Raise your hand if you’ve ever been stressed out by the thought of finding the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for your boyfriend/husband. Same. Whether you just started dating two months ago or you’ve been living together for years, finding a V-Day gift that’s not too cheesy but also not too over the top is a reaaal challenge.
Yes, shopping for your S.O. can be a daunting task in general (and if you thought shopping for your spouse was any easier, think again), but I’ve got all the best suggestions for last-minute gifts that your partner will love, based on how long you’ve been dating. No awkward Valentine’s gift exchanges here.
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If things are still new and you’ve been together for only a matter of weeks, try a lighthearted, funny gift. If you two have been spending lots of quality time together, then go with an experience gift you can do with each other. Or if you’re already dropping the L-word, then I’ve got plenty of romantic gift ideas too.
Use this guide to help you figure out what awesome Valentine’s Day gift to get your person, whether you’re on the search for your first-ever Valentine’s Day gift (eep!) or the fifth.
If It’s Your First V-Day Together
Courtesy
“You’re the Sh*t” Nontoxic Soy Candle
Ginger June gingerjune.com
$22.00
Love it or hate it, Valentine’s Day is definitely a holiday you’ll want to be prepared for if you’re dating someone, especially if you’ll be celebrating it together for the first time. Although you might not go all out after you’ve been dating for five years, everything about a new relationship is fun and exciting and worth making a big deal. If he’s the outdoorsy type, a camping trip could be a fun way to bond and spend some time alone together. Play a campfire game over the open fire or over this mini travel grill. If you’re more of the indoors type, a funny candle instead of a campfire might be more your style. Whip up a meal together and supply all the sauces and ingredients as part of your gift too.
Other safe bets would be a relaxing oil blend, a nice leather bracelet, or a sweet card—but because your first Valentine’s Day together can fall anywhere between a few days after you started seeing each other to almost an entire year of dating, you might want a few more time-specific gift ideas. Say no more! To break it down even further, I’ve gathered a few more gift suggestions for relationships under three months, six months, nine months, a year, and two years or longer, so keep scrolling.
If you have no idea what to get because it’s your first V-Day, go with one of these:
a relaxing oil blend
Flight Mode Calming Mood Rescue Oil
LBB Skincare lbbskin.com
$5.00
a new scent
Bleu de Chanel Parfum
Chanel sephora.com
$155.00
$125.00 (19% off)
a mini grill
Portable Suitcase Grill
Gentlemen's Hardware bespokepost.com
$7,378.00
an honest card
“The World Is a Mess” Blank Card
Sad Shop sadshop.co
$5.50
dinner at home
Thai for Two Set of 3 Meal Kit
Verve Culture nordstrom.com
$35.00
a cool accessory
Black Leather Bracelet
N'Damus London wolfandbadger.com
$49.00
this sexy game
“Let’s Fucking Play” Card Game
Let's Fucking Date letsfuckingdate.com
$120.00
$108.00 (10% off)
a comfy beanie
Reimagine Cashmere Beanie
OuterKnown outerknown.com
$78.00
this clutch massager
Back Neck Shoulder Massager With Heat
a bunch of fun socks
Mixed Pattern Calf Sock 4-Pack
this skincare bundle
Routine Pack
Humanrace humanrace.com
$126.00
these fuzzy slippers
Ascot Slipper
UGG nordstrom.com
$109.95
If You’ve Been Together Less Than 3 Months
Subscription
Marshmallow of the Month Club cratejoy.com
$57.00
You can definitely go for something classic and simple when you’re at this early stage. You’re gonna want to get him something thoughtful that’s not too forward. In other words, it’s okay to keep your V-Day present lighthearted and friendly, like with his favorite snack (besides you, of course). This marshmallow subscription is an adorable idea that’ll have you on his mind every time he receives a shipment. Plus, it wouldn’t be Valentine’s Day without sweets!
But what if sugar’s not his thing? Get him another kind of subscription, like one for books or Hulu. For a few other harmless gift ideas, try a cool bottle of his favorite booze, a carrying case for said booze, a box full of charcuterie goods, a pair of sneaks, or a simple card.
