Find the best gift ideas for 18-year-olds.
Take a look at this 18th birthday gift guide to get inspired on what to get someone who is turning 18. Find the perfect birthday present on this list of great 18th birthday gift ideas for guys and girls. A gift guide filled with great 18th birthday presents for you to choose from. So, take a look and find inspiration to find fun gifts for 18th birthday parties.
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1. A Practical Bedside Caddy
A great 18th birthday gift for someone who’s moving out or moving to a dorm sometime soon is this bedside caddy that is basically a space-saving alternative for a nightstand. It’s great for keeping all your essentials in and it doesn’t take up any floor space. This one comes in a couple of different colors to choose from and is a relatively cheap birthday present to get. It has a big pocket to keep everything from papers to a tablet and smaller pockets for a phone or remote. It even has holes at the corner for any chargers or cables to slip through, so you can easily charge your devices in it as well.
2. A Nintendo Switch Lite
The Nintendo Switch is a great console for boys and girls to play games on, however, the original version that can be hooked up to your tv can be pretty expensive. Luckily there is a lite version, which is able to play pretty much all games, yet is half the price and easier to take with you and takes up a lot less space. It’s a great 18-year-old birthday gift to get since it’s so versatile and just a lot of fun. They come in a couple of different colors to choose from, with the grey one being a great neutral option.
3. A Big Vanity Light-Up Mirror
If you’re looking for 18th birthday ideas for girls, then this big vanity mirror is a great option. It comes in a couple of different colors and is bright enough to use without any other lights on in the room. It’s a great addition to any girl’s bedroom and perfect for girls who love makeup or skincare to give them something to get ready with. It also comes with a detachable magnifying mirror that you can take off or place wherever you want on the mirror.
4. Cards Against Humanity Game
The game of Cards Against Humanity is the perfect game for young adults, since it’s filled with outrageous jokes and just great for finding the boundaries of what is acceptable. This is the base game that the creators describe as “a party game for horrible people”. It’s really a fun game to give for an 18th birthday because of the age restriction that comes with the game and because it’s a great game to get a conversation started. All in all, perfect for 18-year-olds who are ready to be an adult.
5. Noise-Canceling Headphones
A pair of headphones would be a good present as is, however, these ones are even better since they are noise-canceling. This means that it’s great to block out any outside noise so you don’t have to turn up the volume in noisy spaces and can also be used as a way of getting to work in silence. It’s one of the best 18th birthday gifts for boys and girls to get, especially if they have to work for school or their job in a noisy space from time to time and it’s better for their eardrums to listen to music with.
6. OMG I’m An Adult Now Mug
If you’re looking for small gifts for 18th bday parties, then this mug is great for any girl turning 18. Because now they’re officially an adult and should definitely have a mug that makes that more than clear. This is a fun and affordable birthday present idea to get and can be even better if you fill it with their favorite candy. It’s a simple gift that’s just fun and effective. And who can’t use a new mug? So, if you’re looking for something small and cheap to give, then this is a great gift to get. It also comes in a less floral version if you want a mug like this for an 18-year-old guy.
7. A Ridiculously Big Gummy Bear
Are you looking for funny 18th birthday gift ideas to get? Then check out this giant gummy bear that is bound to make anyone slightly sick from just looking at it. And I think it’s great for 18-year-old since they’re now old enough to make really bad decisions and eating this entire thing would probably be exactly that. This present would be great to give your sibling or someone else you know that you have a fun relationship with and that you can help to get through the entire thing.
8. A Polaroid Pocket Printer: 18th birthday ideas
Another great addition to this list of gifts is this pocket printer you can connect to your phone via Bluetooth and print out your favorite pictures instantly with. It’s a great gadget to have if you love taking pictures and would like to hang some on your walls, but are a bit too lazy to get them printed (which is probably most of us). This little photo printer is a really great gift to give because not everyone can just print out their favorite pictures from their phone.
9. A Countertop Pizza Maker
Do they love pizza? Then maybe getting them this pizza maker is a great 18th birthday present to give since that’s exactly what it’s for. It can cook up both freshly made and frozen pizzas quickly and thoroughly as well as some other dishes. It’s a great kitchen gadget for people who don’t have room for an oven but want to bake some things anyway. You can easily store it on its side and is the perfect gift for people who love pizza more than anything.
