Trust Us, Guys: These Are the Gifts Your Girlfriend Really Wants

Valentine’s Day comes around once a year to totally screw over men whose girlfriends have impeccable taste (a.k.a. hard to shop for women). No matter the occasion, finding gifts for her that she’ll truly love can feel impossible. Every year, no matter what you do, it seems like your girlfriend gets that cringe-y “No, I do love it!” face whenever she unwraps your present. Then there’s the awkward back and forth about whether she actually likes it and you reassuring her she can “Totally return it if she wants to!”

Sigh. Let’s skip that this year, shall we? To help you guys out, I’ve gathered the best gifts for girlfriends that they actually want. You can trust me — I’m a woman in a relationship, so I know.

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The type of gift you get your girlfriend depends on many factors. First off— does your girlfriend even like and/or care about Valentine’s Day? Chances are the answer is yes — but if she doesn’t, I would recommend going the simple route with classic Valentine’s Day gifts such as food, flowers, booze or chocolate. You’ll never go wrong with chocolate. If your girlfriend likes Valentine’s Day — that’s where the fun begins.

Below, you’ll find all of the best gifts for girlfriends for Valentine’s Day 2021, Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries and other special occasions.

How Much Should You Spend on Valentine’s Day Gifts for Your Girlfriend?

When deciding how much to spend, the first question to ask yourself is this: how long have you been together? If you’ve been going steady for a few years or more, then you’re going to want to invest in something nice. In most cases, this means spending $100 and buying flowers (stop by a local florist or check out our favorite online flower delivery services). And, no, that number does not include the cost of dinner or whatever else you have planned. For serious long-term relationships, I’ve got plenty of great girlfriend gift ideas below.

Is this all starting to sound a little too expensive? That’s okay, too. In this case, we recommend having a conversation with your significant other about your Valentine’s Day budget. For all you know, she’s struggling to find you a good present, too. Many couples agree to a spending limit, and others agree that they would rather attend an event or go on a special date night instead of exchanging gifts. Having this conversation in advance can protect you both from disappointment. (Editor’s note: no matter what you decide regarding spending limits, plan on buying her flowers no matter what. Buying your partner flowers is always a good idea.)

But what if you’ve only been seeing each other a few weeks? Getting something too expensive might freak her out, but you also don’t want to pretend the holiday doesn’t exist. Don’t worry, because I’ve got great girlfriend gift ideas for new relationships, too. Overall — don’t overthink it. If she doesn’t like it, she’ll at least appreciate the gesture.

The Best Girlfriend Gift Ideas

Worried you won’t find the perfect present? Relax, guys. It really is the thought that counts.

If you pick something from this list, though, I’m confident she’s going to like it — I can almost guarantee it. Combine your gift with a thoughtful card that speaks from the heart, and you have everything you need for a special night. Here are some of my favorite gifts for girlfriends at the moment — a.k.a things I would be psyched to get on Valentine’s Day.

1. MATE The Label Thermal Wide-Leg Pants

I’m obsessed with these pants and I don’t even own a pair (yet.) MATE The Label is an eco-friendly clothing line that makes super comfortable loungewear, like these wide-leg pants that are one of their best sellers. These pants are available in a variety of colors and styles and are perfect for the quarantine life. They’re nice enough to wear out on errands but are perfect for a night in. Plus, they come in a huge variety of sizes so you’ll be able to find her perfect fit.

2. Glossier The Super Pack

If she’s a woman, then she’s heard of Glossier — and she’s probably drooled over their moisturizing serums and then promptly labeled them too pricey to purchase for herself. Dude, now’s your chance to shine — this 3-pack has the brand’s best serums wrapped into one convenient package. The trio will deliver the essential vitamins her skin needs to shine with even tone and clarity — they’ll mesh perfectly with her existing routine and make her shine even more brightly than she does now.

3. lululemon Align Pants

These are the most comfortable leggings I’ve ever worn. If your girlfriend loves fitness or even just wearing athleisure, then you should get these for her. The material they’re made of is super soft and weightless, and the 28-inch high rise cut is perfect for wearing with workout crop tops or cropped sweatshirts. These are designed for yoga, but I wear them doing almost anything and they’re super comfortable. They’re also available in a huge variety of sizes and colors. Take a discrete peek at the leggings she already has and get her a complementary color she doesn’t already own.

4. I’m Never Not Thinking of Your Butt Mug

I love this mug, and I think it’s hilarious. It’s funny, sweet, cute and overall a great vibe if this is the type of relationship you have. The mug is dishwasher and microwave safe, perfect for the caffeine-addict and will make them think of you every time they use it. It might be a little awkward if they sip from it on a work Zoom call, but there’s little you can do about that at this point.

