Turning 40 is an important milestone in anyone’s life. It’s the beginning of a new decade, sometimes of a slowing of pace too, and always a cause for celebration. Mark this special event with a special gift. Something to make your loved one’s life easier, something they’ll have a use for, a self-care gift to indulge in some me-time, there are tons of 40th birthday gift ideas out there…
Finding perfect 40th birthday gifts can be difficult but don’t worry we’ve got you covered. We have looked far and wide for the best 40th birthday gift ideas for men and women, no matter their tastes and no matter your budget.
Read on to discover a wide variety of 40th birthday gifts for everyone, from cute budget-friendly gifts to splurge-worthy ones and everything in between.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on any links and make a purchase, we’ll get a small commission, at no cost to you.
Our top 40th birthday gift picks from this list:
Unique 40th Birthday Gift Ideas – Gifts for the home
Turning 40, your friend or relative will probably love getting something useful or something beautiful they might not have bought for themselves. Here are some 40th birthday gift ideas for the home they’ll love receiving.
1 – NEST Fragrances Classic Candle- Birchwood Pine
Nothing better than a luxurious candle that will surround you with subtle scents of a “majestic winter forest”. A classy gift for a 40th birthday, this candle is beautiful, long-lasting, and smells incredible. Blending aromas of white pine, fir balsam, and birchwood over a base of rich musk and amber, the scent is strong without being too overpowering.
Based in New York, NEST Fragrances is known for creating fragrances like no other, mixing notes of the familiar, the exotic, and the unexpected.
2 – COSORI Smart WiFi Air Fryer 5.8QT
Comes a time in life where everyone needs a good air fryer. Turn your favorite fried foods into healthy ones, and make cooking so much easier. Once you start using an air fryer, there’s no going back.
An air fryer is a great gift for someone who likes to cook but also for someone who’s trying to take care of their health and improve their lifestyle.
COSORI is known for making some of the best air fryers on the market. This one comes with 11 cooking presets (frying, roasting, keep warm…), and an app that allows you to control it via wifi or Alexa.
3 – Rivet Abstract Gold, White, and Peach Flecks Painting on Canvas
Wall art is not often something we buy for ourselves, so gifting a painting for a birthday will always be an appreciated gift, especially for someone who likes having a well-decorated interior.
This printed canvas with hand-painted textural white and added gold leaves detailing is a sophisticated piece that will blend well into modern or transitional interiors.
4 – Shark IQ Robotic Vacuum
Keeping your house clean doesn’t have to be a chore anymore with the advances made in robotic vacuums. For their 40th birthday, gift them peace of mind and spotless floors. Cleaning has never been so easy as with the Shark IQ Robotic Vacuum. Using WiFi, you can control it via a phone or voice control to scheduled tasks and areas to be cleaned.
The vacuum charge itself, self empty, and auto clean its brushes so you literary have nothing to take care of.
5 – Umbra Exhibit Picture Frame Gallery Set
Nowadays, photos are often quickly forgotten and rarely printed, that’s why photo frames always make great gifts. You can either add family pictures or beautiful photographs for someone who’s into photography.
The Umbra Exhibit Picture Frame Gallery Set will make a stunning addition to any room decoration. Sophisticated and original, this picture frame gallery will showcase and complement perfectly any pictures.
6 – simplehuman 8″ Round Sensor Makeup Mirror
Apply makeup to perfection with the simplehuman 8″ Round Sensor Makeup Mirror. Featuring a 5x magnifying mirror, adjustable brightness, and lighting as close as it gets to natural sunlight, this mirror will make a great 40th birthday gift.
Built to last, it comes with a 5-year warranty, and will still work like new after 40,000 hours of use. The light automatically turns on when it detects a face, and turns off after use.
7 – Breville BES870XL Barista Espresso Machine
For the coffee lover in your life, an espresso machine will make a splendid 40th birthday gift. Being able to make top-quality coffee without leaving your house is super convenient and makes life much easier.
Breville makes some of the best espresso machines on the market. With their BES870XL Barista Espresso Machine, make espressos, lattes, or cappuccinos as good as in a coffee shop.
8 – Blendtec Total Classic Original Blender
Everyone needs a good blender, and as a 40th birthday gift, you need a top-notch one. The Blendtec Total Classic Original Blender is a professional blender with unrivaled features. It comes with 6 pre-programmed cycles and 10 speeds, it can also warm soups and beverages. Their blade is patented to guarantee the smoothest consistency and gives you the ability to achieve a variety of textures.
