Best Mother's Day Gifts Under $50

With summer around the corner, it’s prime time to start a little garden, indoors or out. This 10-pack includes heirloom seeds for herbs such as cilantro, basil, dill, chives, lavender, and more. Cue plenty of deliciously seasoned meals to come.

Pair this with: A set of mini terracotta planters.

For the one who finds indoor plants to be too much work and fresh-cut flowers a little too fleeting, this might just be the perfect middle. With a gift that’s longer-lasting in mind, CR’s Althea Chang-Cook, associate director of content development, asked for potted tulips this year in lieu of fresh florals. This vibrant (and budget-friendly) option is not one to miss.

Pair this with: A watering can and garden shears.

For the mom who enjoys life’s simple pleasures and is an anthophile to boot, a beautiful set of garden scissors will be much appreciated. They may come in myriad shapes and sizes but I’m partial to this carbon steel version I’ve owned for years. It can make cuts that are sharp and precise—an important element that helps promote healthy plant growth. The cherry on top? It’s highly versatile. I use them to clip back the rapidly growing vines on my pothos or when I need to give cut-flower stems a refresh to help them last longer.

Pair this with: A bouquet of fresh flowers.

Angela Judd, gardener and author of “How to Grow Your Own Food: An Illustrated Beginner’s Guide to Container Gardening” (Adams Media, 2021), swears by an olla, which is a terra-cotta vessel that’s filled with water and buried underground, and she won’t garden in containers without one. “The water seeps out gradually as needed by the plant’s roots,” Judd says. “Ollas help my container plants not only survive the hot summers of Arizona but also thrive.”

Pair this with: A packet of flower seeds.

Good-quality tea can feel like a little luxury and this set from Rishi is no exception. It’s a staple in my household and a mainstay on my gift lists every year. Each box comes with 15 sachets, and the caffeine-free botanical blend features golden turmeric root, licorice root, and ginger.

Pair this with: An oversized tea mug and a mini jar of honey.

For the coffee-lover who is always on the go, a colorful tumbler is a must. Claire Chan—founder of The Elk, a specialty coffee shop and general store in New York City—prefers drinking cold brew with a straw and over a lot of ice. So whenever she whips up a batch at home, the coffee pro makes sure to put it in an insulated tumbler like this colorful option. “The insulation keeps it cold for much longer, and the straw is built in,” Chan says.

Pair this with: A bottle of cold brew.

Coffee on the go just got easier. And no, we’re not talking about a Starbucks drive-thru. Espro’s portable coffee maker comes in a standard size and shape, which makes it simple and easy to pack. Take out the French press filters inside and it could double as a water bottle or hot coffee cup (for brewed coffee). 

It comes with four parts (or three, if you don’t count the thermos cup itself), making it pretty easy to pack and take on the go. Its double-filter feature sets it apart from other travel brewers and most French presses, too. Instead of a single mesh filter, or a mesh filter and fiddly paper filter, the Espro has two mesh filters that fit into each other. This makes for a cleaner, clearer cup without sacrificing body. It also means you don’t have to carry around paper filters. The company recommends cleaning inside and outside after each use, with a monthly deep clean using Espro’s cleaning solution. The press can also be washed in the top rack of a dishwasher.

Pair this with: A travel-friendly mug.

Read more: Best Portable Coffee Makers

If Mom loves cold coffee but dislikes the flavor when ice waters it down, consider this a fix. Fill two of the HyperChiller’s three separate inner chambers with water, freeze, then pour your hot coffee into the third for nonwatery cold coffee 60 seconds later.

Pair this with: A new coffee maker.

Read our full review of the HyperChiller.

Upgrade Mom’s brew game with a milk frother that’s prime for whipping up cappuccinos, macchiatos, and more. The Aerolatte To-Go is one of the most popular frothers on the market, and it’s a breeze to clean. The fact that it can easily fit in a kitchen drawer is also a big plus. In trying out this model at home, CR editor Daniel Wroclawski found that even though there was a bit of a learning curve to using the handheld device, once he had the hang of it, the cordless design of the frother made it easy to move around the cup or glass and froth the remaining liquid milk.

Pair this with: A mug prime for keeping a brew warm.

For more options: Best Milk Frothers

Give the java enthusiast a better vessel for their brew. According to Bernie Deitrick, a CR test engineer, compact mugs with multiple small servings (rather than one big pour) can optimize the flavor and retain the heat of coffee. These Fellow Joey mugs are up to the task.

