Gifts for Your Significant Other's Parents That Might Just Win Them Over

When it comes to holiday shopping, finding the perfect gift for your girlfriend or boyfriend's parents is often the most challenging of tasks. You're not just ticking this off your to-do list—you're also trying to impress your (potential) future in-laws and pave the way for a great relationship. Not sure where to start? Don't worry, it's not as tricky as it sounds. We've rounded up the most memorable presents for your significant other's parents whether you're meeting them for the first time or celebrating the holidays together. From festive keepsakes to personalized homewares, these thoughtful and creative picks will instantly put you in their good books.

Shopping for a specific parent? Check out these gift guides for even more great ideas.

• Gifts for your boyfriend's mom
• Gifts for your boyfriend's dad
• Gifts for your girlfriend's mom
• Gifts for your girlfriend's dad

Should You Buy a Gift for Your Partner's Parents?

Wondering if you should buy gifts for your significant other's family? When it comes to parents, the answer is most often yes. That said, you don't have to go over the top when buying gifts for a partner's parents. In many cases, a small token of appreciation (like a bottle of wine) is more than enough. If you've been in a relationship with your S.O. for a while and feel close to their folks, you can always go for a more personal holiday gift, housewarming present or anniversary gift for the parents.

FEATURED VIDEO FROM THE KNOT

Of course, every family approaches special occasions differently. If exchanging gifts isn't a big deal to your partner's parents, they might feel more comfortable receiving an experience, like a handwritten card or taking them out for dinner. Think back to previous holidays, birthdays and other celebrations to determine if they'll appreciate a present. If it's your first time celebrating together, err on the side of caution with something small, like a nice candle or a family board game. (And if you're still feeling stuck, you can always ask your partner for advice too.)

What to Get Your Significant Other's Parents

If you're shopping for something special to give your significant other's parents, we're here to help. We've rounded up the best presents for your boyfriend or girlfriend's folks, from gifts for your first meeting to holiday presents once you've secured a seat at the table. Below, you'll find options to suit every occasion and budget.

1. Illustrated Pet Pillow

Photo: Purr & Mutt

If your significant other's parents can't get enough of their pet, they'll love this adorable decorative pillow. It features a custom illustration of their furry friend and their name, against a background color of your choice. We can't think of a more fun and original gift for your girlfriend or boyfriend's parents for the holidays or another occasion.

2. Personalized Snowflake Ornament

Photo: Uncommon Goods

While ornaments are classic Christmas gifts for your significant other's parents, this wooden bauble is extra special. This bespoke holiday piece is designed using their family name, making it one-of-a-kind (just like a real snowflake.) It'll add the perfect finishing touch to their tree or wherever they choose to place it.

3. Monogrammed Beverage Tub

Photo: Mark & Graham

Personalized gifts are a great idea when you're wondering what to get your girlfriend or boyfriend's parents for any occasion. If they like to host, this monogrammed beverage tub will bring a stylish touch to their next celebration. It's made from enameled steel and features side handles to allow for easy transportation. Want to be even more thoughtful? Fill it with their favorite drinks so they can use it right away.

4. Etched Bottle of Wine

Photo: Mano's Wine

Need a small present for your BF or GF's parents? Give them a festive bottle of vino from Mano's Wine. The bottle is engraved with a colorful illustration of a Christmas tree, along with the message "Happy holidays" in shimmering gold. As for the wine inside, it's a California cabernet sauvignon that pairs beautifully with crackers and cheese. (Psst: If you're not shopping for holiday gifts, personalized anniversary bottles and retirement gifts are also available.)

5. Compact Cheese Board

Photo: Uncommon Goods

If your boyfriend or girlfriend's parents are foodies, they'll love this compact cheese board. It's made from bamboo and is shaped like a wedge of cheese that folds out into a swiveling server for charcuterie and other savory snacks. Bonus: The board also comes with a cheese knife and a fork in a sliding storage drawer, making it a practical present for parties at home.

6. Gourmet Coffee Subscription

Photo: Atlas Coffee Club

Awesome gift ideas for your significant other's parents don't have to end with the holiday season. A subscription gift is something they can enjoy for the next year (or however long you choose). If they like to start their mornings with a fresh brew, they'll appreciate Atlas Coffee Club. Each month, they'll receive a bag of the subscription service's premium coffee beans, along with tasting notes and brewing tips, delivered straight to their door.

