How Much Should I Spend on a Groomsmen Gift?

When you ask someone to be in your wedding party, you’re asking them to do more than just show up on your big day to witness your “I do’s.” Being a groomsman is a pretty big commitment, and it requires some wedding duties—and when someone in your life follows through on that commitment, as the groom, you want to make sure to say thank you.

A great way to do just that is with the perfect groomsmen gift.

Giving your groomsmen a thoughtful gift as a token of your appreciation is a great way to say thank you for participating in your wedding day. But, the question is—how much of your wedding budget should you set aside for your groomsmen gifts?

Do You Really Need to Buy Groomsmen Gifts?

In short, no, it isn’t required that you purchase a gift for each of your groomsmen. That being said, doing so can go a long way when it comes to expressing your appreciation. Being a groomsmen can include a slew of tasks and money spent, after all. Think attending a bachelor party, buying a suit for the wedding day, and being there for you throughout the process.

So, while a gift isn’t entirely necessary, it can mean a lot and be a wonderful gesture. There’s no need to worry if your budget is tight, either, since groomsmen gifts come at a wide variety of price points, from absolutely free to luxurious. In the end, it isn’t the quantity of gifts that matters, but the quality of your thoughtfulness.

What Factors Should Play into Your Gift Budget?

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to how much to spend on groomsmen gifts budgeting for groomsmen gifts. So, before we jump into how much you should spend on a groomsmen gift, let’s quickly cover the different factors that should play into your gift budget.

When determining how much to spend on your groomsmen gifts, there are a few different factors that you should consider, including:

• How much are your groomsmen spending to be at your wedding? If you’re asking your groomsmen to drop hundreds of dollars on wedding attire, your bachelor party, and other wedding-related tasks, you should plan to spend a decent amount of money on their gift (generally between 10 to 15 percent of what you’re asking them to spend). On the other hand, if you’re not asking your groomsmen to spend much—or any—money to participate in your big day (for example, if they’re wearing their suits and don’t have to do any travel for wedding events), then it would be appropriate to budget a bit less for their groomsmen gift.

• How involved are you asking your groomsmen to be in the wedding planning process? Some groomsmen are completely involved in the wedding planning process, and they help the groom with everything from choosing a venue, planning the bachelor party, and figuring out they're wedding style. If your groomsmen are investing a ton of time and effort into helping you bring your wedding vision to life, their gift should reflect that time and effort—and may require a higher budget.

• What is your partner budgeting for wedding party gifts? If your partner is spending $200 on his or her wedding party gifts, you might not want to spend $20. Before you set your budget for groomsmen gifts, talk to your partner to get on the same page (and at least on a similar budget).

• Who are the groomsmen and how many will be there? Often, how much you can spend on each groomsman is highly affected by how many groomsmen there will be in total. For example, if you’re only asking one to three individuals, you may feel more inclined to gift each of them something that’s a bit more expensive than if you have, say, ten groomsmen to account for.

• How far did they travel to be present? This directly relates back to bullet one and how much your groomsmen are spending in order to participate in your wedding. Those traveling—be it from the next state over or another country entirely—are dropping a considerable amount of money more than those near your wedding location. Take this into account when deciding how much you want to spend to express your appreciation.

How Much Should You Set Aside for Groomsmen Gifts?

All that being said, how much should you plan to spend on your groomsmen gifts? Typically, grooms spend somewhere between $30 and $100 on each groomsmen gift. So, if you have five groomsmen in your wedding party, you should plan to spend anywhere from $150 to $500 on groomsmen gifts.

When to Potentially Spend Less on Groomsmen Gifts…

When to Potentially Spend Less... The best groomsmen gift ideas aren’t always expensive. While you generally want to spend at least $30 or so on your groomsmen gift, you certainly don’t have to. If you’re having a budget-conscious wedding and don’t have a ton leftover in your budget for gifts, giving your groomsmen a personal—but less expensive—gift is appropriate.

See below a few of our favorite inexpensive groomsmen gift ideas.

1. Framed Photograph

At the end of the day, your groomsmen are those you want at your side as you take this next step in your relationship. What better way to remind these people that you love them than by giving them a meaningful keepsake? Find a photo with each person that you plan on asking and place it in a nice frame. Pair with a handwritten note and you’ve got the ideal inexpensive groomsmen gift.

2. Six-pack of Their Favorite Drink

Not only is this gift easily accessible, it’s personal and sure not to go to waste. Giving a friend or family member a pack of their favorite drink (which can be alcoholic or non-alcoholic) tells them that you remember the small details and want to gift them something they like. It’s personal, especially when paired with a nice note. From craft beer, to cider, to cream soda, no one will be disappointed with this surprise.

3. Beer Mug

Along that train of thought, consider going for a set of beer mugs. These don’t have to be very expensive, but will still come off as nice and thoughtful. A beer glass can also be a promise of future good times spent together, where you can your friend or family member can use yours as you sit across the table together.

4. Shot Glasses

Speaking of good times, if your potential groomsmen group loves to rally, opt instead for shot glasses. Generic or personalized, these shouldn’t break the bank. In fact, you can often purchase these in a gift set and then split them up amongst your groomsmen. Wrap each with a small bow and you’re good to go.

5. Custom Tie Clip

For something a touch more upscale, consider a custom tie clip. Again, these don’t need to be super flashy. Go for a material that’s nice and sturdy, but doesn’t cost and arm and a leg. Personalize each with each person’s name or monogram and gift in a small box or gift bag. Pro tip: Have your groomsmen wear their tie clips on the day of your wedding for a cohesive, heartfelt addition to their outfit.

