Our Best Father's Day Gift Ideas 2023

As a personalised gift company catering to some of the UK’s most thoughtful shoppers it’s no surprise that Father’s Day is a very important occasion in the calendar year for us. Each May and June we are inundated with stories of first-time dads, soon-to-be-dads, honorary dads and dads who have lived through decades of Father’s Days. Our customers use their treasured photographs, private messages and snippets of memories to create keepsake gifts for dad which capture their most meaningful moments together. With all that in mind, we have a good understanding of the importance of Father’s Day and why it matters.

In this blog post we’ll be sharing some of our best gift recommendations for Father’s Day 2023, a little look into the origins of Father’s Day (and why we celebrate it in the first place!) as well as some key findings from our recent consumer research, including the most popular Father’s Day gifts across the UK and the ones that dads actually want.

What day is Father’s Day 2023?

In the UK, Father’s Day is celebrated annually on the third Sunday in June, which this year falls on Sunday 18th June 2023. 

Father’s Day is celebrated in June in many countries worldwide, including the USA, Canada and many European and African countries, however this date is not universally recognised. In Australia and New Zealand for example, Father’s Day is celebrated on the first Sunday in September (this year falling on Sunday 3rd September 2023) and in Germany Father’s Day is traditionally observed on Ascension Day, the fortieth day of Easter. 

While the date of Father’s Day does change every year, the regularity of falling on the third June Sunday is easy enough to remember. On the other hand the date of Mother’s Day, in the UK at least, can be tricky to keep up with!  Mother’s Day is rooted in Christian origins and in the United Kingdom it is celebrated on the fourth Sunday in the religious festival of Lent each year – simple enough so far. However, the dates of Lent are dependent on the dates of Easter, and the dates of Easter are determined by the moon, so you’d be forgiven for not being able to recite all upcoming Mother’s Day dates off hand!

Below are the UK dates for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day in 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026 and 2027. Note them in your diary now for safe keeping.

Where did Father's Day originate?

Celebrations of fathers and father-figures have taken place for hundreds of years and can be traced back to the Middle Ages, as far as 1508, when many European Catholics would hold a celebration feast on St. Joseph’s Day (on 19th March) to honour fatherhood. However, the annual celebration of Father’s Day as we know it today began in the USA in the early 1900s.

A young woman named Sonora Smart Dodd from the town of Spokane in Washington is credited as the founder of modern Father’s Day. When her mother very sadly died in childbirth, Sonora and her five brothers were raised by her father, an American Civil War veteran named William Jackson Smart. After hearing about a memorial church service in West Virginia, held on 5th July 1908 to honour the fathers lost in a coal mining disaster where 362 local men were killed, Sonora became inspired to campaign for an annual celebration of fatherhood. She was very close to her father and thought it was only right that there should be a recognised day to honour fathers in the same way that Mother’s Day commemorated motherhood. Following Sonora’s campaign, the first Father’s Day celebration was held at the YMCA in Spokane on 19th June 1910.

Father’s Day celebrations were slowly adopted across the country and in 1916 the US president Woodrow Wilson announced that he was working on plans to make it a national holiday in the USA. However, despite support from successive presidents and growing popularity for the occasion across the USA, the campaign for Father’s Day was not officially recognised by congress for another 50 years. Eventually in 1966 President Lyndon B. Johnson issued a proclamation designating the third Sunday of June as Father’s Day and in 1972 President Richard Nixon finally made Father’s Day an official national holiday in the USA by law.

Across the pond in the UK, Father’s Day is not a public holiday however it is a recognised part of the national calendar, with many UK families celebrating fatherhood and marking the day with gifts, cards and family activities. The celebrations were adopted in the UK sometime after the Second World War, following a mass-Americanisation of British culture where other American celebrations such as Halloween were also popularised. 

What are the most popular Father's Day gifts?