Blendtec is a family company based in the US, their products are engineered and assembled in the US.
9 – Cuisinart 15-Piece Stainless Steel Hollow Handle Block Set
A best-seller, this Knives Set by Cuisinart will make a perfect 40th birthday gift for the chef in your life. For someone who likes cooking, it’s important having the right set of knives as it makes cooking so much easier.
Made of stainless steel, this set includes 15 pieces and a block. The handles are ergonomically designed to provide comfort and the blades are precise and durable. The set comes with a lifetime warranty.
10 – Dublin Whiskey Bar Set
For someone who likes drinking liquor, this Dublin Whiskey Bar Set will make a thoughtful and classy 40th birthday gift. The set is beautiful, it includes a decanter, six glasses, and a tray. The design is old-fashioned, and it makes a great decorative piece as well.
11 – Primula Blue Floral Japanese Tetsubin Cast Iron Teapot
For a tea-drinker, this beautifully crafted Japanese Cast Iron Teapot will make a perfect 40th birthday gift. Cast iron teapots, apart from being beautiful, keep tea hot for longer and are part of the Japanese tea ceremony. This one’s interior is enamel coated so it’s easy to wash, more durable, and doesn’t require seasoning.
12 – Mixology Bartender Kit: 10-Piece Bar Tool Set
For the cocktail aficionado in your life, the Mixology Bartender Kit will make a cool 40th birthday gift. Whether they are a seasoned mixologist or enjoy sipping on a cocktail once in a while, they will love receiving this cocktail kit.
Like cooking, making cocktails is an art and requires proper tools. This kit includes all one needs to mix delicious drinks. You could couple it with a cocktail recipe book, like this one.
13 – Marcato Atlas 150 Pasta Machine
People in their forties might find themselves with extra free time and space in their home to pick up a new set of skills. That’s why a pasta machine can make a great 40th birthday gift for a foodie. It’s something most people wouldn’t buy for themselves but would enjoy having.
The Marcato Atlas 150 Pasta Machine is one of the top pasta machines on the market. Made in Italy, the machine comes with instructions and everything you need to make delicious homemade pasta.
14 – 50 States USA Photo Map
For the traveler in your life, offer them some inspiration for their 40th birthday, with this 50 States USA Photo Map. For each state visited, add a picture taken there. It’s a great motivational gift that will encourage them to visit more of our beautiful country.
The company making the poster is based in the US. On their website, you can upload your photos and resize them to fit each state.
If they’re into train travel, check out this gift guide for train enthusiasts.
40th Birthday Gifts – Self-Care Gifts
Turning 40 is the perfect time to indulge in some self-care and pampering, enjoying the little things in life, reducing stress, and taking care of yourself. Here’s a selection of self-care gifts someone turning 40 might enjoy.
15 – Shower Steamers
These shower steamers are best sellers and are the perfect thing to have to turn a shower into a relaxing experience. Turn your bathroom into a spa, and surround yourself with energizing or calming aromatherapy.
This set includes 5 shower steamers (lavender, mint, eucalyptus, grapefruit, and lemongrass), wrapped in a gift box. Based in California, the company only uses natural and top quality ingredients.
16 – Personalized Leather Dopp Kit
At some point, everyone should have a good-quality toiletry bag. Make it extra special by customizing it with your friend or relative’s initials. Handcrafted in Washington with genuine leather, this Personalized Leather Dopp Kit is beautiful, convenient, and big enough to fit everything one needs.
It comes in three colors, three sizes, and 9 monogram options.
17 – Lemon Lavender Relaxing Lotus Spa Gift Basket
Handcrafted in Delaware using natural ingredients, this Relaxing Spa Gift Basket will make a sumptuous 40th birthday gift. The set includes an exfoliating body scrub, natural perfume oil, a bar soap, body butter, and a lotus flower handmade soap, all wrapped in a cute gift box.
Melt away tension and offer some pampering time thanks to this relaxing spa basket.
18 – Moon & Ivy Natural Jade Facial Roller
At 40 you might want to spend extra time taking care of your skin so it stays vibrant and fresh. A Jade Facial Roller is the ultimate skincare tool to help serums and cream penetrate the skin, stimulate blood flow, and overall reduce fine lines and improve the skin firmness.
It will make a beautiful 40th birthday gift for someone who’s into skincare and beauty products.
19 – True Botanicals – Organic RENEW Pure Radiance Face Oil
When it comes to luxury organic skincare, True Botanicals comes to mind. Gifting one of their product to your friend or relative for their 40th birthday will surely be appreciated.
