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Aug 03, 2023

51 special gift ideas for every type of best friend in 2023

Thanks for contacting us. We've received your submission. If you’re going to drop dough, shouldn’t it be on your bestie? They’ve seen you through thick and thin, life’s ups and downs and everything in

Thanks for contacting us. We've received your submission.

If you’re going to drop dough, shouldn’t it be on your bestie? They’ve seen you through thick and thin, life’s ups and downs and everything in between. Naturally, the least you can do is send them something special.

To help you out, we’ve rounded up the best gifts to give best friends. Our picks are so good, you’ll probably buy one or two of them for yourself.

We hunted every virtual aisle to find items that anyone would love. We’re talking Laneige Besties Set, lululemon’s latest take on the classic Everywhere Belt, event tickets from Vivid Seats and more! We found fantastic and affordable gifts from Amazon and Etsy, as well as some splurge-worthy options from Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue and Coach.

You’d think it would be easy to pick something meaningful for someone you know so well, but that isn’t always true. Some friends can be…picky, while others may already seem to have everything.

Trust us when we say, they don’t. Besides, giving stuff is not really the point of gifting, right? It’s about taking the opportunity to show someone how much they mean to you.

If you’re trying to get your shopping done in one swoop, don’t forget to check out our guides for luxury gifts for men and luxury gifts for women. Regardless of which you go with, it’s the thought that counts the most.

Shop our picks that will earn you major points in the friendship department.

A cute and drapey fit combined with stretch-knit bamboo viscose material make this pajama set a winner. Great for hot sleepers or those who like sustainable fashion, they come in multiple color options and are also available in long sleeve.

Help your friend celebrate their uniqueness with this astrological inspired birthday candle. Along with having a customized scent, it shows their tarot card, sun sign, ruling number and planet, as well as a description of their one-of-a-kind personality. If you really want to wow them, add the Birthday Co. Birthdate Book ($95) to their gift bag. They’ll love it!

We love how delicate this gold plated bracelet is and the fact that it comes with a lobster clutch to take it on and off with ease. It stacks well with other pieces, plus it can be ordered to have the first initial of your friend’s name at its center.

Gift a luxurious night of sleep. Made from long-fiber mulberry silk, the thick silk sleep mask is non-absorbent, keeping skin products on and the light out. Available in multiple colors.

This trilogy of scents has something for every mood and occasion. Gypsy Water Eau de Parfum is woody with splashes of juniper berries. Afrique Eau de Parfum is a musky floral fragrance with notes of vetiver and Moroccan cedarwood. And everyone knows Mojave Ghost! Each is small enough to fit in a tote or purse, and the gift box they come in makes for minimal wrapping.

For the BFF who loves pampering her skin, we suggest this LED Light Therapy Mask. It offers seven different light therapies, including red, which is good for fine lines, and yellow, to address uneven skin texture. It only needs to be used 15 minutes a day, three to five times per week. At less than $100, it’s an impressive but affordable gift.

You’ve probably seen or own the Everywhere Belt Bag (also a great gift), but this one is a little different, thanks to its fuzzy texture. It’s a cute but practical option for the lady who likes to travel light. We also love its glossy hardware!

This appropriately named skincare set from Laneige is a great option for your BFF who loves skincare. It comes with four of the brand’s all-star products, including the Lip Sleeping Mask and Water Sleeping Mask. Your girl will love how hydrated her skin and lips feel after using it. If you’re lucky, she may say thank you by sending you the set to enjoy with her.

For the vintage lover or simply the sentimental, this instant camera will be more than welcomed. It’s compact, has automatic exposure and unlike old school cameras, has a built-in mirror for when you want to take a selfie. Add a pack of instant film and you have a great gift for your best gal pal.

Made of 100% cashmere, this sweater will get your friend through fall, winter and spring. It comes in an assortment of colors, has a classic design and looks good with skirts, pants, jeans or leggings.

