Long Distance Relationship Gifts: 40 Ideas They Will Actually Love

What are long distance relationship gifts?

Long distance relationship gifts are presents designed to help couples feel connected despite physical separation. The best ones create shared experiences, provide comfort during lonely moments, or serve as daily reminders of your partner. Research shows that experiential gifts strengthen relationships more than material ones, which is especially relevant for couples navigating distance.

Table of Contents

1. Why gifts matter in long distance relationships
2. Tech gifts that keep you connected
3. Sentimental and personalized gifts
4. Comfort gifts for missing you moments
5. Experience gifts to share together
6. Countdown and reunion gifts
7. Budget-friendly gift ideas
8. Frequently asked questions
9. Final thoughts

Why Gifts Matter in Long Distance Relationships

When you're miles apart from someone you love, small gestures carry more weight. According to Psychology Today, long distance couples often develop deeper emotional intimacy than geographically close couples because they have to be more intentional about connection.

With 14 million couples in the United States navigating long distance relationships, there's a real need for meaningful ways to bridge the gap. About 66% of LDR couples say lack of physical contact is their biggest challenge. Thoughtful gifts can help by providing comfort and serving as reminders that you're thinking of each other.

The key is choosing long distance relationship gifts that create presence in absence. Something they can hold when they miss you, or a shared experience you can enjoy together virtually.

If you're wondering what counts as a long distance relationship, the answer is straightforward: any relationship where you wish you could see each other more often.

Tech Gifts That Keep You Connected

Technology has changed how long distance couples stay close. These gifts use tech to create real-time connection.

1. Touch Lamps

Touch lamps are one of the most popular long distance relationship gifts. When you touch your lamp, your partner's lamp lights up in a matching color, no matter where they are. A quiet way to say "thinking of you."

Popular options: Friendship Lamps, LuvLink Lamps, Filimin

Price: $80-$200 for a pair

2. Touch Bracelets

Similar concept but wearable. Touch bracelets send gentle vibrations to your partner's matching bracelet when you tap yours. Some allow custom tap patterns so you can create your own codes.

Popular options: Bond Touch, Totwoo, Hey Bracelet

Price: $100-$250 for a pair

3. Digital Picture Frames

Smart frames let you upload photos from your phone directly to your partner's frame. They wake up to new pictures without doing anything.

Popular options: Aura Frames, Nixplay, Skylight

Price: $150-$300

4. Lovebox Messenger

A small wooden box with a spinning heart. When you send a message through the app, the heart spins. They lift the lid to see your note or drawing.

Price: $100-$130

5. Long Distance Apps

Apps built for LDR couples include features like shared countdowns, daily questions, and ways to send quick nudges. Worth checking out alongside physical gifts. See our features for one example.

Price: Free or subscription

6. Bluetooth Drawing Pads

Paired drawing tablets that sync in real time. Draw something on your pad and it appears on theirs instantly. Good for doodling together during calls or leaving surprise sketches.

Price: $60-$150

7. Shared Music Players

Devices like the "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us" player let both partners control a shared music queue. You can send songs to play on their speaker from anywhere.

Price: $80-$120

Sentimental and Personalized Gifts

Sometimes the most meaningful long distance relationship gifts are the ones that feel uniquely yours.

8. Custom Star Maps

A star map shows exactly how the stars looked on a specific date and location. The night you met, your first date, or any moment that matters. It's art with personal meaning.

Price: $30-$80

9. Long Distance Map Art

Custom artwork featuring both your locations connected by a line or heart. Works with any combination of states, countries, or cities.

Price: $25-$100

10. "Open When" Letters

A collection of sealed letters with prompts:

• Open when you miss me
• Open when you need a laugh
• Open when you can't sleep
• Open when you need motivation
• Open when we're fighting

Takes time to make, which is exactly why people treasure them.

Cost: Your time and some envelopes

11. Photo Books

Compile your favorite photos into a printed book they can flip through. Shutterfly, Artifact Uprising, and Chatbooks make this easy.

Price: $20-$80

12. Coordinates Jewelry

Necklaces, bracelets, or keychains engraved with coordinates of a meaningful spot. Where you met, where you had your first date, or each other's homes.

Price: $20-$100

13. Pocket Hug Tokens

Small metal tokens engraved with "pocket hug" that fit in a wallet or pocket. Simple but surprisingly comforting to carry around.

Price: $10-$25

14. Custom Puzzle

Turn a photo of you two into a jigsaw puzzle. Something to do while on a video call together, or a solo activity that ends with your faces.

Price: $20-$50

15. Message in a Bottle Kit

Old school but charming. Write a letter, roll it up, seal it in a small bottle. More memorable than a card.

Price: $15-$30

16. Engraved Keychain Set

Matching keychains with your initials, anniversary date, or a short phrase. Something they see every day.

Price: $15-$40

Comfort Gifts for Missing You Moments

These long distance relationship gifts are for the hard moments when you just want to be together.

17. Weighted Blanket

A weighted blanket mimics the feeling of being held. For partners who struggle with the physical absence, this can help during lonely nights.

Price: $40-$150

18. Pillow with Your Scent

Spray your cologne or perfume on a pillow and ship it. Scent triggers memory and emotion more than any other sense.

Cost: Shipping

19. Matching Hoodies

Wearing matching clothes during video calls creates a small sense of togetherness. Bonus: wear theirs for a few days before sending so it smells like you.

