Ask before you buy. A DNA test reveals things about the whole family, so the best version of this gift is one the person said yes to.
For family history, give an ancestry kit with relative matching. For someone who wants their full genome and raw data, give whole genome sequencing. If you’re unsure, pick a family-history or science gift that needs no test.
Ask first: a DNA test is not like other gifts
Most gifts are about the person opening them. A DNA test is also about their parents, siblings and cousins, because your DNA is shared with your relatives. It can show an ethnicity result they didn’t expect, a half-sibling nobody mentioned, or a health finding they weren’t ready for.
That’s why the best version of this gift is one the person said yes to. If you can’t ask without spoiling the surprise, ask someone close to them. If that person hesitates, take the hesitation seriously.
Frame it as a choice. “This is yours to use whenever you’re ready, or never” makes it a good gift even if the kit stays in the drawer.
Is a DNA test the right gift for them?
The gift list
Filter by who you’re buying for. Links go to current listings, where you can see the price and delivery date. We don’t list prices because they change daily in the run-up to Christmas, especially around Black Friday.
AncestryDNA kit
The usual pick for someone who wants to find relatives and build a family tree. Ancestry is built around matching people to relatives and trees, so it suits the genealogist more than the health reader. Results take several weeks after the sample arrives.
See AncestryDNA kits on Amazon →23andMe kit
Mixes ancestry with optional health and trait reports. Read our 23andMe ownership and privacy update before buying: the company changed hands after its bankruptcy, and the recipient should be comfortable with that.
See 23andMe kits on Amazon →Dante Labs whole genome sequencing
For someone who wants their entire genome, not a sample of it. Dante reads the whole genome at 30× and lets you download the raw FASTQ, BAM and VCF files. When we checked on October 25, 2026, it listed the test from $449 with 90+ reports included and results in 6–8 weeks. Our code GENOME may apply; check whether a sitewide promotion saves more.
Check Dante’s current offer →The Family Tree Guide to DNA Testing and Genetic Genealogy by Blaine Bettinger
A practical handbook for turning DNA matches into family-tree answers. A good companion to any ancestry kit, or a stand-alone gift for someone who has already tested.
See the book on Amazon →Photo scanner for old family pictures
Shoeboxes of old photos are the other half of family history. A fast photo-feeding scanner (Epson’s FastFoto line is one example) makes digitizing a whole collection realistic. Check that it handles the photo sizes they actually have.
See photo scanners on Amazon →Acid-free archival photo and document boxes
Unglamorous and very useful. Archival boxes and sleeves keep original photos, letters and certificates from yellowing once they’ve been sorted. Look for “acid-free” and “lignin-free” on the listing.
See archival boxes on Amazon →Fill-in family tree chart
A large printed chart to fill in by hand. It works well as a project for a holiday visit, with grandparents filling in the names only they remember.
See family tree charts on Amazon →Guided “tell me your story” journal
Prompt books like the Grandma, I Want to Hear Your Story series ask a parent or grandparent to write down memories. Family stories are history a DNA test can’t capture, and this needs no spit tube.
See story journals on Amazon →Digital voice recorder for family interviews
Recording a grandparent telling the old stories may end up being the most valuable gift on this page. A simple recorder is easier to hand to an older relative than a phone app.
See voice recorders on Amazon →Portable SSD for raw genome files
Whole-genome raw files are large, often tens of gigabytes or more. A fast portable drive gives them a proper home and a second copy. Our guide to storing and backing up genome files explains why one copy isn’t enough.
See portable SSDs on Amazon →Hardware-encrypted USB drive
A genome is permanent, identifying data. A drive with built-in hardware encryption and a PIN keypad is a thoughtful extra for the privacy-minded.
See encrypted drives on Amazon →Bioinformatics Data Skills by Vince Buffalo
For the person who’ll actually open their VCF in a terminal. A practical book on the command-line and data skills genomics work runs on. Pair it with our VCF walkthrough.
See the book on Amazon →The Gene: An Intimate History by Siddhartha Mukherjee
A readable history of genetics woven through the author’s own family story. A good gift alongside a test, or in place of one.
See the book on Amazon →She Has Her Mother’s Laugh by Carl Zimmer
A science writer’s tour of heredity: what we inherit, how, and what DNA can’t explain. Good for anyone who enjoys popular science.
