16 best Mother's Day gifts under $50
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Watever you like to call her — mom, mummy, mama — she probably deserves some tender loving care this Mother’s Day (which falls on Sunday, May 14, 2023). Besides some good old-fashioned quality time, the best way to show her how much you appreciate her is by finding the perfect gift that’ll make her smile.
To help you narrow down your list, we curated our favorite presents under $50. If you're shopping for something more specific (like a personalized gift), you can check out the rest of Select’s Mother's Day gift coverage here.
Our top picks
Best overall/editor’s pick: L.L. Bean Boat and Tote
Best self-care pick: Osea Body Scrub
Best personalized pick: Shutterfly Upload-Your-Own Puzzle
Related: Give your mom a gift that’s made for them to show your appreciation.
Mother’s Day Gifts Under $50
Below, we rounded up the best items under $50 for moms, grandmas and/or mothers-in-law across a variety of categories — including presents for her kitchen, closet and more. We chose items with Select readers in mind based on staff favorites, brands we’ve previously covered and products we think you should know about.
“Sweet Enough” by Alison Roman
Whether she’s a beginner to the dessert game or already a committed baker who loves spending time in the kitchen, Roman’s latest cookbook (that focuses entirely on casual, but still excellent sweets) is the perfect treat. Roman’s previous bestselling cookbooks “Nothing Fancy” and “Dining In” showcased her signature effortless style when it comes to entertaining. “Sweet Enough” comes with just the right amount of inspiration and hand-holding, and has recipes for desserts like old-fashioned strawberry cake and crunchy chocolate shortbread.
“Sweet Enough” by Alison Roman
“Sweet Enough” by Alison Roman $ at Amazon
“Sweet Enough” by Alison Roman $ at Barnes and Noble
“Sweet Enough” by Alison Roman $ at Target
L.L. Bean Boat and Tote
This classic tote is a Select-staff favorite, and part of our guide to the best beach bags for a reason: It’s built to last. Known for its durable handles, heavyweight canvas and reinforced bottom, L.L. Bean’s Boat and Tote is the gift that keeps on giving. She can use it for vacation, grocery hauls or even as her everyday purse. The best part? It’s customizable. Pick her ideal color, size and strap type, and then for $8, add on her name, monogram or a fun phrase like “cool mom,” or “GOAT.” It’s a great gift for mothers-in-law and grandmas too — you can get all the generations involved.
L.L. Bean Boat and Tote
L.L. Bean Boat and Tote $ at L.L.Bean
L.L. Bean Boat and Tote $ at Nordstorm
L.L. Bean Boat and Tote $ at Zappos
Fellow Move Mug
When the only thing more addicting than her morning cup of coffee is her daily workout. Enter this tumbler that lets her do both at the same time. It has a built-in splash guard so she can get her caffeine fix sans any leaks, plus it’s designed with a slim width that should fit in most car cup holders, according to Fellow. It comes in more than 10 colors including neutrals and is available in three sizes. If you’re looking to sweeten the deal and spend more than $50, check out Fellow’s electric kettle; we’ve featured it in our guide to the best electric kettles and pour-over coffee makers.
Fellow Move Mug
Fellow Move Mug $ at Amazon
Fellow Move Mug $ at Crate & Barrel
Fellow Move Mug $ at Fellow
Women's Cozy Velvet Memory Foam House Slipper
These fluffy, pom-pom slippers come in more than eight colors and will add a playful touch to her everyday lounge look. They have a moisture-wicking plush fleece lining to help with any sweat, plus they have a waterproof anti-slip sole and a memory foam midsole that helps absorb shock, according to the brand. They run from sizes 5-12 and have an average 4.3-star rating from over 10,000 reviews on Amazon.
Women's Cozy Velvet Memory Foam House Slipper
Women's Cozy Velvet Memory Foam House Slipper $ at Amazon
Homesick Thank You, Mom Candle
With top notes of bergamot, lavender and sage this endearing soy wax candle will burn for 60-80 hours, according to Homesick. It’s free of lead, plastics, parabens, synthetic dyes or phthalates too. Once she burns through it, she can upcycle the jar and use it as a mini vase or utensil holder.
Homesick Thank You, Mom Candle
Homesick Thank You, Mom Candle $ at Homesick
Homesick Thank You, Mom Candle $ at Barnes and Noble
Homesick Thank You, Mom Candle $ at Paper Source
Hoya Heart Plant
This single-leaf hoya thrives in bright direct light and requires watering every two to three weeks, according to The Sill. It measures around two to three inches tall so it’ll add a small pop of green to any countertop. Plus, it’s pet friendly, which means it’s nontoxic to dogs and cats, according to the brand. For $34 you can opt to just buy the plant itself or for $48 you can pick a pot to go with it.
Hoya Heart
Hoya Heart $ at The Sill
100% Mulberry Silk Pillowcase
Many Select editors swear by silk accessories for sleep — whether it’s an eye mask, scrunchies or pajamas — for their skin and hair benefits. And this top-rated pillowcase is no different. It naturally regulates heat and helps minimize split ends, dryness and frizz, according to the brand. It’s machine washable and has a hidden side zipper too. This pillowcase is sold individually so you’ll want to order an extra if you want her to have a complete set of two for her bed. It’s available in more than 20 colors and three pillow sizes.
