23 Fantastic and Creative 40th Birthday Gift Ideas

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Turning 40 is kind of a big deal! As a 40 year old, you’re no longer considered “young” but you haven’t quite made “old person” status either. Hello mid-life crisis!

Whether they still consider themselves young or just young at heart, they deserve to celebrate their special day in style.

Finding the perfect gifts for 40 year olds doesn’t have to be complicated either! Check out our curated list to find the top funny, useful, unique and creative 40th birthday gift ideas.

Symbols for a 40th Birthday Celebration

Major milestone birthdays are typically signified by a theme, similar to anniversary gifts. They are also referred to as a “jubilee,” with the 40th birthday being the “ruby jubilee.”

Other major milestone birthdays are:

  • 25th birthday (silver jubilee)
  • 50th birthday (gold jubilee)
  • 75th birthday (diamond jubilee)

While ruby may be the traditional color for a 40th birthday, with burgundy-colored gifts being the traditional choice, there are no rules when it comes to celebrating this important milestone! We will start out our list of the best 40th birthday gift ideas with some beautiful ruby and ruby-themed gift options – but we have way more awesome ideas that aren’t themed too!

Many of these gift ideas are available with Amazon Prime’s fast free shipping (often arriving in just one or two days!). If you’re not already a Prime member, you can get a 30-day FREE trial of Amazon Prime here!

Best 40th Birthday Gift Ideas

I Love You to the Moon and Back Half Moon Ruby Heart Necklace

Show her how much you love her with this heart-shaped ruby and shooting stars surrounded by a half moon. The moon is engraved with "I Love You To the Moon and Back" on back of the pendant. This sentimental gift will be one she cherishes forever.

Both pendant and chain are made of rhodium-plated sterling silver.

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Tree of Life 40th Jubilee Gift

The Tree of Life symbolizes the intimate connection between earth and sky. Represents a fresh start of life, positive energy and good health, is also a symbol of luck.

This wire tree is made using copper wire and 96 red ruby colored glass beads. Each bead is placed and twisted by hand to create a leaf. The tree is glued onto a white marble base.

This beautiful handmade gift is one that will be treasured forever.

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Rose Gold 40th Birthday Card Poster

Birthday cards are great, but there's a better way to remember a 40th birthday party! Have guests sign this beautiful poster - a fun alternative to a guest book or individual birthday cards. This poster will become a personal gift that your birthday girl or guy will love to have as a wonderful memory of their special day.

Also available in black, this poster easily fits into any 11x17 inch frame.

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40 Reasons Why We Love You So Much

This sentimental 40th birthday gift is the perfect way to show your family member or friend just how special they are! Celebrate every year they've been alive with a different reason why you love them. You can come up with all 40 reasons on your own, or get input from close friends and family members to add to it.

Choose your print option (digital, canvas, poster, etc), customize with you preferred colors, and watch their heart soar when they see this sweet gift!

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Forty Things to Do When You Are 40

Of all the best 40th birthday gifts, I think this is just the perfect present! This major milestone is the perfect time to think about all of those fun things you've always wanted to do... and then go do them!

This box includes a mixture of activities - some can be done at home; others involve a night out or a day trip. This isn't a bucket list as the idea is to TRY NEW THINGS, GO TO NEW PLACES, and MAKE MEMORIES. There are 3 blank cards so you, or the recipient, can add your own ideas to personalize their present - it could be something they've always wanted to do, or maybe you want to surprise your special person with a fun road trip or some other adventure to spend quality time together. This will be one of their favorite gifts for sure!

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Lapis Lazuli Beads Bracelet

For the fabulous forty year old female – why not give her a piece of delicate jewelry with a tiny heart charm? This bracelet is a thoughtful gift if you want to remind her of the power and love that surrounds her on her milestone birthday.

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Crystal Whiskey Glass Gift Set

Keep it classy with this whiskey glass set which comes with granite cooling rocks to preserve the true, undiluted flavor of their liquor of choice. Package it up with a bottle of their favorite drink and toast to another 40 years of good health!

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Happy Birthday Box for Women

Looking for an EXCITING BIRTHDAY box for women to celebrate IN ROYAL STYLE? Designed in Britain and filled with premium birthday gifts for her — it’s the PERFECT BIRTHDAY GIFT basket for your beloved sister, daughter, aunt, best friends, or wife.

Includes 8 ADORABLE AND UNIQUE gifts for women: queen coffee mug with lid, notebook and chic crown pencil, trinket tray, blackberry buttercream candle, makeup pouch, 2 x cupcake bath bombs and 4 x macaron shower steamers suitable for 12 showers, and a greeting card, all in a “IT’S YOUR BIRTHDAY” pink birthday gift box. The best gift for giving the best birthday wishes!


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Birthday Candle

When the candles have been blown out and the cake is all gone, this candle will still be around as a reminder of an awesome birthday! Hand poured in the USA, this soy wax candle is infused with oils that smell just like birthday cake. Arrives packaged in a gift box and ready to go.

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The Washington Post Custom Birthday Book

A handsome collection of The Washington Post front pages, one for each birthday in their life, makes a unique and custom birthday gift that they will treasure. With pages covering history, fashion, and the ever-changing technology, memories from their entire life will come to them as they turn the pages.