Using natural ingredients, they make serums and face oils to give you glowy, healthy-looking skin.
20 – ALBERT KREUZ knee-high socks
At some point, everyone should own a few pairs of silk socks. Classy and comfy, it makes a perfect 40th birthday gift. Albert Kreuz is a renowned German brand, making some of the best silk socks on the market, offering the perfect blend of spandex to keep the sock up and unrivaled quality.
21 – Stress Less Cards – 50 Mindfulness & Meditation Exercises
Offer some peace of mind and relaxation to your friend or relative. These Stress Less Cards will make a perfect budget-friendly gift for someone who likes to meditate and is into wellness and mindfulness.
Using meditation and neuro-linguistic programming techniques, discover 50 easy exercises to practice mindfulness, reduce stress, and learn to manage anxiety in hard times. Anyone can benefit from using these cards, especially people suffering from anxiety or stress, it can also make a nice gift for people trying to lead a more peaceful and compassionate life.
22 – Victoria’s Lavender Luxury Microwavable Aromatherapy Neck Wrap
The little things in life are often the best ones. Wrap yourself in this Aromatherapy Neck Wrap, melting away tensions and relieving back and neck pain.
Filled with flax seeds and lavender oil, the warmth mixed with the relaxing properties of the lavender feels like heaven after a busy day. The fabric used for the outside is super soft, and it’s just the right size to wrap around your neck.
23 – Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life: How to Finally, Really Grow Up
A great read for someone turning 40 who’s into self-development and psychology. The author, James Hollis, a Jungian psychoanalyst, “believes it is only in the second half of life that we can truly come to know who we are and thus create a life that has meaning”.
In his book, he explains how one can find happiness and feel fulfilled, discover their true self, and come to peace with life.
Novelty 40th Birthday Gifts
If you are looking for budget-friendly, funny, fortieth birthday gifts, the gifts listed below are for you. Discover a selection of the best 40th birthday novelty gifts, from thoughtful to funny, you’ll find a couple of unique 40th birthday gifts.
24 – The 40th Birthday Game
A fun trivia game with over 150 questions, all related, more or less directly, to being 40. It will make a cute little gift and a good pass time for someone who likes trivia.
25 – Vintage Candy CO. 40TH Birthday Retro Candy Gift Box
Who doesn’t like candies? Make it an extra special 40th birthday gift idea with this 40TH Birthday Retro Candy Gift Box. The box includes over 50 candies that were popular in the 80s’. With this box, offer a trip down memory lane to your loved one.
Inside the box, you’ll also find a newspaper insert with everything that happened 40 years ago. Everything comes wrapped in a box ready to gift.
A great way to say “Happy Birthday” to your loved one turning 40.
26 – 40th Birthday Gifts Box
A funny gag gift set for a woman turning 40, this 40th Birthday Gifts Box comes with funny socks, a tumbler with its metal straw and cleaning brush, and a soy candle.
The socks read “If you read this, bring me wine”, they are warm and comfy and are meant to be worn inside. The tumbler is made of stainless steel and will keep your drink warm or cold for hours. The candle is long-lasting and slightly scented.
27 – Sterling Silver Four Circle Necklace
Four circles for four decades, this beautiful Necklace will make a thoughtful gift for someone who likes wearing jewelry. It’s discreet and classy, made of sterling silver it won’t fade or stain your skin. It will blend well with any style and can be worn on any occasion.
28 – 40-Year-Old Birthday Coffee Mug
What’s a novelty gift list without a mug in it? If you are looking for funny budget-friendly 40th birthday presents, a mug is a good option. It’s thoughtful and useful, and one can never have too many mugs.
This 40-Year-Old Birthday Coffee Mug is super cute and funny, and will definitely bring a smile to your loved one’s face.
29 – Happy 40th Birthday Flask Gift Set
Including a flask, four shot glasses, and a funnel, this set will make a thoughtful 40th birthday present for someone who drinks alcohol. Customized, the flask reads “Happy 40th birthday”, you can then add a name and a date to it to make it extra special.
It comes in two colors, black or pink.
30 – Lapis Lazuli Beads Bracelet
Lapis Lazuli symbolizes wisdom and power, it makes a perfect 40th birthday gift if you are looking for something meaningful. Remind your loved one of their inner strength on this important day thanks to the meaning behind the beads, and show some love with the small heart added to the bracelet.
The bracelet is stretchable so it will fit most wrist sizes.
Haven’t found what you were looking for? Check out our other gift guides for women and for men or have a look at our birthday gift guides.
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