The 44 Best Sympathy Gifts of 2024

Memorialight Crystal Suncatcher

View On Amazon $28 View On Etsy $35

Share the glimmers of a rainbow with the Memorialight Crystal Suncatcher. The small crystal prism is attached to a long 18-inch silver chain that you can hang near a window to catch the sunlight and disperse rainbows throughout the room it's in. It comes in a nice box and includes a card with an uplifting message. But if you want to make it more personal, feel free to add a note in your own words at no extra cost.

Notes on Grief

View On Amazon $11 View On Barnesandnoble.com $14 View On Target $11

Knowing others have gone through the same experience can be comforting in itself. In her book Notes on Grief, bestselling author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie writes about the sense of loss she felt when her father died of kidney complications during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her raw, poignant words are both a tribute to her father and a comforting read for anyone who is coping with the death of a loved one.

Soopau Wooden Sympathy Wind Chimes

View On Amazon $24

If you’re looking for a sympathy gift that is a little more permanent than food or gift cards, the Soopau Wooden Sympathy Wind Chimes fit the bill. This piece of outdoor decor is made with pine wood and aluminum tubes that are water resistant and designed for maximum durability. The chimes are also packaged in a sleek box that comes with a small card that you can fill out to express your sympathies. Additionally, you can select from a variety of colors and emblem options should you desire.

The Grief Companion Card Deck

View On Amazon $19 View On Barnesandnoble.com $20

The Grief Companion Deck is a self-healing tool that curates positive affirmations and advice to help as someone navigates their grief. There are 54 cards in all, and each card is either an insight, a prompt, or an action to uplift the mind and soul. For instance, a card might ask someone to create a daily schedule or share self-care tips. There is no right or wrong way to use the cards, so they have the freedom to follow the cards in a set order or pick randomly. 

Harry & David Thinking of You Gift Basket

View On Harry & David $80

If you can’t think of a specific gift to give, the Harry & David Thinking of You Gift Basket features an assortment of appetizing goodies for sweet and savory cravings. The treats can easily feed an entire family and includes snacks like caramel popcorn, cheese and crackers, a chocolate cake, baklava, and gummies, to name a few. You can add a complementary note or greeting card at checkout, and the baskets do have a sweet “Thinking of You” removable sticker at the front.

Quince Mongolian Cashmere Robe

View On Onequince.com $170

Made from 100% Mongolian cashmere, this kimono-style robe from Quince is an intimate comfort gift for those you care about most. Compared to wool, cashmere is softer and warmer, making the robe feel uber-luxurious and perfect for lounging all day. The long length makes it extra cozy and the two oversized pockets can house the tissues that may be needed throughout the day. Choose from four colors (oatmeal, black, ivory, and gray) and sizes from XS to XL.

Headspace Meditation App

View On Headspace.com $70

Not only does meditation reduce stress and anxiety, it can also improve focus and help them sleep better at night. Headspace offers guided meditations that are great for beginners as well as those who are already familiar with the practice. You can buy a three-month or one-year subscription for your loved one that they can access at their convenience. You can also add your own message to give it a personal touch.

UnHide Marshmallow Blanket

View On Amazon $219 View On Nordstrom $219 View On Unhide.us

Sleeping inside the UnHide Marshmallow blanket is like being wrapped up in a warm, comforting hug—a reassuring gesture for people who are feeling a bit down. Although it’s not as heavy as a weighted blanket, the faux fur has enough weight to keep them warm and cozy. The 60 by 80-inch size is equivalent to a queen-size blanket, so they can keep it in their bedroom for an extra layer of warmth or indulge in the fuzziness on their living room couch. The blanket is available in a dozen colors including rose, beige, emerald, and charcoal.

Aura Mason Digital Picture Frame

View On Amazon $169 View On Nordstrom $200 View On Walmart $169

If you’re looking for a novel gift that your loved one will cherish, we recommend the Aura Mason Digital Frame, which displays a carousel of pictures right from your phone. The frame can also be a collaborative project—just send an e-invite to others to upload their photos to the frame as well. The frame needs a Wi-Fi connection for it to work, but once you have it, just download the app to start uploading photos and video (30 second limit) to the frame.