100% Mulberry Silk Pillowcase
100% Mulberry Silk Pillowcase $ at Amazon
Osea Body Scrub
Some of the best kinds of Mother’s Day gifts are the ones your mom would never think to buy for herself. Enter: this gentle exfoliating scrub from Osea. Its mineral-rich salts get rid of any roughness, while the shea butter and seaweed in its formula will help nourish her skin, according to Osea (a brand that comes dermatologist-recommended to us). Stir well before use and then apply it in a circular motion before rinsing. Pro tip: Tell your mom she can use it on her hands to exfoliate any dry skin from winter.
Osea Body Scrub
Birkenstock Essential Arizona Slide
Make mom look and feel her best with these lightweight, rubber-like sandals from Birkenstock. They’re waterproof so they’re especially great for summer and warm temps. She can wear them on and around the beach, pool deck, garden, gym and more. The sandal has a contoured footbed that absorbs shock, plus the straps are adjustable so she can find her ideal fit, according to the brand. They’re available in several neutral and bright colors and come in half sizes too.
Birkenstock Essential Arizona Slide
Birkenstock Essential Arizona Slide $ at Nordstorm
Birkenstock Essential Arizona Slide $ at DSW
Birkenstock Essential Arizona Slide $ at Zappos
Papier Custom Recipe Cards
If she’s always sharing her go-to recipes with friends and family, treat her to these special recipe cards from Papier. The front has room for an ingredients list and cooking notes, while the back has lines for her to fill in all the instructions. You can customize details like the font, color and line and height spacing, in addition to personalizing the cards with mom or grandma’s name. They’re 7x5 inches and are printed on a warm-white paper with a matte eggshell finish. She’ll get a pack of 10 with plain white envelopes accompanying it.
Papier Custom Recipe Cards
Papier Custom Recipe Cards $ at Papier
Intelligent Change Five-Minute Journal
This top-rated mindfulness notebook has a 4.5-average star rating from more than 12,000 reviews on Amazon. The journal has prompts that encourage gratitude and cultivate a sense of appreciation, according to the brand. There are weekly challenges, inspirational quotes, places for self-reflection and more — and it only takes five minutes a day, according to The Intelligent Choice. You can buy one yourself and do it alongside your mom each day or gift it to a new mom in your life who you know could benefit from having a little structure when it comes to practicing mindfulness.
Intelligent Change Five-Minute Journal
Intelligent Change Five-Minute Journal $ at Amazon
Intelligent Change Five-Minute Journal $ at Target
Intelligent Change Five-Minute Journal $ at Intelligent Change
Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag
Let mom go hands-free with this popular fanny pack from Lululemon. Designed with water-repellent fabric, this small but practical bag has interior and exterior pockets that can hold her essentials while she’s out on the go: keys, wallet, hand sanitizer, tissues and more. She can wear it across her hips like a typical fanny pack or across her shoulders in a crossbody style. If you’re looking to give her a little more room, it comes in a larger style that’s also under $50.
Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag
Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag $ at Lululemon
Personalized Name Necklace
This minimalist made-to-order necklace comes in sterling silver, 14-karat gold vermeil or rose gold vermeil. You can pick from 10 fonts and add up to eight letters — whether you want to customize it with your mom’s name or give it to Grandma with all her grandchildren’s initials on it. This Etsy bestseller is also available in 14-karat solid gold if you’re willing to spend more than $50.
Personalized Name Necklace
Personalized Name Necklace $ at Etsy
Mid-length Essentials Robe
Level up her loungewear game with this lightweight waffle knit robe. This machine washable option has an average 4.5-star rating from over 7,000 reviews and has a tie belt and two front pockets. It’s available in several colors including navy, burgundy and teal, and runs from XS to 7X.
Mid-length Essentials Robe
Mid-length Essentials Robe $ at Amazon
Shutterfly Upload-Your-Own Puzzle
Turn your mom’s favorite photos into the puzzle of her dreams. Shutterfly offers 60-piece, 252-piece, 520-piece and 1014-piece jigsaws — all at varying prices under $50. It’s made of high-quality paperboard and the puzzles are available in landscape or vertical orientation, according to the website.
Shutterfly Upload-Your-Own Puzzle
Shutterfly Upload-Your-Own Puzzle $ at Shutterfly
French Kitchen Marble Wine Cooler
Make mom’s happy hour better with this 7-inch veined marble cooler. Marble’s natural properties help keep wine chill, according to the brand. Reviewers also noted how sturdy it is. This piece is part of a collection so if you want to spruce her gift up past the $50 mark, you can add on a cheese board, fruit bowl, lazy Susan and more.
French Kitchen Marble Wine Cooler
French Kitchen Marble Wine Cooler $ at Crate & Barrel
Why trust Select?
Lindsay has been sourcing products and editing and writing gift guides for years —most recently as Select’s new Commerce Editor and prior to that as a Senior Commerce Editor at theSkimm. She has expertise in women’s lifestyle products and books. For this article, she pulled products based on items the Select team has covered before and items she has personally used.
MOTHERS DAY
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