The Best (& Worst) Valentine's Day Gifts According to Reddit
The magical time of the year when love is in the air, stores are drowning in heart-shaped everything
The magical time of the year when love is in the air, stores are drowning in heart-shaped everything, and people worldwide are collectively panicking about what to gift their significant other. It's a holiday that brings out the best–and the absolute worst–in romantic gestures. And if you want to know how to crush or catastrophically bomb your Valentine's Day gift absolutely, there's no better judge than Reddit.
Yes, Reddit–that chaotic, brutally honest, and oddly wise corner of the internet–has seen every Valentine's Day gift imaginable. From heart-melting masterpieces to relationship-ending disasters, the Reddit hive mind offers a treasure trove of advice on what to give on this pressure-packed day of love.
Table of Contents:
The Best Valentine's Day Gifts: As blessed by Reddit
Thoughtful, personal gifts: You know me
According to Reddit, the most beloved Valentine's Day gifts aren't about the price tag–they're about thoughtfulness. Custom jewelry, an engraved keepsake, a scrapbook of your relationship, or that niche item they mentioned once six months ago... this is the holy grail of gift-giving. One Redditor shared how their partner made a book of reasons why they loved them, and honestly, that's the kind of romantic flex that sets the bar impossibly high.
Why it works: Thoughtfulness beats extravagance. It says, "I pay attention," which, shockingly, is a relationship winner.
Experiential gifts: Make a memory, not a mess
Reddit is clear: experiences over objects are a Valentine's Day power move. Think concert tickets, a surprise weekend getaway, or a cooking class you've both wanted to try.
One Redditor's story of a partner who planned a scavenger hunt across their city gained thousands of upvotes–and for good reason. Romance isn't about stuff; it's about shared moments.
Handwritten letters: the old school Heart-Melter
In a world of texts and snap streaks, a handwritten letter is a love spell. Reddit users insist that a heartfelt note trumps almost any material gift. One user shared how a simple, honest letter from their partner outshone every fancy present they'd ever received.
Why it works: Vulnerability and sincerity? Rare. A handwritten note? Timeless. Combine the two, and you win Valentine's Day.
The worst Valentine's Day gifts: as ridiculed by Reddit
Anything from a Gas Station: the last-minute disaster
If there's one Valentine's Day crime Reddit won't forgive, it's the gas station gift. Nothing says "I forgot and panicked" quite like a wilted rose and a sad box of off-brand chocolates.
One Redditor recounted receiving a gas station teddy bear that still smelled like motor oil. Romantic? Not so much.
The weight loss or self-improvement gift: are you kidding me?
Reddit's Hall of Shame is filled with horror stories of partners who thought Valentine's Day was the perfect opportunity to suggest weight loss, hygiene upgrades, or wardrobe changes.
Spoiler alert: It's not.
One particularly cringe-worthy story involved a woman who received a gym membership. That relationship did not survive.
Household appliances: nothing says love like a vacuum
Unless your partner explicitly asks for a blender or a vacuum cleaner, Reddit advises steering clear. One poor soul recounted receiving a mop–yes, a mop–for Valentine's Day. The internet's verdict? A mop is for cleaning floors, not winning hearts.
If Reddit has taught us anything about Valentine’s Day gifts, it’s that effort and thought matter infinitely more than cost. So forget last-minute gas station roses—Idyll helps you find a date who might plan. Revolutionary, right?
Anushka Gusain