Wolferman’s Bakery Sympathy Basket

View On Wolfermans.com

This Wolferman’s Bakery Deluxe Sympathy Basket is filled with carb-y goodness, and is ideal for anyone who needs a breakfast pick-me-up (or a snack any time of day). It contains several types of English muffins (cinnamon raisin and plain) and fruit preserves to go with it, along with coffee, cinnamon rolls, apple cake, and a blueberry scone. Plus, it’s all gorgeously presented in a woven seagrass basket to complete the package.

Handy One-Time Cleaning

View On Handy.com

For those who are coping with loss, everyday tasks like keeping their home clean can feel impossible. If you know someone who’s feeling sad and overwhelmed, a three-hour Home Cleaning Gift from House Handy could be a welcome surprise. All professional cleaners are pre-screened and vetted to ensure you’re working with a quality cleaner. Bookings are also flexible and can be rescheduled at any time if necessary, online and through their app. If one cleaning isn't enough, you can always opt for multiple cleaning packages.

UrbanStems The Oasis

View On Urbanstems.com

Plants are a great way to express your sympathy for friends or family members in mourning. This four-inch pilea peperomioides, otherwise known as the Chinese money plant, is part of an UrbanStems set called The Oasis. It comes in a gorgeous blue ceramic pot and is accompanied by a floral-scented coconut-soy wax candle to brighten up their room—and hopefully the rest of their day. This low maintenance plant doesn’t need to be in direct sunlight or watered every day to thrive. Plus, it's safe to have around pets.

Silk and Sonder Journaling Essentials Gift Box

View On Silkandsonder.com

For anyone who needs to reflect, organize their minds, or get a fresh start, journaling is one of the best self-care methods they can do. This beautifully designed Journal Essentials Gift Box from Silk and Sonder offers activities like mood trackers, habit trackers, sleep trackers, meal planners, and gratitude logs to work through the healing process. It also comes with a tassel keychain and a keepsake box for storage. Plus, all journals from Silk and Sonder automatically come with a companion app that they can download to their phone.

Q&A a Day

View On Amazon $10 View On Walmart $11 View On Target $10

Journaling is a viable method for processing grief, but sometimes it can be difficult to write down thoughts on an empty page. The Q&A a Day journal helps take the stress out of this task by offering guided entries on every single one of its pages. Many of these prompts ask the writer to think about the most recent trip they took, an act of kindness they did for someone else, and so forth. Moreover, since this journal is meant to last five years, there is plenty of room for your recipient to reflect on any meaningful memories they may have had with a loved one who has passed.

CookUnity Gift Card

View On Cookunity.com

Making meals is a difficult task during grieving, but a prepared meal kit delivery service can help take some of this pressure off. CookUnity offers subscribers a variety of fresh meals that offer a little more sustenance than soup and snacks, all delivered straight to their door. While an actual gift subscription is unavailable for this service, you can purchase a gift card for your recipient that will cover the cost of any CookUnity meal plan.

Wax On Fire Memorial Gift Candle

View On Etsy $18

If you’re looking for an affordable gift, this soy wax Memorial Candle starts at $18 and comes in 4-ounce, 9-ounce, and 16-ounce sizes. What’s special about this candle is that it has a touching poem printed on the front, along with a customized name as a memorial tribute. It’s available in over 20 scents, including fresh coffee, eucalyptus breeze, and citronella, just to name a few. If you’re unsure of which scent to choose, you can let the company choose a scent for you.

Afloral Air-Dried Globe Amaranth in Pink

View On Afloral.com

While flowers are common sympathy gifts, the process of watching them wilt away can be triggering for those who are grieving. However, a bouquet of dried flowers, like this one from Afloral, doesn't require water and is made to last several months, and in some cases, years. This bouquet is between 14 to 18 inches tall — allowing it to fit in a small vase on a table or counter — and comes with 50 to 60 stems per bundle.

