Gift guide
Father's Day gifts for the dad who wants nothing
Quick answer: When dad says he wants nothing, give him time instead of another thing to store: a weekend off his usual jobs, a day out together, a meal he doesn't cook, or a job he's been putting off done for him. Add something small he'll use up, and a note saying why you chose it.
In Australia, Father's Day is the first Sunday in September. Ideas for any dad, a first Father's Day, an older dad, and gifts that still work at the last minute.
Who is it for?
Pick the part that fits, or read on.
Your situation
- A dad who wants nothingGifts that aren't more things.
- A first Father's DayFor a dad with a new baby.
- An older dadGifts that make everyday life easier.
- Running out of timeGifts that still work on the day.
What do dads actually want for Father's Day?
Most dads say "nothing", which usually means nothing he'd have to find a place for. Time to himself, a break from his weekend jobs and time with the family on his terms are safer bets than another gadget.
That might look like:
- A sleep-in, then a breakfast he didn't cook.
- A Saturday with no mowing, no tip run and no fixing things.
- The house cleaned without him lifting a finger.
- A day out, planned and booked, with the people he wants there.
Ask his partner, a sibling or a mate if you're not sure which of these he'd choose.
What to get a dad who says he wants nothing
Give him something he'll use up or do, not something he has to store, charge or set up.
- A clean of his home on a day he chooses.
- A weekend off: you take over his jobs, from the lawn to the bins.
- A meal out at a place he likes, booked and paid for.
- Tickets to the footy, the cricket, a gig or a show, with you along.
- A treat he'd never buy himself: a good bottle, a proper coffee, a book by a writer he likes.
Gifts of time
Taking a regular job off his list is one of the most useful Father's Day gifts, and one he won't think to buy himself.
- A cleaning gift card, so he can book a clean when it suits him.
- A month of one job done for him: the lawns, the washing, the Sunday cook.
- A day on a project he keeps putting off, like the shed, the garage or the gutters, with you doing the lifting.
- An afternoon with the kids taken care of, if they're young, so he gets time to himself.
A cleaning gift card is credit towards a clean he books himself, from $20 to $2,000. Anything left after one clean stays on the card for the next.
Things to do together
A day out together gives him the day and the memory, and nothing to dust.
- A game at the footy or the cricket, or a round of golf.
- Fishing, a bushwalk or a drive somewhere he likes.
- A class together: cooking, barbecue, brewing or woodwork.
- Breakfast or lunch out, with the booking made.
Experience-gift websites sell vouchers for many of these, but choosing and booking it yourself shows more thought.
Gifts for a first Father's Day
On a first Father's Day, sleep and practical help usually mean more than anything to unwrap.
- A morning to sleep in while someone else looks after the baby.
- Meals for the week, so nobody has to cook.
- Help around the house, now or once the baby is a little older.
- Something small to mark the day: a print of the baby's hand or foot, or a photo in a frame.
Our guide to gifts for new parents has more ideas for the first months.
Things he'll use up
Consumable gifts are easy to get right and never add clutter.
- Good coffee beans, tea or chocolate.
- A bottle of something he likes, from an Australian distillery, brewery or winery.
- Barbecue rubs, sauces or a cut from a good local butcher.
- A hamper of his favourite treats from a deli or bakery.
Last-minute Father's Day gifts
If the day has crept up on you, choose a gift that doesn't depend on shipping: something you send by email, book, or pick up on the way home.
- A cleaning gift card by email or SMS, sent straight after payment, or printed at home and put in a card.
- A booking: breakfast, lunch, a game or a class, with the confirmation printed out.
- Click and collect on the Saturday from a shop near you, rather than a delivery that may not arrive.
- A promise you'll keep: a written "voucher" for a job you'll do for him, with a date on it.
Ordering something to be posted? Ask the shop when it dispatches and order early in the week before, not on the Friday.
What to skip
Skip anything that creates work for him on his own day.
- A gadget that needs charging, pairing or setting up.
- Cleaning products or tools, unless he's asked for one. A clean is a gift; a pressure washer usually means a job.
- A family barbecue he ends up cooking.
- Novelty gifts he'll feel he has to keep.
Questions people ask
When is Father's Day in Australia?
The first Sunday in September. Australia and New Zealand celebrate in September, not in June as the US and UK do.
What do you get a dad who wants nothing?
Time rather than things: a clean of his home, a weekend off his usual jobs, a meal out, or a day doing something he enjoys with you.
Is a gift card a good Father's Day gift?
Yes, when it's for something he'll use or enjoy, like a clean, a favourite restaurant or a shop he likes. Add a note about why you chose it.
What can I give for a first Father's Day?
Sleep and practical help: a sleep-in, meals for the week, help around the house, and something small to mark the day.
Can I still get a Father's Day gift on the day?
Yes. A gift card sent by email or SMS arrives straight after payment, and a booking for a meal, a game or a class can be made the same morning.
If cleaning is the right gift
Give him a clean home and a weekend off
Choose an amount, add a personal note, and send it by email or SMS, or print it to give in person. He chooses the clean and the day.
Want to see how it works first? How gift cards work
You choose the amount and how it arrives. They choose their clean.