If it’s only been a minute but you wanna make him feel all special or whatever, go for these:
a book subscription
Monthly Book Subscription Box
BlackLIT cratejoy.com
$54.99
some great booze
1884 Small Batch Whiskey
Uncle Nearest reservebar.com
$43.99
a Hulu subscription
Hulu Movie and TV Streaming Plan
hulu signup.hulu.com
$11.99
a cute box of chocolates
Chocolate Lovers Tackle Box
Dylan's Candy Bar dylanscandybar.com
$26.00
a meat and nut sampler
Beef Jerky Gift Basket With Nuts
Sugar Plum amazon.com
$49.95
a fancy champagne cover
Black Leather Champagne Holder
N'Damus London wolfandbadger.com
$144.00
some fresh kicks
Men’s Court Royale 2 Sneaker
a cheeky card
Funny Valentine’s Day Card for Him
LailaMeDesigns etsy.com
$4.25
If You’ve Been Together 6 Months
Amazon
Now that y’all have been at it for half a year, you can loosen up a bit. Your dinner dates are no longer make-or-break, and let’s be honest, you’re probs more into low-key hangouts at this point. You’re comfortable enough to make inside jokes, and you’ve got a good grasp on what he likes and secretly dislikes, so use it to your shopping advantage. And FWIW: You can never go wrong with a Fire TV Stick so you two can stay in on the weekends and catch up on all your favorite shows together. Six months in, you probably can’t get enough of each other anyway and would rather stay in and chill (ah, young love).
This is also the perfect time to get him a quirky gift, such as beard oil or something inspired by your favorite show. If he has a hobby, like coffee or beer making, he’ll definitely nerd out over the sweet pot or growler below. And since you now know what his style is, you can pick out a nice shirt or cozy blanket for his place too.
If your love is still kinda new but not, like, that new, shop this sh*t:
a stylish puffer
Navigation Stretch Down Jacket
Lululemon lululemon.com
$248.00
a funny card
Funny Valentine Card for Boyfriend
PurpleTreeDesignsUK etsy.com
$5.59
a practical sleep set
Boss Eye Mask and Blanket Set
E Marie Travel getemarie.com
$148.00
a personalized prezzie
Custom Etched Growler
Rob Englert uncommongoods.com
$89.00
a nightstand organizer
Wooden Docking Station
a pair of rocks glassware
Leather-Wrapped Bar Glasses
Clear Home Design clearhomedesign.com
$129.00
something shiny
Square Box Chain Necklace
Mejuri mejuri.com
$150.00
some quality boxers
Modal Boxer Brief 3-Pack
Richer Poorer richer-poorer.com
If You’ve Been Together 9 Months
Leather Hide & Seek RFID Wallet
Bellroy amazon.com
$89.00
You never need to spend a lot of money on a gift, but if you’ve been wanting to spoil him with something a bit nicer, the day of lurve is a good excuse to spend a *little* more than you have before. If he loves jamming out, he’ll probably love some new earphones, or if his wallet needs an upgrade, get him a nice new leather one. (Like this bifold that holds 12 cards plus cash in its slim silhouette. It also has more than 1,700 raving customer reviews!)
If you guys have been saying the L-word, a six-pack of his favorite beer wrapped in a carrier that says “six ways I love you” is so cute, it hurts. And now that you know what he likes to smell like (and what you like him to smell like), a bottle of cologne or a shave set are both classic gift ideas. Other good bets are a cool pair of sneakers, a classy leather belt, stylish sunglasses, or a tech kit—especially if y’all are stuck doing the long-distance thing.
If you’re starting to feel like this whole thing you’ve got might last, consider the below:
nice cologne
Badlands Eau de Parfum
Scotch Porter scotchporter.com
$69.99
wireless headphones
Powerbeats Pro Wireless Earphones
Beats amazon.com
$249.95
$149.95 (40% off)
some cool sneaks
True Blue Sneakers
classic sunnies
Fleck Round Sunglasses
Ray-Ban amazon.com
$172.00
a shaving set
Shaving Kit
a nice leather belt
Handmade Leather Belt
KingsleyLeather etsy.com
$179.62
a romantic “six-pack”
Six-Pack Greeting Card Box (Set of 4)
Beer Greetings amazon.com
$15.95
a handy kit
Cognac Tech Kit
Pinch Provisions amazon.com
$26.99
If You’ve Been
Together 1 Year
July
Congrats on hitting the one-year mark!