10. A Manual to Manhood
This is one of the best gift ideas for 18-year-old boys since it has everything an 18-year-old male should learn in the first couple of years of adulthood. From changing a tire to cooking the perfect steak, you’ll learn it all in this Manual to Manhood. It’s a fun book to get your son to teach him some more skills that will come in useful along the way, and who knows maybe you’ll learn something from it as well. Because who really knows everything about being an adult or has all the skills necessary.
RELATED: Great Gift Ideas for 18-Year-Old Girls
11. Handmade Strawberry Boba Milk Tea Candle
These candles handmade by AsianBobaGirl on Etsy are great small 18th birthday gift ideas for girls that are just too cute to resist. They come in two different sizes and are strawberry scented while being made from soy wax, which is a lot better for the environment. The cute little bottles can of course be reused for many different purposes. These little candles are really cute gift ideas if you’re looking for a small gift that any girl will love to get. If you don’t like the pink color or strawberry, then check out all the other similar styles of candles by AsianBobaGirl on offer.
12. A Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker
A great and classic gift idea for young adults is a good-quality Bluetooth speaker and that is exactly what this is. It comes in a couple of different colors, including the basic black, and is waterproof to make it even better. This means that it’s great to take with you to the pool or to bring along on trips and without having to worry about the weather. It’s one of the best birthday presents you can get if they love music and enjoy going on trips and bringing along some music.
13. A Custom Name Necklace
This piece of jewelry is a great small 18th birthday gift for girls. You can simply type in her name and get a custom necklace made in the font of your choice. It’s an affordable option for a piece of jewelry. You can also have a look around for other jewelry to give as nice birthday gifts for her such as a pair of pretty earrings or a nice ring. Either way, jewelry is a great option for a nice gift idea for girls and this necklace is a great neutral option you can’t really go wrong with.
14. A Versatile Swiss Army Knife
Another great gift idea for guys turning 18 is a Swiss army knife like this one. It’s basically an all-in-one tool of everything you need as an adult. If you carry this with you, then you’ll surely use it quite a lot. There are a couple of different versions out there, in different colors and finishes, and with different sets of tools. All of them are great birthday gifts for 18-year-old boys and girls, since everyone can use one of these. You simply slip them in your bag or hang them on your keys and you’ll have every tool you need wherever you are.
15. A K-Beauty Skincare Set: 18th birthday presents
A skincare set like this one is a great present and has everything you need to boost your skin as a young adult. This pretty set contains a moisturizer, a serum, and a lip mask to brighten your skin with an injection of vitamin C. Skincare sets like this one are great birthday ideas for girls, since they are likely just getting started with having a skincare routine and giving them some new products to try out is always a fun way to discover what works for your skin and what doesn’t.
16. A Kit of Lenses for Your Phone
Do they love taking pictures with their phone, but might need to have a bit more options? Then maybe getting them this lens kit for on your phone is a fun eighteenth birthday gift to give. It comes with a set of different lenses you can simply clip onto your phone without much effort and will make your phone that much more versatile for taking pictures. It’s a fun way to experiment with photography without having to invest in an expensive camera without knowing if you’re actually going to use it a lot.
17. The Board Game Catan
This is probably one of the most popular board games out there for adults, not including Monopoly, of course. It’s a fun and strategic game that’s perfect for 18-year-olds to play with their family or friends during the winter months or on trips during the summer days. Everyone can play this and depending on the age of the players, the game is more or less complicated to win. I think it’s a great surefire gift idea for girls and boys, since anyone who loves playing board games will love this one. Just make sure to check that they don’t already have this game.
18. A Pair of Apple AirPods
Another popular birthday gift for anyone around the age of 18 is a pair of AirPods. They’re currently the most popular wireless earbuds out there and are great for online classes or for listening to music while on the road. It’s also a good option for hands-free calls while in your car, since they have good-quality built-in microphones. It is one of the more expensive 18th birthday gifts from parents on this list, so don’t get these if you don’t have the budget for it. They are great gifts, but something less expensive can also make them very happy.
