Gift guide · 12 ideas
Gifts for Dad under $20
Useful, well-made presents for his birthday, Father’s Day or Christmas that don’t need a big budget, from the garage to the backyard.
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A good present for Dad doesn’t have to cost much, whether it’s for his birthday, Father’s Day in June or a small one for under the tree at Christmas. Twenty dollars goes a long way on the small, useful things he’d never buy for himself: the tape measure he keeps borrowing, a reader for the check-engine light, a pair of loppers for the shrubs he’s been meaning to cut back since spring.
Each idea comes with our pick from one of our top lists, and every pick was under $20 when we checked. Prices move around, so it’s worth a quick look before you buy.
A leather wallet
The one he carries now has probably seen better days. A plain leather bifold with room for his cards and license is a present he’ll use every day without thinking about it.
HIMI Genuine Leather Bifold Wallet (2 ID windows)
$10–$20
A vegetable-tanned cowhide bifold with eight card slots, two more tucked behind them and two ID windows, so a license and a work pass sit face out. The hide is tanned with natural ingredients rather than chemicals, which HIMI says makes it kinder to the environment, and it comes in a presentation box.
What owners say: The best wallet they’ve carried, owners say, praising the leather, the stitching and how firmly it holds a full set of cards; after months of use some report no wear at all, though a few wanted something smaller.
A closer look: Vegetable-tanned leather darkens and softens with handling, so the stiff first week passes quickly and the color deepens over a year. Load the two windows with the cards shown most, a license and a transit pass, and keep the slots behind the main row for the ones used now and then.
- Vegetable-tanned cowhide leather
- 10 cards plus 2 IDs
- Comes in a gift box
An everyday cologne
For the dad whose only bottle of cologne dates back to a wedding in the nineties. Light and clean, it’s a scent he can wear to work or to church without anyone noticing it from across the room.
Nautica Voyage Eau de Toilette (3.3 fl oz)
$10–$20
Green apple and a watery lotus note over cedar, musk and amber, light and clean rather than loud. It suits someone who’s never worn a fragrance, and makes a handy desk-drawer spare for someone who has.
What owners say: Owners like a scent that’s neither too strong nor too faint, think it’s a good value and wear it every day, and several say it draws compliments; how long it lasts is where they disagree, all day for some and not for others.
A closer look: A fresh scent like this fades sooner than a woody amber, so a spray on the chest under a shirt as well as the neck holds it longer, and a second spray after lunch is normal. The 6.7 fl oz bottle works out cheaper per ounce if it becomes a habit.
- 3.3 fl oz bottle
- Green apple, water lotus, cedar
- A first cologne to try
A long tape measure
Every weekend project starts with a measurement, and with a tape of his own he’ll stop borrowing yours or hunting for his old one.
DEWALT Atomic Compact 30 ft Tape Measure (DWHT38130S)
$10–$20
Thirty feet of blade in a case DEWALT says has a 20% more compact grip, with a finger brake built into the case to control the blade as it returns and up to 13 feet of reach before the blade folds.
What owners say: Owners say it’s tough enough to survive serious drops, easy to read and accurate, and long enough for whole rooms without being bulky. The blade comes back under control rather than snapping home.
A closer look: A whole living room, corner to corner, or a run of fence takes one pull, and the long reach spans a ceiling or a doorway without a helper. Feather the finger brake as the blade comes home, so the hook doesn’t slam into the case.
- 30 ft blade
- Slide lock and finger brake
- Reaches 13 ft before bending
A drill bit set
Every dad with a drill has a coffee can of mismatched, dull bits. A fresh set in a case, sizes marked on every one, means the next hole goes exactly where he wants it.
DEWALT Black and Gold Drill Bit Set, 14 Pieces (DWA1184)
$10–$20
Fourteen HSS bits from 1/16 to 1/2 inch, with a 135° split point that bites where it’s placed, a 3-flat shank that won’t spin in the chuck on the bigger sizes, and the size stamped on every shank. The 1/8-inch bit, the one that gets the most use, comes twice.
What owners say: Owners say the bits go through hard steel and keep their edge, and the case holds every size a household needs. Some had a bit or two break in use.