We recently conducted a survey of over 1000 UK shoppers¹ who are planning to buy gifts for Father’s Day this year in order to find out more about their preferences, habits and behaviours when buying gifts for their dads. When asked what kinds of gifts they usually buy for their father figures the three most popular Father’s Day gift categories were food and drink (58.24%), fragrance and grooming (45.85%) and clothing (45.35%).

64.14% of respondents said that they would prefer to buy practical gifts for their dads rather than emotive ones (which makes sense, given the practical – and somewhat safe – nature of the most popular categories) however a strong 32% named personalised gifts as a favourite choice when shopping – great news for a business like ours!

Top 10 most popular Father’s Day gift categories

At Create Gift Love the five bestselling, most popular Father’s Day gifts of 2022 were:

1. Personalised Metal Photo Keyring With Leather Case
2. Personalised Multi-Photo Leather Envelope Keyring
3. Personalised Leather Debossed Keyring
4. Personalised Leather 'Day You Became My....' Keyring
5. Personalised Leather Loop Keyring

Notice a pattern here? Despite the fact our full range includes a selection of gifts such as coasters, bookmarks, homeware and more, all five of our customers’ favourite Father’s Day gifts were from the keyring category. Given the results above, there’s a good chance this is because our personalised keyrings strike a balance between thoughtfulness and sentimental value, while also having a practical purpose – something we know is an important factor for a lot of Father’s Day shoppers. 

But what about the dads? What do they really want this Father’s Day?...

What Father's Day gifts do dads actually want?

Well, it turns out that our dads are not always as keen on practical gifts as we might think. In a second survey of over 1,000 dads and father figures² in the UK, we asked what kinds of gifts they actually want and what they value in a Father’s Day present. Although many of the categories most popular amongst dads echoed the categories chosen most frequently by our gift buying respondents (food and drink, tech, clothing, personalised gifts and grooming being the top five categories according to dads), only 15% chose “practical gifts” when asked what kind of present would mean most to them on Father’s Day (compared to 64% in the buyers survey). Most dads said they would prefer family time (45.85%) or emotive gifts (30.67%) instead.

And for the quarter of gift buyers that often opt for socks as their go-to Father’s Day gift, we’ve got bad news. Socks were one of the most frequently mentioned answers when we asked the group of dads to name the worst Father’s Day gifts they had ever received.

Should I buy a personalised Father's Day gift?

So, we know that dads aren’t always blown away by practical, emotionless presents. But what about personalised ones?

86.31% of Father’s Day gift buyers in our recent survey thought that their dads would enjoy a personalised gift, and over 70% of dads said they would prefer a personalised present over a generic one. When we asked the dad group to name both the best and most thoughtful Father’s Day gifts they’d ever received, personalised presents were a frequent response so maybe they are something to consider next time you are shopping for Father’s Day gifts.

You might be nervous about buying something overly sentimental for your dad, especially if you’re like the 64% who usually opt for practical presents. A number of the buyers who said that their dads wouldn’t enjoy a personalised gift mentioned that they were “cheesy”, “useless” and “a bit naff” and while this is a common perception, it isn’t always the case. The personalised gifts that we make at Create Gift Love are subtle and tasteful, made using quality natural materials and with understated customisations, plus many of them also have a practical purpose too, like our keyrings, coasters and bookmarks. They are a world away from the bright and brash novelties that some people may associate with personalised gifts.

So, if you’re asking yourself “should I buy a personalised Father’s Day gift?”, consider what’s holding you back. We might be biased, but we’re pretty sure your dad will be touched by the thoughtful gesture.

Father's Day gifts at Create Gift Love

With over a decade of experience in designing and making personalised gifts in the UK, we know a thing or two about Father’s Day at Create Gift Love. It’s our busiest time of year aside from Christmas, and Father’s Day orders keep our small workshop team busy for the whole month leading up to the big day on the third Sunday in June.