Magnolia Bakery Small Sampler Pack

View On Magnoliabakery.com $45

For people who may find comfort in a sweet treat, the Best of Magnolia Bakery Sampler Pack features Magnolia’s famous banana pudding and frosted cupcakes. We can confirm that the banana pudding is lush and creamy with chunky banana pieces and pound cake crumbles inside. You can buy a small set that comes with two large banana pudding cups and two cupcakes, or a family-sized option with four banana puddings and six cupcakes.

Untie The Bow Gifts Sympathy Gift Box

View On Etsy $46

For anyone going through a hard time, this handmade sympathy gift box from Etsy is an excellent way to show how much you care. There are nine types of boxes to choose from, each featuring a different combination of journals, blankets, succulents, sweets, mugs, candles, tumblers, and more. You also can choose greeting cards with themes like “Thinking of You,” “Sending Hugs.” and “Sending Prayers,” along with a personalized message. The only downside with this set is that you can’t make a custom gift box.

Grief Works

View On Amazon $16 View On Walmart $16 View On Bookshop.org $18

Grief Works: Stories of Life, Death and Surviving is a UK bestseller by British author and grief psychotherapist Julia Samuel. She shares a collection of case studies of people who have lost spouses, parents, siblings, and children and how they were able to heal. Her book is meant to inspire and emphasize the fact that healing is possible after the passing of a loved one. The book is available in hardcover and paperback versions.

Hello Adorn Tiny Heart Necklace

View On Helloadorn.com

The handmade Tiny Heart Necklace from Hello Adorn features a tiny heart charm on a dainty chain for a delicate gift that can be worn every day. It’s available in 14-karat gold fill and sterling silver versions. You can also build a full set with a pair of twist earrings or heart studs to match. Although it is waterproof, the brand says it’s best not to expose it to moisture for long periods of time.

Spoonful of Comfort Sympathy Soup Gift Basket

View On Spoonfulofcomfort.com

The days and weeks after a funeral are sad and difficult, and it’s common to not have the energy to cook. Spoonful of Comfort’s Sympathy Soup Gift consists of two 32 ounces of soup or mac and cheese, which is enough for four to six servings. Plus, it comes with bread rolls and cookies to round off the meal. There are a variety of soups to choose from, including chicken noodle and vegetable soup options, as well as vegan and gluten-free soups. The brand also offers special add-ons, such as comfort socks or a throw, to make the package feel extra comforting. We like that you can also add a caring note that will be included in the package.

Grief, Grace, and Healing

View On Amazon $19 View On Walmart $19 View On Barnesandnoble.com $19

Because healing from grief takes time, the Grief, Grace, and Healing Oracle Deck and Guidebook guides people through the mourning process at their own pace. The set comes with a deck of 64 cards, which contain motivational messages, self-care rituals, and affirmations, as well as a guidebook to write down reflections. If you know someone who’s feeling sad over the passing of a loved one, divorce, job loss, or other life-changing events—this is a pick we recommend.

Gorjana Power Gemstone Tatum Bracelet

View On Gorjana.com

If you want to show someone close to you that you are thinking of them, we suggest the Power Gemstone Tatum Bracelet. The 18K gold-plated bracelet features reconstituted gemstones, such as turquoise, amethyst, black onyx, and quartz, that are known to bring vibes of healing, love, good energy, tranquility, and protection to the person wearing them. The bracelet is adjustable, so you don’t have to worry too much about knowing their exact wrist size; at its longest, the bracelet measures 9.25 inches.

Seamless Gift Card

View On Seamless.com

If your love language is food, consider giving a Seamless Gift Card that allows your loved ones to order delivery or pickup from their preferred restaurants. Choose any amount of money to put on the card, and then give them either a physical or digital version with (or without) a personalized message. The cards do not expire, so they can use them anytime they want.

Challah Back Girls Challah Back Babka Bites

View On Challahbackgirls.com

Show your condolences to those in mourning with a batch of these freshly baked babka bites from Challah Back Girls. They’d make especially good gifts for those in the early days of grief when it’s hard for some people to eat. Each gift box consists of three cinnamon and three chocolate challah dough balls with cake crumbs and chocolate chips. You can buy it as a one-time purchase or sign up for a weekly or bi-monthly subscription. Besides the babka bites, the company offers plenty of other light, delicious, and sweet challah dough desserts in different flavors.

