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Finding truly thoughtful gifts for people who have everything is all fun and games...until you run out of good ideas. It’s even more challenging when you have to come up with a clever birthday gift (or Christmas gift or anniversary gift or whatever kind of gift) for the same hard-to-buy-for friend or family member year after year after year. But before you give up and just get a gift card, check out this list of unique gifts—including housewares, cooking gifts, and a few fun novelties—for any adult on your list.
Gift ideas under $25
Gift ideas under $50
Gift ideas under $100
Gift ideas under $250
Gift ideas under $500
Unique gift ideas under $25
These stackable, smoked glass double old-fashioned glasses are perfect for the cocktail enthusiast who’s short on space.
A sampler set of fancy flavored salts is a truly useful gift for the friend who’s always asking for the salt shaker when you’re out to eat.
A quirky egg candle brings the breakfast vibes into the living room, or any other space in your home.
Anybody who already has a Solo Stove will have so much fun tossing these color packs on the fire to light up the night with blue, green, purple, and yellow flames.
This cheeky 100%-cotton dish towel is a great pick for the friend who likes big buns and cannot lie.
For the friend without a dishwasher, this colorful dish scrubby is one of Epi’s best-selling products of 2022—and it can replace all of their other dishwashing tools.
For something with a little more pizazz, go for a sparkly dish sponge.
Grab this adorable hedgehog keyboard brush for the coworker who always eats lunch at their desk.
For the friend who prefers to play solitaire somewhere other than their phone, get a pack of the prettiest playing cards they’ve ever seen.
An ultra-packable, completely machine-washable tote bag—with pockets!—is perfect for anyone who frequents the farmers market.
Buy this Epi-approved hand cream for the friend who always does the dishes, but hasn’t yet discovered the magic of skin care.
A tingle-inducing head massager is a gift that ensures they'll always have instant access to a little self care.
Get this cookbook for the person who identifies as both a “cinephile” and a “foodie."
Your friend who's gotten really into the luxe ice craze will definitely appreciate this silicone diamond ice mold.
There's also a heart of the ocean-shaped version for the Titanic enthusiast in your life.
Unique gift ideas under $50
Even the cook who has everything probably doesn't have a measuring cup that's chic enough to double as a serving piece for sauces or condiments.
A pretty tinned fish gift set is the perfect gift for your hottest friend.
…and there's also a cookbook detailing all the best ways to eat said tinned fish from our senior editor, Anna Hezel.
For the host or hostess with the mostest—except when it comes to cabinet space—a set of Italian-made wine glasses that are super versatile and stackable.
For your friend who’s really into tarot, get this delightfully dark candle that comes with a surprise gold-plated charm inside.
This sequined Guy Fieri face pillow case is perfect for your best friend—or your frenemy. And probably also your mom, who definitely loves Guy Fieri in a wholly unironic way.
For the friend who goes into an office every day but would rather be behind a bar, get these colorful enameled negroni cufflinks.
A DIY hot sauce kit is perfect for the friend who fancies themself as a hot sauce connoisseur.
Buy these colorful cocktail napkins for the friend who likes to host happy hour at home.
Brass-rimmed marble coasters are a chic gift for the loved one who’s always worried about rings on their custom-made coffee table.
This sleek, vacuum insulated tumbler can be used as a travel coffee mug or a water bottle, and won't leak in their bag.
Unique gift ideas under $100
A pretty pink mixing bowl set is perfect for the friend who loves to bake—and loved the Barbie movie even more.
For the person who takes the time to savor their morning coffee, get a stoneware French press from the maker of our favorite Dutch oven and enameled cast-iron braiser.
A colorful confetti mushroom lamp is a great gift for the friend who likes to get a little weird.
A bouquet of tropical flowers is perfect for the friend who can’t get enough of the beach.
Get this cool blue Fly By Jing sweatshirt for the friend who likes it hot and wants everybody to know.
Know a cook who likes to grow their own everything? Give them the chance to try their hand at citrus with a ready-to-bloom yuzu tree.
A set of glamorous but fun grasshopper napkin rings for your friend who loves to host decadent dinners.
For anyone who likes to get cozy, this tiny pot is great for melting butter, warming syrup, or reheating coffee.
A cozy waterproof butt blanket with pockets is great for the friend who loves to eat outside, but is always cold (even in the summer).
A miniature vibrating massage ball is a good gift choice for anyone who’s been a little tense lately.
For the grilling enthusiast who’s into gadgets, get them this super-smart meat thermometer that connects to your iPhone or Android.
This adjustable, minimalist bracelet can turn into a personalized gift when you have it engraved with “yes, chef”—or anything else you want it to say.
Unique gift ideas under $250
For your thirstiest friend, buy a colorful, modern decanter to hold plenty of water or wine.
This highly giftable collection of really good infused olive oils is a great upgrade for the friend who’s probably using whatever was on sale at the grocery store last week.
This semi-customizable caviar gift box with three jars of caviar and three mother of pearl caviar spoons is perfect for your fanciest friend.
Anyone who's over cooking with heavy, high-maintenance cast iron—but only because it's heavy and high-maintenance—will love this super lightweight, dishwasher safe cast iron pan from Japan.
Know someone who’s trying to break their La Croix habit? This super sleek countertop carbonated water maker is just the thing to help them achieve their goal.
A super cool corn stool for the friend whose home needs a pop of color—and some supplemental seating.
Or, for some food-themed home decor ever-so-slightly more subtle, get this big shiny apple sculpture.
For the home cook who always seems to be down to their last drop of olive oil, a three-month subscription to a high-quality brand out of California.
For the friend who’s always on the go, a modern rechargeable LED light that can go anywhere and hang from just about anything.
A three-month subscription box of pet-safe fresh flowers is a thoughtful gift for your friend with ornery fur babies.
For the service-industry friend who’s on their feet all day, get this heated vibrating knee massager.
If you don't already have a friend who owns a champagne saber, you should probably do something about that. Just be sure to choose the giftee wisely.
For the friend who's always complaining about how much everybody is on their phones, buy a retro tabletop digital display that looks like a Lite-Brite but acts like a smart screen.
Unique gift ideas under $500
Know a home cook who likes to jam? The output from this voice controlled Bluetooth speaker is so good they’ll be able to hear their favorite tunes even over the whir of a Vitamix.
Anyone whose interests fall into the middle of the high-end cookware/expensive bourbon Venn diagram will appreciate this limited-edition Smithey cast iron skillet. It’s been seasoned 18 times to mark the release of Knob Creek's 18-year bourbon, but you'll need to buy the bourbon separately.
The decor-minded homebody in your life will love this cozy, colorful mohair and wool throw.
For the outdoor cook who’s all set on grilling gear, get them their very own pizza oven.
A 12-pound weighted blanket made with luxe organic cotton velvet is a solid pick for your favorite insomniac.
For your most stylish outdoorsy friend, get this modern fire pit that’s almost too pretty to use.
