. 

Little Gem Girl/Etsy

Loved Ones Handwriting Coffee Mug, available at Etsy, $24

Best for: The caffeine lover

A mug with a meaningful message is a tender gift for people who may have lost a loved one or who live far away. You can customize this mug with any words you want, printed in your handwriting or someone else’s.

Uncommon Goods

Birth Month Flower Paint-by-Number Kit, available at Uncommon Goods, $30

Best for: The artist

Inspired by the birth month of your gift recipient, this paint-by-numbers kit is a gift and a fun activity rolled into one. The kit lets them create a painting of the flowers for their respective birth month, along with an explanation of the characteristics of each month and flower. 

Papier

Scallop Spine Notebook, available at Papier, $30

Best for: The writer

Whether they love making lists or jotting down new ideas, every writer needs a durable, trusted notebook to store their notes and stories. These unique notebooks can be customized with a monogram and lined, dotted, or plain pages. The notebooks come in solid colors and several fun designs, including the brands The Pahari, Constellation, and Colourblock styles.

Fresh Sends

The Send Bouquet, available at Fresh Sends, $64

Best for: The fan of getting flowers all the time

Instead of gifting flowers solely during holidays and special occasions, send them beautiful arrangements on a more consistent basis with a subscription from Fresh Sends. Choose from three delivery frequencies and two size options for a unique bouquet every time.

Artifact Uprising

Personalized Walnut Desktop Photo Calendar, available at Artifact Uprising, from $35

Best for: The planner

Photos of loved ones are an instant source of joy. Structuring your daily life around them with a calendar is a great way to fill each day with more gratitude and happiness. Artifact Uprising’s desktop calendar is sustainably made from reclaimed wood and fully customizable. You can also choose the calendar’s starting month, so you don’t have to wait for a new year to create one.

Birthdate Co.

The Birthdate Book, available at Birthdate Co., $95

Best for: The astrologer

If they know their sun, moon, and rising sign, this made-to-order astrology book will make the perfect gift. Provide their birthday and time of birth, and the company will create a 70-page book with information and insights customized from their birth chart.

One Insider Reviews writer said the book felt extremely personalized, and no two books are the same.

Uncommon Goods

Table Topics cards, available at Uncommon Goods, $25

Best for: The sharer 

Never experience another boring dinner again with these cards from Table Topics. Each cube comes with 135 thought-provoking topic cards to help keep your meals and relationships interesting. With six themed options ranging from card sets for families, couples, and friends, you’ll give them the chance to get to know everyone in their life a little better.

Zazzle

Memorable Family’s 20″ x 30″ Jigsaw Puzzle, available at Zazzle, $68.95

Best for: The board gamer

Help them stay entertained by gifting them a customized puzzle of their favorite picture. This puzzle also comes with a customized box, making this gift even more special. Choose from any image to commemorate a special event, remember a great vacation, or show love to their favorite pet.

Montage

A video montage of their loved ones, available at Montage, from $29

Best for: The person with far-away family and friends

Ask their friends and family to record and upload videos to be automatically compiled, scored, and delivered for a thoughtful present that’s sure to bring on happy tears.

Tribe Socks

Custom Socks with Your Pet’s Face, available at Tribe Socks, $24

Best for: The pet parent

For dog- or cat-lovers, a pair of custom socks with their pet printed on them is a lighthearted but thoughtful gift. For more inspiration for pet-themed gifts, take a look at our guide to the best gifts for dog owners.

Starry Maps

Custom star map print, available at Starry Maps, from $65

Best for: The night sky lover

Commemorate any special night of their (or your) life by getting it printed on museum-quality 200gsm matte paper or on canvas.

Goldbelly

An e-gift card, available at Goldbelly, from $25

Best for: The nostalgic foodie

Whether you spend most of your time together trying out different recipes — or they’re often treating you to a delicious meal — you may want to turn your gift into a thoughtful, shared experience. Wherever they are in this big old world, they can call in any comforting favorite they please from Goldbelly, which delivers regional dishes and desserts from all over the country.

Grafomap

Custom map poster, available at Grafomap, from $19

Best for: The one who misses their old town

Grafomap is a website that lets you design posters with maps of any place in the world — including their hometown, college town, or favorite travel destination. 

Mixbook

Custom Photo Book, available at Mixbook, from $19.99

Best for: The parent with the falling-apart photo album

Convert their pile of photos and favorite mementos into one glossy book they can showcase around the home for a cohesive, beautiful keepsake. You can browse our favorite photo book services here.

Framebridge

Framed photo, available at Framebridge, from $35

Best for: The fan of simple, sweet gifts

Framebridge makes custom framing for not-custom-framing prices. You can print or paint something on your own and have it framed, or have them print and frame it. You can take advantage of a team of designers to help decide what frame to get.

Uncommon Goods

Personalized watch, available at Timex, from $75

Best for: The routine watch wearer

If you’re looking for subtle and impactful, engraving a watch is a classic for a reason. They can keep it forever, wear it every day, and know how much personal significance it has without always answering questions from onlookers. It’s functional, thoughtful, and timeless.

MakeMeAComic/Etsy

Custom comic book, available at Etsy, from $481.96

Best for: The superhero in your life

If you have the means, few would turn down owning a detailed, beautifully designed comic book featuring them as the lead character or superhero or a comic book version of the story of how they met their partner.

Purchase the comic, email the makers telling them the story, and send photos of the characters and event setting to ensure everything looks right. You’ll see a rough draft, send back any edits you have, and they’ll complete the final copy. Opt for a digital print (emailed) or get it sent to you as a canvas print.