7. Holiday-Themed Glasses

Photo: Personalization Mall

Looking for a thoughtful but inexpensive Christmas gift for your partner's parents? These stemless wine glasses are perfect for the holidays and won't break the bank. They feature a festive plaid design and can be customized with their names for a personal finish. If they don't drink wine, they can also use them for serving whiskey, Irish cream or another celebratory beverage.

Use the KNOT15PM code to get 15% off your order.

8. Family Recipe Book

Photo: Uncommon Goods

Here's a thoughtful gift for your significant other's parents: a DIY cookbook to store all their favorite family recipes. It's a present they'll cherish for years (and generations) to come. If you feel particularly close to them, you can add in a few of your own favorite recipes to get them started.

9. MasterClass Subscription

Photo: MasterClass

If your partner's parents already have everything you can think of, consider giving them a virtual gift instead. With a MasterClass subscription, they'll have access to hundreds of online classes on everything from sports to meditation to interior design. Each tutorial is led by a renowned expert (like tennis pro Serena Williams and professor Jon Kabat-Zinn) so they'll be able to learn from the very best.

10. Personalized Playing Cards

Photo: Zazzle

Every family has their own traditions, whether for the holiday season or other occasions throughout the year. If your significant other's parents enjoy getting competitive over a game of poker, they'll love this personalized set of playing cards. You can add their monogram or family name for a thoughtful present they'll be happy to go all-in on.

11. Digital Photo Frame

Photo: Amazon

The trick to finding gifts for your boyfriend or girlfriend's parents is to consider their personality and interests. Is their family the center of their world? Do they love it when you and your partner share pictures in your group chat? If the answer is yes, they'll treasure this digital photo frame as a holiday or anniversary gift. They can use it to view their favorite snapshots on a loop, like photos of their latest vacay or cute pics of their grandkids.

12. Thoughtful Wish Candle

Photo: Birthdate Candles

Nothing feels quite as luxe as a scented candle, especially during the holidays. Take things up a notch with one of Birthdate Candle's unique offerings and send your partner's parents peace, love, happiness and good fortune for the year ahead. Each candle is made from coconut and soy wax, with a hidden crystal inside to help attract all those positive vibes. Bonus: You can customize the label with their names for a thoughtful touch.

13. Pizza-Making Kit

Photo: Uncommon Goods

You can never go wrong with an edible present for your significant other's parents, especially if you don't know them that well. This gift set includes gourmet pizza dough, chili crunch topping and Uncommon Goods' best-selling pizza maker—basically everything they'll need to make their favorite snack at home.

14. Engraved Cutting Board

Photo: WalnutArtisanGallery

Searching for a great gift for your girlfriend or boyfriend's parents for their anniversary? This personalized wooden cutting board is a sweet way to commemorate their latest marriage milestone. It comes in several types of wood (including walnut, mahogany and bamboo) and can be etched with their names and wedding date for a thoughtful finish.

15. Bagel and Cream Cheese Kit

Photo: Farm Steady

Believe it or not, choosing a gift for your S.O.'s parents can be as simple as what they eat for breakfast. This baking kit is perfect for a pair who loves starting their day with bagels and cream cheese. It comes with (almost) everything required to make a dozen bagels and homemade cultured cheese, including flour, yeast, spice mix, malt powder, vegetable rennet and a reusable cheesecloth for straining the curds. They just need to add milk, cream and eggs from their pantry.

16. Unique Address Doormat

Photo: Personalization Mall

Why not give them a custom doormat with their address on it? It'll add a personal touch to their home, plus their guests (and favorite pizza delivery) will instantly know they're in the right spot. It's especially fitting if you're shopping for a housewarming present for your significant other's parents to get them excited about their new residence.

Save 15% off your order with this code: KNOT15PM.

17. Indoor Fire Pit

Photo: Uncommon Goods

This indoor fire pit is a really cool gift idea for your partner's parents, especially if you want to surprise them with something different. It's made from concrete and wood, and comes with a handmade base, a roasting pit, stainless steel skewers and a snuffer to extinguish the flame. Pair it with marshmallows and graham crackers for an epic s'mores night the whole family can enjoy.

18. Faux Fur Throw Blanket

Photo: Nordstrom

Thank your boyfriend or girlfriend's parents for welcoming you into their home with a cozy throw. This faux fur blanket is luxuriously soft and will add a layer of warmth to their sofa or bed. We're obsessed with the Chai Spice colorway, and it also comes in other shades like Stone, Rose Tint and Snow.

