Christmas gifts for an uncle: 10 good gift ideas from $40 to $160, chosen by what he does with his time

Good Christmas gifts for an uncle are well-made versions of things he already uses: a Shun chef's knife for the uncle who cooks, Riedel Cabernet glasses for the one who opens a good red, a Leatherman Wave+ for the one who fixes things, a Viski cocktail shaker for the one who makes the drinks, and a Fishers Finery cashmere scarf for the one who stands outside at every winter game. Eight of these ten gift ideas cost about $40 to $105; two cost $140 to $160.

This gift guide is for an uncle or great-uncle you see a few times a year, from a niece, a nephew or the whole family. It is a step back from what you'd give your father or brother, so the picks lean toward the table, the toolbox and the bar rather than the bigger upgrades in our gifts for Dad guide, and nothing is a joke gift or a slogan mug. Shopping for both of them? Our Christmas gifts for an aunt is the companion guide. Price bands were checked on November 3, 2026.

How to choose a Christmas gift for your uncle

Most uncles are hard to buy for because you know what he likes but not what he already owns. Four questions get you to a good present quickly.

• What does he do when the family gets together? The uncle who carves the roast, opens the wine, mixes the drinks or fixes the wobbly chair. Buy for that role; it is the part of him you know best.
• Will he use it up or keep it? If you have never seen his home, a cologne, a candle or something for the table is safer than decor or clothes in a size you would guess.
• How much does he spend on you? Match it. A gift far above what the two of you usually exchange can feel awkward; our guide to how much to spend on a gift has typical ranges.
• Is it from you, or from the family? Nieces and nephews can pool for one better gift instead of three small ones, and sign one card.

Christmas gift ideas for an uncle at a glance

For the uncle who cooks and hosts

The knife he will use every night

Shun

Classic 8-Inch Chef's Knife

Why they’ll love it. An 8-inch blade with a VG-MAX steel core clad in Damascus layers, a 16-degree edge on each side and a D-shaped Pakkawood handle, handcrafted in Seki City, Japan. Shun backs it with a limited lifetime warranty and free sharpening for life, which makes it a gift that keeps working for years. For the uncle who carves the turkey and does the dishes after.

Skip it if he already owns good Japanese knives, rarely cooks, or puts everything in the dishwasher; this one needs hand washing.

$140.14Price as of Nov 3, 11:17 AM ET Details

See it at Amazon

Glasses for the wine he opens at Christmas dinner

Riedel

Extreme Cabernet Glasses, Set of Four

Why they’ll love it. Four machine-made crystal glasses from Bavaria with a large, angular bowl shaped for full-bodied reds: Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux, Malbec. They are dishwasher safe, which matters after a family dinner, and a set of four lets him pour for guests. Pair them with a bottle of something he already likes.

Skip it if he mostly drinks white wine, beer or bourbon; these are shaped for big reds.

$88.50Price as of Nov 3, 11:17 AM ET Details

See it at Amazon

For the one behind the bar

Viski

Art Deco Cocktail Shaker, Gold

Why they’ll love it. A 24 oz cobbler shaker in stainless steel with a gold finish, Art Deco etching, a built-in strainer and a measured cap. It looks good enough to live on the bar cart rather than in a drawer, and it covers the classic shaken drinks with nothing else to buy. Add a bottle of his favorite gin and a card with your best cocktail recipe.

Skip it if he wants a dishwasher-safe workhorse; Viski lists this as hand wash only.

$39.49Price as of Nov 3, 11:30 AM ET Details

See it at Amazon

For the uncle who fixes things and spends time outdoors

Leatherman

Wave+ 18-in-1 Multi-Tool, Stainless Steel

Why they’ll love it. Eighteen tools in a 4-inch body: pliers, replaceable wire cutters, spring-action scissors, a saw, files, bit drivers and two blades that open one-handed from outside the handles. It is made in Portland, Oregon, carries a 25-year warranty, and lives in a glove box, a tool bag or a jacket pocket. The sheath is sold separately.

Skip it if he already carries a multi-tool, or flies often with hand luggage only; blades aren't allowed in a carry-on.

$103.95Price as of Nov 3, 11:17 AM ET Details

See it at Amazon

Bose

SoundLink Flex Bluetooth Speaker (2nd Gen), Black

Why they’ll love it. A compact Bluetooth speaker rated IP67 against water and dust, with up to 12 hours of battery and USB-C charging. It sounds right whether it stands or lies flat, and it goes from the garage workbench to the patio or the back of the car without fuss. Bose covers it with a one-year warranty.

