Men's Gift Basket Ideas

Gift Baskets for Men: 100 Ideas to Put In a DIY Gift Basket for Him

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You can buy pre-packaged gift baskets for men, but that’s boring.

He deserves better than that, and you know it.

Instead, come up with your own customized gift basket for him. Today, we’re going to give you 100 ideas to put into a DIY gift basket for a special man in your life.

Let’s go!

Gift Baskets for Men

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Here’s the game plan for this article:

  1. Choose a basket
  2. Pick a theme
  3. Items to put in the gift basket
  4. Customized ideas:
    • Personalized gift baskets
    • Gift baskets for boyfriend
    • I love you gift baskets
    • Tactical gift baskets
    • …. and so on

Step 1: Choose a Basket

The first thing you’ll need to create a customized gift basket for him is…. a basket.

Of course it doesn’t have to be a literal basket. You can use all sorts of containers, including one that is part of the gift, or simply do a cardboard box.

Here are some ideas:

  • Basket
  • Picnic basket
  • Cardboard box (pile everything into a cardboard box and decorate or wrap it)
  • DIY basket (cut the top off a cardboard box and decorate it or line it with something)
  • Six-pack container (perfect for a collection of six gifts)
  • Metal beverage tub
  • Wooden crate
  • Plastic tub
  • Decorative fabric bin
  • Wooden serving tray
  • Toolbox

Step 2: Choose a Theme

One of the things in favor of giving a gift basket is that you can give him all those little trinkets and accessories he’s been wanting. Typically this involves a hobby or interest.

Here are a few theme ideas to get you thinking:

  • Food
  • Beverage
  • Chocolate/sweets
  • Video games
  • Movie
  • Music
  • Books
  • Sports
  • Collecting
  • Tools
  • Tactical
  • Camping
  • Fishing/hunting

You get the idea. Well, you know him best, so get thinking!

Next, we’ll talk about actual stuff to put into your giftable creation.

Step 3: Find Items to Put in a Guy’s Gift Basket

The cool thing about gift baskets is: Anything that fits into a basket is fair game!

This might include:

Clothes & Accessories

  • Socks
  • Ties
  • Bow ties
  • Belt
  • Suspenders
  • Cuff links
  • Watch
  • Jewelry
  • Aviator sunglasses
  • Smart watch / Fitness tracker
  • T-shirts – funny, personalized, favorite characters, etc
  • Beanie/skull cap
  • Newsboy hat

Guy Stuff

Tools

Sports

Collectibles

  • Plastic sleeves for cards, comics, photos, coins, stamps
  • Books/albums for cards, coins, or stamps
  • Display cubes for special items
  • Niche collecting magazine (and subscription)
  • Guidebooks / value guides
  • Figurines of his favorite characters
  • Engraved name plates for special items
  • Mug, t-shirt, or sign that says “Not all who wander are lost. Some are looking for [old stamps, baseball cards, cool rocks, seashells, etc].”

More Fun Stuff

Customized Gift Baskets for Him

Now it’s time to get a little more specific and thematic with how you curate his basket.

Customize the perfect gift basket for him with one of these personalized ideas or specialty themes.

Personalized Gift Basket Ideas

Your DIY gift basket is going to be personally tailored just for him. Here are some ideas to take the “personalization” to the next level by including an extra-special custom gift.

Click here for some more personalized options just for him!

Gift Baskets for Boyfriend

He’s stuck with you when you’ve been less than perfect, he’s likely seen you sick at this point at least once, he hasn’t been scared off by any mood swings you may or may not have had, and well, your boyfriend would LOVE a gift basket. What kind of guy is your man anyway? Read on for some ideas for different themes and personalities and find one that fits the bill.

I Love You Gift Baskets for Him

Think romantic and swoon-worthy (men can swoon too, can’t they?). Fill with:

  • A bottle of champagne or wine (or sparkling cider if he doesn’t drink alcohol)
  • A nice bottle of massage oil/lotion
  • Handwritten coupons for your services (these can be naughty or nice!)
  • Aphrodisiacs like dark chocolate, figs, strawberries, or spicy chili peppers
  • A personalized robe (think thick and lush like you would find in a spa)
  • Aftershave or cologne
  • A book of poetry
  • Portable Bluetooth speakers along with a curated playlist of “mood” music
  • A DVD or Blu-ray of the first movie you ever watched together

Tactical Gift Baskets

But what to gift the manly man? The hunter (of your heart), the fishermen (of your dreams), or the outdoorsman (of your fantasies)?

