23 Last Minute Birthday Gifts – Because We’re All Forgetful (and Busy!) Sometimes
Everyone slips up once in a while, and I am as guilty as the next person in accidentally forgetting about an impending birthday. If you need a last-minute birthday gift for mom, dad, your wife, or husband, we’ve got you covered!
Here are some great gifts we picked that are so fabulous, they won’t even seem last-minute. Keep scrolling (or use the table of contents below), as we’ve included a section of last-minute gifts under $25. Bonus!
Last Minute Birthday Gifts
Cookies and chocolates and goodies, oh my! Gift baskets are the PERFECT gift, especially when you can get one delivered with same-day service. Or, if you make them yourself.
DIY Gift Basket Kit
Skip the flimsy dollar store baskets! This 6-piece set comes with everything you need to create professional-looking gift baskets: sturdy black kraft baskets, clear cellophane bags, and matching pull bows. The 9.8 x 7.9 inch size is perfect for building themed gift collections – whether you’re crafting teacher appreciation baskets or holiday treat boxes. The blank surfaces are begging to be personalized (break out those paint pens!), and the heavy-duty construction means no mid-gift disasters. Perfect for crafty gift-givers or anyone planning multiple thank-you gifts that need to look polished and professional!
All Edge Brownie Pan
Have you ever met someone who doesn’t like brownies?
Didn’t think so. Elevate brownies to a whole new level with a pan that guarantees two crispy/chewy edges on each brownie. Bake up a batch for them before you gift it, and no one will even notice if it happens to be late.
Puffy Blanket
Rumpl blankies are an ingenious invention! Finally, a blanket they can use outdoors in all conditions that’s still great for indoor use, too.
It repels water, clips on like a cape, and has corner loops to stake it to the ground for an ultra-comfy picnic blanket. If you’ve got an outdoor enthusiast in your life, this is a perfect last minute gift.
Wine Filters
Quite possibly the invention of the decade. These portable, disposable wine filters aerate wine while filtering out everything that gives us headaches and uncomfortable symptoms after even the best bottles.
Pair it with a nice bottle of vino, and you’ve got a great birthday gift!
Note – we could’ve put these in the last-minute gifts under $25 category. But we chose the 24 pack because we drink a lot of wine around here, and we always pick the stuff we’d want to get for ourselves. So just puttin’ that out there.
Wine Bottle Chiller
So we put this on our list of anniversary gifts for the hubs a little while back, and it turned out to be one of the best gift ideas EVER. It keeps wine, champagne, and other cold bottled beverages frosty cold for a long time. Like, hours long. Take that, fancy marble wine chillers.
Fancy Olive Oil
Fancy, right? (Definitely not your grocery-grade cooking oil, for sure.)
That’s a good gift by itself, but put it in a handcrafted handmade ceramic bottle created and decorated by Italian artisans, and you’ve got a gift for the books. Whether it’s last-minute or right on time.
Luxury Candle
A candle is a gift that just about everyone loves to receive.
And no, it’s not just for females.
A fancy candle is a perfect idea for your boyfriend’s gift list. That’s because guys deserve nice things too, and there is nothing wrong with him enjoying a delicious scent in his home (it’s better than it smelling like sweaty gym clothes).
A little boring, you say?
Go luxury with a beautifully smelling spa candle from British brand, Jo Malone.
Apparently, Kate Middleton burned Jo Malone Orange Blossom candles in Westminster Abbey during her wedding to Prince William back in April 2011. And then ever since word got out that the royals used these candles, numerous brides the world over have been using them to create a similar luxurious and opulent royal atmosphere.
Beautiful candles that are good enough for royalty, they’ll certainly make a lovely gift for your bride-to-be, your wife, your boyfriend, your sister… Well, anyone, really!
This lovely glass candle is filled with the highly fragrant scentes, which will infuse any room with an evocative scent that will last for hours. It comes packaged in a beautifully wrapped box that will make for a perfect candle gift.
I love this soy candle because it is made from soy wax without any dyes, paraffin, lead, or phthalate and is vegan/cruelty-free. It can also be a nice addition to suggest some quiet time together by candlelight with some music and away from screens.
