We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Shopping The Best Gift Ideas of 2024 The 30 Best Sympathy Gifts of 2024 Show your support through these thoughtful items. By Rachel Simon Rachel Simon Rachel has written for Dotdash Meredith's Ecommerce team since 2020, covering home goods, tech, fashion, beauty, and more. She's interviewed dozens of experts and is always on top of the latest trends and product releases. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on August 07, 2024 In This Article View All In This Article Reviews FAQs Take Our Word for It Photo: Real Simple / Brian Kopinski When you have a loved one who’s going through a tough time, it can be tricky to know how to best support them. Sending over a sympathy gift can be a simple yet meaningful way to provide comfort to your person during their difficult period. “Sympathy gifts are to let someone know you are thinking about them,” says etiquette expert Lisa Richey, founder of Manners to Go. “They tell the receiver they’re being ‘seen’ during this time of sorrow and grief.” In our search for the best sympathy gifts, we researched options in a wide range of categories, purposes, styles, price points, and more. In addition to Richey, we also spoke to Sara Jane Ho, an etiquette expert and Emmy-nominated host of Mind Your Manners, to get her expert insight on when and how to properly send a sympathy gift to someone in need. Willow Tree Remembrance Angel PHOTO: Amazon $33 at Amazon $29 at Barnesandnoble.com This lovely sculpture of an angel with wings and crossed hands could make for a small but meaningful addition to a grieving person’s home. The hand-carved piece also comes with a card that reads: “Memories…hold each one safely in your heart.” Notes on Grief PHOTO: Amazon $11 at Amazon $11 at Target $14 at Barnesandnoble.com This widely acclaimed memoir by best-selling author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie explores her grief over her father’s death in gorgeous, deeply moving language. It’s a book that will resonate with anyone who has experienced or is currently experiencing loss. Fabuday 32-Inch Memorial Wind Chimes PHOTO: Amazon $30 at Amazon Not only are these wind chimes calming and elegantly designed, but they also come with an affecting poem about grief and memory printed onto them. You can choose from 11 colors and two sizes, whichever you think the recipient will appreciate most in or out of their home. 1-800 Flowers My Pawfect Pet for Sympathy PHOTO: 1-800 Flowers View on 1800flowers.com Help your loved one keep the memories of their furry friend alive with this pet-shaped succulent planter, available in either a dog or cat style. The sweet planter also comes with a frame to showcase a photo of the person’s late beloved pal. Spoonful of Comfort Sympathy Soup Gift Basket PHOTO: Spoonful of Comfort View on Spoonfulofcomfort.com Soup is a classic comfort food, and thanks to this elaborate gift basket, your loved one will get to savor a delicious broth for multiple meals. The set comes with up to six servings of soup (or mac and cheese), several rolls (or bread bowls), cookies, a keepsake ladle, and a sympathy card. Express Grace Personalized Memorial Framed Canvas PHOTO: Etsy $40 at Etsy If your recipient would appreciate a music-themed memorial gift, consider opting for this framed canvas artwork designed to look like a record. You can personalize it with a name, date, and song choice, among other details, and it comes in numerous sizes and materials. Harry & David Sympathy Gift Box PHOTO: Harry & David $90 at Harry & David It never hurts to express your sympathy with food, such as this deluxe gourmet gift basket. The thoughtfully curated assortment comes with fruits, cheese, sausages, crackers, nuts, and sweets, plus a sweet card. Alex and Ani Wings of Protection Charm Bangle PHOTO: Alex and Ani View on Alexandani.com This beautiful bangle bracelet (available in silver or gold) has a heart-shaped charm that’s half Mother of Pearl and half crystal-adorned angel wing. It’s a subtle but touching way to display one’s everlasting bond with their late loved one. Uncommon Goods Pet Memory Flower Garden Kit PHOTO: Uncommon Goods $22 at Uncommon Goods Losing a pet is incredibly hard, and you can help your giftee pay tribute to their late companion through this memory flower garden kit. The package comes with seeds they can plant to grow wildflowers in honor of the pet, and they can also mix in their pet’s ashes if they’d like. Nourishing Cup Personalized Teddy Bear Memorial Gift PHOTO: Etsy $9 at Etsy If you know a child in need of support, this memorial photo teddy bear may make for a worthwhile gift. The soft, cozy bear can be personalized with a photo and message, so they can snuggle up to an especially comforting stuffed animal. 