26 Best Birthday Gifts for Friends
Updated: Apr. 19, 2024
If presents are their love language, this list of birthday gifts for friends shows them how much you care. We found finds for grill masters, coffee aficionados and beyond.
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Birthdays are incredibly personal. It’s the one day of the year that is yours alone to celebrate. When it comes to friends, it’s important to shower them with love when their special day rolls around, too. Finding the best birthday gifts for friends is difficult. But with the right guidance, it’s possible to locate just the right present that shows you care and makes them feel special.
Gift expert Leeatt Rothschild, Founder and CEO of Packed with Purpose, recommends thinking about the friend you’re buying for first and foremost. “Gifts that resonate with your friend’s passion will always be appreciated. Do they love the outdoors? Cooking? Charitable causes? Find a gift that speaks to their personal passion and your gift will be well received,” she says.
Another consideration is price. “Are you sending a gift to someone who can afford it all? If so, your gift should remind them how much you love and appreciate them,” notes Leeatt. “Alternatively, if this is a friend who can’t or doesn’t buy things for themselves, it’s an opportunity to treat them to something special!”
As Leeatt mentions, it’s best to aim for gifts that show you care about their interests. Bonus points for choosing something personalized with their name, birth month flower or zodiac sign to show you pay attention to the little details. Whether you’ve known your friend for one year or 40, we found unmatched birthday gifts for her and birthday gifts for him. Find gifts for foodies, coffee lovers and even that friend who’s impossible to shop for.
Throwing a birthday bash? We also have recommendations for birthday party decorations and adult party favors for a photo-worthy gathering that will impress your guests.
For the Cake Fiend
Happy Birthday Treat Box
If birthday cake is their favorite part of the celebration, gift them this birthday treat box. Filled with Jocelyn & Co Birthday Cake Popcorn, a Dabble & Drizzle White Chocolate Birthday Square, birthday cake shortbread, a birthday cake cookie and a birthday candle, this colorful assortment certainly takes the cake when it comes to the best birthday gifts for friends.
For the Candle Lover
Birthdate Candle
Instead of picking up an ordinary candle for their birthday, opt for something a little more personalized like a Birthdate Candle. Customized to the exact day they were born, it unlocks details about their personality while revealing a horoscope for the year ahead. Plus, there are 12 unique scents for each zodiac. Birthdate Candles make fun gifts for both the astrology-obsessed and candle lovers alike.
For the Fancy Pants
Luxury Gift Box
For the fancy friend who deserves the best, this editor-loved Flamingo Estate gift box delivers serious luxury. Each seasonal box contains hand-selected goods from the famous farm estate, all of which are made with ingredients from the property. Mixed in are classic finds, best sellers and a few exclusives. If you really want to treat them, opt to gift them a gift subscription for a new treasure trove delivered each quarter. Talk about upscale birthday gifts for friends!
For the Sentimentalist
Birth Month Flower Glass
Birthday gifts for friends should be heartfelt yet practical—but that doesn’t mean you have to dish out the big bucks. We’re obsessed with finds that incorporate their birth month flower, like this stemless wine glass. It offers a more personal touch than picking up a plain ‘ole cup or glass at the store. Whether their month brings violets or paperwhites, they’ll love pouring one out in this adorable glass.
For the Epicurean
Japanese Snack Box
A snack subscription is a great way to give a gift that keeps on giving. For one of the most adventurous birthday gifts for friends, consider this editor-tested Japanese snack box. Each curated box comes with over 20 premium treats that satisfy sweet and savory cravings, centered on a monthly theme. Unpacking this bursting package is almost as much fun as enjoying the treats!
For the Homebody
Cozy Gift Box
Treat them to the coziest night in with this gift box. Inspired by the concept of hygge, which is all about comfort and contentment, this care package includes a variety of soothing surprises, like a mug, journal, knit socks, salted caramels and a candle.
For the Long Distance Bestie
Personalized Care Package
If you don’t live in the same city as the birthday girl or guy, Greetabl is a total lifesaver for thoughtful yet affordable birthday gifts for friends. The greeting card meets the care package, and it takes less than 10 minutes to design and order. Simply pick out a greeting card design, which doubles as the gift box. Then fill it with goodies like a candle, keychain or bath scrub. Finish it off with a gift card and custom message, and it will arrive at the birthday girl’s or guy’s door in no time.
For the Sweet Tooth
Birthday Cupcakes
When in doubt, sweet treats are always the answer. But instead of picking up a pack of grocery store cupcakes, opt for these Wicked Good birthday cupcake jars. They’ll indulge in vanilla and chocolate sprinkle cupcakes all. week. long.
For Under $30
State Spoon Rest
Add some personality to the foodie’s kitchen with a spoon rest that reminds them of their roots. For under $30, it’s a functional art piece that celebrates their home state pride and makes them think of you every time they whip up dinner.
For the Foodie
DIY Pasta Kit
Who says it’s not appropriate to play with your food? This DIY pasta kit lets your favorite food lover embrace their inner child while making their own pasta and dyeing it with fun colors. The dyes are plant- and vegetable-based for fuss-free fun. Complete their pasta dinner with a birthday cake delivery, because sometimes the best birthday gifts for friends are food gifts.
