Christmas Gifts for Grandma
The best Christmas gifts for grandma bring the grandkids closer: framed art they made, a video book of their year that plays when she opens it, a planned visit, or a guided journal for her own story. Add one comfort pick, like a heated throw.
A note before the list: we make Tribute, the group video maker. Tribute is a group video maker that turns messages from friends and family into one surprise video, and our Tribute Video Book is one of the eight picks. The other seven are gift types you can find anywhere, chosen because grandmothers tend to use them, display them or both.
| Gift | Best for | Typical price |
|---|---|---|
| Framed art from the grandkids | The grandma whose fridge is full of drawings | $20 to $60 |
| Tribute Video Book of the grandkids' year | The grandma who lives far away | $149 |
| A planned visit or outing | The grandma who wants more time | $0 to $300 |
| Heated throw blanket | The grandma who is always cold | $40 to $100 |
| A brag book of photos | The grandma who shows everyone her grandkids | $25 to $60 |
| A guided memory journal | The grandma with stories to tell | $15 to $35 |
| Monthly flower delivery | The grandma who loves her garden | $35 to $80 a month |
| An indoor herb garden | The grandma who cooks | $30 to $150 |
What do grandmas want for Christmas?
Ask any grandma and you'll hear some version of "just the kids." Most of what she wants is time, news and proof that the grandchildren think of her. The best Christmas gift for grandmother shoppers is the one that delivers some of that, even when you can't be there in person.
There are a lot of grandmothers to shop for: an AARP study counts about 65 million grandparents in America. In the same study, 76% said technology like texting, video calls and photo apps is a primary way they stay connected with their grandkids. The clips are already flowing. The trick is giving her a way to keep them.
She may also value sentimental gifts more than you'd guess. Research in the Journal of Consumer Psychology found givers pick gifts that fit the recipient's interests much more often than recipients would prefer, when a sentimental gift was the other choice. With grandma, lean sentimental.
What are the best Christmas gifts for grandma this year?
These picks put the grandkids, the family's memories or her comfort first. Mix one sentimental gift with one practical one.
1. Framed art from the grandkids
Have each grandchild draw a picture, paint a card or write a short letter. Frame the best ones in matching frames, with each child's name and age written on the back. It's the easiest homemade Christmas gift for grandma, and the one she will hang first.
- Look for: simple frames with a wide mat, so even a crayon drawing looks like a gallery piece.
- Price: about $20 to $60 for a set.
- Time needed: a rainy afternoon with the kids.
Best for: Grandmas whose fridge is already covered in drawings.
Why it works: Kids' art changes every year, and a framed piece saves this year's version for her wall.
2. A Tribute Video Book of the grandkids' year (our pick, we make this)
Most grandmas see the grandkids in short clips on a phone screen, then lose them in a scroll. A video book puts those clips into a hardcover that plays the moment she opens it: the first lost tooth, the soccer goal, the "Hi Grandma!" from the back seat. She doesn't need to wake up a phone or find an app. She opens a book.
The Tribute Video Book is a hardcover with a 7-inch screen and built-in speakers. You upload the grandkids' videos and photos, a Tribute editor picks the best moments, adds music and cleans up the sound, and you watch it before it ships in a gold-foil gift slipcase.
- Look for: clips where the kids talk to her by name, plus a few photos from when her own kids were small.
- Price: $149, with the editing done by a Tribute editor. Check the Christmas order dates on the Video Book page.
- Time needed: an hour to collect clips from the family and upload them.
Best for: Grandmas who live far from the grandkids, or who don't do tech.
Why it works: Unlike a digital frame, it starts playing when she opens the cover, with no app, Wi-Fi or setup. Five gold buttons under the screen handle volume and play, and it recharges by USB.
👉 Get the Video Book for grandma
3. A planned visit or outing
Put a date on the calendar and wrap the plan: a weekend visit, a lunch with all the grandkids, tickets to the holiday concert. If you live far away, book the flight and hand her the itinerary.
- Look for: a date that works for the whole family, and a plan that doesn't require her to drive or host.
- Price: from nothing to about $300 with travel.
Best for: Grandmas who say all they want is more time.
Why it works: It gives her something to look forward to and tell her friends about.
4. A heated throw blanket
A soft heated throw for her chair turns cold evenings into cozy ones. Pick one with simple controls she can read without glasses.
- Look for: large buttons, auto shut-off, and a machine-washable cover.
- Price: about $40 to $100.
Best for: Grandmas who are always cold.
Why it works: She uses it every night in winter, and it's a comfort she won't buy for herself.
5. A brag book of photos
Order a small printed photo book of the grandkids, sized to fit in her purse. She will pull it out at church, at the hair salon and at every lunch with friends.
- Look for: a pocket size, a hard cover and one photo per page with the kids' names and ages.
- Price: about $25 to $60.
Best for: Grandmas who show everyone their grandkids.