You may know Maude as the very chic sexual wellness brand, but they also have a plethora of self-care items like supplements, bubble bath and grooming products. This kit, for example, has hand-harvested bath salts mixed with skin-softening coconut milk. They have the invigorating scent of eucalyptus, Haitian vetiver, sandalwood and cassis. As soon as your friend steps into a bath with these babies, she’ll feel super relaxed and like you’ve gifted her a day at the spa.

Practicing gratitude has loads of benefits, like improved sleep and decreased anxiety. This journal makes it easier to schedule it into your daily routine. It’s filled with prompts, weekly challenges and even affirmations to help you or someone you love reflect on all the things there are to be thankful for. Best of all, it only needs to be used five minutes a day. We all have that, right?

This fruity floral candle has notes of black current and rose. Inspired by Diptyque’s most well-known fragrance, it’s worth gifting for its classic jar alone. It burns up to 60 hours, which sort of makes up for the higher price tag, plus its mere presence will instantly elevate the most basic bathroom or sitting space.

If you’re the Samantha of your group, one of your friends is expecting this — don’t disappoint them! This discrete and pretty toy offers 10 suction modes, is made of easy to clean silicone and can go for 65 minutes before needing a charge. Waterproof and armed with a travel lock, it’s truly a gift that will keep on giving. Even the Charlotte of your crew will appreciate it!

Even if you’re far apart, you can stay close with these customizable necklaces. Select for yours to be made in gold, rose gold, silver or stainless steel, and pick the two states you’d like embossed on the coins. A smaller coin with a heart sits between them, symbolizing the love that connects, regardless your physical distance.

If your friend’s into crystals and affirmations during the full moon, she’ll probably love this. And if she isn’t, she’ll still get a chuckle. Besides, this deck is classic, and when paired with a bottle of wine, makes for an interesting night in.

A leather tote large enough to carry a laptop, umbrella and daily essentials? Yes, please! This one is vegetable-tanned and burnished to reveal a patina that makes us think this would be perfect for the gal who’s the escape-from-Brooklyn type. You know, the one who always wants you to come to her second house in the Catskills?

Who needs regular wine glasses when these exist? Hand crafted from artisans in Poland, they’re heirloom worthy, come in every color of the rainbow, and dress up any table — full or empty.

There’s no greater sign of adulthood than owning your own stationary, right? Also, these are super neat. The customizable note cards can be made to reflect your friend’s image, right down to their leather bomber jacket and reading glasses. Twenty cards in an order.

There’s nothing like cozy clothes to run errands or lay around the house in. Naturally, we love the easy fit of this lounge set, the fact that it comes in a few color options and can be worn together or as separates. Doubling as PJs or even workout gear, it’s a bargain for under $30 and makes a great gift.

Drop shoulders and no fasteners make this cardigan feel like a cozy robe. Its drape-y rib design makes it a must for lazy weekends when you need to dash out of the house and don’t want to put a lot of effort into your ensemble. Made from a blend of wool, rayon and polyester, it also pairs well with this Rib-Knit Dress ($37.99).

For the friend who hasn’t met a #psychtok they haven’t hearted, this journal will blow their mind. It’s filled with shadow work exercises, writing prompts for inner-child work and guided pages for when the…darker aspects of their personality begin to surface. The original, which was published in 2021, has been an Amazon bestseller, and we’re willing to bet this one will be, too.

This beauty bag comes with cult-beauty favorite Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream, Elaluz Clean Deodorant, Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask, a full-size KNC 5-pack Lip mask and more. Valued over $200, it’s a real steal that won’t likely last long.

This clever massager is a must-try for anyone who complains of sore muscles or aching joints. It’s portable and discrete enough to wear beneath clothing, plus it has a heating option and nine vibration settings. Made for spot treatment, connect the massage pod to its patch and kick back. The device offers up to 20 minutes of warm, rumbling bliss before it needs to recharge.

Have you ever noticed that gift-giving season falls around the time of year when it’s darker and more gloomy? While we can’t confirm or deny the holidays are just a scheme to cheer us up, this LED therapy lamp is a thoughtful gift for the chum who struggles with winter blues. It has three brightness settings, one-touch operation, and provides 50,000 hours of light. It’s small enough to fit on a bedside table, and more than a few of the reviewers on Amazon say it’s helped them feel less down in the dumps.

