Buying gifts for plumbers can be challenging. They work in a specialized trade that most laymen out there can’t begin to understand, and it’s intimidating to figure out what they might want or need. You may fear you’ll buy the wrong thing or purchase something they don’t actually want. At General Contractor License Guide, we aim to curate useful resources for all things related to the skilled trades, including helping you find the perfect gifts for the hardworking men and women in the plumbing industry.
We’ve compiled a list of great gifts for plumbers. Whether you’re looking for plumber gifts for a loved one or a valued service provider, we’ve got you covered. We have both humorous and utilitarian gifts no matter if your budget is large or small.
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In a hurry? Here are our favorite’s from the list below:
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Top Pick
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Funniest Gift
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Best Value
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$53.99
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$19.99
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$98.99
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Why We Like It:
There is no tool a plumber uses more than a pipe wrench!
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Why We Like It:
Because it's hilarious
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Why We Like It:
If the plunger can't get it done, this electric auger will!
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How to Pick the Best Gift for a Plumber
When choosing the best gifts for plumbers, it is important to think about the person’s individual personality and where they are in their career.
- Are they just starting out and in need of the essential tools of the trade? This is your lucky day! This list is packed full of everything a beginning plumber could want or need.
- Is the recipient a master plumber who has all the basics covered, but could use something special? We can help you find that specialized piece of equipment that any experienced plumber will love.
- Do they love a great gag gift? We’re including a great collection of humorous and naughty gifts that are guaranteed to get a belly laugh out of your favorite plumber.
Knowing who you’re buying for is the key to choosing the perfect gift. We’ll take it from there!
Plumber’s Daily Essentials
Let’s start our list with some items that professional plumbers use daily. You really can’t go wrong with these gifts for plumbers because they are trade essentials. If plumbers don’t have these items, they need them. And if they do have them, they can always use a backup or an upgrade.
Pipe wrenches are synonymous with plumbers, and for good reason. There is no tool a plumber uses more.
There is some disagreement in the profession as to whether aluminum or cast iron wrenches are best. Cast iron wrenches offer unsurpassed durability and strength, but their weight can be an issue. Aluminum is significantly lighter but it costs a lot more.
We suggest buying a set of smaller wrenches in cast iron. These Duratech wrenches come in a set that costs $52.99 and includes 8", 10", 14", and 18" sizes. Plus, the aqua-blue color is pretty awesome. Save the expense of aluminum for the really large wrenches.
An auger is similar to a plumber's snake but usually has more power and a longer reach. After attempting to clear a blockage with a plunger, an auger is often the next thing a plumber will reach for.
You can get an auger attachment for most electric drills, but we like this self-contained, electric auger from Populo. At a cost of $88.97, it's equipped with a 25' cable, LED work light, and its own carrying case. If you're looking for gifts for plumbers that will be used and appreciated on a daily basis, an electric auger is an excellent choice.
This tool is as old-school as it gets, but no other tool quite takes its place when it comes to rough-cutting pipes. Every plumber needs a hacksaw and some replacement blades in their toolbox.
This Bahco hacksaw is one of the best out there and is a popular brand with experienced plumbers. This is a 12-inch hacksaw and it costs $55.21. That's a higher cost than many hacksaws you can find online or in the hardware store, but it cuts straight and clean and the ergonomic handle makes it comfortable in the hand. Those are important considerations when you spend the day cutting pipework.
Plumbers repair and install copper pipes in residential buildings often. For those jobs, they need a high-quality plumber's torch to heat and solder metal together.
Bernzomatic is a trusted brand when it comes to plumber's torches. They have a full range of torches from basic to premium. This kit comes in at just $97.50 and combines one of their premium torches with a canister of fuel. The lucky plumbers receiving this gift will have everything they need to get started.
For plumbers working on construction sites, we recommend the Ever Boot Steel Toe Industrial Boot. The steel toe protects your feet from injury while the rubber soles protect you from up to 18,000 volts of electricity. Their cost? $39.99, and they boast 4.5 stars with over 1,000 ratings.
For everyday wear and typical residential jobs, take a look at the Ever Boots Ultra Dry Boot. The price is a bit higher at $89.99, but this is a comfortable boot, lighter in weight, and designed to be slip resistant and fully waterproof. It doesn't get much better than that.
Coveralls make great gifts for plumbers. They give plumbers a work uniform that is tough and prevents them from staining and destroying their street clothes on a regular basis.
For daily wear, Dickies Deluxe Twill Coveralls are a sturdy and economical choice. At $54.99 a pair, they cost half the price of some other brands.
For rugged worksites or jobs requiring a lot of welding, we suggest Carhartt Flame Resistant Twill Coveralls. The price is a lot steeper at $134.99, but the extra protection is worth it.
Plumbing is physically strenuous work. Long hours kneeling on hard tile and cement floors can do significant damage to knees over the years. A kneeling pad is one of the best plumber gifts you can give to safeguard a plumber's body.