Why it works: It's made to be shown off, and she will.
6. A guided memory journal
A journal with prompts like "What was your first job?" and "How did you meet Grandpa?" She fills it in over the year, then gives it back. It works as a gift to her and to the whole family.
- Look for: large print, short prompts and space to tape in old photos.
- Price: about $15 to $35.
Best for: Grandmas with stories the family has never heard.
Why it works: It tells her that her life is worth writing down.
7. Monthly flower delivery
Send a bunch of fresh flowers to her door every month, or every season if the budget is tight. Add a short note from a different grandchild each time.
- Look for: a local florist with flexible delivery and seasonal bunches.
- Price: about $35 to $80 a month.
Best for: Grandmas who love their garden in summer and miss it in winter.
Why it works: It keeps arriving long after Christmas.
8. An indoor herb garden
A countertop garden with grow lights lets her snip fresh basil and parsley in January. Pick a simple model with seed pods.
- Look for: a light that turns on and off by itself, and a water reservoir that lasts a few weeks.
- Price: about $30 to $150.
Best for: Grandmas who cook and garden.
Why it works: It gives her something to tend all winter, and it ends up in her cooking.
What are good Christmas gifts for grandma under $50?
Some of the best gifts for grandma cost the least, because they come from the grandkids:
- Framed art from the grandkids: about $20 to $60.
- A recipe card set: about $15 for cards she fills in with her best dishes.
- A guided memory journal: about $15 to $35.
- A brag book of photos: about $25.
- Handprint ornaments: under $10 in salt dough and paint.
What are good Christmas presents for grandma and grandpa together?
When you're shopping for both, pick something they share. A planned family visit, a framed family portrait or a video book of the grandkids all work, because they enjoy them side by side. Christmas presents for grandma and grandpa don't need to be two separate things.
Picture this. Grandpa hands Grandma the package because she's better at unwrapping. She lifts the cover and their youngest grandson starts singing "Jingle Bells," off-key and loud. Grandpa leans in, and they watch the whole thing twice before anyone else in the room gets a look.
With 91% of U.S. adults owning a smartphone, the parents already have the clips. For more ideas for both of them, see our list of Christmas gifts for grandparents.
What are personalized and unique Christmas presents for nana?
Whatever you call her, nana, grandma or gran, personal beats fancy. Christmas presents for nana that feel personal include a blanket embroidered with the grandkids' names, a framed drawing, or a video book with a printed message inside the front cover. Unique Christmas gifts for grandma come from the family's own life, and the best Christmas gifts for nana work the same way: nobody else can give her the same thing.
Compared to a store-bought candle or a box of chocolates, a gift with the grandkids' voices or hands in it ends up on her shelf, not in the cupboard. If you're shopping for her daughter or son too, see our guides to Christmas gifts for mom and Christmas gifts for dad.
How do you get a video book for grandma?
You gather the clips, and a Tribute editor makes the video. Here's how the Tribute Video Book works:
- Upload your moments. Add videos and photos from your phone or computer, up to 4 hours. Ask siblings to send theirs.
- We make the video. A Tribute editor picks the best moments, adds music and cleans up the sound.
- You approve it. Watch the finished video and ask for changes before it ships.
- It arrives playing. We load the video into the book and ship it in a gold-foil gift slipcase.
Check the Christmas order dates on the Video Book page before you start. Shopping for him as well? See our Christmas gifts for grandpa.
Frequently Asked Questions About Christmas Gifts for Grandma
What is the best Christmas gift for a grandmother?
The best Christmas gift for a grandmother brings the grandkids closer: framed art they made, a video book of their year or a planned visit. Sentimental gifts tend to mean the most to her.
What do you get a grandma who has everything?
Give her time and memories instead of things. A visit, a guided memory journal or a video book of the grandkids can't already be on her shelf.
Is a video book easy for grandma to use?
Yes. It starts playing when she opens the cover, with five gold buttons under the screen for volume and play. There's no app, Wi-Fi or setup, and it recharges by USB.
What can grandkids make for grandma for Christmas?
Drawings for a frame, handprint ornaments and short video messages are all easy for kids. Video messages can go into a video book she plays whenever she misses them.
What is a video book?
A video book is a hardcover book with a screen inside that plays videos when you open it. It holds your own clips and photos, so it keeps the family's moments in a book she keeps on a shelf.
What is a good Christmas gift for grandma from a grandchild?
Choose a framed drawing, a handwritten letter or a video message from the grandchild. Grandmas keep these for years, so add the child's age and the date.
Which Christmas gift will grandma show everyone?
She will show off the gift that holds her grandkids: their drawings, their faces, their voices. Unlike another sweater or scented candle, a gift made from the family's year gets brought out every time someone visits. Pick the one that brings the grandkids closest to her.
For the rest of the holiday, our guide to Christmas ideas has traditions, games and more gifts.
