What’s a great gift for Father’s Day?

Father’s Day spending is expected to reach a record $24 billion this year, according to a survey conducted for the National Retail Federation. The amount is up from last year’s $22.4 billion and beats the previous record of $22.9 billion in 2023.

Sometimes, dads can be tough to buy for. I remember we bought my dad, a smoker for 50 years, ashtrays for gifts. Then, because he was 6-feet, 4-inches tall, I’d get him white shirts with extra-long sleeves, which he was tickled to receive.

Since he was good at guessing what his gifts were, one year we fooled him and put a subscription to a sports magazine in a jack-in-the-box. He didn’t guess that one.

What might be some gifts fathers would appreciate this year?

Consumers are planning to spend $199.38 on average per person, or nearly $10 more than last year’s $189.81 average, according to the federation survey.

Here are some ideas for a gift for your dad.

Special outing. It’s always fun to go out to lunch or dinner. You may need to make a reservation in advance as restaurants get really busy on this special day for dads. Be sure to select one of dad’s favorite restaurants.

An experience. Food tours, wine tasting, pub crawl, cooking classes, brunch cruise, boat tour, museum visit, craft or art class, chocolate tour, fishing trip, zip line, hiking, picnic, a walk, or hot air balloon ride are some suggestions. Maybe skydiving and paragliding should be reserved for the most adventurous dads.

Clothing. By now, most people probably know what rocks in terms of clothing to give their dad. Be careful if you want to use Father’s Day as an opportunity to update your dad’s wardrobe. More stylist socks and belts might be a good choice that wouldn’t offend. Make sure you know the correct size, especially if you decide on slippers.

Subscriptions. A book of the month club, coffee, vinyl records, beer, wine, plants, socks, and meals you prepare from ingredients are among the many choices. Avoid subscription boxes from sellers such as Bespoke that offer miscellaneous items that you can choose from each month. Since I’m currently cleaning out my garage, I’d say most Americans don’t need more miscellaneous stuff. In addition, at a cost of $50 to $75 a month, a year’s subscription would be a very expensive gift.

Tech and gadgets. You’ll be able to find lots of websites offering tech and gadget gifts for dad. Some examples include tools and tool kits, camera, smart watches, headphones, coffeemakers, video game consoles, and smart coffee cups, meat thermometers, and teapots.

Gift basket. A basket for one of your dad’s interests, such as cooking, coffee, beer, chocolate, wine, cocktails, cheese and crackers, Jerky snacks, or grilling items is an easy choice. You can also make one of your own. You probably have an array of baskets you’ve saved and you can find clear plastic sheeting to cover the basket at hobby stores.

Environment friendly gifts. You'll find a lot of websites that offer these. Some gift ideas that are better for the environment include travel back packs, rail pass for Europe, indoor composter, phone case made from plants, organic bedding, shampoo bars, wool sweaters made with recycled wool, organic wine club, organic hot chocolate, plastic free tea, and household goods made from chopsticks.

Books. A great book will work for some dads. If he reads a lot, you’ll have an idea of what he likes.

Photos. Framed photos from recent events or family history are often an appreciated gift.

Gift card. If all else fails, get a gift card. One from one of your dad’s favorite store would be appreciated.

Cash and a card. If you think your dad might misplace his gift card, give him cash. I know people who really like to open a card on a special day and are excited to see cash.

Have fun shopping for your dad or going on an outing with him