A closer look: Run small bits fast and large ones slow, and back the bit out every few seconds in deep holes to clear the chips; a drop of oil helps in steel. Clamp thin sheet metal to a scrap of wood so the bit doesn’t grab it on the way through.
- 14 bits, 1/16–1/2 in
- For metal, wood, plastic
- Sizes stamped on every shank
A magnetic stud finder
He’s the one asked to hang every shelf and picture in the house. This one is ready on the day he finally gets around to it, with nothing to charge first.
The StudBuddy Magnetic Stud Finder
Under $10
No batteries and nothing to calibrate: slide it across the wall and its neodymium magnets stick where the screws or nails go into a stud, then it hangs there while you mark the spot or put something up.
What owners say: Reliable even on 1960s drywall, by owners’ accounts, and with no batteries to die it earns a permanent place in the toolbox. Magnet strength is the split: very strong for some, too weak to stick for others.
A closer look: Drywall is screwed along the length of each stud, so once it sticks, slide it up or down to find the next screw and confirm the line. It’s made for drywall, not older lath and plaster, and it won’t warn of wires or pipes.
- No batteries needed
- Finds studs via screws, nails
- Hangs on the wall
An engine code reader
The check-engine light comes on and he wants to know whether it’s a loose gas cap or a trip to the shop. This plugs in under the dash and tells him what the code means before anyone quotes him for it.
VDIAGTOOL VD10 OBD2 Code Reader
$10–$20
A small reader for the glove box that reads generic and maker-specific engine codes, pending ones included, and looks up their meaning in a built-in library of more than 3,000 codes. It also shows live sensor data and the freeze frame.
What owners say: Owners are surprised how much it does, find it easy to operate and handy to keep at home, and say it tells them exactly what’s going on; where it shows only a code, a quick search fills in the rest. A few found it wouldn’t link up with every car.
A closer look: Its two-line screen is backlit with adjustable contrast, which helps under a dark dashboard. It also reads out the car’s VIN and calibration IDs, a useful check that the engine computer matches the car when buying used.
- Shows what codes mean
- Live engine data
- Reads pending codes too
A pocket emergency radio
Storm season comes around and he’s the one checking the flashlights by the door. This goes right beside them, ready for the night the power goes out.
Emgykit Pocket Hand Crank Radio (AM/FM/NOAA)
$10–$20
Pocket-size, about 5 by 2 by 2.5 inches and half a pound, so it fits a glove box, a go-bag or a desk drawer at work. It still gets the NOAA weather band, charges by crank, sun or USB-C, and has a three-LED flashlight and an SOS siren.
What owners say: Easy to tuck into a bag, a basement shelf or an emergency kit, owners say, with clear sound and a bright light; some call it a tiny powerhouse, others find it smaller than they pictured.
A closer look: Hold the SOS button for three seconds and it sounds a siren of over 80 decibels to draw attention. It charges from a laptop’s USB port as well as a wall charger, so an afternoon at the computer is enough to top it up.
- Crank, solar or USB-C
- AM, FM and weather bands
- Weighs about half a pound
Heads up: With a 2,000mAh battery it gives a phone a top-up rather than a full charge, so keep it for the radio and light first.
View on Amazon See our top 5 hand-crank radios →A wireless charging stand
His charging cable is always the one that wanders off to someone else’s room. A stand on his nightstand is one nobody walks off with.
INIU 15W Wireless Charger Stand
$10–$20
Two charging coils mean the phone charges wherever it sits on the stand, upright or sideways, and the light dims in the dark so it won’t keep a light sleeper awake.
What owners say: Owners are pleased with its everyday charging. Speed and case compatibility are hit and miss, though, and a number of buyers saw theirs die after a week or within a few months.
A closer look: It sets its speed to suit each phone, up to 15W on some Androids and 7.5W on an iPhone, so it works as the shared charger in a house full of different phones. A flashing light means it has found a coin or keys on the stand, so clear them off.
- Charges any wireless-charging phone
- Up to 15W charging
- Light dims in the dark
A pair of loppers
For the Saturday he finally tackles the overgrown shrubs and the branch hanging over the driveway. Long handles cut thicker wood than pruners and save him a trip up the stepladder.