1-800 Flowers Arrangement for Sympathy PHOTO: 1-800 Flowers View on 1800flowers.com You can’t go wrong with a classic floral bouquet as a sympathy gift, and this lovely all-white option is an excellent choice. The timeless arrangement comes in four sizes and includes lush greenery as well as a glass cylinder vase, making for a beautiful sight. Uncommon Goods Guided Grief Journal PHOTO: Uncommon Goods $25 at Uncommon Goods When a person is in mourning, it can be helpful for them to write out their thoughts with a guided grief journal. This book by Stephanie Greer is full of gentle and inspiring prompts to help the user process their emotions and reflect on the person they’ve lost. Williams-Sonoma Three Days of Comfort Entrees $150 at Williams-Sonoma Cooking can be a challenge for anyone in the midst of a struggle; it can be a huge help to give a few delicious and ready-to-eat entrees. Featuring large portions of mac and cheese, beef pot pie, and Swedish meatballs, this assortment will surely be a welcome sight. Homesick In Our Hearts Candle PHOTO: Homesick $30 at Homesick.com Whenever your loved one lights this candle, they’ll think of the person they lost while basking in a subtle, affecting scent of lavender and rosemary. You can also personalize the candle by adding a handwritten note to the box. Uncommon Goods Plant with Love Memorial Tree PHOTO: Uncommon Goods $50 at Uncommon Goods With this gift, your person will be able to plant a tree in honor of the one they’ve lost. The package includes evergreen saplings ready for planting outdoors (tree varieties depend on location), along with a gift card expressing a message of sympathy. Good Grief OK That You're Not OK PHOTO: Good Grief View on Shopgoodgrief.com This care package contains multiple items meant to provide self-care love and support to a person in need: cozy socks, night eye gels, melatonin-infused chocolates, an herbal tincture, tissues, and Megan Devine’s book It’s OK That You’re Not Ok. Edible Arrangements Peace & Doves Platter PHOTO: Edible Arrangements View on Ediblearrangements.com Not only does this mouth-watering platter come with tons of chocolate-coated strawberries, but it also has a smattering of grapes and two dove-shaped, white-chocolate-covered pineapple slices. It’s a thoughtful and tasty gift for anyone with a sweet tooth. Memorialight Crystal Suncatcher PHOTO: Etsy $28 at Amazon $35 at Etsy A gorgeous and unique sympathy gift, this crystal suncatcher refracts rainbow lights all around the room. The design is intended to capture the bittersweetness of love and grief in a special, long-lasting way. Slumber Kins Sprite Kin Set PHOTO: Slumber Kins View on Slumberkins.com For young children going through loss, this stuffed animal and book set will help them deal with their complicated emotions. The animal, Sprite, is cuddly and soft, and he’s represented in the two board books about grief included in the package. Lula’s Garden Forever Remembered Jewel Garden PHOTO: Lula’s Garden View on Lulasgarden.com Another plant-centric sympathy gift to consider is this jewel garden that comes with three beautiful, fresh succulents in a “forever remembered” box. It’s a simple, peaceful display of one’s grief and love. When Breath Becomes Air PHOTO: Amazon $14 at Amazon This best-selling memoir will have an impact on anyone who’s experienced grief and knows how complicated the process can be. Written by a young, dying neurosurgeon, it’s a hugely powerful read about love, loss, and life. Mint & Lily Petite Halo Photo Bracelet PHOTO: Mint & Lily View on Mintandlily.com The gift recipient can keep a photo of their late loved one on them at all times with this cool bracelet. The delicate piece of jewelry has a projectable photo stone built within a halo of stones, and it comes in three pretty colors. Spoonful of Comfort Sympathy and Solace Care Package PHOTO: Spoonful of Comfort View on Spoonfulofcomfort.com This sweet care package is all about self care, with a snuggly throw blanket, tea, cookies, honey, and the book Healing After Loss. You can also add a note with a personal message if you choose. Pavilion Gift Company Candle PHOTO: Amazon $19 at Amazon A simple and sweet sympathy gift, this white ceramic candle has a floral scent and features one of 10 comforting messages about grief and loss. The candle has butterflies and flowers etched into it, too, to make it even more special. 