There’s no such thing as a perfect Mother’s Day gift—not in the abstract. Motherly figures vary too much for there to be any one ideal gift for the day we’ve set aside to thank mothers for their contributions.
But we have some ideas, 33 to be specific, ranging from the coldly practical to the borderline ornamental. It’s up to you to decide between them. Be warned, while the motherly figures in your life might be someone who wants a robotic vacuum, your mother may be the type of person who's not into that.
Knowing who your mother is—and not just clicking the buy button—is your most important contribution. We’ve provided some ideas below, all approved by mothers in our lives and ready for delivery by Sunday, May 14. Good luck!
Table of Contents
Sentimental gifts for mom
Few things are more sentimental than the gift of a memory, whether it’s an old family portrait or a photo from a recent vacation.
- Shutterfly photo albums and keepsakes; price varies at Shutterfly
The moms we surveyed loved Shutterfly for its quality photo books. Shutterfly makes it easy to edit photos, create different layouts for your pictures, and choose different binding and cover options. Be sure to check out coupons from our partner at Wired for additional savings, and choose a photo magnet for mom's refrigerator while you're at it.
- Aura Carver frame for $149 at Aura
- Aura Harper frame for $130 at Costco
- Aura Smith frame for $349 at Aura
An alternative to a photo book that moms in our group cherished was Aura's digital picture frames. These photo frames provide a realistic look, and they're made to blend in with mom's home decor. Nothing in our gift guide delighted our moms more than Aura's frames.
- Google Pixel 7 series from $559 at Amazon
- OnePlus 11 from $699 (check out offers at Wired for additional savings) at OnePlus
- Apple iPhone 14 series from $799 (check out offers at Wired for additional savings) at Apple
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 for $1,000 (check out offers at Wired for additional savings) at Samsung
If mom wants in on the photo-capturing action, a smartphone with a well-equipped camera will do the trick. Google's Pixel 7 stands out in our list with its ability to freeze the action, capture accurate skin tones, and help you edit photos using AI to unblur images captured with shaky hands. Moms in our group loved the standard Pixel 7 for its compact size, but if your mom wants a phone with optical zoom, the periscope lens on the Pixel 7 Pro will get her closer to the action.
For iOS moms, the iPhone 14 series delivers consistent and reliable performance with superb video capturing capabilities to record home movies, while the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4's clever hinge allows moms to set up their phone for a group shot without needing a tripod. Moms in our group also loved the Flip's compact form factor. The OnePlus 11 rounds out our list for its improved camera capabilities and strong performance at an affordable price.
Smarten mom's home with these gadgets
Help mom take control of her home with some smart home tech. Be aware that some smart home tech is more useful than others, and we have a short list of what our moms prefer.
- Schlage Encode Plus for $320 (check out offers at Wired for additional savings) at The Home Depot
Schlage's Encode Plus smart lock was a top choice with moms in our group and popular among smart home users—it's frequently out of stock—for its connectivity and ability to work with Android and iOS for remote access and key code programming. If mom has an iPhone or an Apple Watch, Apple's Home Key functionality allows mom to tap her phone or watch like an NFC key card to open the door without fussing with codes or keys.
- Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium for $250 at Ecobee
A smart thermostat is a gift that keeps on giving. Ecobee's smart scheduling and the bundled presence sensor mean the HVAC can shut off when no one's home, saving mom money on the utility bill.
There's nothing more precious than the gift of health
These thoughtful gifts of health will not only help mom stay healthy through the day but also remind her that you're always thinking of her.
- Larq Bottle PureVis for $99 at Larq
Give mom the gift of hydration with Larq's PureVis bottle. This tumbler comes with a UV-C cap that will help sanitize the bottle and get rid of bacteria in the water and keep liquids cool or warm with its insulated stainless steel construction. You can also add an optional $25 filter cap to eliminate contaminants like lead, heavy metals, chlorine, and particulates.
- Eight Sleep Pod 3 Cover with Perfect Fit starting at $2,220 (check out offers at Wired for additional savings) at Eight Sleep
Eight's Sleep Cover is a fan favorite. Not only does it help track mom's sleep, but it can help make mom more comfortable. The mattress cover has water pipes built in, and a bedside pump heats or cools water and moves it across the bed to keep mom at the perfect temperature. According to the government's Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, getting enough sleep will help lower mom's risk for serious health problems like diabetes and heart disease as well as reduce stress and improve mood.
- Mila Air Purifier with Basic Breather Filter from $408 at Amazon
- Molekule Air Pro for $1,015 at Mokekule
- Alen BreatheSmart 75i for $769 at Amazon
Springtime means allergens are plentiful right now. Help mom breathe a little bit easier with a smart air purifier. All the models on our list are smart enough to turn on when it detects air contaminants, adjust the fan speed to optimize cleaning, and shut off when it's done. Moms in our group adored the Mila Air for its chic mid-century, modern-inspired aesthetic, ease of use, and intelligent features. The Alen's industrial design is great for larger homes, while Molekule's premium Air Pro delivers superb filtering with its proprietary filters that not only trap pollutants but can zap bacteria, mold, and viruses with its built-in UV light.
