- Mother’s Day is a great opportunity to show thanks for your mom or guardian through thoughtful gifts.
- However, not everyone has an unlimited budget – and, truthfully, you don’t need one if you’re willing to dig for the best under $50.
- I’ve done the legwork for you and compiled 50 of the best gifts under $50 to give this Mother’s Day.
- Still looking? Check out more Mother’s Day gift ideas here.
Editor’s note: It’s likely that many families will be spending Mother’s Day apart this year due to the impact of coronavirus. Nothing takes the place of time spent together, but if you’re looking to send a gift to Mom in lieu of a visit, we hope this list will help you find exactly what you’re looking for.
While most of us have outgrown the years where a misspelled card made out of raw noodles was pure magic, not all of us have the budget to gift Mom a diamond roughly the size of a deflated basketball.
Thankfully, most of the mom figures I know genuinely prefer something that says how much you love her, or how actively you thought about her needs, more than a high price tag. There are plenty of wonderful options that won’t cost you more than $50 – and 50 of them are listed for you below.
The top 5 best Mother's Day gifts under $50:
- A trio of succulents from The Sill
- A custom set of bodycare products from The Mad Optimist
- A Scribd membership
- A nice face cream from Maelove
- A personalized photo book from Artifact Uprising
A lightweight yoga mat
Gift a Manduka Eko Superlite Travel Yoga Mat, $44
Manduka is known for making some of the best yoga products, and this five-star-rated mat is no exception. If she loves fitting a yoga class into her busy schedule, she'll appreciate this mat. Not only does it have a great grip and come in plenty of fun colors, but it's super light, so she can easily tote it around with her to class and back.
A box of unique Japanese snacks
Gift the Bokksu Classic Gift Box, $49.99
If she loves to travel and experience new cultures through food, she'll love receiving a Bokksu Box. The classic gift box is filled with a selection of 20-25 unique Japanese snacks, sourced directly from artisan makers in Japan, so she can get a little more adventurous with her snacking.
A pure silk sleep mask
Gift the Slip Pure Silk Sleep Mask, $50
Give Mom a little bit of luxury with this silk sleep mask. Not only will it block out light and feel great on her skin, but it's made with Slip's proprietary Slipsilk which won't tug or leave creases on her skin.
A luxurious body moisturizer
Gift the Nécessaire Body Lotion, $25
If body lotion doesn't sound that exciting to her, Nécessaire's version will probably change her mind. The formula is simple - clean ingredients, full of nourishing vitamins, and quick-absorbing. It's so good we've fought over it.
A "book of the month" membership she can look forward to every month
Gift a Book of the Month Membership, from three months for $49.99
If she loves to read and isn't ready to go 100% digital, we can't recommend a Book of the Month membership highly enough. Each month, she'll find a curated selection of the best new hardcover titles spanning a broad range of genres. The mix of both fiction and nonfiction titles is sure to impress even the pickiest bibliophiles.
A beautiful bouquet of farm-fresh flowers she can keep in the house
Gift a bouquet from The Bouqs, from $36
You can grab her a potted plant if she enjoys caring for them over time, but another great option is sending her a beautiful bouquet of flowers that she can enjoy for a few weeks with minimal effort and then throw out. If you want to get her something more lasting, you can pick up a vase ($10-$249), too.
A Himalayan salt block she can use for just about every use cooking
Gift the Himalayan Salt Plate, $49.95
If your mom likes to cook (or, if someone else does the cooking and she just loves to eat good food), a Himalayan salt block may be a thoughtful gift. People love how they give meals enhanced flavor that can't be mimicked by a frying pan. Plus, the minerals in salt are supposed to give a more nuanced flavor than table salt, and the amount of saltiness will be regulated by the type of food (moist food absorbs more, fatty foods repel it).
Himalayan salt has a very stable crystal structure, which allows it to hold a temperature very well. Mom can chill it to serve as a platter for sushi or heat it over the grill or stovetop to cook veggies.
