Men Spend More Time Searching for Gifts Online Than Women

Online search trends reveal "gifts for her" more popular than "gifts for him"

The majority of online gift idea searches in the UK are carried out by men

When it comes to finding the right gift for our loved ones, more and more of us are turning online for ideas. Rather than browse high street shops for presents, our initial search for the perfect gift is increasingly carried out online - a shift in behaviour not only prompted by the online availability of a wide range of often bespoke and personalised gifts, but also by the lockdowns we have all had to experience over the past years.

Whether we are on the hunt for a suitable Christmas present, a Valentine's gift or a birthday surprise, more and more often we turn to Google as the initial port of call. Amongst the most popular search phrases entered at the search engine prompt are "gifts for him" and "gifts for her" - knowing that within seconds we may well spot the perfect gift idea for the occasion.

But is it men or women that spend more time searching for gifts online? To find out, we looked up both search phrases on Google Trends. As it turns out, UK search volumes for "gifts for her" exceeded those for male recipients by more than 40% on average over the past three years.

Across the UK, online gift searches are mostly for female recipients
Source: Google Trends 

Interestingly, the divide between male and female shoppers increased even further during the busy Christmas periods, with twice as many searches for "gifts for her" carried out than those for husbands, boyfriends and male family members.

As is often the case, there is one exception to the male dominance in online gift search activity. During the periods leading up to Valentine's Day, it was predominantly women who turned to Google to search for the perfect gift for their loved ones.

Whatever type of gift you're looking for, it pays off to start with an online search for gift ideas. Alternatively you can browse our selection of unusual gifts that are guaranteed to bring a smile to someone's face - we may well have the perfect gift idea for you!