1-800-Flowers 31 Days of Kind Notes PHOTO: 1800 Flowers $35 at 1800flowers.com This unique and thoughtful gift is a glass jar filled with 31 notes meant to provide your loved one with strength and comfort during their tough time. The quotes, attributed to everyone from Dr. Seuss to Helen Keller, are written on thick, beautiful cardstock. 28Collective Crossed the Rainbow Bridge Memorial Plaque PHOTO: Etsy $30 at Etsy Your gift recipient can mourn the loss of their pet with this memorial plaque, designed to be displayed on a shelf or desk. It’s engraved with the message “I crossed the rainbow bridge knowing I was loved,” as well as a paw print inside a rainbow and the pet’s name. Edible Arrangements You’re in Our Thoughts PHOTO: Edible Arrangements View on Ediblearrangements.com A classic fruit arrangement that also includes chocolate-covered strawberries, this is a sympathy gift that can work for any occasion. You can pick from three sizes and add a card to make it more personalized. Harry & David Cozy Self-Care Gift Box PHOTO: Harry & David View on Harry & David Including hand creams,fuzzy socks, and cozy blankets, this self-care gift box has it all, making it a valuable sympathy gift. Your person will be able to pamper themselves while they’re struggling and know you want them to feel loved. LaurelBox Custom Butterfly Garden Seed PHOTO: LaurelBox View on Laurelbox.com Your recipient can plant a beautiful butterfly garden in honor of the one they’ve lost with this memorial seed packet. The mix, which can be customized with the late person’s name, includes wildflowers, garden flowers, and milkweeds for butterflies to enjoy. Evermore Memorial ‘Always Loved, Forever Missed’ Bird Feeder PHOTO: Etsy $50 at Etsy For another great nature-focused idea, we recommend this memorial bird feeder engraved with a meaningful quote about grief and an image of the tree of life. You can add the late person’s name and years of life, too, so the recipient can always think of them as they nourish living creatures outside their home. Questions You Might Ask What are appropriate gifts for someone who’s grieving? “An appropriate gift is a simple gift,” Ho says. The present shouldn’t be expensive or ultra-bright, she adds, explaining: “Gifts that are elaborately wrapped with ribbons and colors show festivity when you want to show it’s about loss.” Richey echoes this sentiment, noting that some appropriate types of gifts you can give include flowers or potted plants, a framed photo, a special book, foods for the family, donations to a favorite charity, and other items that provide comfort, like blankets. For food, she notes, make sure to abide by the grieving person’s dietary needs and culture when applicable. Richey also says leaving the grieving person a handwritten note or giving them a phone call can be a thoughtful touch. When should you send a sympathy gift? According to both experts, the best time to send a sympathy gift is as soon after the loss as possible, or at least before the funeral, if there is one. A small exception can be made for flowers. “When sending flowers, this may be timed to arrive for the funeral or visitation,” Richey says. If you miss that window, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still send a gift. “It is appropriate to still send gifts and to contact the family to express your sympathy up to two weeks after the funeral,” Richey says. Ho gives it an even longer timeframe, saying: “Even if it’s 30 days later, that’s still OK. If you lose someone, 30 days is still very fresh.” Should you bring a sympathy gift to a funeral? In a word, no. “At a funeral, that’s where they’re trying to manage so many things and greet so many people and be responsible and take care of all these details,” Ho says. If you want to give a gift, she adds, “drop it off at their home or have it sent there.” Take Our Word for It This article was written by Rachel Simon, a writer for Real Simple, Better Homes & Gardens, The New York Times, and many other publications. She frequently covers gift guides, and to find the best sympathy gift ideas, she researched dozens of products and took into account factors like type, price, purpose, and more. She also spoke to Sara Jane Ho, an etiquette expert and Emmy-nominated host of Mind Your Manners, as well as Lisa Richey, founder of Manners to Go, to get their insight.