AUrate

Mini Letter Charm Pendant with White Diamonds, available at AUrate, $560

Best for: The person who’ll be charmed by a charm necklace

AUrate offers engravings and personalized jewelry, like this necklace with a mini letter charm. Pick a letter and select from 14-karat or 18-karat white, yellow, or rose gold. Learn more about online startups making sustainable, relatively affordable fine jewelry here.

Minted

Personalized custom quotes, available at Minted, from $38

Best for: The utterly quotable one

Frame one of their favorite quotes, lyrics, or sayings and customize everything from font color to matting to make it theirs.

Uncommon Goods

Family Pebble Portrait, available at Uncommon Goods, $110

Best for: The nature-loving family

A perfect gift for a couple or a family, you can get a one-of-a-kind, framed custom portrait of everyone made from pebbles and wood.

Tiffany

Tiffany Sheer Eau de Toilette, available at Tiffany & Co., $97

Best for: The “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” fan

This luxury fragrance is as memorable and special as your relationship. You can make this gift even more sentimental by engraving the bottle with their initials, a symbol that represents them, or a completely custom idea. 

CanvasPop

Custom pet portrait, available at CanvasPop, from $84

Best for: The person who loves their dog more than anything

If they love their pet more than pretty much anything in the world, a Pet Portrait immortalizing them is a uniquely thoughtful gesture — and decor they’re unlikely to have already. You can also get them a custom painting (from $250) if that’s more their style or a framed print (from $35.55) of them with their pet.

Uncommon Goods

Personalized family mugs, available at Uncommon Goods, from $32

Best for: The hobbyist

Turn your family or friends or a newly engaged couple into characters that actually look like them. One side features the artists’ depiction of them (personalized through your choices of skin tone, hair, and clothing color) and the mug owner’s first name, while the other displays your family name and year “established” (for friends, this could be the year you met). 

Etsy

Soundwave art print, available at Etsy, from $70

Best for: The musician

Send in a song and artist or email an audio file of you or a loved one speaking, and this Etsy shop will turn it into personalized sound-wave art. This gift is particularly thoughtful for long-distance relationships or for commemorating a loved one.

Uncommon Goods

Set of two Filimin Long-Distance Touch Lamps, available at Uncommon Goods, from $99

Best for: The far-away friend or family member

Everyone is busy these days, and it’s not as easy to keep up with loved ones as we all wish. A set of paired lamps, one of which lights up when the other is touched, lets them know you’re still thinking of them even when you don’t have time to talk. One Insider Reviews editor uses them to keep in touch with her parents.

Uncommon Goods

Hand Embroidered State Pillows, available at Uncommon Goods, $225

Best for: The person beaming with state pride

Bring their favorite state to them with detailed and brightly embroidered pillows that pay homage to each state’s cities and cultural touchpoints. 

Uncommon Goods

Intersection of Love Frame, available at Uncommon Goods, from $75

Best for: The newlyweds

Commemorate the moment their paths first crossed in a sophisticated, unique design.

Etsy/ConTento Prints

Custom wine labels, available at Etsy, from $5.64

Best for: The celebrator

Celebrate a loved one’s birthday, achievements, or new life stages such as a marriage with a bottle of wine and a thoughtful, personalized label they’ll want to keep. 

Uncommon Goods

Ski resort blueprints, available at Uncommon Goods, from $75

Best for: The ski bunny

Whether they grew up on the slopes or drag friends and family along as adults, skiers can take their favorite slopes home with them with this blueprint-inspired art. Featuring iconic ski resorts such as Park City, Vail, and Breckenridge, each officially licensed print is created with a vintage, distressed finish and contains detailed historical and statistical facts about the area.

Uncommon Goods

How Do I Love Thee From A-Z, available at Uncommon Goods, $22

Best for: The lovebird

Follow 26 prompts laid out in old-school typewriter font to leave your loved one with a bound book of love letters they can keep forever. It’s the perfect spot for recording your favorite romantic moments, memories, inside jokes, and all the tiny and enormous reasons why you love them. 

Target

Polaroid Hi-Print Printer, available at Target, $99.99

Best for: The frequent photographer

Polaroid’s Wireless Mini Printer prints mini photos from your phone or tablet using a WiFi connection. It’s small enough to stow in a purse for travel, and there are customizable features like stickers, filters, and borders to edit photos within the Polaroid app. 

Uncommon Goods

Create your own reel viewer, available at Uncommon Goods, from $14.95

Best for: The child at heart

As a kid, flipping through a reel viewer was one of life’s greatest joys. Just because they’re all grown up doesn’t mean they won’t like playing with the gadget. Fill the reel with snapshots of their most cherished memories (use the redemption code included with your viewer) for a gift that’ll flood them with all sorts of nostalgia.

JustArtinAround/Etsy

Custom watercolor wedding venue illustration, available at Etsy, from $33.99

Best for: The anniversary toasters

For a deeply thoughtful gift for newlyweds, commission a custom watercolor of their wedding venue or location. All you’ll have to do is send the artist a photo of the location, the couple’s first and last names, and the wedding date. 

Uncommon Goods

Homesick Candles, available at Uncommon Goods, from $34

Best for: The homesick friend

If they’re far from home, this affordable candle is a small but meaningful gesture that can bring them just a little closer.  Uniquely specific scents are made to capture the ethos of states and cities or memories like road trips, backyard BBQs, and cooking in Grandma’s kitchen. 

Uncommon Goods

Family Recipe Cutting Board, available at Uncommon Goods, $100

Best for: The chef

There’s something about family recipes that make them taste even better. This cutting board offers a unique way to preserve those special favorites. Ingredients and directions are engraved on solid cherry wood and can even be etched in the recipe writer’s handwriting.