Reviews Gifts
Written by Julia Pugachevsky
2022-08-19T17:39:22Z
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For many people, turning 30 stirs up a lot of mixed feelings. On one hand, officially leaving one's 20s can be daunting — like an exciting, tumultuous chapter is officially closed. On the other, lots of people say being in your 30s is way better as we tend to be wiser and more grounded in who we are.
Whatever your gift recipient is feeling, a meaningful 30th birthday gift can help them ring in this new decade on the best footing. Whether you get them quality jewelry, practical home goods, or just a really delicious cake, these gifts won't go unappreciated.
The 41 best 30th birthday gift ideas in 2022:
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An instant camera to capture every moment of their 30th birthday party
Fujifilm Instant Mini Camera, available at Amazon, $109.95
Best for: The scrapbooker
Any fun occasion — a birthday party, a cabin trip with friends – is immediately elevated with an instant camera to capture all the memories.
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A Fitbit to help them crush their fitness goals
Fitbit Versa 3, available at Best Buy, $155.95
Best for: The fitness fan
If your gift recipient has some big fitness goals for 30, help them get there with our favorite Fitbit. The Versa 3 is a great watch for its price point, offering a big screen and sleek design.
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A necklace with their zodiac sign
Zodiac Pendant, available at Catbird, $296
Best for: The astrology enthusiast
If they already bought themselves an astrology reading for the month ahead, they deserve to have a necklace of their birth sign. You can present them with just the pendant — or, starting at $148 extra, pair it with a chain.
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A nice yoga mat to help their 30s be more mindful
Natural Yoga Mat, available at Amazon, $79
Best for: The yogi (or yoga-curious)
Even the best yoga class can't help them relax if their mat is peeling or slippery. The Rumi Earth Sun mat is our favorite because it's made from sustainable materials and works for both newcomers and pros.
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Noise-canceling headphones they'll hang on to for a long time
Beats by Dre, available at Best Buy, $299.99
Best for: The music lover
30 is all about learning to block out unnecessary noise, figuratively but also maybe literally. The Beats Solo Pro are comfy, stylish, and easy to charge and connect to Bluetooth, making them one of our favorite pairs.
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A fancy pearl ring fit for a birthday queen
Deco Fan Pearl Ring, available at Aurate, $150
Best for: The art deco fan
This ring is big enough to flaunt but subtle enough to go with everything, making it an elegant gift they'll wear all the time.
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A game-changing mug warmer
Ember Mug, available at Amazon, $149.95
Best for: The one who's picky about their tea temperature
There really is a gadget for everything, and this smart mug turns on when they add hot liquid, stays hot for hours, and can be customized via smartphone to find their ideal temperature. What better way to ring in 30 than never having lukewarm tea again?
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A minimalist watch to embrace adulthood
Think Time Black, available at Swatch, $100
Best for: The person who wants to be more punctual
Whether they want to stop relying on their phone so much or just want to show up to restaurant reservations on time, a watch is a great, functional gift. Swatch has lots of options to choose from, many of them gender neutral.
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A quality chef's knife
Classic Chef's Knife, available at Amazon, $200
Best for: The home chef
A chef's knife might not be the flashiest gift, but it's one that'll pay off for a long time (especially when you spare them the agony of dealing with a dull knife set). This one is one of our favorite chef's knives and is great for a variety of slicing and chopping needs.
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A Bluetooth speaker to bring to the party
JBL Flip 5 BT speaker, available at Amazon and JBL, $99.95
Best for:The group hang coordinator
If they love having people over or organizing trips together, make their hosting dreams complete with this portable speaker. This small but mighty device boasts 12 hours of playtime, connects easily with Bluetooth, and is waterproof.
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A birthday candle to blow out all year
Birthday Party Candle, available at Homesick, $32.30
Best for: The candle collector
Homesick is one of our favorite brands to shop for gifts — aside from candles being general crowd pleasers, these are easy to customize to a person based on their home state, favorite places, or in this case, their birthday.
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A stylish and modern electric kettle
Fellow Stagg Kettle, available at Amazon, $159.95
Best for: The caffeine lover
Our favorite kettle, this is a stylish, versatile option for both pour-over coffee and tea, making it a perfect tool for all their caffeine needs.
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A luscious houseplant to add to their growing collection
Bromeliad Vriesea Intenso Orange, available at The Sill, $88
Best for: The plant parent
If they already have 27 plants in their home, you know what'll make them really happy? A 28th plant. This one comes with a flowery burst of color to make it stand out from the rest.
