The 36 Best Personalized Gifts for Men in 2023

GETTY

Getting a personalized gift for women may seem easier to accomplish than men. There's jewelry, handbags, beauty products galore. Men? That can leave even the most thoughtful of fiancées, wedding parties, and loved ones stumped. Thankfully, from cuff links to robes, whiskey to word art, there's no shortage of amazing monogrammed or otherwise personalized presents to pick out for the groom.

"After the stress of planning a wedding, the thought and care your partner put into choosing your forever ring, and the excitement of spending your lives together, a groom's gift can be a thoughtful way to connect with your soon-to-be spouse and gift him something special to wear on the big day," said Kayla Hoey, owner of Kiss the Ring Events. Customized gifts are also a great move for friends and family members of the groom. "Many times registry items are household items, or more recently, donations to a honeymoon fund," said Hoey, adding that a personalized gift from friends and family can be very special if it is not clutter.

Meet the Expert

Ahead, here are some of our best practices for selecting the perfect personalized gift for your main guy. P.S. All of these gifts make for great gifts for your best man, or even all your groomsmen, too.

Read on for the best personalized gifts for men.

Minted

Price at time of publish: $41+

Part of the exclusive minted + BRIDES Gifts Collection, we love the idea of surprising your husband on your upcoming wedding day with a custom map with a foil heart designating your home, wedding venue, or the place you first met. All you have to do is type in the address, and you’ll be presented with a map to preview and select your preferred area.

Designer Dram

Price at time of publish: $149+

The discerning tippler will be thoroughly pleased upon receiving this gift from what bills itself as the world's first luxury online distillery that lets customers craft every element of their custom bottle of whiskey. We’re talking barrel selection, and the bottle label with nearly 30 design options (you can opt for a monogram, name(s), initials, and/or wedding date). The whiskey is shipped off to the lucky recipient in a 750 ML glass decanter made in Italy, and we hear this makes an excellent gift for groomsmen, too.

Uncle Nearest

Price at time of publish: $75+

Another option for whiskey sippers? The award-winning Uncle Nearest's 1884 Tennessee whiskey. Through ReserveBar, Uncle Nearest sells several customizable options, and this whiskey and glasses combo gets two thumbs up from us. The bottle can be engraved with a name or a personalized message for an additional cost, and the spirit arrives with four timeless crystal Markham Marquis by Waterford Double Old Fashioned Glasses.

Minted

Price at time of publish: $108

For the fella who loves the call of the road, this travel bag has roomy interior and exterior pockets for organization, an adjustable, detachable shoulder strap, and comes in a range of incredible patterns and designs from independent artists like Iveta Angelova's Antique and Michelle Taylor's Wavy. Add personalization with a foil-pressed leather name tag.

Sea Bags

Price at time of publish: $600

For boaters (or men who simply love lounging outside with a cold beverage and a book), treat him to this chair made from recycled sail cloth that's attached with marine grade bungee cording to a hardwood frame. Yes, there's a cup holder too. What's more, the chair can fold up in a cinch for easy transport and storage, and you can customize the chair with his lucky number, wedding date, area code, etc.

Leatherman

Price at time of publish: $60

Almost any multi-tool can be customized through the Leatherman Custom Shop to add an engraved name or monogram, artwork, and/or pattern (prices vary; text from $5.95). Our top pick for a wedding pick is the Bond, a 14-in-1 tool with needle nose pliers, regular pliers, hard-wire cutters, wire cutters, a 420HC blade, awl, can opener, bottle opener, wood/metal file, Phillips screwdriver, and more. For outdoorsmen, shop their collection here.

The Stationery Studio

Price at time of publish: $64

This garment bag is great for storing his suit or tuxedo on his wedding day and whenever he travels. The bag includes two inside zip pockets and soft cotton web handles to make transport a breeze. To personalize, select your thread color, whether you want a single initial, up to three initials, monogram, or name and your preferred font.

inBLOOM

Price at time of publish: $95

Men deserve comfy PJs. Your son, sibling, friend, or husband-to-be will be singing inBLOOM's praises after one night of sleeping in this delightfully soft Peruvian Pima Cotton set he’ll be wondering how come he didn't acquaint himself with this sleepwear brand sooner. For $5, add a monogram of up to four letters.

Minted

Price at time of publish: $53+

Another top choice of ours from the exclusive minted + BRIDES Gifts Collection, get your loved one or fiancé this one-of-a-kind photo gift. Along with a photo, you can add names, a wedding location, date, or any other personal text you’d like. You can choose the color of your text, too, ensuring it melds in seamlessly with personal preferences.