5. The Bouqs Co. Exuberance Arrangement

Ordering flowers is a classic Valentine’s Day gift for a reason — they’re beautiful, smell nice, liven up any room and bring a smile to your partner’s face. This “exuberant” display from The Bouqs is the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for girlfriends. It has a variety of colored roses in hues like pink, orange, yellow, red and even ivory. Every rose from the Bouqs Co. is grown on an eco-friendly, sustainable farm and comes in a fun signature vase. You can also opt for a mason jar vase (a very farmer chic option IMO) for $10 more.

6. Ninja Foodi 4-in-1 Blender

Is your girl a fan of smoothies, acaí bowls, bowls or anything blended? Then she needs this Ninja blender. The “power pitcher” is exactly what she needs to blend up all those nutrients. This baby can blend, chop, crush ice, act as a food processor and even make dough. The smartTORQUE function is designed to process through the thickest of substances without stalling, and it has six different preset Auto-iQ programs to choose from so using it is easy. It’s also easy to clean and the whole thing is dishwasher-safe.

7. Mejuri Organic Pearl Hoops

You might think that you can’t go wrong with jewelry on Valentine’s Day, but women have wildly varying jewelry tastes. Picking out the right jewelry can take years of practice for most guys. That’s why it’s important to pay attention to not just the pieces she already owns, but the ones she actually wears regularly as well. These pearl drop hoops from Mejuri are a favorite of mine because they’re simple enough to wear every day and have a classic design, but they’re also elegant enough to save for special occasions. The pearl is freshwater and the hoops are gold vermeil over sterling silver.

8. Godiva Chocolatier Classic Ballotin Chocolate Box

You honestly can’t go wrong with chocolate. They say diamonds are forever, but I say chocolate is forever going to please her, and if you’re at a loss for girlfriend gift ideas, it’s always a safe bet. These Godiva chocolates come in a gift box with 19 pieces of delectable chocolate goodies.

9. The Zero Waste Box — Eco-Friendly Starter Kit

Okay, this is an unconventional Valentine’s day gift, but with the right girl, I think it would be a perfect pick. If she’s become especially concerned about the environment or going zero-waste as of late, or even pays close attention to recycling, then this is a great gift idea. Inside this kit there’s everything she needs to go zero waste in her everyday life including reusable metal straws, washable silicone ziplock bags, organic cotton produce bags (a personal favorite of mine) and a big mesh shopping bag. She’ll love the environmental gesture from you and your gift will save hundreds of single-use plastics from use in years to come.

10. Fig Leaves Lingerie

Lingerie is one of the best girlfriend gift ideas for Valentine’s Day and other special occasions, but it is definitely not the right gift for every relationship. Before buying lingerie as a gift, you should be 100% certain that your girlfriend likes wearing lingerie, not just because you like it, but because she likes the way it makes her feel. You should also be honest with yourself — are you buying this as a gift for her, or is it really a gift for you? Finally, you also need to know her measurements.

If you’re ready to buy lingerie online, there are tons of great brands we’ve recommended in the past — Agent Provocateur, Fenty and Fig Leaves are good places to start. If you’re not sure what type of lingerie to buy, a bodysuit like the one below is a popular option. The Millie Lace Plunge Bodysuit from Fig Leaves is made from sheer lace and features a plunging neckline that’s perfect for special occasions like Valentine’s Day. Plus, Fig Leaves has inclusive sizing and options for women of all sizes. Remember, guys, when in doubt, you can always ask her what kind of lingerie she likes best.

11. Capri Blue Watercolor Candle

Capri candles are the best, so if your girlfriend is a candle lover your quest for a great gift might be over. This decorative glass is a great design piece and will make her and/or your apartment smell fantastic. The scent is clean linen and isn’t too strong while it’s burning. The vessels are all watercolored and the high-quality wax blend burns for up to 85 hours.

12. BrüMate Uncork’d XL Wine Glass Tumbler

BrüMate has been making a splash recently for their triple-insulated tumblers that’ll keep anything you put in them cold for hours. The best part about this XL wine tumbler? It can hold up to half a bottle of wine in it and will keep it at the exact temperature you pour it in until you sip the last drop — so if your girlfriend is a wine lover grab her this for your Valentine’s Day picnic. The tumbler stays cool but also dry to the touch and condensation-free, so you can hold your beverage comfortably. The splash-proof lid is clear and removable, and the tumbler comes in a wide range of finishes including this Glitter Peacock Violet Ombre — which also happens to be my spirit animal.

