How do you say ‘thank you’ to those you appreciate? Taking the time to show your support does a world of good. Sometimes a generic ‘thank you’ isn’t enough to capture your feelings of gratitude. Send that special person something meaningful in return. This doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated—it just has to come from the heart. To show how much they mean to you, we compiled this list of the best thank you gift card ideas for every situation.

What Are Good Thank You Gifts?

The best thank you gifts come from the heart. This means taking your time to consider gifting something that your recipient would really appreciate, whether it’s something they need or want.

What’s a small token of kindness that makes their day a bit brighter? When in doubt, a gift card is the best thank you gift idea. Thank you gift cards allow enough flexibility for your recipient to choose something for themselves.

Unlike browsing the gift card selection at a grocery or big-box store, these gift cards below from BuyGiftCards.com lets you choose any denomination starting at $10. You can also easily send a personalized card or photo with your gift—virtually or physically for free. It’s never been easier to send the perfect gift card from the comfort of your own home.

To spark your thank you gift card inspiration, here are our favorites to wow any recipient.

Unique Experience Gift Card Ideas

Instead of giving someone more things they might not need, treat them to a special experience that puts them first.

1. Fondue Night Gift Card Box

Pair a sweet treat with a unique experience by gifting someone a Fondue Night kit they can use at home. With delicious fondue chocolate and waffle chips, this is the start of a yummy tradition.

2. Spa Gift Card Box

Taking time for yourself isn’t always easy, so a Pampering Spa gift set is a great gift card idea. Complete with a Target gift card so they can splurge a bit on themselves, this is a thank you gift
they’ll appreciate.

3. Breakfast in Bed Gift Card Box

Breakfast in bed is always the perfect at-home treat, so why not say thank you with this unique gift card idea? A Breakfast in Bed Gift Card Box has a Starbucks gift card, pancake mix, and other morning favorites.

4. Home Chef gift card

Home Chef is a meal kit delivery service that delivers fresh, delicious meals nationwide. This week, dinner is on you!

5. Streaming Night Gift Card Box

Who doesn’t look relaxing with a night in and a favorite blockbuster hit? A streaming gift card complete with a movie-themed gift card box is the perfect way to treat your recipient.

 

Delicious Treats and Eats Gift Card Ideas

You really can’t ever go wrong with a food thank you gift card. This is the perfect way to treat them to a fresh meal or special sweet.

6. Food delivery gift cards

Everyone loves takeout, so a great thank you gift card idea is a gift for UberEats, Doordash, or Grubhub. Discover which service is popular in your recipient’s location and take over dinnertime!

7. Restaurant gift cards

For a recipient who might prefer to dine in, a restaurant gift card is a great pick. Favorites like Chipotle, Panera, and Buffalo Wild Wings are always appreciated.

8. Coffee or tea gift cards

This week’s caffeine pick-me-up is on you. A gift card to a coffeehouse favorite like the Coffee Bean, Peet’s Coffee, or Dunkin is sure to add a boost to their day.

9. Pizza Night Gift Card Box

There are few meals as beloved as pizza. This Pizza Night in a box has everything you need to make delicious pizza at home, paired with a BuyGiftCards gift card for any store of your recipient’s choice.

10. Emergency Margarita Gift Card Box

A strong drink can be the perfect way to end a hard day. For anyone in need of an easy margarita, this Emergency Margarita is the perfect thank you gift card idea.

 

Specialty Gift Card Ideas

For an out-of-the-box gift card idea, consider one of these specialty stores below. These go the extra mile to show you care.

11. Bookstore Gift Card

A Barnes & Noble gift card is the best thank you gift for any bookworm. Easy to use both online for e-books or in-store, they’ll always have the latest bestseller on their bookshelf.

12. Makeup or Skincare

For a gift that helps your recipient shine both inside and out, a makeup gift card to Ulta Beauty or Sephora is sure to make them smile.

