Gift ideas for your brother
Last updated: · Links and ratings checked 16 October 2026
Buying for a brother often comes down to two questions: what does he do in his spare time, and how much are you expected to spend? Siblings often agree a budget, so this list covers everything from under-£25 games and books to a few bigger-ticket items.
If he’s competitive
Modern board and card games are a reliable choice. Exploding Kittens and Codenames work for big family groups. CATAN and Carcassonne suit a brother who enjoys strategy. All have tens of thousands of ratings on Amazon UK (Codenames Pictures, a newer edition, has far fewer).
If he’s into coffee, cooking or the outdoors
An AeroPress, a moka pot or a cast-iron skillet are the kind of gift that gets used for years. A proper flask suits anyone who walks, fishes or stands on touchlines.
If he reads, or should
Pick a book that matches his sense of humour or curiosity: popular science, a funny memoir or a page-turning thriller. See books as gifts.
Buying for a younger brother? Try gifts for teenagers. If you want something fun for the whole family, see board games.
At a glance
- 35 picks: 21 in £10–£25, 4 in £50–£100, 10 in £25–£50.
- 33 show a public rating on the retailer’s page; 2 don’t have a rating we could verify.
- 6 are personalised and need extra making time.
- Highest rated when checked: Personalised birth year football club print (★ 4.9), Artisan coffee roasting pan gift set (★ 4.9), Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat – Samin Nosrat (★ 4.8).
Want it narrower? Take the 60-second quiz.
Our picks (35)
Personalised birth year football club print
Their club's results from the year they were born. Fans love the trivia, and it's very well reviewed.
View at notonthehighstreet (opens in new tab)Artisan coffee roasting pan gift set
Roast your own beans at home. A genuinely new hobby for the coffee bore who owns every gadget.
View at notonthehighstreet (opens in new tab)Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat – Samin Nosrat
Teaches how to cook rather than what to cook. It's for the person who has every recipe book already.
View at Amazon UK (opens in new tab)Dishoom: the cookbook
The restaurant's recipes, chai and bacon naan included. A feast-weekend project for curry fans.
View at Amazon UK (opens in new tab)Exploding Kittens card game
Teaches in two minutes and works across generations, so it's a safe bet for the Boxing Day crowd.
View at Amazon UK (opens in new tab)Factfulness – Hans Rosling
An optimistic, data-led antidote to doom-scrolling. It goes down well with the family news-watcher.
View at Amazon UK (opens in new tab)AeroPress Original coffee maker
Coffee lovers rarely buy themselves one, yet it beats most £200 machines for a single cup and packs into a rucksack.
View at Amazon UK (opens in new tab)Wingspan board game
An award-winning strategy game about birds, beautiful enough to keep out on the table. It's perfect for the birdwatcher who 'doesn't do board games'.
View at Amazon UK (opens in new tab)Carcassonne board game
A tile-laying game that works brilliantly with just two players, so it's a great choice for couples and grandparents.
View at Amazon UK (opens in new tab)Ottolenghi SIMPLE
Ottolenghi without the 14-ingredient lists, so the keen cook will actually cook from it on a weeknight.
View at Amazon UK (opens in new tab)Men’s personalised engraved leather bracelet
A hidden engraved message makes it personal without being showy.
View at notonthehighstreet (opens in new tab)Teenage boy’s personalised leather bracelet
A rare gift for teenage boys that isn't a voucher, and well reviewed.
View at notonthehighstreet (opens in new tab)Coffee Club: three-month gift subscription
A gift that keeps arriving into spring and leaves no clutter. Ideal for someone who has everything.
View at notonthehighstreet (opens in new tab)Codenames: Pictures (2nd edition)
A party game that doesn't need drinking to be fun. Great for a household that has 'done' charades.
View at Amazon UK (opens in new tab)Personalised whisky lovers letterbox hamper
Miniatures to taste rather than one bottle to guess. Contains alcohol, so it's excluded for non-drinkers.