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An Echo to upgrade their home
Amazon Echo, available at Amazon, $69.99
Best for: The smart tech-curious
The 4th generation Amazon Echo packs a lot of punch for its price point: it can play music, answer quick questions, and even control locks or lights — all hands-free. Plus, its compact, minimalist design makes it easy to fit into any home or apartment.
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A guided journal to make 30 their best year yet
Wellness Journal, available Papier, $35
Best for: The most mindful person you know
If your giftee is someone you see as constantly self-improving, a guided journal can help them track their thoughts and progress (and give them something to look back on).
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A crowd-pleasing cake
Cakes, available at Milk Bar, from $62
Best for: The person who can't wait to blow out candles
Milk Bar is one of our favorite dessert brands, and its iconic funfetti birthday cakes are as vibrant as they are delicious. You can also pick from chocolate and strawberry options, as well as a gluten-free version of the famed birthday cake.
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A pack of fun stud earrings
Gold Best Seller Set, available at Stud, $98
Best for: The person who just got another piercing
If you can't decide on earrings to get, this quirky pack from Studs is perfect — especially if they have multiple piercings and want to mix and match.
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A classic diamond bracelet
Solo Diamond Bracelet, available at Mejuri, $250
Best for: The chic celebrator
This subtle, classy bracelet feels elevated and mature, and is the perfect luxury piece to wear all the time.
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A bestselling pair of sneakers
Nike Air Force, available at Nike, $100
Best for: The trendsetter
Nike Air Force 1s are the ideal sneaker pick if you're looking for something cool that won't go out of style anytime soon, and they're a wonderful gender-neutral option.
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A cool, layerable jacket they can wear almost anywhere
Sherpa Trucker Jacket, available at Levi's, $29.97
Best for: The person who clings to one jacket at a time
This denim sherpa jacket has a timeless look and is also versatile enough for multiple seasons, easily layerable with thick sweaters or light t-shirts in spring or autumn.
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A modern backpack to bring everywhere
Dakota Neoprene Backpack, available at Dagne Dover, $185
Best for: The giftee on the go
Dagne Dover makes a range of backpacks and bags that have a clean, minimalist, unisex look, making them great for both work and travel.
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A boat tote you can customize
Boat and Tote, available at LLBean, $34.95
Best for: The jokester
L.L. Bean totes with ironic messages are all the rage right now, and you can make this genuinely useful bag special by customizing it with an inside joke or funny message (or, if you want to keep it simple, their initials as intended).
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Truly original coup glasses to toast with
Ramona Coupe Glasses, available at Anthropologie, $56
Best for: The co*cktail lover
Even if they already have nice glasses, they probably don't have these. Come over with these coupe glasses and a bottle of champagne, and you have yourself a party.
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A bouquet of dried flowers to make 30 extra special
Bouquet, available at East Olivia, from $55
Best for: The person who can't keep flowers alive long if they tried
Dried flowers are a nice, trendy gift because they last a lot longer and offer more variety. But if you still want to go the classic floral bouquet route, UrbanStems is our favorite flower delivery service.
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Sentimental wall art they'll look at all the time
Grafo Map, available at Grafo, from $19
Best for: The one who's homesick
If their 20s were defined by a special place, be it college or a city abroad, a custom map of it can remind them of their favorite memories.
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A video message from their favorite celebrity
Cameo, available at Cameo, prices vary
Best for: The pop culture connoisseur
A great gift to split with others, Cameo is a service that lets you pay a celebrity to record a special video message for someone. Whether your giftee is a fan of "The Office" or "The Real Housewives of New York" nothing makes 30 stand out like hearing someone they recognize from hours of TV wishing them a good one.
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A book subscription to make them feel like it's their birthday every month
Book of the Month, available at Book of the Month, from $9.99
Best for: The voracious reader
Book of the Month is a subscription that brings a hardcover book to the recipient's door every month. They get a choice out of five books each time, and each one is a brand new, highly anticipated release. The best part? Subscribers can skip a month whenever they need to catch up on their reading.
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A TikTok-famous sunset lamp to seriously upgrade their home
Sunset Lamp Projection, available at Amazon, $19.49
Best for: The avid Instagrammer
Beyond just adding great ambiance to a room, this social media-famed sunset lamp casts a dreamy light that's perfect for selfies (or just hanging out without dealing with harsh lighting).
