Great Gifts for In-Laws That'll Score You Major Bonus Points

Give your in-laws the nudge they need to dive into home security with the Blink Arc video cam. The dual-cam system synthesizes video in the app (and in video recordings), which can give your in-laws a sense of safety and security at home, day and night. CNET's David Watsky says, "It's rare to find this kind of technology for that low a price, especially if it means you can use one cam instead of two."

Chances are, if your in-laws already have a cooler, it's ancient and cumbersome. Upgrade their on-the-go game with this Stanley soft cooler bag. It's big enough to hold snacks and lunches (or up to 10 cans), but lightweight enough that they can easily bring it with them for all sorts of adventures. Plus, it comes in 12 classy colors.

A smart plug is an easy way to introduce your in-laws to the joys of a smarter home. It's practical, budget-friendly, and can turn existing devices into smart ones that can be controlled with your voice or phone.

This smart plug from Emporia is a CNET Editors' Choice Award winner and our top pick for the best smart plug of 2026. Pair it with a smart bulb or two for an extra thoughtful touch.

Bringing your in-laws a toasty cup of coffee is always a lovely gesture, but if you're not close enough to drop in on a Sunday morning, you can still get the job done with an Atlas Coffee Club subscription. This coffee of the month club curates coffee from around the world and each shipment contains 12 ounces of freshly roasted coffee along with flavor notes, coffee history and a postcard. It's CNET's pick for the best coffee subscription for the price and you can bet your in-laws will be excited to relay the info to you after each shipment.

There are also plenty of subscription options to choose from. Select whole beans, ground coffee or opt for Keurig or Nespresso pods if that's their style. Subscriptions start at 3 months, with bigger discounts for six- or 12-month plans. You can also pick between sending one bag monthly or three bags every quarter.

Give your in-laws the gift of feeling like they're in a movie theater from the comfort of their own couch with a Govee TV backlight. CNET's Russell Holly says, "Watching a film on the big screen is an experience that's tough to beat, and definitely something I never thought I'd be able to recreate at home -- that is until I tried out Govee's TV backlight."

The gadget creates ambient lighting behind the TV screen, making the viewing experience feel more immersive. It works best in rooms where the lights are low or off, so it may not be something they use to watch Jeopardy! every evening, but if they're movie buffs, this gift is a no-brainer.

A canvas print is a thoughtful gift for anyone, especially the in-laws. Whether it's a picture of them with their grandkids, you and your partner or a cherished pet, it's a gift they’ll cherish and literally look at every day. Canvas prints start at just $50 for a 10-by-8-inch canvas and go up to $165 for a 36-by-24-inch canvas.

If your in-laws could really use a newer TV but that's not quite in the cards, start small by upgrading its sound first. The Roku Streambar SE pairs well with smaller TVs (like in a bedroom or home office) and can improve the sound quality in a big way for a reasonable price. CNET's David Carnoy says, "The Streambar SE's more compact size and affordable price give it a distinct appeal, particularly for those of us looking to upgrade the sound of a more modest-size TV, perhaps an older model like mine."

It's also easy to set up and comes with a Roku universal remote that works with most TVs.

As they tend to their plants, let your in-laws get a little more comfy with a gardening tool seat. Its lightweight steel frame and water-resistant nylon can support up to 250 pounds. This handy seat also folds up and has a built-in detachable tool bag for clippers, rakes, trowels and more.

A thermostat doesn't seem like the most thoughtful gift for your in-laws, but it can do so many things -- including doubling as a Bluetooth speaker -- that you may reconsider.

The Ecobee Smart Thermostat does all of the necessary things (like set schedules, know you're home or away, adjust the temperature for humidity, and connect to other smart home devices), plus has some bonus features that set it above most thermostats. CNET's Jon Reed says, "The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium comes with an external room sensor, allowing it to keep track of multiple parts of your home. We all have that one room that gets extra cold, extra stuffy or extra hot, and having multiple room sensors is an important way to ensure your thermostat is capturing more information than just what's happening in front of its nose." How cool is that?

The Ecobee Smart Thermostat is also CNET's top pick for best smart thermostat and a CNET Editors' Choice Award winner.

If your in-laws tend to be bigger fans of their pets than your spouse most days, then they'll be overjoyed with a gift that lets them check in on their furry friends anytime. The Furbo 360-degree cam comes in a cat or dog model and makes it easy for the recipient to view their pet (even at night), speak through the camera, and dole out treats with the treat-tosser feature. You can't put a price tag on that kind of peace of mind when it comes to fur babies.

A digital frame is a wonderful gift, especially for those who love seeing family photos. This Aura frame boasts a 10.1-inch HD 1,280-by-800 display resolution, it's Wi-Fi connected and it's easy to set up photo sharing with the Aura app. You can even preload Aura's frames with photos before you gift it. If all that doesn't sell you, Aura frames made Oprah's Favorite Things list -- twice.

For an easy massage pick-me-up, give your in-laws this convenient and affordable Shiatsu massager, which has more than 50,000 excellent reviews on Amazon. That's probably because of the three-dimensional, deep-kneading massage nodes that ease muscles so effectively. The heat function can be turned on or off, and it shuts off automatically after 20 minutes to avoid overheating. A sleeve is included, as well as straps to attach it to a chair.