13. Candles

One of the most popular thank you gift ideas is candles, but it’s hard to choose a scent for someone else. Giving a gift card to Bath & Body Works, Yankee Candle, or T.J.Maxx gives your recipient their favorite scent every time.

14. Crafting

Are you saying ‘thank you’ to someone who loves to craft? A Micheals or Jo-Ann Fabric gift card keeps their craft supplies well-stocked.

15. BGC Card

Last but not least, a BGC gift card is the most flexible of all. Rather than choose a single card for one retailer, choose a card that gives them the choice of over 200 branded gift cards. Leaving the choosing up to them!

 

How Do You Write a Good Thank You Note?

Writing a thoughtful thank-you note isn’t as simple as putting pen to paper and scribbling some thoughts. You often have to dig deep to write something from the heart.

Luckily, it’s not difficult to write a good thank-you note no matter the occasion. Follow these steps below to hit the mark every time.

 

Step 1. Address the recipient

First, address your recipient directly. This will depend on the context. For example, if you’re writing a thank you note for a business colleague, you’ll want to keep it formal by sticking to Mr. or Ms. followed by their last name.

 

Otherwise, if you know the recipient personally, feel free to use their first name. Use any of the greetings below to set the right tone, depending on your relationship:

 

  • Hi Sandy,
  • Dear Marcus,
  • Greetings Mr. Smith
  • Good morning Ms. Francis,

Step 2. Share your thanks

Next, add a heartfelt thank you that really tells them why you appreciate their actions, support, or thoughts. Here are some message ideas or check out our blog 10 Inspirations for Writing a Thank You Note for a Gift

 

  • You made my day brighter yesterday by listening.
  • I feel so blessed to have you as a friend. Thanks for being you.
  • I will always treasure your thoughtfulness.
  • You’re the best! Thanks for being there.
  • I’m so touched by your kindness.

Step 3. Be specific

Be specific about your appreciation. This should be a personal, meaningful message about what they mean to you. Again, here are some wording suggestions:

 

  • The gift you gave me is so special! You know me so well.
  • The book you sent for my birthday is perfect. I can tell you spent a lot of time picking it out, and I really appreciate your thoughtfulness.
  • Thank you for taking the time to meet with me last week. Your experience really inspired me, and I can’t thank you enough.
  • It was so exciting to have you join our event last week. Your presence really meant so much.
  • I’m going to use the birthday money to help pay for my trip this summer. Thank you for thinking of me on my graduation day.
  • Thanks so much for your warm wishes and thoughtful gift. You shouldn’t have (but it’s so nice that you did!)

Step 4. Thank them again and sign off

Lastly, thank them one more time for thinking of you. Your thank you note should always end with gratitude, so bring the purpose of the note around again. Some ways to repeat your thanks are:

 

  • Thanks again for thinking of me.
  • Your generosity means the world to me. Thank you.
  • I really appreciate you taking your time to be there for me.
  • I wanted to let you know how happy and grateful I am.
  • You put a smile on my face with your thoughtful gift. Thanks so much!
  • You went above and beyond, and I’m so grateful.
  • I can never thank you enough, but this is a start.
  • Thank you for being there for me when I needed it the most.

 

From there, end with a friendly sign off that keeps the tone personal. These are the best sign-offs for every type of thank-you note:

 

  • Best,
  • Warmly,
  • With love,
  • Lots of love,
  • Blessings,
  • Yours truly,
  • Thanks again,
  • With gratitude,
  • Beyond grateful,

 

How Do You Say Thank You Creatively?

The best way to say thank you creatively is with a gift from the heart. Choosing one of these thank you gift card ideas above is the perfect way to show you appreciate someone, no matter your relationship.

While everyone appreciates a ‘thank you,’ a touching, thoughtful gift goes a long way. These small acts of kindness strengthen your relationships, show professionalism, and make someone’s day brighter.

Whether you send a gift card paired with a gift box or you write a heartfelt virtual message, these small actions are an act of kindness. Saying ‘thank you’ is a skill everyone should master. How do you ensure everyone in your life feels appreciated?