Why Grandparents Prefer Mailing Gift Cards For The Holidays
See why mailed gift cards suit far-apart families and how to choose, pack, and protect yours.
Grandparents prefer mailing gift cards for the holidays because they are convenient, avoid unwanted gifts and returns, and travel easily across long distances. Recipients welcome them, and a flat envelope avoids paying to ship bulky toys. A gift card is prepaid credit for a named retailer or restaurant.
According to the National Retail Federation, 43% of shoppers planned to give gift cards in 2025, with spending expected at $29.1 billion, described in its holiday spending report. That mix of choice, ease, and low postage explains the habit.
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Why convenience wins in December
Many grandparents give money-like gifts for practical reasons. In a YouGov survey for CD Valet, 72% of parents and grandparents give cash, checks, gift cards or investments, chiefly for convenience at 66% and to avoid unwanted gifts or returns at 45%, detailed in the survey findings. It skips sizing, store stock, and return lines.
A card also simplifies shopping for several grandchildren at once. A CashStar survey reported by Retail Customer Experience found 78% said gift cards make holiday shopping easier. The buyer picks an amount, signs a card, and mails it.
How does distance shape the choice?
More than half of grandparents have at least one grandchild over 200 miles away. University researchers cited by NDSU Extension identify distance as the strongest predictor of contact, noted in its grandparenting and distance guide. Mail keeps the holiday link when visits are not possible.
A flat card fits that gap. It needs no large box, no assembly, and no extra postage for weight. A grandparent can send the same gesture to different states in one post office trip.
What do recipients actually want?
Gift cards match what many people say they want to receive. The National Retail Federation found 50% of U.S. adults named gift cards as the gift they most wanted, ahead of clothing, books and electronics.
Demand is broad, not limited to one age group. Interest rises among older givers and receivers. The CashStar survey found 60% of consumers wanted retailer or restaurant cards, rising to 87% among grandparents.
A teen can buy music gear, while a younger child can pick books or crafts with a parent.
How to mail a card safely?
Use a padded or Priority Mail flat-rate envelope. The U.S. Postal Service advises attaching the card to cardboard and placing delivery and return addresses inside the envelope.
That keeps the card from shifting and helps return if the outer label is damaged. Check the card before you buy and after you mail. The Federal Trade Commission advises inspecting packaging for tampered PIN covers, keeping the card copy and store receipt, and contacting the issuer about freezing or refund if misuse appears, explained in its gift card buying advice.
Keep that receipt until you know the gift arrived and was used.