Cotton Blanket Throw
An elegant adornment over a bed or ideal for freshening up sofas, this cotton throw blanket can be embroidered with their names, a date, or a cute message.
The personalization options make it extra special – add names, dates, or craft your own message up to 75 letters. Perfect as a cotton anniversary gift, but it would als make an equally thoughtful housewarming or retirement present, a birthday gift, or even a Valentine’s day gift.
Amazing gift for any night when they would like to curl up on the couch with this new personalized throw, pop some bubbly, and throw on a good movie.
Get it from WithCongratulations
Self Cleaning Water Bottle
Let’s be honest, some of us (and by some, I’m talking about me) get lazy about cleaning our water bottles. A swishy rinse and upside-down dry next to the sink is all it gets most of the time. I choose not to think about what kind of bacteria could be lurking in there because I neglect the brush.
SO, when we came across a UV-C self-cleaning water bottle, it felt like someone out there had designed this just for people like me. Activate it, and it’ll sanitize your water and the bottle every two hours for super fresh, cold H2O.
It’s a brilliant idea and an even more brilliant last-minute gift.
Comes in 17 and 24 fl. oz. sizes and five attractive colors.
Flower Subscription
Yes, flowers can be a cliche gift, but hear us out! We fell in love with BloomsyBox because they’ve totally reinvented the traditional bouquet experience.
Instead of a one-and-done gift that wilts in a week, this is the gift that keeps on giving.
We love how customizable everything is. Whether you want weekly deliveries for a flower enthusiast or monthly surprises for someone who appreciates an occasional bloom, there’s a plan that fits. Plus, with options like pet-safe flowers and specialty collections starting at just $39.99, you can really tailor the gift to her lifestyle.
Trendy Perfume
Perfume is romance in a bottle! As long as she’s not sensitive to scents, your lady is bound to love the gift of a beautiful scent.
Now here’s where it’s important that you know her well. Every woman’s perfume tastes vary, hence the wide selection of scents with floral, fresh, or warm and spicy notes. If she has a collection of perfumes, take a peek (or, more accurately, give them a sniff) and you’ll have a good foundation for choosing a scent she’ll love.
Of course, you could also play it safe and gift her a replacement bottle of her favorite perfume, but where’s the fun in that?
For what it’s worth, one of my absolute favourite perfumes is Idole by Lancome. I love a subtle-yet-sweet floral scent and Idole hits it on the nose.
If you don’t know where to start, just get whatever is trending!
Top 50 Best Selling Perfumes Right Now
Smart Mug
Now here’s gift idea for the man likes to be on top of the latest tech and enjoys a hot cup of joe (or tea!). The Ember smart mug lets you control the exact temperature of your beverage. It’s app-controlled, battery-powered (comes with charging coaster) and, well, super cool!
Experience Gift Certificate – Flying
If they keep telling you they do not want anything, they just wants to spend time with you, take the cue.
Gift a unique experience that the two of you can enjoy together.
Sometimes the best gifts are the intangible ones – the gift of time or the gift of doing something together that you wouldn’t normally try.
If that sounds like the kind of gift they would appreciate, consider booking a Virgin Experience or AirBnB Experience in your own city or nearby. You don’t have to go far to have an adventure. From a yoga sessions with goats, to surf lessons, a farm-to-table dining experience, designing a custom fragrance – the options abound!
If you’d like something more exotic, then Virgin Experience has plenty of choices!
Some guys have their head in the clouds and their heart set on reaching for the stars! Flying lessons won’t be cheap, but may be the right idea for any aviator enthusiasts out there. Get a Flying Experience Gift Box and they will choose a flying experience of their choice – balloon and helicopter rides, skydivers.
Get it from Virgin Experiences
Gift Cards! (Amazon, Starbucks, Whatever)
Technically, this one can be under $25 too. Or under $10. Whatever you can spare.
And if you feel that giving a gift card isn’t thoughtful enough, think about it: have you ever felt disappointed when someone’s given you a gift card? If so, your standards are WAY higher than mine.
Put it in a lovely card with a thoughtful note, and no one’s gonna think you cheated at the gifting game.
Last Minute Birthday Gifts Under $25
Travel Puzzle
Art jigsaw puzzles are so much fun, especially on rainy days or those evenings when the power goes out and everyone’s looking for something to do.