Amazon

Price at time of publish: $100

Future husband, will you accept this rose? Bachelor fandom aside, we love the idea of saluting a wedding day with a beautiful gold-dipped rose. On the stem, you can engrave up to 30 characters, and you can also add on various display vessels for additional fees. And yes, the rose beneath the gold is a real rose, selected and preserved in peak bloom to showcase all its stunning details.

Minted

Price at time of publish: $43+

A music lover's heart will melt at this touching gesture — his very own piece of art memorializing the couple's first dance. This design is part of the exclusive minted + BRIDES Gifts Collection, and you simply enter the first dance lyrics and choose a font, and let the artistic minted maestros take it from there.

Anuent

Price at time of publish: $100

Guys love their backpacks. Especially when they are as functional and fashion-forward as this one made with premium top-grain leather, that just keeps looking better over time. Bonus: It is odor-free, water-resistant, lightweight, has multiple pockets, and comes with an easy-to-clean interior lining. He’ll love wearing it as a shoulder/crossbody bag, briefcase, or backpack, wherever his adventures take him.

Uncommon Goods

Price at time of publish: $75+

This color or black-and-white photo print by Philadelphia artist Patricia Carlin is a great addition to any newlyweds’ household. For guys that love modern art, it's a particularly solid choice. In addition to adding names’ and a year or years (i.e., the year the couple met and the year they wed), you can also add extra personalization to this if you’re looking for a gift for a couple with a milestone anniversary with wood (5th anniversary), tin (10th anniversary), platinum (20th anniversary), silver (25th anniversary), or gold (50th anniversary) frames.

Olive & Cocoa

Price at time of publish: $58

Whether you’re a bride-to-be or groomsman in search of an idea for your buddy tying the knot, you can't go wrong with these classy coasters. The set of four wood coasters includes free personalization with the letter of your choice and arrives packed up nicely in a hand-crafted wood crate with ribbon. Throw in a bottle of his favorite whiskey and you’re good to go.

MyTVLife

Price at time of publish: $18+

Got a TV aficionado on your hands? Opt for either his birthdate or marriage date and the print includes top TV shows from that season, standout premieres from that year, and the cover of that week's edition of TV Guide. Note: The piece is printed on heavy paper stock, but you’ll have to buy your own frame.

LeatherNeo

Price at time of publish: $36+

Pensive types and businessmen alike will appreciate this sophisticated leather-bound journal. Customers can choose from a wide array of styles, colors, and sizes, and you can also monogram each notebook with a name, initials, and/or the wedding date. Whether he's jotting down his chess games or drafting his vows (you’ve reminded him to do that, right?), he’ll think of you every time he uses the journal.

Croghan’s Jewel Box

Price at time of publish: $230+

From a business based out of Charleston, South Carolina, this sterling silver slide belt buckle will look stellar on his wedding day and many dressy occasions to come, especially when machine engraved ($15) with his initials. The buckle showcases an engine-turned pattern and takes a one-inch belt strap, which are sold separately.

Lotus Linen

Price at time of publish: $36+

Couch potatoes, rejoice. This lightweight, absorbent robe is perfect for lazing around the house, making coffee, or reading the paper at home after he showers. Choose from a variety of colors and add up to 11 characters when you personalize it with a name or initials. Bonus: Each robe comes with matching color slippers.

Croghan’s Jewel Box

Price at time of publish: $150+

We have a soft spot for matching sets, can you tell? Admittedly, we love the idea of pairing the above belt buckle with these snazzy, oval-shaped cufflinks with an engravable rectangular signet ($15), but they also make a fine gift on their own.

Uncommon Goods

Price at time of publish: $54

Astronomy geeks are going to be super impressed with this one: a pair of glasses that are each precision-engraved with the constellations visible in the sky at the exact location and date you specify. You can choose from stemless wine glasses, pint glasses, or one of each, and add names, a date, and a short description, like "The Night We Met," if this is a gift for your husband. Made in New Hampshire by Brian, Dave, Neil, and Colin, we also love the designers’ MLB Park Map Glasses ($35) for baseball fans.

Crane & Canopy

Price at time of publish: $99

For another luxurious bathrobe, try this 100% long staple Turkish cotton selection from Crane & Canopy that's spun from innovative air technology for a lightweight and buttery-soft comfort factor. The design spotlights a classic shawl collar, turn-back cuffs, and a waist tie, with the option to add a monogram of up to three letters for $10 in various fonts and color options.

