37 Things To Send To Your Girlfriend To Make Her Smile
Whether your girlfriend lives down the street or in another state, a little gift can go a long way to show how much she means to you. Don’t just wait for an anniversary or birthday to show you care.
We’ve gathered nearly 40 ideas for things to send to your girlfriend, ranging from homemade gifts to experiences to splurge-worthy surprises.
Gift idea categories:
1. Cozy socks
Category: Self-care
Putting on a fresh, cozy pair of socks after a long day is as essential as throwing off your high heels after a night out. Pamper your girlfriend with the perfect footwear to lounge around and binge her new favorite show in.
2. Fancy candles
Category: Self-care
Help your girlfriend transform her space into a spa-like atmosphere, full of her favorite scents and the warm glow of a candle. Whether she uses them to level up a bath or set the mood for a journaling session, you can’t go wrong with a couple of fancy candles to light the way.
3. Face masks
Category: Self-care
There’s no need to search high and low for a local esthetician — there are many fun and relaxing face masks you can send right to your girlfriend’s front door. Whether it’s a fun, brightly colored face mask or a set of sheet masks she can share with a friend, this thoughtful item will make her night.
4. Manicure kit
Category: Self-care
If your girlfriend can’t make it to the salon, nail supplies for a DIY manicure can be just as relaxing. Put together an order of cuticle oil, nail polish, hand cream and other supplies so she has everything she needs. Looking to score some bonus points? Drop by and give her a hand massage or let her practice some nail art on you for extra quality time.
Grab it now on Instacart
5. Warm blanket
Category: Self-care
No night in is complete without a cozy, warm blanket to make the couch irresistible. Whether it’s a knit, faux fur or heated throw blanket, your gift gives your girlfriend something to cuddle up with when you’re not around.
6. Mindfulness journal
Category: Self-care
Long-distance relationships can be hard on both partners. Mindfulness journaling is a great way to keep anxiety at bay and stay in the moment. Your girlfriend can use this journal as an outlet, or you can both journal, sharing your entries if you’re comfortable, to stay connected despite the distance.
7. Body pillow
Category: Self-care
You might not know what a body pillow is, or think it’s just for pregnant people. A body pillow is an extra-long pillow, perfect for cuddling or creating the ultimate pillow fort. Luckily, anyone can benefit from a body pillow, and yes, you’ll get some real bonus points if your girlfriend happens to be pregnant and is struggling to get comfortable at night.
8. House slippers
Category: Self-care
After a long day on your feet, nothing feels better than sliding into a favorite pair of slippers at home. A nice pair of slippers or house shoes can make even doing the dishes feel luxurious.
Grab it now on Instacart
9. Soft pajamas
Category: Self-care
If your girlfriend works from home or considers herself a homebody, you’ll knock it out of the park with stylish, soft pajamas. A matching set for you both can provide comfort when you’re apart, or a chunky sweater helps her stay Zoom-ready without sacrificing comfort.
10. Coloring books
Category: Self-care
Coloring books are the perfect relaxing activity to help your girlfriend shut off her brain without relying on screen time. Try to find a coloring book that matches her interests, like an ocean theme if she’s adventurous or a cooking theme if she’s a foodie. Set her up with a nice set of paint, markers or pencils, and she’s ready to scribble her stress away!
11. Perfume
Category: Self-care
Many of us save perfume for a fancy night out, but you can encourage your girlfriend to make every night special. Send over her signature scent or a kit of samples so she can discover something new or try new scent combinations.
12. Coffee and tea supplies
Category: Snacks and drinks
Whether your girlfriend is a coffee enthusiast or a die-hard tea drinker, make a gift basket of her favorite warm beverages and accessories for a surprise that will always go over well. Choose a new mug for her collection and stuff it with fancy tea bags or new coffee beans to liven up her day.
13. Chocolate charcuterie
Category: Snacks and drinks
Everyone loves a charcuterie board, so why not add a sweet twist? Order a few favorite chocolate candies, chocolate dip and fruit, then arrange them on a charcuterie board if you’re able to drop it off yourself (or just send the supplies if you’re long distance). Either way, she’ll appreciate the sweet snack.
