The best long distance gift for a girlfriend balances romance with genuine thoughtfulness—it shows you pay attention to who she actually is, not just what Hallmark thinks girlfriends want. Our top pick is the Lovebox Spinning Heart Messenger because it creates daily moments of connection with old-school charm. But the "right" gift depends entirely on her personality.
I've seen too many generic gift guides that assume all women want jewelry and flowers. Some do. Some don't. The gifts below are organized by type, so you can match the gift to your actual girlfriend—not some idealized version of what a girlfriend "should" like.
- What is the best gift for a long distance girlfriend?
- The most meaningful long distance gifts for girlfriends show that you pay attention to who she actually is—her specific interests, her aesthetic preferences, her daily routines. Generic "romantic" gifts often fall flat. The best gifts either create ongoing connection (like messaging devices or touch lamps) or demonstrate specific knowledge of her life (like care packages tailored to her actual tastes).
Quick Picks: Best LDR Gifts for Girlfriends
| Gift | Best For | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lovebox Messenger | Daily messages | $100-120 | 4.7/5 |
| Birth Flower Necklace | Jewelry lover | $40-80 | 4.6/5 |
| Preserved Rose Box | Romantic | $50-150 | 4.5/5 |
| Touch Lamp | Daily connection | $85-170 | 4.9/5 |
| Memory Book | Sentimental | $25-40 | 4.6/5 |
| Custom Star Map | Astronomy lover | $40-80 | 4.7/5 |
Best Romantic Gifts for Long Distance Girlfriend (1-6)
1. Lovebox Spinning Heart Messenger — Our Top Pick
There's a small wooden box on her nightstand. Inside the lid is a screen. On the front is a heart. When you send a message from the app—a note, a photo, a drawing—the heart starts spinning.
She opens it to find your message. That's it. That's the whole product.
It sounds simple because it is. But there's something about the physical spinning heart that creates anticipation. "Why is it spinning? What did he send?" It's the opposite of a push notification—it's an invitation to pause and receive something just for her.
What makes it special:
- The spinning heart creates genuine anticipation
- No notification overload—just when you send something
- Looks like decor, not tech—fits on nightstand or desk
- Send photos, drawings, even lyrics from songs
- Feels more intentional than a text
- She can save favorite messages
The downsides: The app can be buggy occasionally. At $100+, it's not cheap. But for daily connection, nothing else quite matches the romantic feeling of that spinning heart.
Price: $100-120 | See our Lovebox review →
2. Preserved Rose Box
Real roses preserved to last a year or more. Not the grocery store "eternity roses"—quality preserved roses from brands like Venus et Fleur, The Million Roses, or Eternal Roses. They're expensive, yes. But receiving a box of roses that doesn't die after a week hits differently.
Every time she sees them on her dresser for the next twelve months, she thinks of you. That's a lot of emotional mileage from one gift.
Pro tip: Get them in her favorite color, not red by default. If you don't know her favorite color... maybe figure that out first.
Price: $50-150 depending on size and brand
3. Custom Star Map
The stars as they appeared on the night you met, your first date, or the day you said "I love you." It's astronomy meets romance. The best services (we like TheNightSky and GreaterSkies) print on quality paper with actual scientific accuracy—these aren't random stars, they're the real positions from that exact date and location.
Frame it before sending. A printed star map rolled up in a tube feels like half a gift.
Price: $40-80 depending on size and framing
4. Touch Lamp for Her Nightstand
Elegant enough to fit any decor, from minimalist to cozy. When you're thinking of her at 2 AM and don't want to wake her with a text, touch your lamp. Hers glows. She'll see it in the morning and know you were thinking of her.
The best part: it works both ways. When she's missing you, she can touch hers, and yours lights up. It's silent communication across any distance.
