Birthday Gifts By Budget: £10, £25, £50 and £100

Most bad presents aren't bad because of the money. They're bad because the money went on the wrong kind of thing for that price.

At a tenner you want one good small thing. At fifty you want something they'd never buy themselves. Mixing those up is how you end up with a £40 gadget nobody uses.

Here's what works at each level, and what to skip.

Around £10

• A card and a pin badge - small, specific, actually kept.
• A good chocolate bar and a magazine about their hobby.
• One nice candle rather than a three-pack of cheap ones.
• Seeds or a small plant for anyone with a windowsill.
• A proper pen, which sounds dull and gets used daily.
• Avoid: novelty gadgets, anything with a battery you can't replace.

Around £25

• A hardback book by an author they already like.
• A bottle of something local - gin, hot sauce, olive oil.
• A candle plus a card plus decent wrapping, done properly.
• A framed print for the kitchen or hallway.
• Cinema tickets for two with a date already agreed.
• Avoid: mid-range electronics, which are worse than the cheap ones.

Around £50

• The upgraded version of something they use every day - a kettle, a bag, a pan.
• An experience: a tasting, a class, a gig ticket.
• A personalised keepsake with a date or a name on it.
• A year of the thing they already pay for monthly.
• A good coat hook, lamp or bit of homeware for a new flat.
• Avoid: clothes in the wrong size, perfume you've picked yourself.

Around £100 and milestone birthdays

• A weekend away or a night somewhere decent.
• A watch, a piece of jewellery, or something engraved.
• A commissioned portrait or illustration of the house, pet or family.
• A group gift - four people at £25 buys something nobody could alone.
• A contribution towards the big thing they're saving for.
• Avoid: spreading £100 across ten small things. One good present wins.

Lines for the card

• Happy birthday. Hope this is exactly the right amount of fuss.
• Another year of putting up with me. Well done.
• Happy birthday - you're getting better, not older.
• Here's to a year with more of the good bits in it.

Shop birthday cards

Pin badges

A small extra that ships with the card as one order.

How to write it so it lands

• Set the budget before you start browsing, not after you've seen something.
• One good thing beats three average ones at every price point.
• Keep the receipt in the card envelope, not in the gift bag.

Where to shop next

• Last minute birthday gift ideas
• Birthday gifts by budget
• Anniversary gift ideas for him and her
• Valentine's gift ideas
• Valentine's night in ideas
• Black Friday gift shopping tips
• Cyber Monday shopping guide
• Anniversary card messages
• Valentine's card messages
• Birthday cards
• Anniversary cards
• Christmas cards
• Black Friday deals
• Cyber Monday
• Pin badges
• Planning the party? Birthday party ideas
• Birthday badges & party pins
• How to make a balloon arch
• Photo booth prop ideas
• Party bag ideas for adults
• How much helium do you need for balloons?
• Congratulations cards
• All guides

Frequently asked questions

How much should you spend on a birthday present?

In the UK, roughly £10-£20 for a colleague or acquaintance, £20-£40 for a good friend, £30-£60 for close family and more for a milestone. Agree a limit with your group and stick to it.

Is it rude to give money for a birthday?

Not at all, especially for teenagers, students and anyone saving for something. Put it in a card with a note about what it's for, so it doesn't feel like an afterthought.

What's a good group gift limit?

£5-£10 a head works for an office and buys something real once there are eight of you. Nominate one person to buy and one to chase the money.

Do you need a gift and a card?

The card matters more than people admit - it's the bit that gets kept. If you're choosing one, choose the card and write something specific in it.