We like this one because it’s interesting, inexpensive, and you can get it pronto for a great last-minute gift.
Hand-Written Love Letter
Probably the best gift your sweetheart could receive is a handwritten note. Nothing beats knowing that your partner sat down and took time to think about what you mean to them. A hand written love note is a romantic, priceless gesture and something they will cherish for many years to come.
Price: costs next to nothing!
However, you could splurge and buy some really nice handmade paper if you want.
Masterclass Online Classes
If they love learning, they are going to be over the moon when you gift them a subscription to Masterclass.
Do they have a hobby they have been meaning to take up? If you’ve never checked out MasterClass, you should!
In a nutshell, Masterclass offers a huge number of courses on topics ranging from cooking to writing, business, arts, science, gaming, sports, and so much more. The courses are incredibly well designed, with video instruction, accompanying lesson plans (with supporting PDF documents), and a community of fellow students to connect with.
With classes taught by THE masters of comedy, writing, music, economics, filmmaking, cooking, and so much more, your loved one is bound to find a class (or many!) that’ll help them level up their hobby or skills.
But here’s the real kicker – the class instructors are some of the world’s leading authorities (and celebrities) on their subjects. We’re talking about Gordon Ramsay, Aaron Sorkin, Steve Martin, Malcolm Gladwell, Serena Williams, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Tony Hawk (yes, the skateboard god), David Sedaris, Shonda Rhymes, Jane Goodall, Usher, and many, many more giants of the world.
Why I like it:
- Learn almost anything
- Great option for minimalists
- An experiential gift
Game Night in a Can
A fabulous gift for your favorite kid celebrating a birthday! The games are hilarious, too! (There are 30!) You’ll find such soon-to-be classics as:
- fancy dancers,
- bank face (not a bank that stores money, a bank shot where you bounce a tiny ball of scrap paper off someone’s face and try to land it in the opponents’ can),
- and pants poopin’ scary tales
Good times.
It’s also worth noting that with each game sold, the guys at Game Night in a Can plant two trees. If that doesn’t seal the deal, we don’t know what else to offer you.
For 2-20 players 10+ (Although any age can play, especially if the youngest players team up with an older buddy.)
Scratch Off Bucket List
We love how a simple scratch-off can turn any bucket list into an exciting challenge! Whether it’s exploring breathtaking destinations, reading literary classics, or watching must-see movies, these interactive lists make every experience more fun. Scratch off each completed item to reveal a hidden design underneath—it’s a satisfying way to track your progress and stay motivated.
With options ranging from travel and adventure to books, movies, and family activities, there’s a scratch-off bucket list for everyone. A perfect gift for goal-setters, explorers, and anyone who loves a little mystery with their milestones
Reusable Foldable Bag
Functional, sustainable, and oh-so-cute, a reusable bag is a great last-minute gift for the environmentalist in your life. It’s meant to take the place of your typical plastic grocery bag and is made from sturdy nylon that’ll withstand even the most brutal abuse.
Five Year Journal
One line a day every day for five years will give you a whole lot of insight into where you’ve been and what you’ve done with your life over the past half-decade! (That may or may not be significant depending upon your situation, but it’s always fun to look back and compare.)
If someone in your life is celebrating a milestone birthday, they’ll thank you every year for five years, guaranteed.
You’re Still a Good Friend
Why are we so hard on ourselves when we accidentally forget a birthday? Of course, the answer is different for everyone. But keep in mind, the friend you missed probably won’t hold it against you, anyway.
Finding a great last-minute birthday gift helps, and hopefully, we’ve helped you find one or two gift ideas here. If not, don’t sweat it. After all, you’ve got 364 more days a year for the opportunity to be a good friend. You got this.
Interested in checking out some of our other birthday gift posts? Click here for so. much. more. Good luck dragging yourself out of the birthday gift rabbit hole 😉
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Laura Crowley
Laura resides in the fantastic city of Nashville, TN with her very, very patient husband, three well above average boys, a dog the size of a dinosaur, and a fleet of cats. When she’s not writing for work, she’s writing for fun. When she’s not doing that she enjoys reading, fine dining, copious amounts of wine, and philosophical conversations with her children. And some adults on occasion.
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