See the book on Amazon →Inheritance by Dani Shapiro
A memoir about a consumer DNA test that revealed the author’s father was not her biological father. Moving, and a good reason to think about the ask-first advice below.
See the book on Amazon →The Lost Family by Libby Copeland
A journalist’s account of how home DNA testing has changed families, with the surprises good and bad. Thoughtful reading for someone on the fence.
See the book on Amazon →Double-helix DNA model kit
Snap-together models make the structure of DNA concrete. A science gift that teaches what a test reads, without testing anyone.
See DNA model kits on Amazon →DNA extraction science kit
Kits that pull visible DNA strands out of fruit are a classic kitchen-table experiment. Check the age rating and supervision notes on the box.
See DNA science kits on Amazon →Which test fits which person
| If they want… | Look at | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Relatives and a family tree | AncestryDNA, 23andMe | Relative matching depends on how many people are in the company’s database. See our ancestry test comparison. |
| Health and their full genome | Whole genome sequencing (Dante Labs) | Reads the whole genome rather than selected positions. See WGS vs genotyping. |
| Health only, no ancestry | A health-focused test | See best DNA test for health only. |
| Something to do with results they already have | Storage, books, analysis help | They don’t need a second kit. See analyzing raw genome data. |
Timing: the kit can arrive by Christmas, the results can’t
Nobody gets results on Christmas morning. The kit is the gift; the answers come weeks later, after the sample reaches the lab.
Write the timeline on the gift card so nobody expects results by New Year’s.
Three privacy points to mention when you give it
- Raw data and deletion. Can they download their data, and can they delete it later? See can you really delete your DNA data.
- Relative matching is opt-in on most services. They can test and keep matching turned off.
- Law-enforcement settings. Some genealogy databases let users choose whether their profile can be used in police searches. See forensic genealogy explained.
Buying on Black Friday
DNA kits often go on sale in late November. Black Friday is November 27 and Cyber Monday is November 30 this year. Before you buy, check whether the sale price includes a subscription that renews, and whether raw-data download is included. Our guide to spotting a real DNA test deal walks through it.
Want the full 30× genome instead of a partial test?
Dante Labs sequences your whole genome and lets you download the raw FASTQ, BAM and VCF files. When we checked on October 25, 2026, it listed the test from $449 with 90+ reports included and results in 6–8 weeks.
Check Dante’s current offer →Code: GENOMEAffiliate link. Prices and promotions change, and codes may not combine with sitewide sales. Confirm the final price at checkout.
A note on kids
Genetic counseling guidance generally recommends against testing children for adult-onset conditions, so the decision can wait until they can make it themselves. Our piece on testing kids for adult-onset conditions explains why. For a curious kid, a science kit is the better gift.
Common questions
Is it OK to give someone a DNA test as a surprise?
It’s better to ask first. DNA results can reveal unexpected relatives, ethnicity results or health findings that affect the whole family, so the person should choose to take the test.
Will they get their results by Christmas?
No. The kit can arrive in time, but results take several weeks after the sample reaches the lab. Dante Labs lists 6–8 weeks for whole-genome reports.
Which DNA test is best for finding relatives?
Tests with large relative-matching databases, such as AncestryDNA and 23andMe, are built for finding relatives. Whole genome sequencing is better for health and raw data than for matching.
Should I give a DNA test to a child?
Generally no. Genetic counseling guidance recommends waiting to test for adult-onset conditions until the person can decide for themselves. A DNA science kit is a better gift for a curious kid.
What can I give someone who has already taken a DNA test?
Something that helps them use the results: a drive to back up raw files, a genetic genealogy book, a photo scanner, or a recorder for capturing family stories.
Sources and verification
Dante Labs pricing, included reports and turnaround were checked on dantelabs.com on October 25, 2026. Book titles and authors were checked against publisher listings. We list no prices for other products because holiday pricing changes daily.
Medical disclaimer. GenomeTesting.org publishes educational content about genetics and consumer genomic testing. Nothing here is medical advice, a diagnosis, or a substitute for care from a qualified clinician or genetic counsellor. Decisions about testing, treatment, or interpreting your own results should be made with a healthcare professional who can see your full history.
Affiliate disclosure. Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This never changes which products we recommend or what we say about them.