What to buy your partner when you have no idea
If you have no idea what to buy your partner, buy something that proves you were paying attention: a shared memory turned into something they can hang up or hold, or an evening you book with them in mind.
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Not knowing what to buy the person you spend most of your time with is a particular kind of embarrassing. In theory you know everything about them.
The trick is that you probably do know. You have just not written it down. There are seven ideas below, from £23.99 to £149.99, grouped by the kind of knowledge you already have: a shared memory, a night out, or a treat. I have only listed what I can link to and have price checked on the date above, so it is seven, not seventy.
If you have photos: turn a memory into something they can keep
1. Personalised Photo Canvas, from £23.99
A photo of the two of you, printed on canvas over a pine frame and ready to hang. £23.99 is the smallest size, and delivery is extra. Our estimate is about nine days, so order early. Pick a photo that is better than a selfie.
Why it passes: Memory and Story, and the best Longevity on this list. Only you can supply the photo, so Personal fit is as high as it gets. It fails if the photo is poor, so check the camera roll before you pay. Ad · affiliate link See it at Smartphoto
2. Photo Book, large hardcover, from £39.99
Smartphoto's large hardcover book starts at £39.99 for 20 pages, expandable to 100, with extra pages at 60p each. Hardcover books get free lay-flat binding. Postage is extra and our estimate is about 12 days, so this is not a last-week gift.
Why it passes: Memory and Story again. It takes an evening to make, and that is the point, because the effort is part of the gift. It beats a canvas if you have a trip or a year to cover, rather than one good photo. Ad · affiliate link See it at Smartphoto
If you want a night out: book it for two
3. Wicked tickets, from £31
The long-running London musical at the Apollo Victoria Theatre. It runs about 2 hours 45 minutes and is recommended for ages 7 and over. Theatre Tickets Direct emails the tickets, usually instantly. The date is fixed when you book and the tickets cannot be refunded, so check both diaries first. £31 is the cheapest seat.
Why it passes: Memory and Story, with the evening planned for you. Longevity is low until the night itself. Only buy it if you know they would enjoy a musical. If you are not sure, choose the next idea. Ad · affiliate link See Wicked tickets at Theatre Tickets Direct
4. Axe Throwing or Archery for Two, £41.99
A 50-minute session at Adventure Now, sold as a voucher by Red Letter Days. Its page lists a free instant e-voucher by email and 12 months to use it, and refunds on unused vouchers within 30 days of purchase. That takes the pressure off picking a date.
Why it passes: Memory and Story, for a partner who would rather do something than sit through something. It fails with anyone who hates being watched trying a new skill, so think about that before you buy. Ad · affiliate link See it at Red Letter Days
5. Champagne Afternoon Tea at Grinkle Park for Two, £68.99
A long afternoon with a pot of something fizzy, sold by Red Letter Days with the same instant e-voucher and 12-month window. Grinkle Park is in North Yorkshire, so check it is somewhere you will go before you buy.
Why it passes: Memory, and a good one if you both like a slow afternoon. At £68.99 it sits in the middle of the range for a proper treat. Skip it if either of you is not a tea person, because the food is the point. Ad · affiliate link See it at Red Letter Days
If you want a treat at home or a night away
6. Gift Box for Couples, £44
From Social Stories Club: double chocolate chip cookies, dark chocolate with raspberries, a handmade lavender candle, citrus and vanilla bath salts, a brownie-making kit and a booklet about the social enterprises behind it. You can add a joint message. UK mainland delivery is free and our estimate is about four days. The site says it is suitable for vegetarians, but check the allergen details on the page.
Why it passes: Frequency and Longevity are low, as with any treat box. Its strength is the evening it makes, because you do it together, so Memory is decent. It is a safe choice when you really have nothing to go on. Ad · affiliate link See it at Social Stories Club
7. One Night Stay for Two at Holiday Inn South Normanton, £149.99
A night in Derbyshire with dinner, fizz and breakfast, sold by Red Letter Days. It is the most expensive idea here and the one I would think hardest about. Read the booking terms on the page before you buy, because I have not checked availability for particular dates.
Why it passes: Memory is highest here, because it is a night away with no washing up. Story is thin unless the hotel means something to you both. Longevity is low. It earns its place for the partner who would never book a night away for themselves. Ad · affiliate link See it at Red Letter Days
How to narrow it down when you know nothing
Start with the last three months. What did they mention twice? A place they want to go, a show they heard about, something they said they missed doing. People repeat what they want, and your phone holds most of it in your own messages.
Then pick the kind of gift before the gift. If they say they have enough stuff, buy an evening. If they keep things, buy something with your photo on it. If they work hard and rarely stop, buy time, such as a night away or a long afternoon tea.
Be honest about dates. The theatre tickets are tied to a date and cannot be refunded once bought, so check both diaries. The experience vouchers last 12 months, which takes the pressure off. The photo gifts take the longest, with delivery on top of the estimates above.
Write the card first. One line that could only be about them, saying what you picked and why. The card is where the thought goes, and it costs nothing.
For the full method, read how we pick. It sets out the five-point test used above: Longevity, Memory, Personal fit, Frequency and Story.
Partner gift questions
What do you buy your partner when you have no idea?
Buy something that shows you were paying attention, not something that guesses. A canvas or photo book from a shared memory, or a night out booked with them in mind, beats a generic present. If nothing comes to mind, scroll through your photos from the last year first.
How much should I spend on a gift for my partner?
Spend what you can comfortably afford and what suits the occasion. A gift that proves you listened at £25 beats a guess at £150. The ideas above run from £23.99 to £149.99, so you can choose a level without apologising for it.
Is an experience better than a physical gift for a partner?
It depends on what they say they miss. If they complain about clutter, or you rarely go out, an experience wins. If they keep things, a canvas or photo book lasts longer. Check refund terms first: theatre tickets cannot be refunded once bought, and vouchers have different rules.
Can I still get a partner gift if I have left it late?
Yes, with the experience vouchers. Red Letter Days lists a free instant e-voucher by email, and theatre tickets are usually emailed instantly. The photo canvas and photo book are slower, at about nine and 12 days by our estimates. These are estimates, not courier guarantees.
Does Mind The Gift cost anything to use?
No. It is free, and you do not need an account to get recommendations. We earn a commission if you buy through some links, which is how we pay for it. Links are labelled as affiliate links before you click, and our affiliate disclosure has the detail.
Want something more specific?
Still stuck? Tell the Mind The Gift quiz who the gift is for, your budget and how soon you need it, and it will suggest ideas from our catalogue. It is free and needs no sign-up. Try the quiz.
Also useful: how to choose a thoughtful gift, anniversary and jewellery gifts without panic-buying and how we pick.