19. A Pair of Cute Roller Skates
If you’re looking for something fun and maybe even something that could be sorted into the category of toys for 18-year-olds, then a pair of roller skates like these ones can be really fun. These skates here are great original presents for girls, however, you can also get inline skates as fun gifts for boys. Skates are a great way to keep exercising without having to go to the gym or without having to go on a jog. It’s a fun way to stay fit and have fun at the same time. They’re just a really nice thing to have when you’re a young adult. Do make sure to also get them a set of protectors to go with a pair of these.
20. A Set of Hot Chocolate Cups
Maybe they’re not ready to start drinking coffee just yet, or they just don’t like it. Then this set of hot chocolate cups for a Keurig machine is a great alternative. It’s a collection of fun chocolate flavors to get your own cup of hot chocolate while everyone else gets a cup of coffee. It’s a fun gift idea for 18-year-olds, since not all of them will like the taste of coffee, but most will love the taste of a nice cup of hot chocolate. I think it’s even better if their birthday is in winter, since that’s the optimal hot chocolate time. Just check that there is a coffee machine they can use these in before you get this as a birthday present.
21. A Polaroid Instant Camera
Capture fun snapshots of your favorite moments with this polaroid camera. It’s a fun retro gadget to play around with and to use the pictures of it around your room. It comes in a couple of different colors and all of them are great 18th birthday presents that any young adult or teenager will love to get. You might think these are really cheap, though because of the improved technology and just general technology inside of it, it’s not exactly cheap. However, it’s still a fun gift idea to get.
22. A Classic Casio Unisex Watch
If you’re looking for a cheap 18-year-old birthday gift that is both practical and looks a lot more expensive than it is, then this Casio watch is a good option. It’s a simple watch that does everything it needs to do and Casio watches are sturdy enough to last for years even when you’re not particularly careful with them. I can attest to that myself, mine is still going strong and I’ve had it since I got it at 19 years old. So, if you’re looking for practical and affordable gift ideas, then this watch is a great one.
23. A Mini Projector for Your Phone or Laptop
Another great gadget to give as a gift is a mini projector like this one. It’s not as expensive as you might think and with the right cables, you can connect it to any device you want, including your laptop or phone. It’s a great gadget to have when you live in a dorm, since you don’t need a tv and can just use the wall as your screen. There are a couple of different versions of a mini projector out there, though this one is the cheapest and pretty good quality.
24. A Nice Duffel Bag for Traveling
A good duffle bag is something every 18-year-old can use and that’s why it’s such a good birthday gift idea. This one looks great and comes in a couple of different colors. Of course, there are loads of different duffel bags available on Amazon, so be sure to check out all the other options if you don’t like this one. It’s a simple but effective birthday gift idea for boys and girls who are moving out or moving into a dorm. This simple bag will make a quick trip back home so much easier.
25. An AirPods Case: 18th birthday gift ideas
If they already own a pair of AirPods or someone else is giving them some as a gift, then getting them a protective case for them is a great affordable option. They come in a bunch of different colors and designs, so you’re sure to find one that they’ll love. This one here is made from silicone, so they’ll be a lot safer if dropped on the floor. You also get a carabiner to hang it on your keys or backpack. Either way, it’s a great accessory for your AirPods.
26. A Heat Changing Tetris Mug
Do they love gaming, but you don’t want to get them any new games as 18th birthday gift ideas? Then this Tetris-themed mug is a great present that won’t make them spend more time behind their screen while still acknowledging their favorite hobby. This one is even heat-changing, so more Tetris blocks appear when you fill it with a hot liquid such as coffee, tea, or hot chocolate. All in all, a great addition to this eighteenth birthday gift guide.
RELATED: Great Gifts for 18 Year-Old Guys
I hope you now have some fun 18th birthday gifts for her and him in your mind to get someone for their 18th bday. If you are looking for even more 18th birthday ideas, then check out these fun 18th birthday party ideas. The one thing to keep in mind whenever you’re looking for gifts is your budget and what the giftee does and doesn’t like. So, do your research and you’re sure to find the perfect 18th birthday gifts to give. And if you still don’t know what to get, then you can of course just get them a gift card so they can pick out their birthday present themselves.
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