19. Online Cooking Class

Photo: Sur la Table

Don't show up to your significant other's parents' house for the first time empty-handed—or without a plan. Gift them an online cooking class where the price is per household so you can join them for a real bonding experience. Sur la Table's virtual lessons are frequently updated to reflect the season and include options for appetizers, entrées, desserts and even cocktails. You'll get bonus points for creativity with this interactive and educational gift.

20. Personalized Board Game

Photo: Personalization Mall

Add something special to family game night with this personalized gift for your boyfriend or girlfriend's parents: their very own edition of Clue. The vintage-style board comes in a book-shaped box displaying their family name for a touch of customization. It's a fun present that'll provide hours of entertainment during the holiday season and beyond. Prefer to get them another game? Scrabble and Monopoly sets are also available.

Want to get 15% off your order? Use the KNOT15PM code at the checkout.

21. Fancy Olive Oil

Photo: Flamingo Estate

Do your significant other's parents like to cook? Show them you know a thing or two about food by giving them this gourmet extra-virgin olive oil. The olives are grown by a fourth generation farmer in California and harvested by hand from centuries-old trees, before being pressed immediately to lock in their flavor. The high smoke point makes this oil excellent for roasting and baking, but it's also great for dipping bread into and drizzling over salads.

22. Storyworth Subscription

Photo: Storyworth

A Storyworth subscription is a sweet gift to give your significant other's parents, especially if you know them well (or want to get to know them even better.) Every week, they'll be sent a writing prompt to help them pen their own personal memoir. After a year of gathering their favorite memories, their written responses will be transformed into a hardcover book that's true to their word. Cool, right?

23. Wine-Chilling Sleeve

Photo: Amazon

Still stumped on what to get your boyfriend or girlfriend's family for Christmas? Wine is a classic option. Pair a bottle of their favorite vino with this handy sleeve that will keep it cool outside of the fridge for over 90 minutes. It's a thoughtful and practical gift that'll show you've put extra effort into the presentation.

24. Custom Home Portrait

Photo: JustArtinAround

A custom piece of decor is an excellent gift idea, even if your significant other's parents have everything. This beautiful print boasts a custom watercolor portrait of their home and can be personalized with their family name and address or the location's specific coordinates. Plan ahead so you can get this framed before handing it over for a special holiday or their wedding anniversary.

25. Holiday Mug Gift Set

Photo: Harry & David

Surprise your future in-laws with a fun and festive gift for the holiday season. This set includes mixes for three types of sweet treats—sugar cookies, mint brownies and hot cocoa with mini marshmallows—along with two cute mugs. It's a thoughtful present that'll add comfort to a cozy night in.

26. Art-Inspired Vase

Photo: The Met Store

A flower vase is a lovely gift idea, especially if you're not sure what to get your boyfriend or girlfriend's parents. Whether you're visiting them over the holidays or meeting them for the first time, this thoughtful gift will help you make an impression. It's made from glass and is decorated with Claude Monet's Bouquet of Sunflowers for a cheerful finish. It's an especially fitting choice for art lovers or anyone who fills their home with fresh blooms.

27. Smart Diffuser Gift Set

Photo: Pura

Candles aren't the only way to make their home smell like a hotel. With a Pura smart fragrance diffuser, your significant other's parents can schedule exactly when they want their living space to feel fresh. This kit comes with an app-controlled diffuser and two signature scents (Capri Blue's Volcano and Pura's Linens & Surf) for a citrusy touch.

28. Brass Wreath Hanger

Photo: Terrain

Give your significant other's parents a stylish (and clever) way to display their holiday wreath with this brass hanger. It features a bracket at the top that attaches to their door frame (inside works best) and a long leaf-shaped stem with a hook to hang their decor on. It's a thoughtful gift they can use for the festive season and beyond.

29. Online Mixology Class

Photo: Uncommon Goods

If your girlfriend or boyfriend's parents love to host, this online class will help them brush up their mixology skills. The 90-minute tutorial is led by a professional bartender who'll show them how to make three types of cocktails: a Cucumber Chili Margarita, a Left Hand and a Gimlet. They'll receive a simple syrup set in the mail beforehand, so all they have to do is provide the liquor. Not sure if they like cocktails? Get them another Uncommon Experience to suit their interests.

30. Chocolate Tic-Tac-Toe

Photo: Compartés

Your partner's parents may have raised them to not to play with their food, but this confectionery set turns that rule on its head. The edible tic-tac-toe game is made of nine luxurious chocolates, so they can enjoy some friendly competition before indulging in the sweetness. It's a unique take on a classic holiday gift that'll go down well after dinner.

Our team received [some of] these products as promotional samples in exchange for editorial consideration and independent review.