Saying buh-bye to your twenties and entering the next decade of life is a big f*cking deal. So it’s time to step up your gift-giving game if someone you know is approaching this milestone celebration. Although it might have been A-okay to bring a cheap bottle of booze to the party in years past, your giftee is 30 now (!!), which calls for a more age-appropriate gift (plus, it’s likely their tolerance isn’t gonna love that $10 bottle of vodka—trust). In this life-changing decade full of new hobbies, lifestyle choices, and interests, things they’ve never been excited about before will suddenly seem very cool (like a new vacuum or a fancy fragrance diffuser), which could leave you in a tough spot for choosing a b-day present. So if you’re at a loss for gift ideas, have no fear. We’ve got ya covered with this list of the best 30th birthday gifts to give in 2023.
When in doubt, go for something functional (over impractical) and comfortable (over just aesthetically-pleasing—looking at you, sky-high heels) but don’t forget to still keep it cute and personality-focused. Just because they’re leaving their twenties doesn’t mean they’re leaving fun behind. Colorful home decor and trendy jewelry pieces would still be very much appreciated, but since they may be swapping late-night clubbing and bar-hopping for more self-care nights spent at home, some new loungewear, a skincare gift set, or a luxury candle would also be nice. Feeling better about shopping? Good. Now, the full list of the best 30th birthday gift ideas, below.
this quirky card
CENTRAL 23 30th Birthday Card for Friend - 'RIP Twenties'
this quirky card
CENTRAL 23 30th Birthday Card for Friend - 'RIP Twenties'
Someone in their thirties needs classic accessories they can wear to the office and professional events but also still wants ~trendy~ pieces of jewelry. This necklace is the best of both worlds.
this frozen drink machine
Nostalgia Frozen Drink Maker and Margarita Machine
this frozen drink machine
Nostalgia Frozen Drink Maker and Margarita Machine
Bring vacation vibes to their home with this frozen drink maker. They can whip up slush drinks, daiquiris, and margaritas without having to 1. Pay an absurd amount of money, or 2. Leave the comfort of their humble abode.
You'll strike gold with any gift that's self-care related, trust me on that one. And a monogrammed robe fits that bit bill 100 percent—plus it screams luxury.
The best part about turning 30? Staying in on a weekend night goes from cringe to cool—and you’ll need a cozy blanket to stay warm while you press play on your Netflix queue.
Watching this little guy, which can be controlled from a smartphone app, quietly clean the entire house will become a new thing to look forward to on weekends. Ahh, the joy of adulthood.
They’re not a regular 30-year-old, they’re a cool 30-year-old, so they deserve equally cool glassware. Far from boring, this set of six also comes in lavender, mint green, yellow, blue, fuchsia, and more.
For the millennial chef, this pot from Our Place is a practical gift that you’ll use pretty much every day. It comes with a wooden spoon and a roasting rack—because yes, you can put this bb in the oven.
They need an ear party to go with their birthday party, right? These 18k vermeil hoops with cubic zirconia studs come with ear cuffs attached so they can easily stack on the accessories.
Any 30-year-old is gonna love slathering this vanilla shea butter on when dry skin kicks in. Bonus: It comes in the cutest lil tin that looks très chic on your vanity.
Nope, this is not a regular candle. It’s a calming lavender and chamomile-infused option that also has quartz crystals on top to scare all of the bad energy away.
Help your giftee get their life organized AF with a custom planner that’s actually cute enough to leave out on their desk. It’s undated so they can use it whenever.
Are they an ambitious traveler? If they have plans to visit all 50 states, this cute journal is the perfect way to document their forthcoming adventures.
Puzzles and wine at home is the new drinks with friends. They’ll love having an excuse to stay in and drink their favorite libation while working on these two 1000-piece puzzles.
It’s time they start aerating their wine instead of drinking it straight from the bottle. Not only is this aerator-slash-decanter fun to use (you attach it to the bottle and flip it upside down), but it also gets the job done perfectly.
Megan Uy is the assistant shopping editor at Cosmopolitan, where she searches for the best products in all things fashion, home, beauty, sex, gifts, and more, so you don’t have to. When she’s not writing for the site, she’s whipping up some cool and trendy content for the fashion section of the print magazine. She’s been with the brand since 2019 (when she was an itty-bitty editorial fellow), and she's also written for Delish, House Beautiful, and People. Follow her on Instagram to get some BTS of the editor life and chaotic NYC content. Also, feel free to hit her up if you ever wanna discuss the madness that is TikTok.
Hanna Flanagan is an associate shopping editor at Cosmopolitan, sharing her recommendations for everything from denim and eye creams to coffee mugs and silk sheets. Before joining Cosmopolitan, she wrote fashion, beauty, and lifestyle content at People (so, yes, she’s basically a professional product tester at this point). Follow her on Instagram for photos of Timothée Chalamet and #OOTD mirror pics.
Mekita Rivas is an editor at Cosmopolitan, where she primarily covers fashion, culture, and lifestyle. She writes about everything from the best leather totes and books she can't put down to plants, podcasts, and politics. Prior to joining Cosmopolitan, she was a senior contributing fashion editor at PopSugar and Bustle. Her writing has been published in dozens of publications including The New York Times, Vogue, Harper's BAZAAR, Women's Health, Refinery29, and others. She currently splits her time between New York City and Washington, D.C. Follow Mekita on Instagram, where you'll typically find a mix of her snapshots from fashion week and various editor travels.