Boarderie Cheese & Charcuterie Board

View On Boarderie.com

The Boaderie’s Diletto Cheese & Charcuterie board offers hearty nibbles and treats to snack on throughout the day. The board’s platter is extensive and caters to sweet, savory, and umami palates. It comes with a range of artisanal cheeses (like Fig & Rose Goat Cheese), as well as an assortment of meat, mixed nuts, Turkish figs, and olives. It also comes with natural bamboo cutlery. Because the boards are freshly made daily by Boaderie chefs, they must be kept refrigerated. The medium platter serves up to five people, but small and large sizes are also available to order.

Baloo Weighted Blanket

View On Amazon $199 View On Baloo $179

A weighted blanket like the Baloo Weighted Blanket may be just the thing that a grieving family member or friend can appreciate. Available in four colors, this luxury quilted blanket is made from 100-percent cotton inside and outside. Instead of synthetic fillers, it is filled with glass beads to give it added weight—but, despite the heft, it's cool enough to be used year-round. The blanket is available in four sizes: a 12-pound throw, a 15-pound light queen, a 20-pound heavy queen, and a 25-pound king size.

Mouth Snack in the Box

View On Mouth

When going to the grocery store feels like a monumental task, having a good variety of snacks is immensely helpful. Mouth's Snack in the Box is good to keep nearby for your loved ones who crave sweet or savory treats. It’s curated with chips, cookies, nuts, crackers, popcorn, and peanut butter puffs from small-batch brands in the United States.

Framebridge The #1 Gift

View On Framebridge.com

Framebridge offers custom framing services for photos, kids’ artwork, documents, textiles, jerseys, and more. It’s a beautiful way to honor a loved one’s memory. The #1 Gift comes in 12 different styles and colors, ranging from a timeless matte black to bolder choices like coral red. The company will even send you secure packaging that can be used to send the item or artwork you want framed—free of charge. All frames will be shipped in a classic olive box and a bow to make the gift feel extra special.

Tropical Fruit Box Fruit Gift Box

View On Tropicalfruitbox.com

This tropical fruit board is an alternative to traditional snack baskets, flowers, and even fruit baskets consisting of everyday fruits. We’re most impressed by the interesting and immune-boosting fruit options that are native to the Caribbean and South America. Instead of apples and oranges, it features different options like pink glow pineapple, guava, guinep (Spanish limes), rambutan, soursop, dragonfruit, and passion fruit. Just keep in mind that fruit options are seasonal, so the box will change depending on the time of year you order. You can also create your own custom fruit box if you want it filled with specific fruits.

Love Talla The Sun & Moon Fingerprint Necklace

View On Lovetalla.com

The Sun and Moon Fingerprint Necklace is a beautiful and unique way to commemorate loved ones with their fingerprints. You can have up to four fingerprints featured on a yellow gold, silver, or rose gold chain. The necklace is available in four different lengths, ranging from 16 to 24 inches, and for $10, you can have a short personal message (two lines max) engraved on the back.

New York Public Library Dedicate a NYPL Bookplate

View On Nypl.org

Forever honor your loved ones by dedicating a book from the New York Public Library in their name with a donation of at least $50. The library will print your loved one’s name inside a book with an inspiring message on their behalf. Just note that you won’t be able to dedicate specific book titles in their name and you won’t actually know which book the nameplate was inserted in. However, you can download the actual nameplate card or send an e-copy for family and friends to see.

Wearwell The Cropped Sweatshirt

View On Shopwearwell.com

The Wearwell Cropped Sweatshirt provides casual comfort for the days they just want to stay home and chill. The fabric features ribbed cuffs and is made out of a soft and luxurious French terry blend. We like that it is size-inclusive and available in XS to 5X sizes. It comes in four colors: plum, onyx, midnight, and thyme. Side note: Wearwell members can purchase this sweatshirt at a discount.

