Noteworthy Sympathy Gifts for Men
When a man in your life experiences loss, finding the right sympathy gift can feel challenging. While flowers and cards are traditional, many men appreciate gifts that are practical, meaningful, or offer quiet comfort during a difficult time. Whether you're looking for something for a friend, family member, or colleague, the right gesture can show your support and let him know he's not alone in his grief. Here are some thoughtful sympathy gift ideas that truly resonate. Our list includes all kinds of options including:
- Sympathy gifts for men that they can use right now
- Gift ideas that will help him grieve
- Practical gifts that can make a world of difference
Sympathy gifts for men they would love to receive
Choosing the right sympathy gift doesn’t have to be hard
If your male friend or family member recently suffered a loss, then you may want to consider giving him a sympathy gift. While it can’t take away their pain, it helps to know that people are in their lives that care about their wellbeing. Take a minute to consider your friend or family member’s interests, as that will help you get them a gift that can really make a difference in this difficult time.
1. Food or drink comfort items are great sympathy gifts for men
Choose a gift that’s catered to his tastes and interests and allows him to enjoy something without lots of effort
A high-quality coffee sampler, craft beer selection, or gourmet snack basket can provide small moments of comfort without requiring any effort on his part. Image courtesy of Betterbee.
Coffee, snacks, or beverages give him something to offer visitors or family members who are supporting him, facilitating connection without requiring hosting effort. Many men appreciate practical, straightforward gestures over traditional sympathy gifts. Food and drink hit that sweet spot of being thoughtful without feeling overly sentimental. Grief often suppresses appetite, but high-quality treats or favorite drinks may be more appealing than regular meals, helping ensure he's getting some nourishment.
A familiar taste or favorite beverage can offer a small moment of normalcy and pleasure during an incredibly difficult time. Unlike keepsakes that require display decisions, food and drinks are temporary, which can feel less emotionally complicated when someone isn't ready for permanent reminders.
2. Give a memorial or remembrance item
This is a great sympathy gift idea that allows them to naturally display someone who has passed
A custom photo frame, engraved compass, or memorial stone for the garden offers a tangible way to honor the person who passed. Image courtesy of Personalization Mall.
A thoughtful remembrance gift acknowledges that this person's death has left a permanent mark, which can feel validating when the world expects him to "move on" quickly. Many men prefer to process emotions privately. A memorial item gives him something personal to turn to without needing to express his feelings outwardly.
Items like an engraved compass, photo frame, or garden stone become part of his routine, keeping the memory alive naturally rather than confined to a drawer. A tangible item acknowledging the deceased shows that their life mattered and won't be forgotten, which can bring deep comfort to someone grieving. Having a physical object to hold, look at, or visit gives him a concrete way to feel connected to his loved one, especially on difficult days.
3. Sometimes guys need practical help
A sympathy gift that’s more practical might be just what your friend or family member needs
A meal delivery service gift card, house cleaning service, or lawn care service addresses real needs when someone is grieving and may not have energy for daily tasks. Image courtesy of Seniors Guide.
Grief is exhausting, and everyday responsibilities like cooking, cleaning, and yard work don't stop. Practical help tackles these burdens directly when energy and motivation are at their lowest. When someone is grieving, even small decisions can feel overwhelming. Services like meal delivery or lawn care eliminate choices and simply get things done. Many men are socialized to be self-reliant and may struggle to reach out even when they're drowning. Offering practical services removes the need to ask, making it easier to accept support.
Some men find emotional gestures uncomfortable or don't know how to respond to them. Practical gifts feel straightforward and easier to receive without awkwardness. Recognizing that he needs help with daily life demonstrates genuine empathy and awareness of what grief actually looks like day-to-day.
4. Books on grief can help him on those tough days
Sometimes it helps to hear what others have to say about grief and grieving
A well-regarded book about loss, such as those by C.S. Lewis or other authors who write about grief in relatable ways, can help him feel less alone. Image courtesy of NY Magazine.
Reading about others' experiences with loss can help him realize that what he's feeling—whether it's anger, numbness, or confusion—is completely normal and shared by others. Many men prefer to work through emotions independently rather than in conversation. A book allows him to explore grief on his own terms, at his own pace, without needing to be vulnerable in front of others.
Grief can be confusing and hard to articulate. Books give him words and frameworks to understand what's happening internally, which can be surprisingly relieving. Quality grief books acknowledge that healing isn't linear and that loss changes you permanently, which can be comforting when society pressures people to "get over it" quickly.
Many grief books include concrete tools for managing difficult days, processing emotions, or navigating social situations while grieving. Authors who've experienced profound loss themselves write with authenticity and empathy that can feel like companionship during an isolating time.
5. Comfort items can be a wonderful sympathy gift
Sometimes you just want to be comfortable and take time to rest while grieving
A weighted blanket, quality throw blanket, or comfortable hoodie provides physical comfort during a difficult time. Image courtesy of Sweet Zzz.
