We want to help you find the best cheap father’s day gifts for that special dad. Gifts don’t have to be expensive.
Most dads, especially fathers of young children, don’t expect their kids to go out and buy a gift. Even when their kids are older, they may still prefer a homemade gift or spending time with them over a store-bought gift.
I have compiled a list of affordable Father’s Day gifts that you can help your child make or get for their father. Gifts that you can make for a new father, or gift ideas that you can share with your older kids for them to make or buy. And last but not least, a list of ideas for adult kids to give their father.
Most items are reasonably priced, but a few may be beyond your budget unless you’re willing to splurge a little, have connections for discounts, or can find them at a pawn or thrift shop.
List of Best Father’s Day Gifts
Best Cheap Father’s Day Gifts From Any Age Kid
Coffee Mug that you can personalize
- Solid color coffee mug
- Ceramic stickers
Special cup with a memorable picture
- Cup with picture insert
- A picture of child and dad, or just the child to insert
- Or a paper inserted that has cute drawings that the child does
Decorated picture frame or magnetic picture frame
- Picture frame to set on a desk, counter, or file cabinet.
- Picture printed to the size of the frame
- Decorations – stickers, paint, or markers.
Hand painting or Foot painting
- Poster board or construction paper. Make sure it is a size that you can easily find a frame for.
- Let your kids have fun painting it with their hands or feet. Then leave a final footprint or hand print on the picture.
Canvas painting
- Let your kids create a cute picture of them and their dad.
- Something they have fun doing with them. This may not be easy for smaller kids but even so they could paint and create a picture and then tell their dad what it is.
Homemade coupons
- Kids can have fun making up coupons to give their dad.
- He can cash in a coupon when he wants.
- Just simply write out what the coupon is for on colored index cards or paper. Or let the kids draw pictures for what the coupon is.
- Coupon ideas: Foot rub, bring dad a cup of coffee, watch a sports game on TV with their dad, play catch, bring dad breakfast in bed, a big hug, and whatever else you and your kids can come up with.
Baked Goodies
- Most dads would appreciate something yummy to eat. You and your child could make Dad some special cookies or snacks.
Special Dinner at home or a restaurant
- Treat dad to a nice meal
Spend quality time with dad
- This is actually one of the best gifts you could give a dad no matter how old you are or he is.
- Plan a picnic or day out fishing, playing golf, at the lake, park, or even just a nature walk with dad if that is what he enjoys.
Make a homemade card
- Dads want to hear how special they are to you/your kids.
- Write a nice note saying how much you appreciate him and all that he does for you.
- If not a homemade card then just a letter or a store-bought card as long as you write out how much you are thankful for him. How much you love him, and why he is special to you!
Ideas for New Fathers
- Picture frame with baby footprint or handprint– find a frame that would work like the one shown at the top.
- You can take a picture of your baby to put in the frame. Then put paint on your baby’s foot or hand to make a cute print next to the picture. This can be such a sweet gift.
- Or just a cute picture of baby and daddy with a sweet saying.
- Frame with a picture of the baby – or proud new father with the baby.
- T-shirt – New father/daddy or matching t-shirts like Father and son/daughter, Big guy and little guy, or Papa Bear and Baby Bear.
Ideas for Father’s Day Gifts From Young Kids or Elementary School-Age Kids
- Special cup or mug – can be a simple mug you find with a cute saying or a picture your dad will love. Or buy a plain mug and find ceramic stickers to place on it.
- Decorated picture frame or magnet frame
- Hand painting or foot painting
- Canvas painting
- Creative Scene/Item can make a unique gift
- Let your kids get creative like mine did on those items as seen in the picture.
- They may not be the cutest or best gift you might think of but actually my husband cherished these gifts so much that he still has them today. He said they were some of his favorite gifts.
- Kids can have fun creating a cute scene with odd and end small toys, objects from outside, craft items, or whatever they come up with.
- T-shirt – Best Father Ever, Best Daddy, etc… or matching T-shirts Big Bear – Little Bear, Trouble #1 – Trouble #2. If going a cheaper route find a solid t-shirt at a craft store and then let your kids decorate it and put hand prints on it.
- Dad joke book – this can be a store-bought book or one you make and put funny jokes in it for him. It could also be a journal where you compile all the dad jokes that he tells in it.
- Pool float for him to relax on or to play on with young kids.