Fiskars 28-Inch Bypass Loppers
$10–$20
Hardened steel bypass blades slice cleanly through live branches up to 1.5 inches thick, and shock-absorbing bumpers stop the orange handles from jarring together at the end of each cut. At 28 inches it reaches into the middle of a shrub or up to the lower limbs of a tree.
What owners say: Owners say the blades go through branches like butter and keep their edge season after season, and they call it light, solidly made and close to unbreakable.
A closer look: Bypass blades leave a clean cut that heals well, so these are the ones for living branches on trees, roses and shrubs; cut just outside the collar where a branch meets the trunk. Wipe the sap off after use, and when the edge finally goes, the blades can be replaced rather than the whole tool.
- Cuts up to 1.5-inch branches
- 28 in long, bypass blades
- Lifetime warranty
A camping hammock
Dads rarely get to lie down on a summer afternoon. Strung between two backyard trees, or at the campsite on the family trip, this is his spot, and it can live in the trunk between outings.
AnorTrek Parachute Camping Hammock with Straps (double)
$10–$20
Up in about 90 seconds: two 8.2 ft straps with six loops each let you adjust the height without knots, and at 1.6 lb it’s barely noticed in a backpack.
What owners say: Setup is easy and it packs neatly into its bag, light enough to forget about in a backpack; one owner even uses it as a windbreak. The straps split opinion, strong to most but not to all.
A closer look: Wrap a strap around each trunk, feed the end through its own loop and clip on the carabiner, then move it a loop up or down until the hammock hangs where you want it. Light enough to live in a backpack, it’s an easy one to bring on any walk with a view.
- Holds up to 500 lb
- Weighs 1.6 lb
- No knots needed
A fleece robe
On cold weekend mornings he pads around in an old sweatshirt. This one is soft fleece, with pockets deep enough for his phone and the TV remote.
Yurhap Plush Fleece Robe
$10–$20
A soft shawl-collar fleece robe that’s warm without being heavy, with two large, deep front pockets for a phone or cold hands and an adjustable belt. It reaches the calf and is cut loose, with room to move.
What owners say: Owners find it true to size, with a good length for taller frames, warm, and neither too light nor too heavy; several find it on the thin side.
A closer look: Wash it once before the first wear, as Yurhap suggests, to cut down on early shedding, then keep to a cold wash with similar colors and a low tumble. The loose cut leaves room for a sweatshirt underneath on the coldest mornings.
- Plush polyester fleece
- Cold wash, low tumble dry
- Two deep front pockets
Rechargeable work lights
Under the kitchen sink, he ends up holding his phone’s flashlight in his teeth. A light that sticks where he needs it leaves both hands for the wrench.
Coquimbo Rechargeable LED Work Light Flashlight (2-pack)
Under $10
Two folding flashlights with a magnetic base and a hook, for close work under a sink, inside an engine bay or behind the washer. The head swivels all the way around, and a long press switches to a red light or a red flash.
What owners say: Owners reach for them most for car work and like having two strengths of white light. The magnet, the battery and how long they last all get mixed reports, and a few found them smaller than they pictured.
A closer look: Keep one in the car’s door pocket and the other in a kitchen drawer, so there’s always a light for a flat tire or the breaker box. The rubber finish grips well with oily hands, and the red flash doubles as a warning light at the roadside.
- Two lights in the pack
- 5 modes including red
- Head swivels 360°
Heads up: These are pocket-sized, about 5.8 in long folded, so they light the job in front of you rather than a whole garage.
View on Amazon See our top 5 LED work lights →Tips for Dad on a budget
- Think about where he spends his Saturdays, the garage, the yard, the car or the couch, and pick something that fixes a small, everyday annoyance there. For Father’s Day in June, the loppers and the hammock get used right away; at Christmas, the fleece robe and the emergency radio suit the winter ahead.
- The code reader plugs into the OBD2 port that every car and light truck sold in the US since the 1996 model year has under the dash, so unless he drives a classic, it will fit.
- Check that his phone charges wirelessly before buying the stand: every iPhone from the iPhone 8 on does, and so do most recent Android flagships.
Photos are illustrative, some computer-generated. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. It costs you nothing extra. How we pick · How this works.
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