Loss often manifests physically through exhaustion, tension, disrupted sleep, and stress. A weighted blanket or soft throw provides tangible relief for a body under strain. Many men push through grief without slowing down. A comfort item gives him implicit permission to rest, wrap up, and take care of himself during a difficult time.
Physical comfort doesn't require talking about feelings or processing emotions out loud. It's support he can literally wrap himself in without needing to express anything verbally. Late nights, early mornings, and quiet moments alone are often when grief hits hardest. A comfort item provides consistent solace during those times when other support isn't available.
Grief can make the world feel harsh and overwhelming. Something soft, warm, or soothing creates a small refuge where he can let his guard down. Unlike other practical gifts that require action, comfort items simply exist to make him feel better—no effort required.
6. Plant or tree that’s planted in someone’s honor
Allow new life to grow after a loss that will honor their loved one
A potted plant or tree that can be planted in memory of the deceased creates something living and lasting. Image courtesy of The Living Urn.
While death represents an ending, a tree symbolizes ongoing life and growth. This can bring comfort by transforming loss into something that continues and flourishes. Planting and caring for a tree gives him something constructive to do with his grief. Many men find purpose in action, and tending to a living memorial can be therapeutic.
The tree becomes a specific location he can visit, sit beside, or simply look at when he wants to feel connected to the person he lost. Just as grief changes and he adapts to loss, the tree matures and strengthens, creating a parallel journey that can feel meaningful over the years.
A tree can outlive him and be passed down to future generations, ensuring the memory of his loved one continues for decades or even centuries. The tree provides oxygen, shade, and beauty to the world, turning grief into something that gives back—which can feel redemptive during a loss.
7. Personalized keepsake box
Having one place to put treasured items is a great way to help him process his grief
A wooden box engraved with a meaningful message or the loved one's name gives him a special place to store mementos, letters, or cherished items. Image courtesy of Personalization Mall.
Grief often comes with physical reminders—letters, photos, watches, or small belongings. A keepsake box gives these precious items a safe, intentional home rather than being scattered or packed away. Personalization with a name, date, or meaningful message acknowledges the specific person who was lost and the unique bond they shared, making it deeply personal rather than generic.
After a loss, he may receive cards, notes, and mementos that feel too important to discard but too painful to display. A box provides a middle ground—preserved but private. Many men appreciate gifts that serve a clear purpose while still carrying emotional weight. A keepsake box hits that balance perfectly.
Opening the box can become a private ritual for remembering—looking through items on anniversaries, birthdays, or when he simply needs to feel close to the person he lost. Quality materials like wood or leather ensure that fragile or irreplaceable items are kept safe for years to come, preserving them for himself or future family members.
Unlike displayed memorial items, a box allows him to grieve privately and control when and how he engages with these memories. Essentially, a personalized keepsake box transforms scattered reminders into a curated, protected collection—a tangible archive of love that he can return to whenever needed.
9. Custom star map
Help him remember a special day and time in the life of his loved one
A print showing the night sky on a significant date (birth, wedding, passing) creates a beautiful, permanent reminder of an important moment. Image courtesy of Positive Prints.
By showing the exact configuration of stars on a significant date—whether the day someone was born, married, or passed away—it immortalizes that moment in a beautiful, permanent way. Star maps are artistic and scientific rather than overtly emotional, which appeals to men who appreciate meaningful gifts that don't feel overly sentimental or saccharine.
The vastness of the universe can provide comfort during grief, reminding him that his loved one was part of something larger and eternal, which some find spiritually or philosophically soothing. Unlike photos that might be too emotionally difficult to look at daily, a star map is abstract enough to hang on a wall while still carrying deep personal meaning.
The idea that "we're all made of stardust" or that these same stars shine on both the living and deceased can offer a sense of continued connection. Every date has its own star configuration, making it completely one-of-a-kind and specific to his loss, which feels more thoughtful than generic sympathy gifts.
He can glance at it daily and feel nothing, or spend time contemplating its meaning when he needs to—it doesn't force emotion. Essentially, a custom star map transforms an important date into permanent art, offering both beauty and meaning in a way that feels dignified and lasting.
8. A PerfectGift gift card that he can use when he’s ready
A gift card is a simple way to show you care
When you’re grieving, it can be hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. That’s why giving a sympathy gift to a man like a PerfectGift gift card makes a lot of sense. It will be there, ready and waiting for him when he’s able to use it. Just choose the merchant you think he’d enjoy most, determine the amount, personalize it with a photo and a message, and send it his way. You can decide whether to send an e-gift card or a physical gift card.
Having a gift card gives him something to look forward to, which he can use on his own time, without the rush.
Choose any of these thoughtful sympathy gifts for men
Choosing a sympathy gift for a man doesn't have to be complicated. The most meaningful gifts are those that offer genuine support—whether through practical help during overwhelming times, comfort during difficult moments, or lasting tributes that honor the person he's lost. What matters most is showing that you care and that he doesn't have to navigate his grief alone. A thoughtful gift, no matter how simple, can provide real solace when he needs it most.
