12 Creative 40th Birthday Gift Ideas To Wow Your Loved One

A 40th birthday is a major milestone that’s worth celebrating! To help you wow the amazing person in your life whose birthday is approaching, here are 12 creative 40th birthday gift ideas, including not only thoughtful physical gifts but also enjoyable activities that you can engage in together.

1. Rent out a Peerspace and throw them a birthday bash

We’re starting off this list with an experiential 40th birthday gift idea. In fact, it’s one of the best ways to make meaningful memories with someone you care about! Throw your loved one a 40th birthday party and be sure to invite all the people in the world who care about them the most to help you celebrate.

To ensure you have plenty of space for everyone you’d like to invite, rent out a Peerspace venue for your party. Since Peerspace is the largest online marketplace for hourly space rentals, you’ll have an array of options to choose from when it comes to birthday party venues near you. You can book a cozy apartment, a clean and modern loft, a verdant backyard garden, or a luxurious rooftop event space with an amazing view. There’s almost certainly a Peerspace venue out there that’ll suit your birthday party needs (not to mention your budget). Easily one of our favorite 40th birthday gift ideas!

2. Put together a birthday playlist

Here’s a great 40th birthday gift idea for music lovers. Create a homemade playlist that includes songs from every decade of their life! Assuming they were born in the early 1980s, then this means your playlist could include everyone from Madonna and Prince (80s stars) to Beyoncé and Ariana Grande (songstresses of the 2010s). Be thoughtful with your choices, and don’t forget to include some songs that remind them of you, and vice versa! (Plus, if you decide to go with #1 on this list, this playlist could even be the soundtrack for the birthday party you’re planning!)

3. Buy them concert, sports, or other event tickets

Speaking of music—what about gifting them tickets to a live event like a concert, sporting event, theater show, or musical? There will be tons of options here, so choose the type of event that best suits their interests and what’s available in your area. Either way, this is a 40th birthday gift idea that your loved one will really appreciate. Especially if you join them on the outing!

Will they prefer a more low-key option? Then grab the popcorn and check out our favorite movie birthday party ideas!

4. Give them a VR headset

This might seem like a random 40th birthday gift idea, but if your loved one is a tech enthusiast or simply enjoys playing games, a VR headset will open up a new world of gaming and immersive experiences. This is also a wonderful symbolic gift. Giving them a cutting-edge piece of equipment shows recognition that they’re never too old to learn about new technologies and engage with the world in new ways! Not to mention that VR headsets can be incredibly fun and exciting to use.

5. Make a donation in their name

Is your loved one someone who cares a lot about a particular cause, like furthering animal rights or ending hunger? If there’s a charity that’s close to their heart, make a generous donation to that cause in their name. Give them a gift that shows them you support their passion for making the world a better place.

6. Sign them up for a subscription box

These days, there are all kinds of subscription boxes on the market for everything from books and artisanal cheeses to fancy coffee beans and dog toys. Find a subscription box for something you know they enjoy and sign them up for a year’s worth of exciting deliveries. What makes this gift especially great is that it’s not just a one-off. The person you gift the subscription to gets a regular delivery of fun items (typically every month), reminding them of how much you care about them every time they receive a new shipment. 

7. Buy them a lesson package

Is there a hobby or other activity that you know the birthday person has been interested in trying? Then why not buy them lessons so they begin a cool new hobby in their 40s? This could be anything from horseback riding lessons to art classes to guitar lessons. (Just make sure it’s definitely something they’re interested in before you pay for the package, so you don’t end up wasting money on it.)

8. Have their favorite celebrity record them a Cameo

On Cameo, you can pay famous figures like actors, athletes, comedians, musicians, and more to record personalized messages. Not every celebrity has a Cameo account, but if someone you know they’re a big fan of does, a custom “happy birthday” from a favorite star could make their 40th birthday incredibly special. 

9. Schedule a hot air balloon ride

Why not take your loved one on a magical hot air balloon ride? Consider scheduling it at sunrise or sunset for extra fabulous views and vibes! This is an especially great 40th birthday idea if you’re giving it to a partner or spouse since taking a balloon ride together is a classic romantic gesture (with good reason!).

Planning an epic birthday soiree for the man in your life? Then you need to see these creative 40th birthday ideas for men next!

10. Or plan a helicopter ride

Maybe a helicopter ride is more the speed of the person in question. It’s a little bit more fast-paced and thrilling than a hot air balloon, but still provides plenty of panoramic, bird’s eye views like a balloon ride! This is easily one of the most memorable 40th birthday gift ideas.

11. Hire a photographer for a photoshoot

Perhaps your almost 40-year-old is a fan of having their photo taken and would appreciate a set of professional photos for posterity. If this sounds like them, hire a talented photographer and gift them a photoshoot!

12. Visit your local planetarium or observatory

If your loved one is a fan of astronomy or simply loves stargazing, then a trip to a local planetarium or observatory can be a wonderful experiential gift. Sitting under the stars together is an ideal place to reflect on 40 years of life well lived and consider hopes and plans for the future. 

Find unique birthday party venues on Peerspace