14. Cookie board
Category: Snacks and drinks
A cookie board is another well-deserved snack to send to your girlfriend to show she’s on your mind. Send cookies with a variety of chocolate chips, snickerdoodle, sugar, funfetti and other flavor options so she has the perfect sweet snack for any mood.
15. Food delivery gift card
Category: Snacks and drinks
What better way to share the love than to send your girlfriend some food? You don’t need to worry about delivery timing or finding the exact thing she wants. If you send an Instacart gift card, she can use it to order anything from supplies to the ultimate craft night to all the snacks she needs to stock up the pantry with her favorites.
16. Movie night
Category: Experiences
A movie night snack kit is the way to go for the cinephile in your life. Stock her up for the ideal movie night, sending popcorn, an assortment of candy and a streaming gift card so she has everything she needs to bring the silver screen to her.
17. Relaxing bath night
Category: Experiences
Nothing targets stress and sore muscles like a nice, warm bath. Treat your girlfriend to a superior experience with luxurious bath supplies like Epsom salts, bubble bath, candles, a bath pillow and a bath tray. After a long day, she’ll appreciate the “me time” with ambiance and a good book.
18. Surprise visit
Category: Experiences
Long-distance relationships are tough — no amount of phone calls and texting can replace good old-fashioned quality time. Work with your girlfriend's friends behind the scenes to plan a surprise visit or send new luggage her way with a ticket to visit you.
19. Massage
Category: Experiences
Help your girlfriend melt her stress away by treating her to a massage night. Or go the professional route and send a spa gift card or order some massage oils and treat her to a romantic at-home massage.
20. Heartfelt scrapbook
Category: DIY
Even if you’re not the most artistic person, no gift compares to heartfelt, homemade memories that your girlfriend will cherish for years to come. Order photo prints capturing your favorite memories or silly photos together, and some scrapbooking supplies to put it all together for a sentimental keepsake.
21. Date jar
Category: DIY
Bring some spontaneity to date night with a DIY date jar. All you need is a mason jar, pen and paper. Rip the paper into smaller slips with different date ideas, like a romantic dinner, then store them in the jar and decorate it. Whenever you’re feeling uninspired, have your girlfriend choose a date night at random for a romantic surprise.
22. Handmade catchall dish
Category: DIY
Some people need a minimalist, clutter-free space, and others are trinket people. If your girlfriend falls into the latter category, a handmade catchall dish made from sculpting clay is the perfect addition to her collection or a way to give rings and smaller knick-knacks a home.
23. DIY phone charms
Category: DIY
Phone charms are a trendy accessory you can make for your girlfriend — or order jewelry-making supplies for a crafty date night. Order fun charms related to her interests or core memories for a stylish keepsake that will go with her everywhere.
24. Flower arrangement
Category: DIY
Flowers are a classic thing to send to your girlfriend to brighten her day. Send her a flower arrangement or order simple flowers and greenery that you can arrange yourself to go the extra mile.
25. Room redecoration
Category: DIY
Looking to make a big impact? If your girlfriend moved recently or has expressed that she wants to switch up her space, helping her accomplish that goal can be a very thoughtful gift. Browse her Pinterest or ask her friends about her interior design style, then order wall art, bedding and whatever else she needs to bring her vision to life.
26. Memory gallery wall
Category: DIY
If your girlfriend has a blank wall in her home that could use a little love, consider turning it into a memory wall that will make her smile. Choose a selection of stylish picture frames and fill them with photos of friends and family, concert tickets or other memorabilia.
27. Love letters
Category: DIY
Sometimes, the simplest gifts are the best. Order romantic stationery and put pen to paper, writing love letters, poems or even silly stories to share with your girlfriend and brighten her day.
28. Book haul
Category: Hobbies
Is your girlfriend a bit of a bookworm? Help feed her “to be read” pile with the latest installment of a series she enjoyed, special editions from her favorite authors or books you’ve read that fit her taste. For a personal touch, include an annotated copy of your favorite book and host a mini book club once she finishes it.
