14 Gender-Neutral Gift Ideas Anyone Will Love

A jigsaw is a cosy, screen-free project for a winter weekend. Ravensburger is the brand puzzle fans trust: thick pieces that click together firmly, a glare-free finish, and none of the loose cardboard dust that cheap puzzles leave. Choose artwork that suits them, such as a painting, a map or a city they love.

Best for

Homebodies and families who puzzle together.

Skip if

They have no table space to leave a puzzle out for a week. Choose a 500-piece puzzle or a game.

A neck light sits around the shoulders and lights the page without lighting the room, so readers can read in bed without keeping a partner awake. Glocusent's version has warm amber settings that are easier on the eyes at night, and it recharges over USB. It's also handy for knitting, camping and power cuts.

Best for

Readers who share a bedroom.

Skip if

They read only on a backlit tablet or Kindle. They already have light.

A two-player, cooperative version of the hit word game: you work together to find all your agents by giving one-word clues. Because nobody competes against anybody, it's a lovely game for couples, roommates and friends who dislike cut-throat games. Rounds take about 15 minutes.

Best for

Couples and roommates.

Skip if

They love competitive games. The original Codenames or a strategy game may suit them better.

Instead of recipes to follow, this book teaches the four elements that make food taste good, so the reader becomes a better cook for life. It's warmly written and beautifully illustrated, and it suits beginners and experienced cooks alike. There's also a Netflix series to watch once they've read it.

Best for

Home cooks at any level.

Skip if

They want quick weeknight recipes, not technique. A simple recipe book suits them better.

Supermarket spices often sit on a warehouse shelf for years. Burlap & Barrel buys single-origin spices directly from farmers, and the difference in flavour is obvious the first time you open a jar. Their curated sets make a beautiful, useful gift for anyone who cooks. It's a consumable, so nothing adds to clutter.

Best for

Adventurous cooks.

Skip if

They rarely cook from scratch. The spices will lose their freshness in a drawer.

Each box is packed with snacks from one country, with a booklet of facts and trivia about where they're from. It's a tasting trip in a box, and fun to open and share with friends or kids. A one-off box works well as a gift, so there's no need to sign anyone up for a subscription.

Best for

Curious snackers and families.

Skip if

They have serious allergies. You can't pick what's in the box.

In Pandemic, everyone plays on the same team to stop four diseases from spreading across the world. Because you win or lose together, there's no one left sulking at the end, which makes it great for couples, families and new friend groups. It's a modern classic that plays in about 45 minutes with two to four players.

Best for

Families and friend groups who host.

Skip if

They want a light party game. Pandemic takes some concentration.

Most sleep masks press on the eyes and leak light at the nose. The Manta's adjustable eye cups sit around the eyes instead, so there's zero pressure and complete blackout. It's a small, specific luxury that travellers, shift workers and light sleepers become loyal to.

Best for

Travellers and light sleepers.

Skip if

They sleep face-down. The eye cups can feel bulky for stomach sleepers.

A gold foil layer covers every country, and the recipient scratches off the places they've been. The map becomes a travel diary that doubles as wall art. It's a lovely gift before a big trip or after a gap year, and it gets better over the years.

Best for

Travellers and people who've just moved.

Skip if

They've barely travelled and feel sensitive about it. A mostly gold map can feel like a scorecard.

The ZZ plant has glossy leaves, tolerates low light and survives weeks without water, so it's an ideal first plant or office plant. The Sill ships healthy plants in a choice of good-looking ceramic planters, so it arrives ready to display. It suits every home and every person.

Best for

New homeowners, apartment dwellers and plant beginners.

Skip if

They have cats or dogs that chew plants. ZZ plants are toxic to pets.

Many people find the even pressure of a weighted blanket calming, and it helps them settle to sleep. YnM is a popular, well-reviewed brand with glass beads sewn into small pockets so the weight stays even. The usual rule is about 10% of body weight, so a 15-pound blanket suits most adults.

Best for

Anxious or restless sleepers.

Skip if

They run hot at night, or have circulation or breathing problems. Check with them first.

Trade matches the recipient with coffees from independent roasters based on a short taste quiz, then ships fresh bags on a schedule. A three-month gift introduces them to several roasters, and it's a gift that keeps arriving well after the holidays. They choose whole beans or ground.

Best for

Coffee lovers who like trying new things.

Skip if

They're loyal to one coffee and don't want to experiment. Buy them a big bag of their favourite.

Pendleton, the Oregon mill brand, has been known for its wool blankets for over a century, and a Pendleton throw is the kind of gift that gets passed down. The classic patterns suit a cabin, a city apartment or a reading chair. Wool is warm without being stuffy, and it lasts for decades.

Best for

Anyone you want to give something that lasts.

Skip if

They're sensitive to wool. Choose a cotton or fleece Pendleton instead.

A good-looking gooseneck kettle that heats to an exact temperature is useful for pour-over coffee and green tea, which scalds at boiling point. It can hold the temperature for up to an hour. It's the kettle coffee and tea lovers want but hesitate to pay for, and it looks great on any counter.

Best for

Pour-over coffee and loose-leaf tea lovers.

Skip if

They drink instant coffee or tea bags with boiling water. A regular kettle does the job.