The Ultimate List of 40th Birthday Gift Ideas (2024)

This humorous vintage-inspired tee feels custom since it celebrates the recipient's year of birth. It's budget-friendly at under $20, and is available in a range of colors and styles to choose from.

Sure, Oh! The Places You'll Go is great for a graduation gift. But this cheeky version of the Dr. Seuss classic is perfect as a 40th birthday gag gift.

This unique book, which features covers of The New York Times from every birthday they've had, has over 1,000 5-star reviews. Customers loved the quality, which is fitting for a coffee table book, as well as how it sparked conversation.

This gift box is filled with retro candies from 40 years ago. It'll take them right back to fond memories of grade school, summer camp, birthday parties, and trips to the mall.

This waterproof bag is perfect for storing makeup or other essentials like tech accessories and toiletries. It offers a sweet reminder of their birth year, and how special they are to you.

This candle derives its humor from a cheeky message printed in the style of an optometrist's chart.

This cup set can be used for any beverage, but it's especially great for iced coffee since it comes with a sealed bamboo lid and glass straws. It's customized with their birth year, and includes fun facts to read while they sip.

Pre-load this top-rated digital picture frame with cherished memories from 40 years of a life well lived. The interface is easy to use, and adding photos via the app is a breeze.

For the recipient who loves to stay organized, this sleek wallet is designed to hold all her essential cards, bills, and loose change. It's made with luxurious Italian leather, and can be monogrammed in gold foil to take it over the top.

Nothing says relaxation like a plush robe, and this best-seller from Pottery Barn can be monogrammed with his initials for an added fee of $15.

If they're nostalgic for '80s fashion, they'll be thrilled that fanny packs are back in style (now labeled as belt bags). This one from Lululemon is water-resistant to keep all their belongings safe no matter the conditions.

We recommend giving him these funny socks in the morning so he can wear them throughout his birthday. They're also subtle enough that he can wear them long after the celebrations end.

Experienced chefs know that Meyer lemons are a key ingredient for many drinks, condiments, and desserts. This plant will produce the lemons when put near any window, and as a bonus, the white flowers it grows are a natural air freshener.

Inspire their creativity with a 40th birthday present that doubles as a DIY experience. This eco-friendly craft box includes a beginner’s pottery kit, video tutorial, an air plant, and vegan, dairy-free snacks for sustenance, too.

This is no ordinary jigsaw puzzle. Completing it will assemble a front page of The New York Times from a special date in history (like their birthday!).

At a time ripe for reflection, this daily guided journal is designed to help the recipient nurture the best version of themself. It has a prompt for each day, intended to promote self-love, self-improvement, and growth.

For the mystically inclined, a crystal subscription box is the resonant gift that keeps on giving, month after month. This one sends a hand-picked crystal or mineral from around the world each month, along with an information card.