All our gifts are made to order in the UK, in our workshop in Ringwood, Hampshire. Each product is personalised and handmade from sustainably sourced wood and leather, creating high quality keepsakes to last. They’re also available quickly so if you’re like the 54% of shoppers who leave buying Father’s Day gifts to the week before then you needn’t panic as we typically dispatch the next working day and we also offer express next day delivery for orders placed before 12pm.

Next last minute gift ideas for Father's Day? Check out the blog.

Photo gifts dad will love on Father's Day

In our recent survey of Father’s Day shoppers, when asked of the best gift they’d ever bought their dad or another father figure, one answer that cropped up over and over was photographs and photo gifts. From photo books to keyrings, personalised photo mugs and picture frames, we’ve found that shoppers in the UK love to share family photos and memories with their dads on Father’s Day. Photo gifts are emotive, thoughtful and highly personal, showing dads how much they are loved and appreciated (which of course is the main aim on Father’s Day!).

These findings were no surprise to us at Create Gift Love; our all-time best selling product is our Personalised Metal Photo Keyring With Leather Case and every year it is a firm Father’s Day favourite. The handcrafted photo keyrings feature a stainless steel charm printed with a favourite photograph, which is encased in a leather cover, personalised with dad’s name or initials in traditionally debossed lettering. Customers also have the option to engrave the back of the keyring with a personalised message for Dad on Father’s Day, from heartfelt notes of love and thanks to private jokes and nostalgic memories shared.

Our leather photo keyrings for dad are available in tan brown, smart black and navy blue and we also offer versions which include up to four photographs if you can’t pick just one.

Best gift ideas for first Father's Day

As a new parent, those first milestone moments are hugely significant: the first family outing, the first time your baby smiles, the first time you celebrate Mother’s Day or Father’s Day as a new mummy or daddy. You only get to do “firsts” once, so if you’re responsible for making a loved one’s first Mother’s Day or first Father’s Day memorable, you’re going to want to find a special gift that’s fitting of the occasion.

One of our company “firsts” was our now-iconic personalised calendar keyrings. Originally designed back in 2012 as a save the date for Create Gift Love founders Tony and Emily’s wedding, this wooden engraved keyring is still a popular Father’s Day gift over 10 years later. Etched with a simple calendar design, marked with a special date, this keyring makes a beautiful heartfelt keepsake that new dads will treasure, celebrating the day they became daddy. 

Choose from solid oak, walnut, maple or cherry wood and personalise the keyring with a date, calendar caption and message engraved on the back. We also offer the keyring in leather if you prefer.

Looking for more first Father's Day gift ideas? Check out 7 Gifts That a New Dad Will Love.

Father's Day gift ideas from young children

A homemade present or card is a great Father’s Day gift idea if you have young children, especially if you’re on a low budget or you’re tight on time. Their dad will love to know the thought and time that’s gone into your kids making the gift and if they’re the sentimental sort (most dads are, secretly) then it’s likely they will hold onto these homemade treasures long after their little ones stop being so little anymore!

If you’re looking for an easy way to turn your kids’ artwork into a more practical gift take a look at Create Gift Love’s child’s drawing keepsake range. Our top picks for dad include our solid wood coasters and personalised leather bookmarks which can each be printed with a copy of your child’s drawings. All products from our kids’ artwork collection are made from high quality, sustainably sourced wood and leather and are typically dispatched the next working day so you can give dad a beautiful gift made from your child’s own artwork, even if you’ve left it to the last minute.

What to give an expecting dad for Father's Day

If you’re expecting your first baby and want to make Father’s Day special for the soon-to-be Dad (even if your little one isn’t going to arrive in time for June 18th!), a thoughtful keepsake gift to mark the occasion is a lovely way to make it memorable. Our bestselling photo keyrings are perfect for displaying a copy of your baby scan, giving the Dad-to-be a way to carry his first look at your little one wherever he goes.