VistaPrint

Price at time of publish: $5+

Do you love that your husband-to-be is all about note-taking? Help him fancy up his to-do lists with a customized note pad. Choose the design, add his name (and even a magnetic backing if you’d like), and he’ll have 50 glorious pages of acid-free paper for writing you love notes or blazing through his to-do lists.

Splendid Beast

Price at time of publish: $179+

If your groom or good buddy is attached at the hip to his pet (along with his fiancée, we hope), these custom oil paintings are a grand slam. Hand-painted on canvas, let the team at Splendid Beast depict his pet in a Van Gogh-inspired portrait, Victorian costume, astronaut gear, or virtually anything you can dream up that's a suiting homage for man's best friend.

Tribute

Price at time of publish: $29+

Create a video toast for the man of the night with this online service. You can either go the DIY route and compile videos from loved ones and use their suite of tools to make the final edit or splurge for the concierge service there the Tribute team uses the videos you and your crew submits and handles the entire process, complete with a custom title/ending slides, transitions, music, and more.

Leatherology

Price at time of publish: $70+

If your groom is in the market for a new wallet, wow him with this compact leather choice from Leatherology, which easily fits in his front or back pocket and comes in several attractive colors. It's constructed with six card slots, a bill compartment, and two interior pockets for receipts or spare cards, so it should be more than sufficient for his everyday needs if he likes to travel light. Add a monogram of up to four characters (in your choice of four text colors) for an additional cost.

Leatherology

Price at time of publish: $215

How about something for the tech nerds? Another great pick from Leatherology, this leather case for his tablet has an exterior back panel pocket and two large and two medium open interior pockets, a cord wrap, pen loop, and a zippered pocket with leather pull. It comes in a range of colors, and there's even three interior card slots for business cards. Deboss it with his initials for a small additional price.

Personalization Mall

Price at time of publish: $80

For the man who is proud of his roots, give him the chance to show off his home state love with this solid wood cutting board that's engraved with any U.S. state into the word "home" and two text lines. You can also buy it in a larger 16" x 18" size here (a great option for entertaining guests with a sharable charcuterie board).

Minted / Iveta Angelova

Price at time of publish: $40

This handy travel kit is durable, stylish (and with many designs on offer, you might just want to order a few in one fell swoop) and has a water-repellent lining and a leather handle. Add a custom touch with a leather tag featuring his name or initials.

Uncommongoods

Price at time of publish: $50

For the guy that's impossible to get gifts for, uber-comfy, Pima cotton socks are a safe bet. This set of five pairs are custom-knit with the name(s) and/or phrase of your choosing and come in black and grey. They fit men's shoe sizes 6.5 to 12.

Minted

Price at time of publish: $44

Hoping to find a gift for the man who's happiest behind the grill or hosting a dinner party? Behold: these sophisticated aprons from Minted's network of independent artists. For a small up charge, create a foil-pressed leather name tag, and add a matching oven mitt and potholder set to complete the surprise. Just make sure he knows he's off duty from cooking for the weekend!

Uncommon Goods

Price at time of publish: $56+

Does he love a good cheese course? Put a smile on his face with this elegant cheese board (made from bamboo), that starts in a triangular shape, but expands into a tiered serving tray for your favorite cheeses and appetizers. Also included is a stainless steel cheese fork and two knives, in their own drawer. Add his initial(s) and an optional date to make it just for him. Now, off to the gourmet cheesemonger you go to add a few more goodies to his getting-ready spread.

Leatherology

Price at time of publish: $375

Make this duffle one-of-a-kind by personalizing with Leatherology's Italian hand-quilted treatment, Trapunto, or with deboss or hand paint. It's smartly designed so it opens extra wide and stands up on six metal feet for no-fuss packing, and the wide interior pockets and zippered exterior pockets help the groom ensure all his electronics chargers and paperwork are easy to find. When he's back at your newlywed pad, the duffle folds up to a compact size to reduce its closet real estate footprint — phew.

Personalization Mall

Price at time of publish: $300

Okay, ladies, so he lost the china argument for that simple, understated set he loved in favor of the floral-inspired collection of your dreams. Restore your husband-to-be's defeated spirits with this five-piece white porcelain and gold rimmed dinner set. The monogrammed dinnerware includes a dinner plate, salad plate, butter plate, teacup, and saucer. Marriage is all about compromise right?

Personalization Mall

Price at time of publish: $50

Game night just got so much better. Whether this is a gift for your better half or best buddy who's more than a little competitive on the board game front, this vintage 1948 game delivers. It includes wood Scrabble tiles, tile racks, a canvas pouch, scorepad, and pencil. To give it some more pizzazz, a linen book-shaped box stores the game and can be personalized with two lines of text. The Monopoly® Personalized Vintage Bookshelf Edition Board Game is also calling our names.

