40th birthday card messages: what to write

Forty is the birthday where the joke is expected. These 40th birthday card messages give you the teasing lines, the genuinely kind ones, and a few short options for when the card design has already done the talking.

Pick one, add a detail only the two of you would get, and sign it properly.

Funny 40th birthday messages

• 40 today. Officially the age where you read the small print on everything. Shop this card
• Happy 40th. Your back is going to have opinions about this party. Shop this card
• Four decades in and you still can't parallel park. Never change. Shop this card
• You're not over the hill, you're just finally tall enough to see it. Shop this card

Heartfelt 40th birthday messages

• Forty years and you've only got better at the important bits. Happy birthday. Shop this card
• Happy 40th to someone who makes everyone else's life easier without mentioning it. Shop this card
• Here's to the first forty, and to whatever you decide to do with the next lot. Shop this card

Short 40th birthday messages

• Happy 40th. Big one, well earned. Shop this card
• Forty and thriving. Have a great day. Shop this card
• Here's to the next decade. Shop this card

40th birthday cards

Milestone designs, printed in the UK with a kraft envelope.

40th birthday gifts

A candle, badge or coaster turns the card into a proper present.

Where to shop next

• Birthday gifts
• Candles
• Funny pin badges
• Rude and funny cards

Frequently asked questions

What do you write in a 40th birthday card?

One joke about the milestone, one genuine line about them, and a wish for the day. Keep it to three lines and it'll read far better than a long verse.

Is a funny card alright for a 40th?

Usually yes. Forty is the age most people expect to be teased, so a rude card lands well as long as the message inside has something kind in it.