A good-looking, efficient cold brew bottle
Gift the Blue Bottle Hario Cold Brew Bottle, $35
Does mom love cold brew? Grab her this elegant glass cold brew bottle from the popular coffee startup Blue Bottle. It's slim enough to fit in the fridge without displacing anything else, and it looks much nicer than the plastic versions you'll find at a similar price point on Amazon.
Light bulbs that work with Amazon Echo or Google Home
Gift the Kasa Smart Light Bulb, $16.99
A smart light bulb is a perfect gift to get someone who's been getting more curious about starting their own smart home or just loves the perfect ambiance. TP-Link's bulb connects to the internet and can be controlled through a smartphone app, or a smart speaker like the Amazon Echo or Google Home.
A pro-level photo book
Gift an Artifact Uprising Custom Softcover Photo Book, from $15
These beautifully designed photo books look just like a personal magazine, curated by you for her - and full of 30 pages of your best and most cherished memories and people.
A personalized body care set that uses her favorite scents
Gift a personalized body care set, from $6
The Mad Optimist is a startup that makes all-natural, fully personalized body care products - from your preferred scents and ingredients to custom labels.
A lotion that uses technology to auto-regulate moisture throughout the day
Gift the Beautycounter Countermatch Adaptive Moisture Lotion, $49
Beautycounter is beloved equally for its clean beauty mission and consistently excellent and award-winning products.
This bestselling lotion not only provides up to 24-hours of hydration but actually self-regulates throughout the day to provide the right level of moisture. The formula uses breakthrough Bio-Mimic Technology to match - and mimic - the structure of skin.
A scratch-off that benefits charities
Give a card from LottoLove, from $5
When you scratch off a card from LottoLove, you won't win any money. Instead, you "win" a charitable prize that's donated to someone in need. There are four possible prizes, which help provide clean water, solar light, nutritious meals, or literacy tools. Each card costs just $4.95, but gives back in invaluable ways. To date, LottoLove and its charitable partners have impacted lives in over 60 countries.
A hidden gem $30 cast iron fry pan
Gift Large Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet, $29.99
The Victoria Cast Iron 12-Inch Skillet Fry Pan is the perfect skillet for cooking just about anything. It's well-designed, extremely affordable, and durable like you'd hope a cast iron pan would be. It has a long primary handle and a shorter secondary handle for steadying the pan as you carry or move it, and it has good depth and a wide surface perfect for searing steaks. The large pour spouts on either side make it easy to rid the pan of grease without any mess. It's also our top overall pick in our guide to the best-cast iron skillets.
A low-maintenance succulent garden
Gift The Sill Mini Succulent Trio, $45
The Sill is a relatively new startup that's making the process of choosing and buying house plants much easier. This succulent trio is just one of many plant and planter options you can choose from - you can even shop based on which ones are pet-safe.
If you'd prefer to go the traditional flower-bouquet route, we suggest checking out The Bouqs Co. and UrbanStems.
A set of sheet masks to relax and keep her skin hydrated
Gift a Too Cool for School Egg Cream Mask, $6
Make sure she has the fun tools to take a night off whenever she wants. These five sheet masks will hydrate her skin and keep it looking its best, but they're also just a lot of fun to put on after a long day - and it's nice knowing they were a gift rather than something she had to go out and buy herself.
Framed memories
Gift a Framebridge custom-framed art or photo gift, from $39
Moms really do love looking at pictures of their kids. Why not make an impactful gift by framing a family memory or a great picture of the two of you? Plus, sites like Framebridge make it easier by letting you customize each step of the process online instead of grabbing a frame from the store and having to figure out how to correctly size and print something yourself. Framebridge will guide you through the process and let you know if the resolution is high enough to look good on mom's mantle.
A pair of beautiful earrings she can wear with anything
Gift a pair of Mejuri Midi Hoops, $50
There's something satisfying about being able to afford to give your mom something delicate, luxurious, and special. Too often our moms put us first and themselves last, and something that isn't strictly "necessary" is a good way to make sure they feel pampered from time to time.
Mejuri is an Insider Picks favorite, and the Canadian company will likely be a new one of hers as well.