Price: $30-$80

20. Homesick Candles

Candles designed to smell like specific places. Every US state, many countries. If they're homesick for where you live, this captures it.

Price: $35-$45

21. Voice Recording Gifts

Record a message that plays when they squeeze a stuffed animal or open a card. Your voice matters more than you think.

Price: $20-$50

22. Long Distance Pillow

Pillows shaped like a torso you can hug. Sounds a bit odd, but people who have them swear by them for sleeping.

Price: $30-$60

23. Custom Blanket with Your Face

A fleece blanket printed with photos of you. Funny but also practical.

Price: $40-$70

Experience Gifts to Share Together

Research from UCLA shows experiential gifts create stronger emotional connections than material ones. Here are experiences you can share despite the distance.

24. Virtual Class Together

Cooking class, paint night, cocktail workshop. Many companies ship kits to two addresses with live instruction you attend together over video.

Options: Uncommon Goods, DateBox Club, Airbnb Experiences

Price: $50-$150

25. Streaming Subscription

Netflix, Disney+, Spotify. Watch movies or listen to music "together" using browser extensions like Teleparty to sync playback.

Price: $10-$20/month

26. Gaming Subscription

Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation Plus, Nintendo Switch Online. Play together regardless of distance.

Price: $10-$60/year

27. Book Club for Two

Buy two copies of the same book. Set reading goals and discuss together. Gives you something to talk about beyond daily life.

Price: $15-$30 per book

28. Flexible Flight Credits

The best experience you can give is showing up. Airline gift cards let them book a visit when timing works.

Price: Varies

29. Subscription Box for Couples

Monthly boxes designed for long distance couples. Usually include activities, snacks, and conversation starters you both receive.

Options: DateBox Club, Crated with Love

Price: $30-$50/month

30. Online Escape Room

Virtual escape rooms you solve together over video call. A shared challenge that requires teamwork.

Price: $20-$40

Countdown and Reunion Gifts

Anticipation is part of what keeps long distance relationships going. These gifts lean into that.

31. Countdown Clock or App

Shows exactly how long until your next reunion. Physical clocks sit on a desk. Apps like FeelClose include countdown features plus other connection tools.

Price: $20-$50 for physical, free for apps

32. Countdown Calendar

DIY advent-style calendar counting down to the next visit. Behind each number: a note, photo, or small treat.

Cost: Craft supplies

33. Reunion Day Outfit

Buy them something to wear when you reunite. Gives them something to look forward to. Shows you're thinking about that moment too.

Price: Varies

34. Experience Vouchers

Homemade vouchers for your next visit: breakfast in bed, back massage, their choice of restaurant, a full day doing whatever they want.

Cost: Free (requires follow-through)

35. Countdown Journal

A journal with prompts for each day leading up to your reunion. They fill it out daily and you read it together when you meet.

Price: $15-$30

Budget-Friendly Gift Ideas

Meaningful long distance relationship gifts don't require spending a lot.

36. Handwritten Letters

In a world of texts, handwritten letters stand out. Write regularly or save them up as a bundle.

Cost: Stamps

37. Custom Playlist

A Spotify or Apple Music playlist of songs that remind you of them. Share it with notes explaining each choice.

Cost: Free

38. Jar of Reasons

Fill a jar with small notes, each listing one reason you love them. They pull one out whenever they need it.

Cost: Under $10

39. Care Package

A box of their favorite snacks, a handwritten note, photos, small comforts. Thoughtfulness beats price every time.

Cost: $20-$40 with shipping

40. Video Message Collection

Record short video messages for different occasions: when they're sad, when they're stressed, when they miss you. Save them in a shared folder or send on a USB drive.

Cost: Free

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the best gift for a long distance boyfriend?

Depends on who he is. Tech-oriented guys often like touch bracelets or gaming subscriptions. Sentimental types appreciate custom coordinates keychains or "open when" letters. Think about what he'd actually use daily.

How can I make my long distance partner feel special?

Gifts help, but consistency matters more. Daily connection through texts, calls, and apps designed for long distance couples often means more than occasional big gestures. Small, regular reminders that you're thinking of them add up.

Are expensive gifts better?

No. Research shows expensive gifts aren't more appreciated than thoughtful ones. A well-considered $20 gift often means more than a generic $200 one. What matters is showing you understand them.

How often should you send gifts?

No right answer. Some couples do small monthly gifts. Others save it for birthdays and anniversaries. The consistency of your communication matters more than how often packages arrive.

What are good last-minute options?

Digital gifts work instantly: playlists, e-gift cards, subscriptions, video messages. For physical items, Amazon same-day delivery or flower delivery services can help.

Final Thoughts

Long distance relationships take work, creativity, and intention. The right gifts can help your partner feel loved when you're far apart.

But remember: the best gift is usually your time and attention. According to Science of People, successful LDR couples prioritize quality communication and shared experiences over material things.

Whether you go for a tech gadget, a sentimental letter collection, or a simple care package, what matters is the thought behind it. Every gift is a way of saying "I'm thinking of you" and "this is temporary."

The distance doesn't define your relationship. How you handle the distance does.

Stay Connected

Gifts are one piece of the puzzle. Daily connection matters just as much.

FeelClose helps couples stay close with shared countdowns, daily questions, and simple ways to let your partner know you're thinking of them.

Download FeelClose free on iOS to try it out.