Whether your girl has been complaining about dark circles, loss of firmness or the showing of crows feet, we think there’s something in this skincare kit that she’ll like. It includes a squalene and lactic acid resurfacing cream (good for uneven texture and promoting brightness), a squalene-rich moisturizer and eye cream, as well as a hydrating serum with rosehip to leave skin dewy. We feel more refreshed just thinking about it!

(Related: 37 beauty skin care sets of 2023)

Don’t call ’em sweat pants; these joggers are anything but. Designed to hold their shape, they’re a little stretchy, have front pockets with hidden media sleeves and include a flat lay elastic band. Available in 11 different colors, they’re moisture-wicking and wrinkle-resistant, making them a great gift option for the guy who can’t be bothered to iron.

Made from soft polished pebble leather, this slim wallet has a classic bifold design, six card slots and room for cash. It’s stylish, understated and will hold up for years.

A dual-colored bezel and navy dial make this Timex just a little different than ones in plain stainless steel. It has a deployment bucket, displays the date and has a lovely mineral glass crystal face that gleams under the sun. At under $300, it’s not the cheapest thing on our list. But it’s a great gift for friends who have passed the test of time.

For the guy who likes to drive like Speed Racer, gift this Cobra Dash cam. It has Full HD video resolution, can be positioned to face the back window or front and works with the Cobra app to deliver real-time road alerts. It also has motion sensing, continuous recording and even a park mode for when he’s eating lunch in his ride.

Since your best bro and you aren’t frat kids anymore, at least one of you needs a proper, adult shaving kit. This one from Supply comes with Ultra Lather Shaving Cream, as well as a lather brush, healing post shave spray, a single edge razor and an injector pack of blades. The lather comes in several scents (we like lavender and lemon) and the razor comes in classic matte or matte black.

For your hiking bud, this hydration pack is a must. It has a ventilated harness and is reflective and lightweight. Inside is an integrated tool organizer and a tube trap management system to make it easy to take a sip of water on the go. The pack works with the CambelBak Crux Reservoir and also has a zippered pocket for keys, wallet and phone.

Keep someone warm but comfortable with this men’s vest from lululemon. Its channels are insulated with 600-fill down, but the sleeveless design leaves some welcome breathing room for the person wearing a hoodie and long johns underneath. The SoftMatte fabric is windproof and water-resistant, and it has plenty of pockets for basics like keys and cards.

If you’re looking for a thoughtful but affordable gift for your best friend, a cologne sampler is a great option. This one has more than a dozen, including Versace Eros, Burberry Hero and Armani Code. It also comes in a zippered case, which can be used to store toiletries when he travels.

This is so you don’t need to hear your friend complaining about skipping the gym. The 4-in-1 dumbbell set morphs into kettle bell, a barbell and push-up stand, so he can get a full body workout without leaving his apartment. The plates are made of iron, sand and cement — nice to know for those who like to drop their weights after a set — and the connecting rod for the barbell has a decent amount of foam to make it comfortable on the top of shoulders.

Whether you’re into hard rock, hip hop or comedy shows, event tickets always make a good gift. We shop ours at Vivid Seats, which offers a 100% buyer guarantee and always has the 411 on live events.

We know there’s at least one person in your crew who likes his pad smelling fresh. We suggest gifting him the Charcoal Reed Diffuser from Apotheke. It’s dark and masculine with notes of smokey amber, sandalwood and cedar. It comes in a minimalist matte black bottle and the scent last up to four months.

For the friend who can never take road trips because they’re worried about WiFi, this is a must. The handy device serves as a hot spot, regardless if you’re commuting through a dead zone or out in the woods. It has a Micro USB port, a pre-encryption function to set up password protection and offers 2.4 Ghz of speed. Most importantly, it’s small enough to slip into a bag or deep coat pocket for convenience.