Price: $85-170 | See our touch lamp comparison →
5. Personalized Jewelry with Meaning
Not just any jewelry—jewelry with specific meaning. Options include:
- Coordinate necklace/bracelet — Where you met, where you'll reunite
- Birth flower necklace — Her birth month's flower, not just a birthstone
- Soundwave jewelry — Your voice saying "I love you" as a visual pattern
- Custom initial necklace — Your initial, subtle and elegant
Quality matters more than size. A delicate, well-made piece beats a chunky cheap one every time.
Price: $40-150
6. Eternal Flower in Glass Dome
Beauty and the Beast vibes, but classier. A single preserved rose under glass. Some versions include LED lights. It's more subtle than a box of roses but makes an equally beautiful display piece.
Price: $30-80
Best Sentimental Gifts for LDR Girlfriend (7-12)
7. Memory Book with Prompts
Books like "What I Love About You" or "Why You're My Best Friend" give you prompts to fill out. Sounds cheesy, I know. But here's the thing: filling it out forces you to articulate specific things you love about her. That specificity is what makes it meaningful.
Don't rush through it. One page per day, thoughtful answers. She'll keep it forever—I've heard from women who still have these from relationships decades ago.
Price: $15-35
8. Time-Released Digital Postcards
A physical postcard that unlocks new digital content over time—a video one day, photos another, a playlist the next. One gift that creates a week (or more) of surprises. Each day she scans it, something new appears.
Disclosure: We make this product. We think it's great, but we also recommend alternatives throughout this guide.
Price: $35-60 | Learn more →
9. Custom Portrait Art
Commission an artist to illustrate the two of you. Not a traced photo—actual artistic interpretation. Styles range from realistic to cartoony to abstract. Etsy has hundreds of artists who specialize in couple portraits.
Choose a style that matches her aesthetic. If her apartment is minimalist, don't get a bright cartoon. If she loves whimsy, don't get a formal oil painting style.
Price: $50-200 depending on artist and detail
10. "Open When" Letters
A set of sealed letters for specific moments: "Open when you miss me," "Open when you need a laugh," "Open when you can't sleep," "Open when you're having a bad day."
This takes time and thought—you can't Amazon Prime this one. But that's exactly why it matters. Every letter is proof that you sat down and thought about her in different scenarios.
Price: $0-20 (mostly your time)
11. Personalized Photo Book
Not just a photo album—a curated story of your relationship. Platforms like Artifact Uprising, Chatbooks, and Mixbook let you add captions, dates, and custom layouts. Include photos she might have forgotten about. Add notes explaining why each moment mattered to you.
Price: $30-80 depending on size and pages
12. Message in a Bottle
A handwritten letter on aged paper, rolled and sealed in a glass bottle. It sounds old-fashioned because it is—and that's the point. In a world of instant messages, the physical act of uncorking a bottle and unrolling a scroll feels ceremonial.
Price: $25-40 for a quality kit
Best Experience Gifts for Long Distance Girlfriend (13-17)
13. Subscription Date Night Box
Services like Date Night In and Crated with Love send date night boxes designed for couples—including long distance couples. You both get activities to do "together" over video call. Think: cooking the same recipe, doing a wine tasting, playing couple's games.
Schedule a recurring date night and make it your weekly ritual.
Price: $35-60/month
14. Virtual Spa Day Kit
Send her a spa kit (quality face masks, bath bombs, candles, maybe a robe) and order the same for yourself. Schedule a video call, do your face masks "together," share the same relaxing playlist.
Sounds silly. Couples who've tried it say it's surprisingly intimate—you're both vulnerable and relaxed at the same time.
Price: $40-80 per kit
15. Online Class Together
MasterClass, Skillshare, or even free YouTube tutorials. Pick something you're both interested in learning—cooking, photography, a language, pottery basics—and take the class "together" over scheduled video calls.
This creates ongoing shared experience, not just a one-time gift.
Price: $0-180/year depending on platform
16. Virtual Cooking Class for Two
Several companies offer virtual cooking classes designed for couples in different locations. You both receive ingredient lists, connect over video, and cook the same meal together with a professional chef guiding you.