Baabushka Wool Slipper

View On Baabushka.com

Made from felted sheep’s wool, these handcrafted Baabushka Wool Slippers will provide comfort in every step. As a natural, breathable material, wool shoes can be worn during warm and cold seasons. The shape also hugs the heel to keep it in place, for the coziest fit and feel. The shoes are available in ten colors including red, merlot, and gray. Due to the natural materials, these shoes are spot-clean only and cannot be thrown in the washer. The company also sells wool booties, if you’re looking for more coverage.

Wishbar Sympathy Cards

View On Wishbar.co

Sometimes it’s hard to find the right words to express to someone who has just lost someone special in their lives. The Wishbar Sympathy Cards are intended to make the expression a little easier by offering sympathy cards with customizable template messages. Wishbar recommends cards for you based on your relationship with the person (casual, close, and cherish). After selecting the card you want, you can choose a message or send a message of your own that will be handwritten by the Wishbar team. Shipping is free and the price includes the price of postage stamps.

Egunsi Foods Introductory Bundle West African Soups

View On Egunsifoods.com

These ready-to-eat West African soups are the brainchild of Nigeria-born entrepreneur Yemisi Awosan, who created the suits based on traditional recipes she grew up on in Nigeria. These 100-percent vegan and gluten-free soups are an ideal gift for anyone who needs a quick, nourishing meal. This soup set comes in four flavors: a West African-inspired tomato soup, egusi or melon seed soup, groundnut (peanut) soup, and brown-eyed peas soup. They also can be used as a velvety sauce base for other foods. You have the option of buying them alone or as part of a subscription service.

Esker Terracotta Plantable Candle

View On Eskerbeauty.com View On Bluemercury.com $85 View On Saks Fifth Avenue $60

If you want to give a gift that literally keeps on giving, consider getting the Esker Plantable Candle. This aromatherapy candle features a light floral scent that can burn up to 75 hours. When it’s done, use the included packet seeds to transform the jar into a micro herb garden of lemon balm, which is associated with reduced anxiety.

Cometeer Coffee Gift Box

View On Cometeer.com

The Cometeer Coffee Gift Box makes coffee a quick and easy task. The capsules only use premium beans that are brewed and flash-frozen for an incredibly fresh taste. Just pop the capsule in a mug of hot water and enjoy a delicious cup of hot or iced coffee. Each box comes with four flavors and can make up 32 cups of coffee. If you feel really generous, opt for a monthly subscription for regular coffee deliveries.

Gap Cozy Rib PJ Cardigan

View On Gap.com

Nothing brings comfort like a new set of pajamas. While the Gap Cozy Rib PJ Cardigan may look like a light sweater, the soft polyester material is structured in such a way that it isn’t flimsy like a typical cardigan. For this reason, the top makes for a snug top piece for any set of sleepwear. Alternatively, you can also match it with the pajama bottoms that are part of the same set, but are sold separately.

Uber Gift Card

View On Amazon View On Walmart $100 View On Uber.com $25

Getting around during mourning is a monumental feat when your giftee just doesn’t have the energy to do so. Buying them an Uber gift card will help them get to their destinations with minimal hassle, allowing them to complete any important errands or appointments on their list. Additionally, these cards are compatible with Uber Eats if your recipient would prefer to use one for meals instead of transportation.

Blissful Balance Sympathy Spa Gift Basket

View On Blissfulbalance.com

Self-care days are absolutely needed during times of grief, and the Blissful Balance Sympathy Spa Gift Basket can help with that. Each basket comes with a variety of lotions, bath salts, shower gels, and other bath-related items to help give your recipient a session of at-home pampering. You can select from three different sizes, with the largest basket containing 10 items. No matter what size you pick, every basket comes beautifully arranged in a small gift box along with a personalized message.

Easy Coloring Book For Adults

View On Amazon $11

If your recipient has an interest in art, gifting them a coloring book makes for a thoughtful, minimal-hassle sympathy craft gift. The act of simply sitting down and filling in spaces with bright and bold colors can be therapeutic and help keep your recipient’s mind occupied as they process their grief. This book contains 40 single-sided pages that all feature easy-to-color mandalas that your giftee can also remove for safekeeping or framing.