This kneeling pad is made from almost three full inches of memory foam, is generously sized, and sports a waterproof, removable cover that can be machine-washed. It also folds in half and has handles for easy transport. That's $35.09 well spent in our opinion.
Using high-powered jets of water to clear a drain or sewer pipe is one of the most effective ways to disburse a clog. It's a great way to keep from damaging pipes as well.
This Sewer Jetter Kit comes with a 100 ft hose and several different nozzles. The price is $62.99, which is a good price point for 5800PSI capability.
This unit does need to attach to an existing pressure washer. If the plumber you're shopping for already has a pressure washer, these kits make great plumber gifts. If not, the expense of purchasing the power washer as well would take this item into our next category of high-end plumber gifts.
High-End Gifts for Plumbers
Here are a few items that are a bit on the pricey side, but most plumbers would be overjoyed to have them. These are the kind of plumber gifts that might be given by a spouse, parent, or family member. Alternatively, a group of friends or family members could pool their resources to give a gift that any plumber will love.
A sewer and drain camera is an invaluable tool for a plumber. The price point on these gadgets can be prohibitive for some plumbers to get for themselves, which makes them perfect surprise plumber gifts.
These are tiny cameras mounted on a drain snake. They allow a plumber to visually inspect a drain or sewer pipe and assess the cause of blockages and leaks without disassembling pipes or digging up a customer's yard.
These systems come in a wide variety of price points depending on the quality and the features they have. This industrial pipe inspection camera by Anysun is a good mid-tier option. It costs $459 and allows for both live video and recordings through the integrated DVR.
This one is a no-brainer. Of all the skilled trades, who needs a good wet-dry vac more than a plumber? This machine is likely to get heavy use and will need to take up large volumes of liquid. It's best to look for a professional machine meant to stand up to the rigors of the job. A good wet-dry vac runs in the $200 to $300 price range.
We like this heavy-duty model from DeWalt. The poly construction means there's no need to worry about rusting. It has good power with a 6.5 hp motor, and the sound muffler should help with the noise level these machines typically produce. It has a high-capacity, 16-gallon tank which means fewer trips to empty it in the middle of a job.
If you prefer a stainless steel model, this unit from Ridgid has comparable specs and prices. It also has a 4.5-star customer rating on Amazon.
Though most plumbers have a hand-held or electric auger in their toolbox, this is what they dream about owning. A drain cleaning machine is basically an auger on steroids. It can go deeper than any snaking device and is capable of clearing significant blockages in a drain or sewer system.
The best of these machines can easily cost thousands of dollars, but this Ridgid model is a good, economical choice at $871.69. It has a decent length of cable at 75' and boasts some very cool bells and whistles for the price. It has a built-in carrying cart with good wheels to make moving it easy. It also comes with a selection of cutting tools to clear a variety of blockages.
As we said in the previous section, aluminum wrenches are expensive, but when it comes to the largest sizes, the reduced weight makes them worth it.
Ridgid is a trusted name in the tool industry. This 36" aluminum wrench has a $318.65 price tag and a 5-star rating. This is the Cadillac of wrenches and the plumber who receives one is sure to be thrilled.
Plumber Gifts Under $25
You don’t have to break the bank to find great gifts for plumbers. These items may cost less than $25, but they are fundamental to plumbers everywhere and will be greatly appreciated.
We know what you're thinking. A plunger? Really? But every plumber needs these, and with a professional plumber, they get such heavy use that they need replacing frequently. At $10 to $20 each, the costs can really add up over time. The classic flat plunger with a wooden handle is only one type of plunger that a plumber finds useful.
A flange plunger can be more effective for toilets and stubborn sink and shower clogs.
An accordion plunger can add even more force. Many plumbers like to keep all of these on hand, making one or all of them great plumber gifts.
A reliable caulk gun is useful for applying sealant and caulking around toilets, faucets, sinks, and drains. This is another low-cost tool that plumbers use often.
This WorkPro Caulking Gun is a versatile choice and costs just $19.99. It has an adjustable thrust ratio that is appropriate for a variety of sealants. The barrel also rotates, which makes working in tight spaces easier. That's something any plumber appreciates.
Plumbers find themselves working in tight, dark spaces all the time. Usually, the work they do requires both hands, so a hands-free light source is useful. If you've ever tried to finish a project with a flashlight clenched between your teeth, you can appreciate the convenience of a good headlamp.
Headlamps make great gifts for plumbers; they get the light they need without sacrificing mobility. This headlamp is waterproof and rechargeable. It has a focused beam for cramped spaces and a wide-angle beam for larger areas, making it as useful in a residential crawlspace as it is under a bathroom sink.
We found these unique gloves on several must-have lists for plumbers. Shubee gloves are canvas gloves lined with jersey on the inside for comfort and PVC on the outside for waterproofing and improved grip.