At the end, you "eat together" over the call.
Price: $50-100 per class
17. Monthly Flower Subscription
Fresh flowers delivered to her door every month. She'll think of you every time a new bouquet arrives—that's 12+ times a year of presence from one subscription.
Good services: BloomsyBox, The Bouqs, Farmgirl Flowers.
Price: $35-60/month
Best Practical Gifts for LDR Girlfriend (18-21)
18. Matching Silk Pajamas
Get a set for her and a set for yourself. Sleep in the same thing even when you're apart. It's subtle—no one else will know—but you both will. Some couples video call before bed specifically to show they're wearing their matching set.
Price: $60-150/set
19. Weighted Blanket
Weighted blankets simulate the feeling of being held—the pressure is genuinely calming. Add a handwritten note: "Since I can't hold you tonight, this will have to do until I can."
Practical, cozy, and meaningful.
Price: $50-100
20. Care Package Tailored to Her
Not a generic "girlfriend care package"—a box curated specifically for her. Her favorite tea or coffee. That skincare product she mentioned running out of. Snacks from your city she can't get in hers. A book you think she'd love. A handwritten note hidden at the bottom.
The best care packages prove you listen to the small things she says.
Price: $40-100 depending on contents
21. Digital Photo Frame (Pre-Loaded)
Pre-load it with your favorite photos together before shipping. Set it up to receive new photos from your phone. She plugs it in, and immediately she has a rotating gallery of your relationship. Then you can surprise her by adding new photos remotely.
Price: $130-300 | See our digital frame guide →
Budget Gifts for Long Distance Girlfriend Under $30 (22-25)
22. Custom Photo Collage ($20-30)
Printed, not digital. Frame it before shipping so it's ready to display immediately. Include candid shots, not just posed photos—moments she might have forgotten about.
23. Long Distance Pillow Cases ($20-25)
Matching pillowcases with designs like "I sleep with him in [city]" or complementary designs. Cheesy? A little. Comforting to sleep with every night? Surprisingly yes.
24. Matching Couple Mugs ($20-30)
For your morning video call coffees. Designs that match or complete each other when side by side. Every morning routine becomes a shared moment.
25. Pressed Flower Bookmark ($15-25)
If she reads physical books, this is perfect. A real pressed flower preserved in resin or laminated beautifully. Every time she reads, there you are marking her page.
How to Choose a Long Distance Gift for Your Girlfriend
Questions to ask yourself:
- What has she mentioned wanting or needing lately?
- What does she already have too much of (jewelry, skincare, etc.)?
- Is she more sentimental or practical?
- Does she prefer experiences or physical items?
- What would remind her of you daily without being obvious to others?
- What's her aesthetic—minimalist, cozy, colorful, classic?
The worst LDR gifts are ones that feel generic. "Girlfriend gift" isn't a personality. Know who she actually is, and choose accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most romantic long distance gift?
The most romantic gifts are specific to your relationship, not generic symbols of romance. That said, Lovebox messenger and custom star maps consistently rate as the most romantically impactful. Both combine personalization with ongoing or lasting presence.
What can I send my girlfriend to make her feel special?
Surprise deliveries of her favorite flowers, handwritten letters (not just cards), care packages with items specific to her tastes, or experience gifts that show you planned something just for her. The element of surprise—receiving something on a random Tuesday—often matters more than the specific item.
How much should I spend on a long distance gift for my girlfriend?
Thoughtfulness matters more than price. Effective gifts range from $15 to $200. Our sweet spot is $40-80—enough to show effort, not so much it feels like you're compensating for distance with money. A well-thought-out $30 gift beats a generic $100 one every time.
For more ideas, see our complete guide to long distance relationship gifts with 67 reviewed products across all categories, or check out gifts for boyfriend if you're shopping for him too.