6. Custom Money Clip

Also elegant and classy, a custom money clip can be surprisingly affordable. If those closest to you are prone to misplacing cash or simply love the look of a clip, this is a great item to gift them. They’re compact, stylish, and everyone is sure to get a lot of use out of theirs.

7. Bottle Opener

Maybe you’ve done the beer mug or shot glass thing before—or, you can on doing so for your bachelor party. No reason to worry. Instead, keep on-theme by including a bottle opener in your groomsmen proposal. There are countless creative options across the internet, meaning you’re sure to find at least one that perfectly aligns with your wedding and groomsmen.

… And When to Potentially Spend More

On the flip side, if you’re having a larger, lavish, or more expensive affair, you may want to budget more for your groomsmen gift. For example, if you’re having a destination beach wedding for 300 people—and your groomsmen have to take off a week from work and drop a solid chunk of change on the airfare and hotel—you want to give them a gift that correlates with their investment of both time and money. That may mean budgeting more than the average groom for your wedding party gifts. In this case, you might want to look into personalized and unique groomsmen gifts, which tend to have a higher price tag.

See below a few of our favorite luxury groomsmen gift ideas.

8. Dopp Kit

A proper toiletry bag is a must-have for absolutely everyone. If your closest friends and family appreciate a clean shave, good skincare routine, or just keeping their bathroom essentials in order, they’re likely to love this groomsmen gift.

9. Leather Travel Bag

When it comes to destination weddings (or bachelor parties, in this case), we love a travel-themed wedding gift. Not only does it provide the opportunity for you to gift something practical, but it offers the chance for everyone to use said gift. A nice leather travel bag stylish and long lasting, meaning your groomsmen can cherish theirs for years to come. Consider carry-ons, duffle bags, and similar.

10. Custom Whiskey Glass

Whiskey lovers, rejoice! A high-quality, custom whiskey glass is the ideal gift for a group of loved ones that enjoys having a drink together. Plus, you have options to choose from, from your classic rocks glasses, to cordial whiskey glasses, to snifters.

11. Set of Golf Balls

If you and your friends or family enjoy a day out on the green, gift everyone a high-quality set of golf balls. Nice golf equipment tends to be on the more expensive side and your loved ones will appreciate a gift that’s good quality and can contribute to a good time.

12. Engraved Cufflinks

Hint at the high-end wedding celebrations to come by giving your groomsmen engraved cufflinks. Cufflinks are classic and can pull a nice outfit together—including a tuxedo. What’s more, you can have all of your groomsmen wear them at your wedding so that they coordinate in a small, meaningful way. At the end of the day, this personalized groomsmen gift is sure to impress.

Spend a Percentage of Your Groomsmen Expenditure

When figuring out your wedding budget, you want to take things a step further and categorize. That is to say, don’t just find out what you’d like your bottom line to be, but figure out how much you’re willing to spend on each aspect on your wedding (venue, vendors, attire, etc.). This, of course, includes your groomsmen. With a bach party and groomsmen gifts to consider, it’s ideal that you know how much you’re willing to spend overall before making any other decisions. That way, when it comes to deciding on a gift budget, you can simply take a percentage of that overall number.

Keep Your Total Wedding Budget in Mind

As a guideline for all things wedding, you want to keep your total wedding budget top-of-mind. It can be easy to get swept up in exciting ideas and cool gifts, but none of it will be worth it if you go into major debt at the end of it all. Be aware of the funds you’re willing to spend on groomsmen gifts and stick to that number. In the end, you’ll be glad you did.

5 FAQs on Groomsmen Gift Etiquette

With the perfect gift idea now in mind (or, maybe already in your check-out cart), it’s time to tackle other gift-giving details. We’ve answered the top five need-to-knows below. Review them before getting ahead of gift-giving.

When should you buy the gifts? Whenever you’d like. Just be sure that you know exactly how many people you’ll be asking to be your groomsmen. It isn’t ideal to have too few or too many gifts after already purchasing them

• Where can you buy them? Anywhere! Amazon, Etsy, Nordstrom, and a slew of other stores are all possibilities. Your groomsmen gift is personal to you and your loved ones, meaning it can come from just about anywhere.

• Who should pay for them? Most often, because the gift is coming from the groom, groomsmen gifts are covered by the couple.

• When should you give them? Gifts should be given at the time of your groomsmen proposal, which should take place 9-10 months before your wedding. This gives everyone enough time to plan travel and time off of work.

• Are these gifts different from the one reserved to the best man? In most cases, yes. Typically, the best man will receive a gift that’s a little nicer than what everyone else gets. That, or they’ll be given something a little extra when it comes time for the wedding. That said, this doesn’t have to be the case.

The Bottom Line

As mentioned, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to the question “how much should you spend on a groomsmen gift?”, as there are so many factors that come into play—from how much your groomsmen are spending on your special day, to how much budget you have to work with, and, especially, what kind of gift you think your groomsmen would want, like, and use. Ultimately, your groomsmen aren’t going to care about the price tag on their gift, but rather, they’re going to care about the thought and meaning behind a great groomsmen gift.

So, the best thing you can do—whatever your budget—is to choose a wedding party gift that shows your groomsmen how much you care about them and how much you appreciate them being a part of your wedding big day. Because that kind of gift is priceless.