Knitwise

Price at time of publish: $128

For groomsmen, a sentimental sweater with his nickname, favorite sports team logo, college logo, etc. is going to elicit two thumbs up from the crowd. Same applies if you’re getting a one-of-a-kind sweater for your groom. The custom sweater brand, Knitwise, specializes in transforming photos and designs from customers into keepsake sweaters, and good luck reaching checkout without throwing in a sweater or blanket for yourself.

Isabelle Grace Jewelry

Price at time of publish: $78

This thick, gauge cuff is hand-forged and made of NuGold (a copper alloy) and nickel silver. An excellent piece of jewelry for a special occasion, emboss it with the name, phrase, and/or date of your choice. Their Men's Personalized Extra Wide Cuff is another favorite of ours, too.

Some men can just stump you on the gift-giving front. But it doesn't have to be that way. As a helpful guideline, think about your relationship to the couple. "There are a lot of different fun and useful personalized gifts to choose from so depending on how close the person giving the gift is to the groom and his significant other will help determine which category is best," said Goldberg. "Personally, no pun intended, I believe personalization shows a certain amount of thought went into the gift, making it that much more special."

Assuming this gift isn't for your groom-to-be, and you’re looking for something extra special to give the groom, it's okay to look beyond the registry. "Although most couples create a bridal registry to assure they will enjoy the chosen gift, a personal gift is always a nice surprise," said Lynne Goldberg, founder of Ms Wedding Planner. "After all, for some guests choosing a more unique gift is preferred." Since both routes have their merits, said Goldberg, to be safe you could choose a smaller gift from the registry and add it to the personalized gift.

Some of Goldberg's go-to suggestions include personalized terry cloth bathrobes, slippers, luggage, passport holders or a watch/ jewelry box, all "great options for the groom as well as for the couple." For grooms specifically, top choices of hers include monogrammed cuff links, linen handkerchiefs, overnight bags, and suit bags.

"If one prefers a less personal option, check out housewares that can be personalized such as a cheese board or a wine rack or a cutting board or a barbecue set or even a beverage tray," she added.

Whatever you do, Hoey said the key is to be thoughtful and really think about something that a person would use rather than buying the first listing you see on Etsy. To add to Goldbergs list she notes engraved cologne bottles or a dopp kit full of essentials to get ready for the day are stellar offerings.

Hoey recommends setting aside time to do a gift exchange with each other in the ramp-up to your nuptials. It should be a special quiet moment on the day before, or week of the wedding where you can spend time enjoying each other's presence, and he can actually use the gift at the wedding," she said. If you prefer to give it to him as a special surprise on the day-of your wedding, be sure to accompany it with a letter to your partner.

Timelines vary. Some personalized gifts can be delivered as swiftly as overnight (especially if it's just a single letter initial), and others can take several weeks to make. "Customization can take a long time, and you don't want him or the couple to think you dropped the ball," said Hoey. "Plan well in advance and order at least two months ahead of time to ensure that there are no mistakes with the personalization and if so, you have time to correct it." (Remember: Most personalized gifts are nonrefundable, so this will be at your own cost.)

To that point, Goldberg echoed that she always recommends ordering customized gifts as early as possible and double- and triple-checking spelling and dates on the final proof, "remembering that once approved, there's no redoing, unless the company makes the error."

In some cases when shopping for your groom-to-be, you should order your custom gift early enough that you can give it to him well before the wedding. "When choosing an item the groom could wear or use on his wedding day make sure he receives it early enough, so he knows he does not have to purchase the item for himself," said Goldberg, adding that you shouldn't pressure him to wear the item or make him feel obligated to wear it. "He may have already decided on wearing his grandfather's cuff links or using dad's handkerchief. It just means he will enjoy your gift another time."

Another word for the wise: "When ordering online, make certain the quality of the item matches up to the picture," advised Goldberg. "I have seen clients disappointed when they order blindly so check reviews and read the item description thoroughly. If it does not say leather, it's not leather and If it seems too reasonably priced make sure you are on a legit website and be cautious."

Perri Ormont Blumberg is a travel and lifestyle writer who has written countless product reviews. To write this article, she's meticulously tested products firsthand, worked with public relation pros, and searched the internet high and low. A former freelance editor and writer for The Knot, she's also covered weddings and written gift guides for the New York Post, BestProducts.com, and Martha Stewart Weddings.