A coffee service that figures out what flavors she likes and gets smarter over time
Gift a Driftaway Coffee Set, from $44
If mom likes coffee, she might love Driftaway. The Brooklyn-based startup is helping people figure out which flavor profiles of coffee they really love, and then uses that information to customize shipments of fresh coffee to them that their taste buds should really love.
The first delivery will be a tasting kit to help determine what flavors she loves most. From there, the service will get smarter at catering to her preferences every time.
A silk pillowcase
Gift the Celestial Silk Pillowcase, from $35.99
Silk pillowcases reduce frizz and damage to hair and make it look shiny and healthy. They also reduce the likelihood of forming new wrinkles and they won't absorb skincare products as easily as cotton pillowcases.
This particular Celestial Silk pillowcase is one of the internet's hidden gems. It's $40 on Amazon and we rated it the best silk pillowcase you can buy in the Insider Reviews buying guide. Read a personal review here.
Storage engineered to keep herbs fresh
Gift the Fresh Herb Storage Set, $40
Fill these contraptions with just an inch or two of water and wilty, sad herbs will perk up. It should also fit inside your refrigerator door without complaint.
Dedicated makeup towels
Gift the Weezie Makeup Towels, $40
We've personally discovered Weezie's makeup towels are unexpectedly useful, and so will your giftee. These small, dark towels won't reveal unsightly makeup stains and they come in three cute embroidered styles.
A popcorn maker and a movie night in with you
Gift the West Bend Stir Crazy Popcorn Popper, $24.99
Bring over a comfy throw blanket she can keep and turn on Netflix for a quality movie night with your lifelong best friend. It's no joke that quality time goes a long way for a gift, especially when it's for your mom.
Board games and a fun night with the family that she doesn't have to plan
Gift the Watch Ya' Mouth Family Edition, $15.99
You may be too old to glue macaroni to a card and call it a present, but your mom still doesn't equate value with money.
If you grab a couple of family-friendly board games and head to your parents' place for a night in with them and your siblings, that might be the most memorable Mother's Day gift you could give. Bring along some flowers, chocolate, wine, or one of the smaller gifts on this list as a token offering as well. Then, offer to do the dishes at the end of the night.
An Echo Dot or Google Home Mini
Gift the Amazon Echo Dot, $49.99
Gift the Google Home Mini, $39
There's an ever-so-slight learning curve in figuring out what Amazon's Alexa can and can't do, but once that's passed, the Echo products can forecast the weather, read an audiobook, play music, order a pizza, tell Dad jokes, or any number of things Mom should find both helpful and fun.
The Dot is also kind of the entry-level Echo product, which is perfect if your mom is just getting used to the technology. If your family is already ingrained in the Google ecosystem for tech, you might want to grab the Google Home Mini instead for the same price.
A subscription to try out new and well-loved beauty products without having to find or buy them herself
Gift a Birchbox 3-Month Subscription Gift Card, $45
In general, subscriptions are some of the best gifts that you can give. A monthly treat can be a really nice thing to look forward to, especially when each delivery reminds you of your family. Every time an installment is delivered, your mom is reminded of how much you care.
Birchbox is a particularly good one for mom. It combines monthly deliveries of small personalized beauty and skincare samples with an easy-to-use e-commerce shop. Birchbox will send an assortment of highly-rated or brand-new items for her to test every month instead of having to go in blind to Sephora and buy full-sized versions. If she really loves something, she can buy herself a bigger size on Birchbox or elsewhere easily.
You can gift a woman's subscription gift card for 3 months for $45, 6 months for $84, or a full 12 months for $156.
The best reading subscription online
Gift a Scribd membership, $8.99/month
Enjoy unlimited access to hundreds of thousands of books, audiobooks, and magazines for less than $10 a month with Scribd (or $13 per month for access to Scribd and the New York Times). If she wasn't a bibliophile already, Scribd will make her one. I've been a subscriber for years and I think it's hands-down the best deal for online reading.
A new lipstick from a natural makeup company that she'll love
Gift the RMS Beauty Lipstick, $28
One barrier to smarter, healthier makeup is figuring out which of those natural brands out there actually do the job. One great and thoughtful gift for mom could be introducing her to a brand that actually works, and one which requires no research or risk.