29. Art supplies
Category: Hobbies
Treat your creative girlfriend to high-quality art supplies that inspire artistic exploration. Whether she's an experienced artist or a novice looking for a creative outlet, stock her up on paints, sketchbooks and specialty tools that can help her find joy.
30. Puzzles
Category: Hobbies
Puzzles provide meditative relaxation, making them a great stress-relieving gift. Choose a puzzle featuring your artwork, photography or designs that match your girlfriend’s style. Puzzles offer a perfect balance of mental stimulation without being too complicated for a fun, mindful activity.
31. Board games
Category: Hobbies
A new board game opens up opportunities for quality time together with a gaming date or time with friends on board game night. Choose strategy games, cooperative adventures or party games for a fun, screen-free gift and activity.
32. House plants
Category: Hobbies
Bring a bit of the outdoors into her space with a carefully selected house plant to liven up her day. Choose low-maintenance options, like a succulent, if she’s a beginner, or search for a rarer find, like a variegated monstera, if your girlfriend is a seasoned plant parent.
33. New video games
Category: Hobbies
Video games are a fantastic way to unwind and escape after a long day. Treat your gamer girl to a new release, special edition controller or game she’s had her eye on for a gift she’ll get hours of entertainment from.
34. E-reader
Category: Tech
If one of your girlfriend's goals is to read more, an e-reader is a great gift that can help her reach that goal. E-readers are devices dedicated to reading, so you can bring your library anywhere, using e-ink screens that can be easier on the eyes. They’re the perfect gift that makes sneaking in a couple of chapters throughout the day a breeze.
35. Muscle massager
Category: Tech
Support your girlfriend’s fitness goals and muscle health with a muscle massager that provides targeted relief for sore muscles and tension. Choose a portable option with customizable settings to keep her relaxed on the go.
36. Headphones
Category: Tech
High-quality headphones are a must for any music lover, whether she prefers listening to classical or heavy metal music. Consider different features like noise-canceling, wireless or studio headphones that will improve her experience listening to music, podcasts, calls or meditation apps.
37. Ring light
Category: Tech
Help your girlfriend up her selfie game with a ring light. Whether she’s running a food blog or recording a video essay about her favorite show, a ring light will help her take high-quality photos and videos with just her phone.
Choosing the right gift for your girlfriend
These ideas can inspire you to get started, but ultimately, you know your girlfriend best. If you’re still feeling lost, these considerations can help guide you to finding the perfect surprise:
- Length of relationship: In general, the longer the relationship, the more sentimental a gift should be.
- Personal interests: Consider your girlfriend’s favorite things and hobbies to find something she actually wants.
- Practicality: Think about whether there’s something your girlfriend needs or would use a lot, especially if she’s resisted getting it for herself.
- Occasion: Are you getting your girlfriend a gift for a particular occasion? Something like an anniversary gift should show more effort than a one-off surprise.
- Gifting preferences: Some people love gifts, while others would prefer quality time or experiences. When in doubt, ask your girlfriend’s friends and family what she might prefer.
Get the right gift delivered with Instacart
Whether you want something to send to your girlfriend “just because” or you’re planning the ultimate Valentine’s Day gift basket, it’s important to show your partner you care.
Finding meaningful things to send to your gf has never been easier. When life gets busy with work responsibilities, family commitments and daily tasks, get your gift delivered through Instacart so you never miss an opportunity to show you care.
Mel Hull
Author
Mel is a seasoned content strategist and food writer with over a decade of experience helping brands tell compelling stories. Inspired by her hometown of Houston, TX, she brings her love of bold flavors and Southern hospitality to the table. In the kitchen, she loves baking (especially banana bread!) and experimenting with Tex-Mex dishes.
Heather Matley
Editor
Heather Matley is an editor at Instacart whose passion for food and cooking has inspired her work on everything from grocery guides to recipe development. With over eight years of experience in editing, content creation, and search engine optimization, she strives to empower readers with the most effective tools, guides, and ideas to transform their home cooking.
Instacart Recommends
View most recent posts →