View at notonthehighstreet (opens in new tab)Atomic Habits – James Clear
The book people actually finish and act on. A New Year starter rather than a shelf-filler.
View at Amazon UK (opens in new tab)Sapiens – Yuval Noah Harari
The pub-conversation book: they'll be quoting it by Twelfth Night.
View at Amazon UK (opens in new tab)Born a Crime – Trevor Noah
A funny, moving memoir that even non-readers finish.
View at Amazon UK (opens in new tab)CATAN board game
A modern classic that gives a family a new Christmas tradition rather than another object.
View at Amazon UK (opens in new tab)Good Omens – Pratchett & Gaiman
The end of the world, done very funnily. A safe bet for anyone with a dark sense of humour.
View at Amazon UK (opens in new tab)Born to Run – Christopher McDougall
The book that made a generation of runners. It's the perfect pair for a parkrun habit.
View at Amazon UK (opens in new tab)Bialetti Moka Express (3-cup)
A 1933 design classic that lasts decades. It's a great Secret Santa for anyone who mentions their 'one good coffee' a day.
View at Amazon UK (opens in new tab)A Short History of Nearly Everything – Bill Bryson
Science explained by the funniest writer around. It suits a curious teen or a quiz-loving dad.
View at Amazon UK (opens in new tab)Personalised letterbox sweets gift box
A cheerful Secret Santa or 'can't be there' gift that's eaten, not stored.
View at notonthehighstreet (opens in new tab)Escape Room in an Envelope puzzle gift
An hour of puzzling that leaves nothing behind. Brilliant for a crossword or puzzle fan.
View at notonthehighstreet (opens in new tab)Thinking, Fast and Slow – Daniel Kahneman
A Nobel-winner on why we make bad decisions. A great pick for the analytical type.
View at Amazon UK (opens in new tab)Ticket to Ride board game
The gateway game that converts Monopoly families. It's gentle enough for grandparents and competitive enough for teens.
View at Amazon UK (opens in new tab)Luxury milkshakes create-your-own gift box
A make-it-together treat for teens. It's consumable, fun and alcohol-free.
View at notonthehighstreet (opens in new tab)Rivers of London – Ben Aaronovitch
A London police procedural with magic, and book one of a long series. It's great for a fan of crime or Pratchett.
View at Amazon UK (opens in new tab)5 Ingredients – Jamie Oliver
Perfect for the reluctant cook or student, with dinner from five things.
View at Amazon UK (opens in new tab)Samsung T7 1TB portable SSD
Not glamorous, but every gamer or photographer runs out of space. It's fast, pocket-sized and genuinely used.
View at Amazon UK (opens in new tab)Stanley Classic Legendary 1L flask
The flask your grandad had, still built to last a lifetime. It keeps tea hot all day on the touchline, riverbank or allotment.
View at Amazon UK (opens in new tab)Lodge pre-seasoned cast iron skillet
Works on the hob, in the oven and on a BBQ or campfire, and it gets better with age. A proper heirloom pan.
View at Amazon UK (opens in new tab)AeroPress Go travel coffee maker
Same brew as the Original but nests inside its own mug, so it's ideal for walkers, campers and commuters.
View at AeroPress UK (opens in new tab)Stanley Classic Legendary Bottle 1L (direct from Stanley)
Buy direct for the full colour range and Stanley's lifetime-style warranty.
View at Stanley 1913 UK (opens in new tab)
Frequently asked questions
How much should you spend on a brother’s Christmas present?
Agree it with him if you can. Many of our picks are in the £10–£25 band.
What is a good gift for a brother who is hard to buy for?
A modern board game or a useful upgrade of something he uses every day.
Will it arrive before Christmas?
Check each retailer’s cut-off and our UK Christmas delivery dates page. For Christmas 2026, Royal Mail’s last recommended 1st Class posting date is Monday 21 December. Personalised items need extra time.