Pair this with: A good book.

It’s the year to spice things up! Miguel Leal is a big fan of Fly by Jing. The co-founder of Somos—a purveyor of ready-to-eat Mexican foods—recommends the Triple Threat gift set for home cooks who want to get creative in the kitchen. “It contains three products, one of which is the Sichuan Chili Crisp, which is a super-versatile sauce that I use on everything from eggs to dumplings and rice, and even on sushi,” Leal says. “It has a great level of spicy—but isn’t too spicy!—and I love the texture it adds to my food.”

Pair this with: Her favorite dinner, made by you!

Vinegar so tasty you can drink it? According to Eunice Byun, co-founder of Material Kitchen, a direct-to-consumer kitchenware brand, this set from Brightland fits the bill. Sourced from California grapes and fruit, these double-fermented vinegars are prime for dressing salads and even cocktails. "These beauties would be ideal for my foodie friends, as well as neighbors that have been extra helpful this year," says Byun, adding that the reusable bottles also make perfect bud vases.

Pair this with: A cheeseboard with Mom’s favorite snacks.

For the mom with a sweet tooth a little pick me up can never hurt. "I give my stepmom tiramisu from Whole Foods," says Chang-Cook. "She lives in San Francisco, so I have it delivered from the app—it’s her favorite dessert."

Pair this with: Fresh berries and whipped cream.

Indulge Mom’s sweet​​ tooth with a box of chocolates that is sure to please. This assorted pack from Jacques Torres features an array of unique flavors, including orange-flavored dark chocolate with a lovely, albeit stingy, citrus flavor, according to CR editor Trisha Calvo. There’s also a cinnamon-forward white chocolate one that she noted as being “really unusual, and one of the top three chocolates” she tasted in our evaluations of the best boxed chocolates. 

Pair this with: A gift card to a local coffee shop.

It’s five o’clock somewhere, and whether they’re team cocktails or mocktails, a solid shaker (that’s aesthetically pleasing, too) can be a great idea. In an evaluation of the best cocktail shakers, a CR editor designated this model as the best-looking—its Art Deco–inspired design and a luxe brass finish certainly give it flair. Made from coated stainless steel, this shiny shaker can dress up just about any bar cart.

Pair this with: Dried orange slices and a bottle of mom’s favorite spirit.

Upgrade Mom’s movie night with freshly popped popcorn. This model was a standout in a recent evaluation of the best popcorn machines because it delivered a lighter, toastier flavor with a pleasant snap in each piece. It takes roughly 2 minutes to pop a whole bowl and has a capacity of 16 cups.

Pair this with: Popcorn kernels and seasoning salts.

Living sustainably never goes out of style. Treat the eco-conscious one in your life with a composter that makes getting rid of food scraps easy and odor-free. This gallon-sized SimpleHuman Compost Caddy is designed to magnetically attach to any SimpleHuman trash can, which means it can remain hidden in plain sight while leaving your kitchen counters free and clear.  

Pair this with: A basket of fresh fruits and veggies.

For more options: How to Compost in Your Apartment

Accessorizing for exercise is always a good idea and this Nike watch band is just what Mom needs to complete her fit. In a recent evaluation of the best Apple watch bands, one reviewer noted that the perforation throughout the band adds much-needed breathability to the silicone.

Pair this with: A new yoga mat.

Consider this cheeky twist on Mother’s Day brunch. This jigsaw puzzle from Piecework depicting a vibrant breakfast scene is almost as good as the real thing. As a bonus, it can live past the afternoon, and the fact that it will require little to no cleanup is a win for all.

Pair this with: A piping-hot cup of coffee and a cookie to boot.

Little says luxury quite like a silk sleep mask and one that can double as an eye pillow is even better. In an evaluation of the best sleep masks, our reviewers found this option from Lunya to be comfortable and warm to wear. It has a wide, scrunchy backstrap, fits over the ears, and can even muffle some sounds.

Pair this with: Calming essential oils.

Sweet dreams are made of this. This scented pillow spray from ThisWorks features a combination of lavender, vetivert, and wild chamomile, and it’s bound to make bedtime just a touch more luxurious. Simply spray it on pillows and sheets and indulge in the comforting scent. 

Pair this with: A silk eye mask.

For more options: 9 Products That Help Us Get a Good Night’s Sleep