It’s not a Canon Rebel, but it’s also more affordable. It can record while charging, has an anti-shaking mode and 30-second shutter speed. Plus, it’s light and slim enough to fit in a backpack.

We’ve already recommended a cologne sampler as an affordable bestie gift, but if you’re ready to throw down the big bucks, go with this. It’s constantly mentioned as one of the best colognes for men, so you may want a bottle, too. Its top notes include invigorating lemon and bergamot, while the middle notes have soothing lavender and sweet apricot. Oak moss, orris and musk tie it all together for a unique and alluring aquatic scent.

You thought we were going to suggest the AirPod Pros, didn’t you? While those are great, so are these. They’re armed with a microphone, a long battery life and three StayHear Max ear tips to find your perfect fit. More than 24,000 happy customers love them, with one calling them “perfect for audiophiles” and another declaring them the “best in-ear buds.”

Consider this an improvement on the Swiss Army Knife. It has scales formed from embossed aluminum and treated with anodic oxidation for durability. (This makes the pocket tool more resistant to wear and tear, so it can be enjoyed for years.) The Pioneer X Alox also features nine different tools, including scissors with a reamer and a wire striper. To complete this gift, we suggest adding a leather belt pouch ($21.99) to your cart.

If your best friend is also your dad, uncle or cousin, consider splurging on this all-season coat. It hits at the waist, has a classic mockneck, plus a handsome quilted design that dresses up the plainest pair of jeans or joggers. The snap closures avoid any chance of zipper snafus, and the slant pockets easily hold a wallet or keys. Available in three colors.

You may think that a gift card is the lazy man’s gift, but we disagree! In fact, it’s the one way to guarantee your giftee will be happy with whatever ends up at his door. We like the ones from Amazon best. They can be reloaded, come as physical cards or as e-cards and are available in a variety of designs for a variety of occasions. They also have speciality gift cards to merchants like Nordstrom, Best Buy and even Lyft.

For the hosting buddy, go with Cratejoy. They have a monthly cocktail and mixology subscription that’s delightful. Whether he likes premium spirits or is sober curious, there’s a box that he’ll enjoy that won’t break your wallet. FYI, Cratejoy has boxes for all types of interests and people, so if there are a few folks on your gift list, it’s an online store to bookmark.

No man cave is complete without a way to shoot some hoops. This one has two baskets — just like in an arcade — and comes with four balls and an electronic LED scoreboard to keep track of who’s winning. It has eight different built-in games to try, and it can be folded and pushed against the wall when not in use.

This is no ordinary hoodie. Made from recycled coffee grounds and plastic bottles, the sustainable piece of clothing folds up into a neat little pack when not in use. The pack actually doubles as cozy pillow (very handy on long car or plane trips), and it even has an internal headphone port. A front kangaroo pocket serves as a place for your phone, while thumb holes give hand warmth. Available in three colors, this stylish and clever piece of clothing will definitely impress.

If you can’t swing buying your friend the new Apple Watch Series 9 or Apple Watch Series 8, make his current one extra flossy with a new wrist band. It’s the simplest way to keep the fitness tracker looking brand new, and they’re available in a multitude of styles, materials and colors. While you’re at it, throw in an adapter ($18.90) or MagSafe Duo Wireless Charger ($119.00).

For the friend who’s left New York, send them a copy of this. Finally back in stock, this hardcover coffee table book is filled with iconic images of the iconic city. It has more than 300 pages, features 300 illustrations and includes the writings and quotes of Tom Wolfe, E.B. White, Jay Mcinerney and many other greats.

Burn off the stress of the day with this punching bag set from Everlast. It also includes a handwrap and boxing gloves with an integrated grip bar for safety. It has reinforced D-rings and straps for extra durability, too, so whoever receives this can punch and kick to their heart’s content.

Never be without power again with this portable charging bank. Its PCB motherboard has multiple protections to minimize overheating, and the case is fireproof. Capable of charging an iPhone 13 at 20% to 68% in 25 minutes, it’s speedy and good to have when an outlet isn’t close. The case is also fireproof and the LED screen at the corner let’s you know when you’re fully juiced.

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