- Water gun
- Nerf gun
- Lightsaber
- Best Dad Trophy or Award
- Homemade coupons – If a child is too young to write they can draw pictures.
- Soccer ball, football, or basketball
- Outside game that kids can play with him like sandbags.
Great Father’s Day Gift Ideas From Teens
- Decorated picture frame
- Canvas painting
- Baked goodies – from the teen
- Bottle opener – doesn’t have to be expensive
- Gift card – to his favorite coffee shop or dessert place.
- Homemade coupons – foot massage, bake his favorite cookies, a walk in the neighborhood, etc…
- Men’s toiletries – shaving cream, beard oil if they have facial hair, soap, etc…
- Hot sauce – if your dad enjoys a spicy side. Could give a collection of small sample bottles with different degrees of spicy and hotness.
- A plant – to put in his office
- Keychain – can be silly or meaningful.
- Fishing lours
- Golf balls, tennis balls, etc…
- Goodie bag of favorite snacks or candy
- Day out doing something dad enjoys – going fishing, playing golf, going to a park.
- Go on a walk or hike together
- Take your dad to the amusement park if he likes roller coasters
- Go rock climbing together
- Sit and watch his favorite show or movie together
- Nifty gadgets that he may like or have fun with
- A hat
- A nice tie or a fun tie
- Water bottle or beer koozie
- BBQ spatula, tongs, or other
- Flip flops or sliders
- Beer mug
Awesome Father’s Day Ideas from Adult Kids
- Coffee or Tea items – Coffee beans, ground coffee, tea bags, tea cup, or coffee cup
- Gift bag of favorite snacks, candy, gum, etc…
- Baked goodies – cookies, cake, scones, etc…
- Tackle box with fishing lures
- Bluetooth speaker, portable speaker, or headphones – he might enjoy those while out working in the yard or garage so he can listen to his favorite tunes.
- Gift card to favorite place or restaurant
- Special homemade dinner
- Special dinner at a favorite restaurant
- Homemade coupons – Good for 1 beer at ____, Good for 1 breakfast at ____, or Good for 1 breakfast burrito.
- Favorite liquor, wine, or beer
- Day out to a distillery, winery, or brewery with you (as long as you are at least 21)
- Fishing day or trip with you
- Sporting game day with you – watching it on TV or going to the game.
- Take Dad to a museum he would enjoy – check and see if there are discounts on Father’s Day.
- Hiking trip with your dad
- Find inexpensive fun or clever gadgets your dad might like
- Pocket knife – look at getting it at a pawn shop or estate sale if on a budget
- Tools – look at garage sales for a cheaper option
- Favorite book – could look at a resale bookstore
- Vinyl records if he has a record player
- Camping or sporting chair – could be one that you get second-hand
- Hammock
- Heat-resistant grill gloves
- Pizza-size spatula and or pizza cutter
Last-Minute Father’s Day Gifts
- Homemade or store-bought card
- Bake something yummy
- Gift card
- Take Dad to get his favorite coffee, tea, or sweet treat
- Take him to the store to buy something of his choosing within a price point
- Make him breakfast, lunch, or dinner
- Take him coffee in bed
- Watch his favorite movie with him – at home or out to the movie theater
- Gift set at a local store that is geared to dads.
- Gift bag of favorite snacks/treats
Tip: Really think about what Dad likes or enjoys and go from there.
When considering your dad’s personality, what kind of dad is he? Some may enjoy a laid-back, easy day where they can sleep in, have a nice breakfast, and watch sports on TV. Others may prefer spending the day doing an activity they enjoy with you. Then some dads appreciate receiving a gift as a token of appreciation. It’s important to note that a gift can also be homemade with love.
Father or Dad is a significant title that doesn’t always imply a blood relation. Any father figure can be honored and celebrated on this holiday, like a family friend, Uncle, Grandfather, or someone special. Stepfathers and adopted fathers are just as important as biological fathers and maybe more so in some situations or families.
Last but not least on what to do for Father’s Day
- Tell him you love him! Make sure to express your appreciation and love.
- Don’t forget to decorate for Father’s Day as an added touch. Check out my easy and cheap homemade cardboard Father’s Day garland that you can easily make.
Make dads feel special today by following one of our best cheap Father’s Day gift ideas.
Have a great day celebrating your father either alone with him or as a whole family.
Leave a Reply