RMS Beauty is a fan-favorite for its lipsticks on their own merit, with the clean ingredients as a huge plus.
Childlike cereal for adults
Gift all four Magic Spoon flavors, $39
Gift a Magic Spoon subscription, $35.10 per month
Magic Spoon is a new "childlike cereal for adults" that's high in protein and low in sugar - and all four flavors are delicious. If you want to treat your mom without incurring any dentist-related concerns, Magic Spoon may be a fun way to introduce her to a new brand.
A nighttime glycolic acid cream that's gentle enough for sensitive skin
Gift the Night Renewer, $27.95
Maelove was engineered by MIT grads as a way to democratize effective skincare -and its entire product line is under $30. The Night Renewer is one of Maelove's best products. It's a gentle glycolic acid night cream that's safe and effective on sensitive skin. Cofounder Jackie Kim told Business Insider this may be her personal favorite of the lineup.
A stylish toiletry bag
Gift the Dagne Dover Small Hunter Toiletry Bag, $35
Self-care should make us feel good, from beginning to end. A nice toiletry bag with ample smart organization is one way to make sure that 'beginning' and 'end' are clutter-free and beautiful. This bag is made out of a really cool neoprene material and comes in a variety of pretty colors, from a bright poppy red to more muted tones like the mossy green seen above. Dagne Dover is also best-known for its thoughtful, next-level organization.
A luxe diffuser that smells amazing and she can feel good about keeping out in the house
Gift the Snowe Rinse and Repeat Diffuser, $40
More stylish than a plug-in, this fresh floral diffuser uses custom-blended essential oils and will look nice, take up little space, and fill mom's house with a relaxing blend of Calla Lily, green leaves, and dew drops. I actually have one of these diffusers in my own house, and I love the look and how subtle but effective it is.
A cleaner, more efficient multivitamin
Gift the Essential for Women Multivitamin, $30 per month
Ritual is most known for its Essential for Women multivitamin, which fills in the gaps of women's diets and was inspired by founder Katerina Schneider's own experience of shopping for vitamins while she was pregnant. Earlier this year, it dug deeper into its original prenatal health roots with the launch of its second product, a prenatal vitamin. Regardless of where women are in their life, Ritual works to build health with cleaner, more efficient vitamins.
Wireless charging pads
Gift the Belkin Boost Up Wireless Charging Pad for iPhone, $29
Gift the Belkin Boost Up Wireless Charging Pad for Android, $56.62
We tested the Belkin BoostUp charger with several iPhones and Android phones, and it worked perfectly - which is why we ranked it the best wireless charger that you can buy. It looks great, has excellent traction so your phone won't slide off while charging, and it juices up any phone quickly.
Wireless charging is traditionally slower than wired charging, but the Boost Up pad with 15 watts of power should charge your devices faster - so long as they support fast wireless charging.
A Daily Harvest gift card for healthy smoothies and soups that take 30 seconds to make
Gift a Daily Harvest Gift Card, from $25
Help your mom start off 2020 on a healthier note with Daily Harvest, a subscription service that sends healthy, pre-portioned superfood-packed smoothies, overnight oats, soups, and more to your home either weekly or monthly. The food combinations are developed by a nutritionist and chef, and the company is backed by big names like Gwyneth Paltrow and Serena Williams. We tried the service's smoothies and really enjoyed them.
A next-gen hair wrap that uses threads finer than silk to dry wet hair faster and without friction damage
Gift the Aquis Chevron Weave Hair Turban, $30
These Aquis hair towels have become extremely popular in the last few years. They're designed with AQUITEX technology that uses ultra-fine fibers that are split into strands thinner than silk, so this towel won't grab at hair cuticles like regular bath towels that break and damage wet hair - which is when it's most vulnerable. It also claims to reduce drying time by up to 50%, which sounds hyperbolic until you've tried it yourself. This is the one I own and it works far, far better than I had even dared to hope.
A cute tea infuser
Gift the Fred & Friends Brew Bunny Tea Infuser, $9.99
Let mom take a cue from this reclining bunny and spend some time relaxing, sipping her favorite kind of loose tea (which you could pick up as an accompanying gift).