- Sony WH-1000XM4 for $348 at Amazon
- Sony WH-1000XM5 for $398 at Amazon
- Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Generation for $200 at Amazon
- Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX for $365 at Amazon
The gift of music is the gift of mental health, and noise-canceling headphones can help mom keep calm and carry on. For its all-around performance delivering solid audio quality, excellent noise cancelation capabilities, and comfort at a reasonable price, Sony's WH-1000XM4 tops our list. These bass-forward headphones come with a compact foldable design, making them better for travel than Sony's newer WH-1000XM5, which has a more modern aesthetic and similarly great audio reproduction but at a higher cost. Moms with iPhones will want to steer toward the AirPods Pro 2nd Generation, which pairs nicely across Apple's ecosystem.
For a neutral sound profile and a luxurious ear upgrade, the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX is one of my favorites. These earbuds excel in their balanced audio reproduction that's highly customizable, making whatever you're listening to sound great! You really can feel every detail of the music and the Beoplay EX will delight mom's ear canals.
- Hyperice Hypervolt 2 for $229 from Hyperice
After a long day, mom can use some self-care. From achy backs to sore arms, a massager can help take the pressure off! Hyperice’s Hypervolt 2 percussion massager has an ergonomic handle, multiple attachments, and adjustable speeds.
- Hyperice Venom Go for $129 from Hyperice
Some of the moms in our group found that a massage gun was too powerful for their comfort, and Hyperice’s Venom Go is a great alternative, providing more subtle massaging and heat therapy to help relieve soreness. In addition to the Venom Go, Hyperice also makes the Venom heat therapy wraps specific for the back, which is great for cramps, and legs for some post-cardio workout care.
The gift of glam
Does your mom need to head out to an event right after a shower? Dyson makes some extraordinary hair tools that are cult favorites. Both have clean, minimalist designs with multiple attachments to help her style her hair in record time.
- Dyson Supersonic hair dryer from $430 (check out offers at Wired for additional savings) at Dyson
- Dyson Airwrap for $600 (check out offers at Wired for additional savings) at Dyson
If you want to splurge this Mother’s Day, the Supersonic is Dyson's take on the traditional hair dryer with heat sensors to protect hair, while the Airwrap is designed to style multiple hair types from curly to straight. And to go all out, pair Dyson’s beauty tools with mom’s favorite shampoo or conditioner for the glam gift basket. If you need help selecting shampoos, our friends at Vogue have a few ideas.
- Simplehuman Sensor Mirror Compact for $80 at Simplehuman
- Simplehuman Sensor Mirror Trio Max for $350 at Simplehuman
If your mom hops on a lot of Zooms or Teams meetings, a desk mirror could be just the ticket to making sure she doesn’t have anything stuck in her teeth. Simplehuman's line of Sensor Mirror is second to none. The Compact version is designed for portability with either 3x or 10x magnification, while the Trio Max comes with a larger 10-inch mirror with 1x, 5x, and 10x magnification for home use.
Kitchen gadgets for moms who love cooking
If your mom enjoys cooking and entertaining, the gift of kitchenware shows mom your appreciation of her cooking.
- Vitamix Ascent A3500 Gourmet SmartPrep Kitchen System for $800 (check out offers at Wired for additional savings) at Vitamix
Vitamix's blender has been a versatile tool for the home chef. From smoothies and shakes to soups and sauces, the Vitamix can blend virtually anything while turning it into a delicious and nutritious treat, and the appliance continues to be a staff favorite at Ars Technica. Vitamix's latest Gourmet SmartPrep Kitchen System comes with the base, the traditional blender jar, and a new food processor attachment. This two-in-one system helps mom save on valuable counter space and expands Vitamix's reach into new territories, like chopping up veggies for a salad, kneading dough for pies and pizzas, and so much more!
Instant Pot multi-cookers are versatile kitchen appliances that have been a fan favorite among our readers and staff. The Instant Pot can slow roast like a crockpot, pressure cook beans in less time, or even help you make homemade yogurt, rice, and plenty of other dishes. Most of our readers love the Instant Pot for one-pot recipes. The company's Wi-Fi-infused Instant Pot Pro Plus model is a terrific upgrade that adds extra convenience, allowing mom to control the cooking from her smartphone. This is useful if mom is running to the grocery store or picking up the kids from school and need to check on her recipe or release the pressure from the cooker.
A thoughtful last-minute gift
If mom's an avid reader, then a Kindle makes a thoughtful gift. The best part is that if you're a subscriber to Amazon Prime, you can get a Kindle delivered in as little as two days, making it a terrific gift for the procrastinating family who needs to find a great gift for the mother figures in their lives.
- Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition for $190 at Amazon
- Amazon Kindle Paperwhite for $140 at Amazon
Amazon's Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition comes with plenty of storage for mom to download her digital library, an auto-adjusting front reading light, and wireless charging. The best feature of this Amazon-made hardware is that it comes without distracting lock screen ads compared to the standard non-Signature Edition. You can also add an Amazon gift card to create a reading bundle, so mom can get started with a few books she'd want to buy, making your already thoughtful gift even more special.
How we tested
Our editorial team rounded up some of the best products out there with consultation from moms. We tested the products in-house and invited neighborhood moms to join us over several weeks. We incorporated the recommendations, suggestions, and test results from the moms in our group for each product category.
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