What Dad’s Actually Want

Father’s Day is fast approaching and with June seeing 55,000 monthly searches for ‘Father’s Day gifts’ with this week seeing a spike specifically, it’s clear that many people are trying to work out what they actually buy their dads this year?

Paper High have carried out a survey to Dads across the UK to find out what they really want and don’t want, with more dads choosing spending time with their children than any other Father’s Day gift.

Key Findings:

• A meal out (31.97 per cent) is Britain’s second most wanted Father’s Day gift.
• One in four dads aged 55+ say they don’t want anything at all for Father’s Day.
• Younger dads are most likely to want gaming and football-related gifts, with nearly 40 per cent selecting each option.
• Just 8 per cent of dads say they would most like to receive pants and socks.
• Almost half (46.78 per cent) of dads in London say spending time with their children is what they want most this Father’s Day, the highest proportion of any UK region.
• Dads in the North East are the least materialistic, with almost three in ten (29.31 per cent) saying they don’t want anything at all for Father’s Day.
• Welsh dads are most likely to want a day to themselves, with 30.95 per cent selecting the option, more than double the UK average (14.89 per cent).
• Dads in Northern Ireland are most likely to want food-related gifts, with 37.50 per cent selecting chocolates, sweets or edible treats.

What Dads actually want this year

The Generation Gap

The research revealed a clear divide between younger and older dads when it comes to Father’s Day gifts. Among fathers aged 25-34, gaming and football-related gifts were among the most popular choices, with almost four in ten selecting each option. Younger dads were also significantly more likely to want exercise-related gifts and food treats than older generations.

In contrast, older fathers were far less interested in receiving material gifts. One in four dads aged 55 and over (25.17 per cent) said they did not want to receive anything at all for Father’s Day, compared to just 3 per cent of those aged 25-34.

Sentimental gifts proved most popular among dads aged 35-44, with more than a quarter (25.77 per cent) saying they would most like something meaningful from their family, highlighting how priorities change as fathers move through different stages of life.

The changes across the UK

The survey also uncovered significant regional differences in what dads want from Father’s Day. London fathers were the most likely to say they simply wanted to spend time with their children, with almost half (46.78 per cent) choosing the option, well above the national average of 38.26 per cent.

Meanwhile, dads in the North East emerged as the least materialistic, with almost three in ten (29.31 per cent) saying they did not want anything at all for Father’s Day.

Welsh fathers were the most likely to want a day to themselves, with 30.95 per cent selecting the option, more than double the UK average of 14.89 per cent.

Elsewhere, dads in Northern Ireland showed the biggest appetite for edible gifts, with 37.50 per cent saying they would be happy to receive food-related presents such as chocolates, sweets or other treats.

Methodology

Methodology: The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 1001 UK fathers, aged 18+. The data was collected between 01.06.2026 – 03.06.2026. Censuswide is a member of the Market Research Society (MRS) and the British Polling Council (BPC), and a signatory of the Global Data Quality Pledge. We adhere to the MRS Code of Conduct and ESOMAR principles.

About Paper High

Paper High’s brand is built on thoughtful design, ethical craftsmanship, and meaningful human connection. Rooted in sustainability, transparency, and social responsibility, the brand works closely with a carefully chosen network of small Fair Trade family businesses, cooperatives, charities, and organisations across India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. By knowing every producer personally and openly sharing who they work with, Paper High brings a rare level of honesty, warmth, and purpose to gifting.