A streaming media player
Gift the Roku Express HD Streaming Media Player, $29.99
Roku's media streamers are the best in the business, and the Express is a good entry-level system that comes at an affordable price. Your giftee can stream TV shows and movies from all their favorite streaming platforms, including Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and many more. If you're able to spend a bit more, the Roku Ultra is our top pick overall.
A beautiful hand-poured candle
Gift a Brooklinen Wake Scented Candle, $35
Bring the fresh scents of a salty sea tide, kelp, and driftwood into mom's house with this chic, hand-poured candle from the ever-popular home startup, Brooklinen.
A reusable smart notebook
Gift the Rocketbook Reusable Smart Notebook, $23.14
Handwritten notes can help keep her organized and manage a seemingly endless to-do list. It's a $30 notebook, but surprisingly handy. It sends notes to the cloud so she can access them from her devices later, and wipes clean with a damp cloth.
The best pair of socks she's ever tried
Gift the Bombas Performance Tennis Ankle Sock 3-Pack, $48
They may just seem like a basic, everyday accessory, but socks are among the most underrated gifts you can give. Bombas spent two years perfecting their gym socks, and we think they got it right. With thoughtful innovations, like a blister tab and cushioned footbeds, her feet will notice the difference. Bombas also donates a pair to a homeless shelter for every pair purchased.
A rose-scented roll-on perfume she can carry with her and reapply when she's on the go
Gift the Kai Rose Perfume Oil, $50
Kai's rose perfume oil features a blend of gardenia wrapped in white exotics, layered with rose absolute, and comes in a small, easy-to-use roll-on vial. The rose scent packs an extra punch while remaining subtle and not overwhelming. We're big fans of the beauty brand, and we have a feeling your mom will like it, too.
A keepsake 'What I love About Mom' book
"What I Love About Mom by Me" Book, $9.95
You know she's the greatest, but maybe you haven't been telling her that enough. Fill this little keepsake book with all the reasons you love her, so she can always be reminded of how appreciated she is.
A custom quote print
Gift a personalized quote print, from $32
Spotlight a quote from her favorite film, book, or song, or even quote mom herself. There are many font colors, sizes, and frames to choose from.
A portable battery charger
Gift the Jackery Bolt Portable Charger, $29.99
Make sure your mom always has a fully charged phone, whether she's traveling, working, or running everyday errands. This is perhaps one of the best examples of an affordable gift with sizable, continual impact. Why not make her life as easy as possible? This particular external battery ranked number one in our buying guide for external batteries.
A personal-styling service
Gift a Stitch Fix gift card, from $20
Shopping isn't everyone's favorite activity - or, if it is, not all of us have the time for a trip to the mall. That's where the stylists at Stitch Fix come in. A great gift for busy moms, the service delivers the newest trends and styles to fit any occasion and price point.
A travel-planning service that does all the work for her
Personalize a travel itinerary at Journy, $25 a day
An expert trip designer will curate the perfect travel experience based on her interests and preferences, and can even help make hotel or restaurant reservations.
An REI membership
Gift an REI Co-op Membership, $20
An REI membership offers a lifetime of benefits for a one-time purchase. That includes 10%-back dividends, special offers, access to in-store REI Garage sales, and special pricing on REI classes and events. Find out more here.
A passport cover that will age well
Gift a Leatherology Standard Passport Cover, $30
Grab mom a beautiful leather passport cover that will age well and make traveling abroad easier. This one comes in 17 different colors, too. Leatherology is one of our go-to gifting shops, since the leather is high-quality, surprisingly affordable, and comes in beautiful gift-ready boxes. For a personal touch, monogram it for $10.
A stainless steel mug that will keep her coffee hot for hours on end
Gift the Hydro Flask Mug, $29.95
This mug is a common desk companion for the Insider Picks team. The 12-ounce coffee mug has the company's proprietary TempShield insulation that made its water bottles famous among outdoorsmen and the average person alike. This mug will keep hot drinks hot for up to six hours, and cold drinks cold up to 24 hours. Read a full review of it here.
Check out the rest of our Mother's Day gift guides