For the At-Home Barista
Coffee and Chocolate Tasting Box
If you and your bestie go together as well as coffee and chocolate, this tasting box is for them. Four artisan coffees are perfectly paired with culinary-inspired chocolate bars for the sweet and tranquil mornings. Seasoned at-home baristas will appreciate the whole bean bags, but you can also snag ground coffee if that’s more their speed, too. This java comes from one of our favorite destinations for coffee subscriptions (aka BeanBox), so any birthday guy or gal is in for a serious treat.
For the Work From Home Bestie
Back Massager
Every birthday guy or gal could use some “me time.” This neck and back massager (it also rubs feet!) instantly turns their house into a massage parlor. Goodbye, stress. Hello, chill.
For the Decorator
Candle Warmer Lamp
Birthday gifts for friends under $40? Check! Send our favorite candle warmer lamp and introduce them to a safer way to enjoy their favorite scents. It illuminates any room with a cozy glow while making candles last practically forever. Trust us, our candle warmer lamp review will make you wonder why you’ve been lighting candles with a flame all this time.
For the Beauty Queen
Averr Aglow Lip Kit
Looking for birthday gifts for friends who are always on the hunt for the next best beauty finds? Ideal for beauty queens or birthday girls who love self-care, this Perfect Pout Lip Kit from Averr Aglow is moisturizing and softening. It consists of a lip balm, lip mask and lip polish that are made with natural ingredients for a healthy smile.
For the Trend-Setter
FabFitFun Subscription
A gift of the month club is truly the gift that keeps on giving. This FabFitFun subscription box sends new items to their door every season, so they can try the latest products and discover new favorites. It’s a real treat for any birthday gal who always has their finger on the pulse of fashion, beauty, home or lifestyle trends. Gift one month or four—the choice is yours.
For the Sports Fan
Ballparks Coffee Table Book
This leather-bound book ushers sports fans through baseball history. Photos and stories give inside glimpses into baseball stadiums throughout the U.S., examining their past, present and what’s to come. It’s a fun coffee book they’ll want to flip through time and time again.
For the Grill Master
Gourmet Spice Pack
This 12-pack of spices lets your favorite griller take their creations to a new level. They’ll season their meats and veggies of choice with spices ranging from chili lime to hickory molasses to chipotle spicy. File it under the best grilling gifts for birthdays and beyond.
For the Writer
Customized Notebook
Whether scribbling down novel ideas or keeping a gratitude journal, they need a beautiful Papier color-block notebook customized with their name on the cover. This notebook is available in a variety of different colors and paper styles to best suit the writer.
For When You Don't Know What to Send
Sugarwish
Whether the birthday guy or gal is impossible to shop for or you don’t know what they want, Sugarwish has your back. All you have to do is enter their email or phone number and they get a special message to pick out their favorite candy, cookies, popcorn, coffee or wine. The best part is never having to second-guess birthday gifts for friends again. We tried Sugarwish, and it’s safe to say this is our go-to gift for family and friends.
For the Hiker
National Park Candles
Help bring the scent of the great outdoors to their home with a national park candle. The soy wax candles feature a wide range of scents and destinations, including lavender sage for Zion National State Park and warming cedarwood and amber for Yosemite National State Park.
For the Health Food Lover
Blue Zone Kitchen Cookbook
The Blue Zones Kitchen cookbook compiles recipes from “blue zones,” aka the areas where people live the longest and are the healthiest, around the world. Each recipe is packed with nutrition for your friend who never buys anything processed. Home cooks of all skill levels can join in on the healthy eating fun!
For the Vino Lover
Wine Subscription
Who wouldn’t want to be signed up for a wine club as a birthday gift? Firstleaf curates award-winning wines from around the world customized to the taster’s specific preferences. Giftees receive six bottles a month based on their tastes, and they can chat with the wine concierge team for personalized suggestions. They may even discover their new favorite vino!
For the Cookie Monster
Levain Bakery Cookie Assortment
Gooey, giant and Instagram-famous, Levain Bakery cookies have a well-deserved cult following. But your friend doesn’t need to live in New York to get their chocolate fix. After all, nothing says “happy birthday” quite like gourmet treats delivered to their door. Trust us, they’ll talk about these cookies weeks after their birthday.
For the Pet Parent
Pet Portrait
Capture the love for your favorite cat dads and dog moms with this custom family pet portrait. The artist beautifully brings together the whole gang, including the furry friends.
For the Bartender
Gin-Making Kit
They’re always mixing up creative drinks when you visit, and their bar cart is serious business, not just decor. This gin-making kit lets them create their gin with 10 different botanicals so that they can get even more inventive with their mixology game. Here are even more birthday gifts for friends with a bartending itch.
For the Yogi
Aromatic Diffuser
This aromatic diffuser helps them stay zen as they master their scorpion or drop into Shavasana. The ceramic diffuser has a 100-milliliter water tank and nine soothing colors to set the relaxing mood. Bonus: It doubles as a home decor piece.
For this piece, we consulted Leeatt Rothschild. Leeatt is the Founder and CEO of Packed with Purpose, a Certified Woman-Owned business that embeds social and environmental impact into the everyday act of gift-giving. Leeatt has nearly 20 years of experience at the intersection of business, sustainability and brand purpose.
Originally Published: March 03, 2023
