40 of the Best 40th Birthday Gift Ideas to Celebrate an Exciting New Decade

This nostalgic candy box includes 55 pieces of candy from brands popular in the 1980s, including Big League Chew, ZotZ, and Cow Tails. There’s even comes with a newspaper-style insert with info about that decade’s historical happenings.

If you’re not looking to spend much but still want a cute 40th birthday gift that’ll deliver some laughs upon opening, this Dr. Seuss book is it. It’s sort of like Oh, The Places You'll Go, just with a few more illustrated aches and pains along the way.

More: These Gifts Are Perfect for Any Friend

You can’t go wrong with a vintage T-shirt. This 40th birthday gift will help them rep their birth year with its charming retro style. If you want to add a little something extra, pair this with their favorite album from their childhood or teens.

If you can’t settle on a single appropriate present they’ll adore, get a gift set. This royalty-themed one includes a coffee mug with a crown lid, a lavender-scented candle, and a bath bomb and shower steamer set for an at-home spa day, as the box says, fit for a queen.

You can write on and frame this printable poster, with the idea being you and family members jot down aspects of your new 40-year-old that you love. Whenever they need a pick-me-up, they can peek at this thoughtful gift. This is a great 40th birthday gift if you all want to go in as a group.

If they’re a history buff, they'll love this custom puzzle of the front page of the New York Times from the day they were born. Depending on their level of skill at piecing puzzles together, you can choose between a 500-piece or 1,000-piece version.

Provide the Etsy seller with your recipient’s birth date and location, and they will use charting software to create a personalized sky map design with the exact star and constellation patterns from the moment your loved one was born. It’s a physical representation of their special day that an astronomy lover will appreciate.

Any fan of George Lucas’s galaxy far, far away who’s turning the big 4-0 will appreciate this good luck wish. You might even get a smile out of them before the caffeine kicks in.

This personalized bottle is one to keep on display or use as a vase even after the wine inside is gone. Plus, that wine is a nice cab sauv. Mano’s Wine has many designs, including zodiac signs, with varying levels of personalization.

Birthdate Candles smell good, but what makes this gift personal is the label, with insight based on your recipient’s zodiac sign and date of birth. It includes a detailed personality description, a tarot card, a ruling number, and a planet.

Apple AirTags are great gifts for anyone, but especially for those who need a little extra help remembering where their phone, wallet, or purse is. These digital trackers work by connecting to the Find My network. As long as the tag is connected to what they’ve lost, they’ll be able to see exactly where the item is via a smartphone app.

More: AirTag vs. Tile: Here’s What You Need to Know

Not everyone is thrilled to age another year. But this cheeky birthday card can help them usher in their 40s with a smile. The graphic is printed on recycled paper. Slot a gift card or certificate inside for something extra.

What may seem at first like another boozy gag gift is actually quite the clever and handy accessory. This toothpick set contains four vials with a dozen sticks each, and the toothpicks are each infused with barrel-aged Kentucky bourbon, which imparts a pleasant kick. They’re ideal for stashing in a desk drawer or tote bag for post-lunch teeth touch-ups.

Help them get a good night’s rest while also protecting their skin and hair with this silk pillowcase. The fiber helps cut down the amount of friction against hair and skin, reducing damage and even help prevent dreaded pillow lines on the face.

Give them foot massages without the cost or time commitment of seeing a professional all the time, thanks to this heated foot massager. It has three massage modes, auto shut-off, and a washable, removable cover for clean at-home foot pampering.

There’s just something about a matching set of pajamas that makes you feel put together. Gift this luxuriously soft set from Lunya, which is made from a cotton blend to help keep the wearer cool while they drift off.

If you’re gifting someone who is constantly moving, running errands, or chasing kiddos, they’ll appreciate these comfy sneakers. Allbirds makes its shoes of sustainable, temperature-regulating wool. Possibly the best part is that, if they get too dirty, you can just throw them in the wash.

A razor might seem like a strange gift. But this one is made of sleek stainless steel and nicely weighted. There’s no need to apply pressure as you drag the razor across your skin, and the blades are replaceable.

Uncle Nearest’s 1884 is extremely smooth, with notes of caramel and vanilla. The story behind the brand is just as good as the whiskey, though: It’s named after Nearest Green, the first African-American master distiller on record and the man who taught Jack Daniel how to make his own whiskey.

Beautiful cutting boards can often double as counter space, since they’re not eyesores and your recipient won’t mind leaving them out to show off. This one is made from durable teak, and the ridge around the edge is a thoughtful touch to keep liquid from spilling off.