Mother’s Day rolls around every year with the same familiar scenes. Supermarket aisles filled with pink packaging, shelves stacked with “best mum ever” mugs, and last-minute shoppers scanning the card section.
For many people, finding the perfect Mother’s Day gift can feel surprisingly difficult. Do you go for flowers, something sentimental, or one of those novelty gifts that appear every March?
To find out what mums actually want for Mother’s Day, we asked mums and gift-givers across the UK on OnePulse, our real-time consumer insights platform.
The results reveal something interesting. While shops are full of novelty Mother’s Day gifts, many mums say the things that matter most are far simpler.
The Mother’s Day stats you need to know
Thought matters more than price
48% of mums say the thought behind the gift matters most.
Handmade gifts stand out
60% say personalised or handmade gifts are the most meaningful.
Time together beats traditional gifts
26% would most like a meal or a day out with family.
Homemade gifts from kids mean the most
Nearly 60% say gifts made by their children are the most meaningful.
Novelty gifts may be losing appeal
33% say they would prefer not to receive items such as mugs or plaques.
Nearly half of mums say thought matters more than gifts
When we asked mums what matters most when receiving a Mother’s Day gift, the answer wasn’t the gift itself. Nearly half of mums (49%) said the thought behind the gift matters most.
The price of the gift barely featured. For many mums, simply being remembered was enough.
The open-text question told the same story. Some of the most meaningful Mother’s Day gifts were homemade or deeply personal.
“The best present was my son making me a cake. It meant a lot as it was unique and he put a lot of effort into doing it.” – belle70
“Handmade card and breakfast made by my kids. It means so much because they worked so hard to show their love and appreciation for me.” – itsjustika
The Mother’s Day gifts mum remembers most
Looking across responses, the gifts mums remember most tend to fall into a few clear categories.
- Personalised or handmade gifts – 40%
- Time spent together – 25%
- Flowers and traditional gifts – 15%
- Sentimental keepsakes – 10%
In other words, when it comes to Mother’s Day gifts, effort often matters far more than expense. As one mum put it:
“A home-cooked dinner, and it’s the thought and love behind it that made it mean so much.” – MrsEdun
What mums actually want for Mother’s Day
When mums were asked what they would most like if they could choose just one thing for Mother’s Day, the answers were simple.
26% said they’d most like a meal or a day out with their family. Other popular choices included:
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A few hours of peace and quiet – 17%
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A thoughtful gift chosen just for them – 15.5%
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A lie-in and slow morning – 12%
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A pampering treat – 11%
So while many people search for Mother’s Day gift ideas, the reality is that mums often value time and thoughtfulness above anything else.
Are novelty Mother’s Day gifts losing their appeal?
Walk into most supermarkets, discount retailers or gift shops this time of year and you’ll see shelves full of novelty items. Mugs, candles, plaques and decorations all celebrating the “world’s best mum”. But mums themselves aren’t always convinced.
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1 in 3 said they would rather not receive them
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1 in 4 said they’re fine if the thought is there
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15% said they love them
And when asked whether shops sell too much Mother’s Day merchandise:
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43% said yes, there are loads, and it feels unnecessary
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32% said there’s some, but people still buy it
The sentiment is appreciated, but the novelty mug may have reached peak saturation.
Why do we still buy novelty Mother’s Day gifts
Despite this, many people admit they still pick them up. Among people planning to buy a mother figure a gift this year:
- 32% have bought a mug
- 22% have bought a candle with a message
- 19% have bought a decorative plaque
- 38% say they’ve never bought any of these items
It’s a bit of a retail contradiction. People know mums might prefer something thoughtful, but novelty gifts are often the easiest option when time is short.
Last-minute Mother’s Day shopping is still common
Mother’s Day arrives at the same time every year, but many people still leave gift shopping until the last minute. When asked whether they had already bought a Mother’s Day gift:
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38% said yes
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35% said not yet
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19% said they’ve started planning
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9% admitted they’ll probably grab something last-minute
Those seasonal displays of ready-made Mother’s Day gifts suddenly make a lot more sense.
Many mums say a break would be the perfect gift
Actress Daisy May Cooper recently joked in a John Lewis campaign that her dream Mother’s Day present would simply be someone taking the kids for a while so she could relax with a candle and watch reality TV.
Our data suggests plenty of mums would happily accept that.
Nearly half of mums said they would welcome a few hours of childcare so they could relax.
Of course, others said they’d rather spend the day with their children. A reminder that many mums want a mix of family time and a little space to themselves.
Why homemade gifts still mean the most
If there was one category of Mother’s Day gifts that stood out above everything else, it was the homemade ones.
Almost 60% of mums said gifts made by their children are the most meaningful.
One mum shared:
“Last year one of my daughters crocheted a plant in a plant pot. It was amazing and such a unique gift.” – Louise74
Handmade cards, crafts and breakfast in bed might not be perfect, but they clearly mean the most.
The takeaway
Mother’s Day isn’t really about the gift itself. It’s about the thought behind it. Whether it’s a handmade card, breakfast in bed, or simply spending time together, the gestures that mean the most are often the simplest.
Stats referenced in this blog were gathered on the OnePulse platform in March 2026.