Skip it if he wants a speaker to fill a living room, or already streams to a home system.

$149.99Price as of Nov 3, 11:17 AM ET Details

See it at Amazon

For the uncle with style and a winter routine

Fishers Finery

Herringbone Cashmere Scarf

Why they’ll love it. Pure two-ply Grade A cashmere in a classic herringbone, 66 by 12 inches with fringed ends, sold by Fishers Finery in packaging that needs no extra wrapping. A scarf is one of the few clothing gifts that needs no size, and he will wear it over a coat on cold mornings from December to March.

Skip it if he lives somewhere warm, or won't hand-wash or dry-clean knitwear.

$89.99Price as of Nov 3, 11:17 AM ET Details

See it at Amazon

Acqua di Parma

Colonia Eau de Cologne, 3.4 oz

Why they’ll love it. Acqua di Parma's original Colonia, first made in 1916: lemon, sweet orange and bergamot over lavender, rose and rosemary, with vetiver and sandalwood underneath, in the house's yellow cylinder box. It is a classic, fresh cologne that suits an uncle who dresses up for family dinners and prefers a clean citrus scent to a sweet one.

Skip it if he prefers heavy, sweet evening scents, or is loyal to one signature cologne.

$104.29Price as of Nov 3, 7:51 AM ET Details

See it at FragranceNet.com

Baxter of California

Best Badger Shaving Brush

Why they’ll love it. A natural badger-hair brush with a stainless steel handle, made in Germany. A brush holds warm water and works the shave cream into a richer lather than fingers do. It is a modest, useful present at a small-gift price, and it pairs with the candle or journal if the family is giving two small things.

Skip it if he uses an electric shaver or keeps a full beard.

$55.00Price as of Nov 3, 11:17 AM ET Details

See it at Amazon

Small gifts and stocking stuffers for an uncle

MALIN+GOETZ

Dark Rum Candle, 9 oz

Why they’ll love it. A 9 oz candle in a natural vegetable-wax blend with about 60 hours of burn time, scented with bergamot, plum, leather, rum and amber, inspired by old-world bay rum. It reads as warm and dark rather than sweet or seasonal, so it suits a man's study or living room long after Christmas, and the glass can be reused.

Skip it if he never lights candles, or dislikes boozy, spiced scents.

$68.00Price as of Nov 3, 11:17 AM ET Details

See it at Amazon

Graphic Image

Small Leather-Bound Journal

Why they’ll love it. A pocket-sized notebook, about 4 by 6 inches, with 320 lined acid-free pages, a Smyth-sewn binding, gilt edges and a red leather cover. For the uncle who keeps lists, logs fishing trips, records his golf scores or tells the family stories; write the first page yourself.

Skip it if he doesn't write by hand; it will stay blank on a shelf.

$60.00Price as of Nov 3, 11:30 AM ET Details

See it at Amazon

Gifts an uncle will appreciate from a niece or nephew

From a young niece or nephew, the gift is less important than the effort around it. Children can choose one of the smaller gifts here with a parent, then add something only they can give:

• A drawing or a letter tucked into the box, dated, so he keeps it.
• A photo of the two of you printed and framed, from a holiday or a game you went to together.
• A plan: a movie night, a fishing morning or a baseball game together in the new year, written on a card.
• For a new uncle or great-uncle: a framed photo of the new baby with the date is the gift he will show people.

Christmas gifts for an aunt and uncle together

If you give them one gift as a couple, choose something for the house or the table that both will use: the Riedel glasses with a bottle of wine, the cocktail shaker with two good spirits, or a candle with a box of chocolates. Our aunt guide's Brightland mini olive oil set also works well as a joint gift for a couple who cook.

What to skip for an uncle

• "Best Uncle" mugs, T-shirts and hoodies. They are the first results in every search, and the first things to end up in a donation box.
• Gag gifts. A laugh on Christmas morning, clutter by New Year's.
• Anything in a size you would be guessing, from shirts to shoes.
• Gadgets that need an app account and setup unless you will set them up with him over the holidays.

Editor's note: the trade-offs

The uncles we chose for are adults with settled habits, so every pick is a better version of something an uncle already does: cooking, pouring, fixing, shaving, walking in the cold. We left out personalized and engraved gifts, which add making time in a busy December and usually can't be returned, and whiskey stones and novelty bar tools, which most men already own. The knife and the multi-tool are the two picks to think about twice: both are wasted on someone who never cooks or fixes things, and the multi-tool's blades can't travel in a carry-on bag. For more gift ideas for him by budget, see our gifts for him collection.