Across from each headline page is a page with room for the recipient to write his or her own personal experience of that year, along with photos and other mementos.

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Milestone Birthday Necklace for Her

Turning 30, 40, or 50 has never been more gorgeous: Each birthday necklace comes with its corresponding number of beads on an inspirational quote card.

Bright Thirty | Here is to 3 decades of living, learning and loving.

Fabulous Forty | Cheers to 40 years, welcome to the best decade.

Golden Fifty | May you wish on every candle and may all 50 of them come true.

Get just one or collect all three as the years pass for ultimate beaded beauty. 

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40th Birthday Retro Candy Gift Box

Even 40 year olds can still love sweets! Remind them of their childhood with a candy gift box filled to the brim with sweets from their birth year that are sure to give them a dose of nostalgia. Includes classic favorites like Fun Dip, Smartees, Sour Patch Kids, and more.

The perfect gift for someone with a sweet tooth!

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Grilljoy Golf Grilling BBQ Set

Golf and grilling. Grilling and golf. Combine their two favorite things with this golf grilling set complete with everything they need for the perfect cook out. Set includes a cooking fork, spatula, grill cleaning brush, tongs, and a pair of golf ball shakers.

A great gift for someone who wants to spend their special day with their favorite pastime! Add in a set of golf balls to make this special gift even better.

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Craft A Brew Hefewizen Beer Making Kit

Give the gift of delicious fun with this craft beer home brewing kit. This unique gift turns beer lovers into beer brewers and gives them all the independence, experience, and fun that comes with brewing your own home beer.

Designed to help first-timers and hobbyists alike get the most of their beer experience, this homemade beer making kit comes with the right supplies to brew beer and become a master brewer!

(Don't love the hefewizen flavor? There are lots of other options, including hard cider, IPA, holiday ale, chocolate milk stout, and more!)

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Shun Classic 7” Hollow-Ground Santoku All-Purpose Kitchen Knife

When they already have everything they need, give them an awesome gift to upgrade what they have! Help level up their kitchen and coking skills with this top notch knife. With a 7 inch stainless steel blade, they will be cooking up some delicious dishes in no time!

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BookBrews Subscription Box

This unique gift is perfect for anyone who likes to relax with a good book. Each monthly box comes with a new book in your choice of genres, a delicious high-quality chocolate bar and your selection of tea or coffee. Choose the book genre and a 1-, 3-, or 6-month subscription length so your book lover can enjoy your gift for a long time (or at least longer than just one day).

Subscription boxes are the perfect gift that keeps on giving!

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Breville Barista Pro Espresso Machine

Bonafide coffee enthusiasts will love this high quality espresso machine of their dreams. With dose control grinding, this beautiful kitchen gadget takes the guesswork out of grinding your own coffee. This awesome gift will soon be their favorite way to start their day!

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Polo Ralph Lauren Microfiber Shawl Collar Robe

The perfect gift for the guy who just needs to treat himself. Made from soft, plush fleece, this LAUREN Ralph Lauren full-length robe is designed for ultimate comfort. This super plush robe will give him all the incentive he needs to take the day off and put his feet up.

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Funny and Gag Gifts for 40th Birthday

Is You 40 Wine Glass

Similar to the last, this wine glass is perfect for a just-turned forty wine enthusiast. Package with love and a bottle of nice (or even very cheap) wine. 

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Square Root of 1600: 40th Birthday Mug

File this one under 40th birthday gifts for math nerds. Hopefully at 40, they still remember how to do math without pulling out their bifocals and calculator. This birthday mug is sure to get to the root of their birthday wishes.

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Love giving gifts that make them laugh? Check out our list of the best gag gifts!

39 + One Beer Glass

For the 40th birthday boy or girl who doesn't want to grow up! Pour a cold one and tell a few getting old jokes. This cheeky, humorous milestone beer glass will be sure to provoke a laugh.

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What You Don't Know About Turning 40: A Funny Birthday Quiz

Need a 40th birthday gift idea for the person who has everything? I can guarantee they don't have this. Put a bow on this paperback book and hand over a gift that's sure to get a rise.

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40th Birthday Toilet Paper

There may be no better 40th birthday gift to give after the trouble we had in 2020. This gag gift is perfect for a prankster - or for a 40 year old who loves the poop emoji.

Level up your gift giving and tie a ribbon around enough of this birthday toilet paper to stockpile their bathroom for a couple months!

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We hope you’ve enjoyed this list of unique 40th birthday gifts to help you find the best ways to celebrate your special person’s 40th birthday! No matter what gift you choose, at the end of the day the best things in life are spending time with close family members and friends. They are sure to love your gift, but more importantly they will enjoy having a great time celebrating with you and taking a walk down memory lane.

If you know of a good idea for a gift that we should include in this list of 40th birthday ideas, please leave a comment and let us know!

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creative 40th birthday gift ideas they will love
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Amanda

Amanda is a mom of four kids, two dogs, some chickens, and a few hundred composting worms. As a former teacher and fitness instructor, and the oldest of a houseful of kids, she has quite a bit of experience educating others – which she now does via writing! Gift giving isn’t her main love language, but she loves shopping for the perfect gifts for others.

You can find her on her main blog at amandaseghetti.com and on all social media @amandaseghetti <3

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