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A beautiful hot dish they can use for almost everything
Hot Dish, available at Great Jones, $75
Best for: The dinner party host
This gorgeous hot dish is something they'll actually use all the time, whether they're making a main dish like lasagna or roast chicken or a dessert like cake or cobbler. The best part? The simple but pretty design will make their creations stand out in photos, as they deserve to.
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A carry-on suitcase for their future travels
The Carry-On, available at Away, $295
Best for: The jetsetter
If their 30th year will involve traveling, gift them one of our favorite pieces of luggage. The Away Carry-On comes with some nice features: a lock to keep their valuables extra safe and a removable battery charger so they never lose access to their phone.
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A luxurious bathrobe to make self-care a priority
Classic Turkisk Cotton Wardrobe, available at Parachute, $109
Best for: The one who needs to unwind more
A cozy robe is a lounging gamechanger, but your giftee might not shell out for a high-quality one on their own. This absorbent Parachute bathrobe will last them a long time and make getting out of the shower that much nicer.
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A new, durable wallet
Slim Sleeve, available at Bellroy, $79
Best for: The person still holding on to the same worn-out wallet
The Bellroy Slim Sleeve Wallet is our favorite men's wallet because of how thin and sleek it is (without skimping on space).
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A versatile baseball cap
Garment-Dyed Corduroy Baseball Cap, available at J. Crew, from $32.99
Best for: The habitual hat wearer
If they want a baseball cap without any logos that's still eye-catching, this corduroy version comes in a few colors and goes with many outfits. It's a nice, adult upgrade of a classic hat.
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The food they've been craving for so long
Goldbelly Gift Card, available at Goldbelly, from $25
Best for: The total foodie
Goldbelly is a service that lets you ship gourmet food from iconic restaurants and businesses all over the country. If your giftee moved away from their favorite city and really misses the cupcakes or pizza, you can have it shipped for their birthday. If you don't know what to get, a gift card will be appreciated, too.
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A curated box of sweets
Sugarwish Box, available at Sugarwish, from $23
Best for: The one with the sweet tooth
If they're someone who loves buying half-off Halloween candy or never says no to cookies, a box from Sugarwish can be a birthday surprise even sweeter than cake. They get to choose what actually goes in the box, from gummy candies to popcorn to cotton candy. If you think wine is more their jam, you can also get them a Vinebox of wine samplers through the same service.
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A murder mystery party they'll look back on fondly
Murder Mystery Party Game, available at Target, $15.29
Best for: The person who loves an excuse to dress up
University Games makes a variety of murder mystery games that are affordable and easy to follow. Perfect for a smaller party, each game comes with invites you can mail out with instructions on who each person's character and motivation is, giving them ample time to put a costume together and practice their most sinister voice.
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A box of lipsticks to find their perfect shade
The Big Box of Lippie Stix, available at Colourpop, $99
Best for: The makeup collector
One of our favorite makeup gift sets, this box comes with 48 of Colourpop's vegan Lippie Stix so they can try every shade and switch up their look as often as they like.
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A beautiful puzzle they'll want to hang up
Terra Viva Puzzle, available at Jiggy, $49
Best for: The board gamer
Puzzles have been making a huge comeback, mostly because of the stunning artwork that accompanies them. This one from Jiggy gives them a gorgeous finished piece to potentially hang up when they're done.
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A themed birthday gift box
Gift Sets, available at Knack, from $40
Best for: The long-distance giftee
An especially great gift for a friend or family member who lives far away, a birthday-themed box from Knack comes with things like a champagne bottle-shaped candle, boxes of sweets, and a co*cktail kit for them to enjoy. If you don't like any of the pre-made boxes, you can also craft your own.
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A custom New York Times birthday book
New York Times Custom Birthday Book, available at Uncommon Goods, from $99.95
Best for: The history enthusiast
This custom coffee table book contains the front pages of the New York Times from every year of their birthday since they were born. It's a neat way to see how much the world has changed in 30 years, with a nice personalization around their birth date.
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A classic bottle of nice champagne
Bollinger Champagne, available at Total Wine, $61.07
Best for: A fan of the classics
When in doubt, a good bottle of champs never hurt! This one is one of our more affordable favorites, which you can get on its own or pair with a champagne-themed gift like flavored gummy bears.
Senior Health Reporter
Julia is a senior health reporter on the Insider Health team primarily covering skincare and relationships. Prior to that, she was theeducation and personal development editor on the Insider Reviews team and a sex and relationships editor at Cosmopolitan and BuzzFeed, respectively. You can say hi to Julia at jpugachevsky@businessinsider.com or shoot her a DM on Twitter or Instagram (she is @jaypugz on both)
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