13. FENTY BEAUTY by Rihanna Matte Lipstick

I love a bold red lipstick for a night out (or in) where you’re trying to look sexy. This red lipstick is from Rihanna’s makeup line and has a matte finish and high-octane pigment that compliments a variety of skin tones. This lipstick has all the rich color your girlfriend is look for without the dense weight, and the creamy texture stays on with no feathering after application. You don’t have to know what that means — just know it’s a good thing that she’ll appreciate about her favorite new lipstick.

14. Firstleaf Wine Club Subscription

Another potential way to your girlfriend’s heart? Wine. Or, more specifically, a wine subscription box like FirstLeaf. I personally use FirstLeaf and love their club model — you get a box of six high-quality wines every month or every other month from all over the world. You can rate the wines in each shipment and they’ll continue to tailor your boxes to your tastes, and 92% of the wines they offer are award-winning so you know you’re getting something high-quality. This is a great gift if your girlfriend is missing her regular wine tastings with her girlfriends or dreams of one day tasting blends in the Italian countryside. (Hopefully with you by her side!)

15. The Ordinary Hydration Support Formula

If your girlfriend is really into skincare, chances are she’s heard about The Ordinary. Their Hyaluronic Acid formula is super nourishing, hydrating and balancing for all skin types. The Ordinary is known for using simple, effective formulas that work — and this one is no different. You don’t need to know or understand the ingredients, or the details of why it works — just know she’ll love it. The best part? This company doesn’t dress up their products in fancy bottles and charge $45 for them, and this popular skincare supplement costs less than $8 a bottle.

16. MagicMakers Back Massager with Heat

A little pampering never hurt a Valentine’s Day — and this back massager is the perfect thing to gift a stressed-out GF for your big day of love. It has eight different rotational massage heads and has 3D mesh fabric for even heat distribution. It also has a 15-minute auto shut-off system just in case and an overheat protection mechanism if your girlfriend tends to leave things on by accident. Increase her feel-good hormones and give her body a chance to relax with this easy gift.

17. Eva II Hands-Free Vibrator

Speaking of massage — this couple’s vibrator is the tiny but mighty sex toy you need to spice things up in the bedroom. The flexible wings fasten it onto the woman and provide clitoral stimulation as well as penile sensation during penetrative sex. Eva is waterproof, made of medical-grade silicone and has a 3-speed motor so you can pick the pace that works for both of you. She also stays out of the way so you can focus on the task at hand and enjoy your special night. Like lingerie, couple’s sex toys are one of the top Valentine’s Day gifts for girlfriends in 2021, but they aren’t the right choice for every relationship.

18. Hoya Heart Duo

This adorable heart-shaped cacti duo was one of the best Christmas gifts for women, and it’s also the perfect small gift for Valentine’s Day 2021. Each plant is a rooted cutting from a Hoya kerri succulent plant that enjoys a lot of sunshine and infrequent waterings. They come in matching pots with saucers for catching water, and you can choose between black, blush and mint for the colors. These will make a great gift for a plant-loving girlfriend or a girl who can’t seem to keep a plant alive — as their care is fairly straightforward. You can give her one and keep the other one so you’re matching — she’ll love that.

19. Agent Provocateur Zadi Bra

Lingerie is one of the best Valentine’s day gift ideas for girlfriends, and it’s a sexy gift if your girlfriend loves dressing up for you on date nights. This bra comes from the lingerie specialists at Agent Provocateur and is a beautiful undergarment. It has red foil embroidery, a full cup shape and shimmering iridescence that’ll light her up in the bedroom. It also has a matching thong and suspenders if you want to complete the package, but the bra on its own is still a very thoughtful and spicy gift. This sexy look is also available in a Valentine’s Day bodysuit.

20. Goddess Figure Candle

These candles are a beautiful way to honor her body this Valentine’s Day, and they’re handmade by a black artist in London. Dowa Doneye has created three distinct body types for you to choose from and each one comes in three different colors. They’re sculpted from beeswax for a natural sheen and are perfect for appreciating the beauty and essence of women.

21. Four Seasons Face Masks

Ah, face masks. We’ll still need to wear them well into 2021 so you might as well gift her some special ones she’ll love wearing. These feature festive floral prints for all four seasons — summer, fall, winter and spring. They have adjustable straps and are made of tightly woven cotton so they’re protective, preventative and pretty at the same time.

22. Brooklinen Super-Plush Robe

Last but not least, a robe — because she’ll love it no matter what. Make her feel like the pampered spa queen she is with this ultra-plush from Brooklinen. It’s made extra-thick for that spa quality and is 100% Turkish Cotton, made in Turkey so you know it’s for real. It has deep pockets, a piped collar, cuffed edges and a sturdy waist tie that’ll hold it all in place. This is one of the most popular gifts featured on SPY in 2020, and we’re confident it’s one of the best gift ideas for your girlfriend, too.