These baby scan keyrings also make a really personal pregnancy announcement gift, perfect for surprising your Dad on Father’s Day with the news that he’s going to be a grandparent. You could stamp the front of the leather keyring with “Grandad” then print the scan photo inside, along with an engraved message announcing the little one’s due date.

Father's Day gift ideas for dog dads

For lots of households all across the UK, pets are a huge part of the family and at Create Gift Love we have seen a growing trend of customers buying gifts on behalf of their pets to give on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. Our top pick for the Dog Dads (or Cat Dads, Rabbit Dogs, Reptile Dads…) is the personalised wooden photo block which can be engraved with your pet’s name and printed with a cute pet photo. This gift is perfect for Dad to keep on his desk at work and is available in your choice of smart solid walnut wood or light maple.

Best Father's Day gift for my ex-husband

If you and your child’s father are separated, finding an appropriate Father’s Day gift for the kids to give their Dad can be a tricky one to balance. While your relationship with your ex-husband or partner is not what it once was, your kids still have a bond with them and in most cases that is something you will want to honour. You might not know the ins and outs of his hobbies and interests these days so finding the perfect gift could be hard to get right.

When it comes to Father’s Day gifts for your ex, letting your children pick out a personalised gift made just for him is a great way to alleviate any uncomfortable feelings. A personalised gift chosen by the kids shows your ex that thought and care has been put into the present and it allows your children to express their feelings towards Dad in their own words. Our personalised handwriting keyring, for example, is a great option: your son or daughter can write a note to their Daddy which we will print inside a handcrafted leather keyring. Dad will love the sentiment behind this thoughtful keepsake and it’s something he can carry with him whenever he goes, perfect for if he doesn’t get to see them everyday.

Best Father's Day gifts for Grandad

And don’t forget the Grandads! Father’s Day is also an opportunity to celebrate Grandads (and even Great-Grandads) and thank them for all the support, wisdom and encouragement they have given over the years. One of our most popular gifts for Grandad on Father’s Day is our range of personalised leather bookmarks – perfect for if your Dad or Grandad is a keen reader (or wishes he had more time to dedicate to books). You can personalise our leather bookmarks with photographs, names, messages and drawings to create a bespoke gift that Grandad will love. The leather bookmarks are also a great accompaniment gift to give alongside a new book for him to read over the summer.

Our leather bookmarks are printed in-house in the Create Gift Love workshop directly onto our beautiful vegetable tanned leather. They have a high quality finish and are presented in a luxurious black gift envelope, ready for handing over to Grandad on the big day.

Personalised message ideas for Father's Day gifts

Once you’ve chosen the perfect personalised gift for your dad or grandad, all you need to do is decide how to customise it. At Create Gift Love we give you the option to add your own messages and engravings on your personalised gifts, and the requests we receive each day range from the funny to the thoughtful to the completely bizarre (some private jokes are best left unquestioned!). If you’re stuck for words and struggling to come up with a personalised message for your Father’s Day gift then don’t worry, we’ve put together a list of some of the most popular ideas used by our customers to inspire you! 

• Daddy, we love you to the moon and back
• Forget sleep, we have way more fun when we are awake!
• [Date] - the day you became my Daddy
• Dad, I love you more than nap time
• Shh! Grandad is reading…
• Daddy and [kid’s name]: making memories since…
• This daddy belongs to…
• Daddy and [kid’s name]: like father, like son

Our most popular personalised message for new dads on Father’s Day is a list of your newborn’s all important details: name, time of birth, date and weight, for example: "Frankie, Born 15.01.21 at 10.22am, 6lb 9oz", along with a cute baby photo. Funny quotes that your little one has said, photos from your favourite memories shared together and simply the engraving of dad’s children’s names also make great ideas for personalised messages.

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References:

1. Create Gift Love: Father's Day Buyers Survey Results 2023, conducted May 2023

2. Create Gift Love: Father's Day Dads Survey Results 2023, conducted May 2023