25 Best 30th Birthday Gifts for The Special Milestone
Thoughtful ideas to celebrate the big moment!
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Turning 30 is the start of a new decade — so, it’s a huge deal and calls for a big celebration. If you need help shopping for someone who is turning the big 3-0, we're here to help.
Think of what they need, what will make them laugh or what will make them feel special on this special day. You can always go for classic options like jewelry gifts, candles, or wine; or, take it up a notch with personalized gifts that speaks to your relationship with them or an experience gift like a concert. If you're still stuck, our editors and Lab analysts are product experts over here, (researching, road testing and learning about new products is kind of our job), so check out our list of unique 30th birthday gift ideas.
Who it's best for: Anyone turning 30, particularly those interested in current events and history
Why we love it: If you just want to give them a little something, go with this cool card that highlights all the major moments and trends from the year they were born.
The Bucket List: 1,000 Adventures Big & Small
Who it's best for: Travelers, dreamers and adrenaline-seekers
Why we love it: Help them start planning their next adventure with this book that comes with 1,000 "bucket list" ideas that'll carry them through the next decade.
Who it's best for: Anyone turning 30
Why we love it: This sweet necklace is a neat, subtle way to honor their age without it being too obvious. It will instantly become a treasured keepsake, and it features 30 pretty glass and brass beads.
Who it's best for: Brainy people who always know the answers in trivia games
Why we love it: Get them hyped for the big 3-0 with this custom 44-page book that's filled with fun facts about their life and the year they were born. Upload personal photos and inside jokes, and in less than 48 hours, it'll be printed, shipped and on its way to their doorstep.
Who it's best for: The cool 30-year-old in your life
Why we love it: Because they're not a regular 30-year-old, they're a cool 30-year-old. It's a silly reminder to embrace your quirks and do your own thing. Plus, this sweet linen makeup bag will also hold essentials like her wallet, phone and keys.
Who it's best for: Anyone who loves spending time outdoors in the summer
Why we love it: Keep them feeling calm, cool and collected at all times with this handy wearable neck fan. With over 30,000 five-star reviews on Amazon, this model comes in five colors and features three speed settings so they can always find the right temperature. It's perfect for amusement parks, sports games or walking in the heat
Who it's best for: Anyone who lives alone or goes on runs, walks and hikes alone
Why we love it: This personal safety alarm helps keep them safe by flashing a light and setting off a siren when activated. In their tests, our product experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute noted that this gadget is easy to use and lightweight.
Who it's best for: Anyone who likes to drink iced coffee, soda, juice or water in a fun cup
Why we love it: If you're on the hunt for a cute and useful gift, go for these glasses. They have a bamboo lid to keep her drinks from spilling and reusable straws to reduce waste. What's more, they'll love how much you appreciate her making the world a better place.
Who it's best for: Jokesters and goofy people with a good sense of humor
Why we love it: They will LOL as soon as they unwrap this gag gift, but in a pinch, they can actally really use it to, er, do their business.
Who it's best for: Anyone without a TV (inside or outside)
Why we love it: To use, all they have to do is place a phone in the right spot, and it will be projected onto a bigger screen for easier watching. It's perfect for watching a sports game, movie or TV show outside in the backyard or on the front porch.
Who it's best for: Someone who has a favorite city
Why we love it: Whether you want to gift a momento to their college city or they just moved to a new city, these custom etched wine glasses are a great way to pay homage to their very favorite U.S. city. Choose from over 25 options, including Nashville, Houston and San Francisco.
Who it's best for: Gardeners and home cooks
Why we love it: Help them bring any dish to life with an indoor herb garden that's just the right size for a kitchen windowsill.
Who it's best for: The person who always orders a cold brew or iced coffee
Why we love it: According to our Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab experts, this particular model brews a coffee concentrate that can be enjoyed for up to two weeks thanks to a lid with a silicone seal that helps keep the beverage fresher for longer.
RELATED: The Best Cold Brew Coffee Makers, Tested by Experts
Who it's best for: Beer-lovers can fill this personalized glass with their drink of choice
Why we love it: This 30th birthday-themed beer glass is packaged in a fun wooden barrel box. "It looked great, kept the glass secure and safe, and everyone talked about the barrel and how neat it looked," one Amazon reviewer commented. It'll hold a large pour and has a special engraving to commemorate their 30th.
Who it's best for: Home cooks and fans of sushi
Why we love it: For home cooks, this DIY sushi kit is the perfect way to welcome them to the decade. It has all the ingredients they need to make a delicious roll (or two), plus a shopping guide and drink pairing suggestions.
Who it's best for: Coffee drinkers
Why we love it: At 30, they're likely dealing with a busy schedule, which means they may be all for starting their day off right with a great cup of coffee. Let them make this popular Vietnamese organic coffee brand a part of their morning routine. Its churro flavor is blended with cinnamon sticks and reviewers say it's "smooth" and "delicious."
RELATED: The Story Behind a Vietnamese Coffee Brand First Seen on "Shark Tank"
Who it's best for: Fans of classic rom-coms
Why we love it: Is there any 30-year-old more iconic than Jenna Rink? We think not. The card is blank inside, so you can write a personalized birthday message to your friend.
Who it's best for: The person in your life who's always taking photos
Why we love it: With a cool retro design, this gift can be put to use right away, capturing all of their 30th birthday party shenanigans.
Who it's best for: Stressed-out and tired 30-year-olds
Why we love it: Now that they're 30, they're going to need more beauty rest than ever (just kidding!). They'll appreciate this super-soft weighted sleep mask that's designed to ease stress and anxiety.
Who it's best for: Home bodies who always have a candle burning when you go to their house
Why we love it: If they're all for making their home as cozy as possible, a candle warmer like this is a must-have if they. The lamp heats up the candle's wick so it can emit those fragrant aromas sans flame. This popular pick comes in pink, black and white.
Alesandra is a digital travel and lifestyle journalist based in Los Angeles whose work has appeared in Good Housekeeping, Woman’s Day, Prevention, Insider, Glamour, Shondaland, AFAR, Parents, TODAY and countless other online and print outlets. Alesandra has a masters degree in journalism with an emphasis on cultural reporting and criticism from NYU, and a bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley. An avid traveler, she trots the globe with her husband and their twins.
Cailey Lindberg (she/her) is a writer and editor with over a decade of experience covering products, lifestyle, entertainment and food. Before joining Good Housekeeping in 2022, she was a staff writer at USA Today's shopping network, Reviewed.com.
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