Chances are you’ve already given him a handful of presents for other occasions and you might be running out of ideas. Time to get a little creative. By now, you probably feel more secure in your relationship and comfortable planning events in the future, like a trip, for example. Anyone could use a nice travel bag, and it’s the perfect way to hint that you want to plan something together (you never really know someone until you travel with them, anyway). This
nylon duffel bag features a protective laptop sleeve, tons of interior space and pockets to keep everything organized, and even a hidden pocket with magnetic closure. In other words, you might be stealing this one from him, just
saying. And even if you’re not exactly buying tickets to any far-off locales right now, a scrapbook to keep all your old ones in with plenty of space for future ones is a sweet way to store all your mementos.
For other gift ideas that you ~both~ can enjoy, try a low-key weekend road trip or a handy tray for working or eating in bed during a staycation. If you feel like splurging on your man, maybe consider updating his travel mug or watch.
If you and boo have an anniversary under your belt, get these gifts:
a multipurpose bed tray
Laptop Bed Tray Table
a low-key Airbnb
Modern Airstream With Amazing Views
Airbnb airbnb.com
$175.00
a sleek watch
Ada Bracelet Watch
Vitae London nordstrom.com
$299.00
a little massage oil
Oil No. 0
Maude getmaude.com
$35.00
an inspiring read
<i>Young, Gifted, and Black</i> Book
D.A.P./Lumpkin-Boccuzzi Family Collection amazon.com
a ticket keeper
Ticket Stub Diary
Chronicle Books amazon.com
$14.95
a heated travel mug
Travel Mug²
these camping essentials
Adventure Survival Kit
Uncommon Goods uncommongoods.com
$145.00
If You’ve Been Together 2 Years or Longer
Letters to My Love: Write Now. Read Later. Treasure Forever.
By this point, you don’t need anyone’s advice for figuring out what the guy wants because you know him better than anyone else. But where you might struggle is coming up with original ideas that you haven’t already given him for his birthday, the holidays, past V-Days, etc., etc. If you’ve been dating for a few years, the Valentine’s Day hoopla may not be all that exciting to you two anymore. But it’s still a perfectly good excuse to celebrate another year of being together. Sentimental gifts like a funny card with an inside joke or a journal of little love notes show that you care without having to spend too much money. This booklet comes with 12 blank letters and envelopes to be sent by mail and opened later on. Write your partner a little love note to brighten their day in the future. Does it get more romantic than that? I don’t think so.
You could also sign him up for a fun box subscription service that suits his interests. Or if you really feel like spoiling him, splurge on a gadget he’s been eyeing or a luxe sheet set.
If you two are super used to each other, spice it up with these things right here:
a sappy book
“What I Love About Us” Fill in the Love Journal
a gaming console
Switch Bundle
Nintendo walmart.com
$356.00
a portable projector
Black Mini Projector
Nebula amazon.com
$299.99
$249.99 (17% off)
fresh coffee
Single-Serve Pour-Over Packets
Boss Blend Coffee Co. bossblendcoffee.com
a new carry-on
Aviation Gray Luggage
Ebby Rane ebbyrane.com
$925.00
super-soft sheets
Luxe Starter Sheet Set
Brooklinen brooklinen.com
$90.00
a game for couples
The Couple’s Bucket List: 100 Date Night Idea Cards
playful wall art
“Flirting and Fries” Framed Print
Daniel Fishel o-fishel.com
$48.00
a cool bag
Nylon Belt Bag
Off-White nordstrom.com
$545.00
a camera set
Now+ Starter Set
Polaroid polaroid.com
$189.99
state-of-the-art cooking knives
Essentials Knife Set
Misen misen.com
$310.00
$150.00 (52% off)
a romantic scavenger hunt
The Scavenger Box
The Scavenger Box The Scavenger Box
$69.99
Brooke Shunatona Brooke Shunatona is a contributing writer for Cosmopolitan.com.
Mekita Rivas Mekita Rivas is a freelance journalist based in Washington, D.C.
Megan Uy Assistant Shopping Editor Megan Uy is the assistant shopping editor at Cosmopolitan, where she searches for the best products in all things fashion, home, beauty, sex, gifts, and more, so you don’t have to.