Don’t fret; even the most lumberjack of men secretly love a good gift basket. Here’s what to consider putting in yours!

Note: A basket will be fine, but think about how much more he would love a manly, macho vessel. Something like a new YETI cooler, a toolbox, a fishing tackle box, or even a super cool 007-style briefcase instead!

Any of those will make the perfect container for the following:

  • Night vision goggles
  • A personalized pocket knife
  • LED flashlights (with batteries)
  • Military decals for his car
  • Wool socks
  • New boots
  • A compass
  • Waterproof watch
  • Good quality work gloves
  • A subscription to a magazine (Military or US History, or tailor to fit his hobbies)
  • Speaking of history, History by Mail is a really cool idea
  • An annual pass to the nearest state park
  • An annual pass to the nearest Military History Museum or Aviator Museum
  • Books on espionage or autobiography of his favorite soldier/historian/war hero

Beef Jerky Gift Baskets

Unless he’s a vegetarian, your man loves himself some beef jerky. There’s just something manly about tearing into some bovine with your strong pearly whites. Give him one of these baskets and he just may bang his chest and drag you off to his cave of love.

There’s no science to this one! Pick your basket and fill to the brim with all the varieties you can find. Don’t forget to get some off-the-wall varieties, like Hot and Spicy, or jerky made from something more exotic than beef: alligator, bison, and antelope are tasty options. Try to add in some locally made ones as well.

Mix in a few things that go well with jerky. This might be fruit, beer, cheese. Or include some camping/hunting/outdoors themed trinkets, like a travel mug, multi tool, pocket knife, hunting targets, ammunition, maybe a funny hunting t-shirt, and so on. He’s going to love it!

Homemade Gift Baskets for Men

Nothing says I love you like something homemade! These ideas to fill a homemade gift basket are sure to please, and some are easy enough for the kiddos to help with.

  • Cookie Basket. Fill with homemade varieties, all shapes and sizes. You could even make the basket itself out of cookie dough! (Hey, we’ve seen The Great British Baking Show. We know it’s possible.)
  • Photo Gift Basket. Scour your scrapbooks, albums, phone, that old digital camera, and every other place you’ve hoarded away your photographs. Print out the best and frame in simple frames from the dollar store, the thrift store, or have the kids make their own frames out of popsicle sticks!
  • Dinner Basket. A baguette, honey butter, pasta sauce, pasta, a bottle of his favorite beverage, and a chocolatey dessert. All or nearly all, homemade of course! All he needs now is a plate and you to share it with. Or better yet, take him out on a picnic date!
  • Soap Basket. Know how to make soap? Whip up a manly batch with manly scents like pine, rosemary, coffee, allspice, scotch whiskey, and the like.

Men’s Spa Gift Baskets

Men might not admit to loving pampering as much as women do, but we’re confident they’re just being shy about it. Your hardworking deserves to be taken care of! And he’s going to smell so much better after this basket too. Win-win! Fill your Spa Gift Basket with:

  • Handmade & Organic Soap
  • A plush robe
  • Flipflops
  • Lotions (with manly guy-scents)
  • Hair products (shampoo, conditioner, gels)
  • A new razor (trust us, he needs one)
  • Aftershave
  • Cologne
  • Nail clippers, file, and cuticle cream
  • Bubble bath
  • A face mask
  • A gift certificate to a salon or for a massage

Alcohol Gift Baskets for Men

Consider using an ice bucket for the “basket.” Fill it (or your more traditional basket/box) with his favorite beverage.

This might be a specialty craft beer, a fine bottle of bourbon, or a rare wine. If he’s into mixed drinks, include everything he needs to make his favorite cocktail.

After you’ve chosen the bottle to serve as the centerpiece of the gift basket, add some accessories.

Here are some great alcohol gift basket ideas:

There you have it! Well over 100 ideas for thoughtful, creative, fun, delicious, personalized, and sometimes completely random things to put into a manly gift basket. He’ll love your curated basket of fun, so get to it!

Read Next: How to Give Thoughtful Gifts

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Men's Gift Basket Ideas

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