Their distinctive, nubby exterior is designed to keep hands safe and dry while using routers and snakes. They only cost $12.00 a pair, which is a great price for non-disposable work gloves.
This is a classic when it comes to gifts for plumbers. Every plumber keeps a stack of plastic buckets on hand to catch leaks and hold equipment. This heavy canvas tool organizer is made to fit in and around a standard five-gallon bucket.
The Bucketboss has 56 pockets and loops to hold tools like wrenches, while large items like augers can sit inside the bucket itself. This popular organizer costs $40.92 and has an impressive 4.7 stars.
If your plumber already owns The Bucketboss, Bucket Boss also sells several accessories for it. Check out the Bucket Stacker small tool organizer
The Bucket Seat is also another great accessory to the Bucketboss.
Unique and Funny Plumber Gifts
In our experience, plumbers tend to have a pretty healthy sense of humor. They’ve been dealing with jokes about plumber’s cracks, laying pipe, and being knee-deep in poop their entire career. That said, it’s important to know who you’re buying for. Not every plumber is amused by coffee cups shaped like toilets.
No list of funny gifts for plumbers would be complete without the aforementioned toilet mug. A white, ceramic toilet replica filled with warm, brown coffee is the epitome of gross, plumber humor.
If your plumber's sense of humor is a bit more high-brow, you can always go for the much more sophisticated golden throne version of this classic gift. The white mug retails for $14.99, while the gold model will, understandably, set you back a few dollars more.
We also love this mug that lists, "The Three Laws of Plumbing: 1. Poop runs downhill, 2. Payday is Friday, 3. Don't eat with your fingers". These sage words of wisdom are printed in black lettering on a white cup with a $19.95 price tag.
When it comes to funny t-shirts as plumber gifts, there are a lot to choose from. Some are silly, some are crude, and some are downright dirty. Here are three of our favorites. They each come in multiple colors, men's and women's styles, and retail for $19.99.
This 100% cotton t-shirt sports a simple and hilarious message; the picture of two plungers and the words, "It's About to Go Down". This one is bound to draw a chuckle without offending anyone.
This t-shirt is sure to be a hit with any plumber who's ever had a customer try to tell them how to do their job. The shirt displays a plumber's hourly rate on a scale that starts at a standard charge and increases steadily the more the customer tries to "help".
Our final t-shirt pick will be a favorite for plumbers who are tired of hearing that their services are too expensive. It simply states, "If you think it's expensive hiring a good plumber, try hiring a bad one".
Plumber Gift Baskets and Stocking Stuffer Ideas
Instead of buying one large plumber gift, why not put together a themed gift basket filled with a lot of little gifts for plumbers? We’ve come up with a few great ideas to make up a fun basket that plumbers will love.
First of all, instead of putting your gifts in a basket, arrange them in a 5-gallon bucket. It keeps with the theme, and your plumber can actually use the container once it's empty.
Plumbers need a never-ending supply of plumber's putty. Professional plumbers buy it in bulk and stock up regularly. Believe us when we tell you that seeing this in a gift basket will make them smile.
This is an indispensable item for any plumber. They rely on plumber's tape the way the rest of us rely on duct tape. It really can fix anything. They can never have too much plumber's tape.
With all of the caulk work that plumbers do, caulk refills are always on the shopping list. Help your favorite plumber stock up on this essential.
Plumbing is a dirty job and plumbers don't always have access to running water at a job site. Keeping a few containers of hand sanitizer around ensures they always have a way to clean up after a job.
These are great supplies for anyone working in a trade to have. They make sure plumbers don't track in dirt and debris when they enter a customer's residence, the workplace, or their own home at the end of the day. Customers and plumber's spouses appreciate the thoughtfulness.
This is an essential item that has an annoying tendency to disappear on a regular basis. It's always good for a plumber to have an extra measuring tape on hand.
Plumbers work with hazardous waste regularly and they need to protect their eyes. Safety goggles are also a must when welding and cutting metal.
Random Plumber Gift Ideas
Along with these plumber's essentials, you can add some less utilitarian and fun goodies as well. Why not toss in a Super Mario keychain? What plumber doesn't love Mario?
Add in some miniature Baby Ruth bars because.....well, we all know why.
You've got room for some funny plumber gifts like themed socks
Depending on the stocking size you may have room for a cool metal street sign as well.
Any and all of these plumber gift-bucket ideas would work well as stocking stuffers too. But if it's Christmas, don't forget this special ornament for your tree.
You can also consider adding a few of the budget gifts we listed above. That golden toilet mug would look great in a gift basket.
We hope we’ve helped you see that buying gifts for plumbers doesn’t have to be stressful. These are great options for you to consider regardless of your budget. With this gift list as your guide, whatever you choose is bound to be a hit!
Related: Plumbing License Requirements By State
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