43 Best 18th Birthday Gift Ideas, From Viral TikTok Products to Adulthood Must-Haves
Celebrating an 18th birthday is a huge deal. They’re now legally an adult, which means they can use that line anytime someone says they’re too young to do something. And to ring in the milestone year, your bestie (or sibling) deserves a good 18th birthday gift, so if you're searching for some unique present ideas, you've come to the right place.
Because it’s been some time (but not too much time, okay) since my 18th birthday, I polled my younger sister and her teen girlfriends for what’s on their wishlist. And they really delivered. There are some amazing traditional birthday gifts below (we've got great Sweet 16 gift ideas, too!), like a Swarovski Matrix Tennis Bracelet that would make for a great gift from parents, as well as some viral TikTok beauty favorites that besties could gift, like the Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Drops (check out some affordable bronzing dupes here) and Stanley Cups. There are also some sentimental gifts, like a Lego Flower Bouquet and an initial birthstone necklace that are sure to excite them.
We also kept budget in mind because the perfect present shouldn’t send you into the red. Below, we’ve compiled a list of 43 of the best 18th birthday gift ideas across all price points. So whether you’re looking for something small (makeup bags! A trendy lip gloss!) or something bougie (Golden Goose anyone?), there’s something for everyone.
Best 18th Birthday Gifts
- Best affordable: Laneige Lip Glowy Balm, $26
- Best on Amazon: Mirrored Beauty Fridge $60
- Best unique gift: Lego Flower Bouquet,$48
- Best gift for a best friend: Glossier Eau De Parfum, $72
- Best sentimental gift: Fujifilm Instax Camera, $79
- Best traditional gift: Initial Name and Birthstone Charm Necklace, $54
- Best luxury gift: Airpods Max, $550
All products featured on Teen Vogue are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
- 1/43
Jorlai Vinyl Record Player
To play the aforementioned record, we recommend this vinyl record player from Jorlai. It comes in a few different colors and has a cute vintage aesthetic, so it’ll look great in your dorm room. The best part is that you don’t need a record because you can connect it to your smartphone, tablet, or any other bluetooth-enabled device. However, no one needs to be the wiser if you place a record there for show.
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- 2/43
Coach Tabby Shoulder Bag 20 With Quilting
What goes around comes around, so it’s no surprise that Coach is everywhere you turn this season. Quality talks, and this quilted shoulder bag is made of super soft nappa leather. Not only is it stylish, but it can hold a lot: an inside magnetic snap compartment and an outside slip pocket; as well as functional — it has a detachable strap so you can wear it as a crossbody.
- 3/43
Taylor Swift 1989 Vinyl
Ms. Taylor Alison Swift can do no wrong in our eyes, which is why one of her records always makes for a great gift. Pair it with a record player, her other albums, or merch for the Swiftie in your life who is sure to freak out when they open this present.
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- 4/43
Chapped lips are never the goal, which is why we swear by this lip set from Laneige. It contains both their best-selling overnight lip mask in delicious chocolate, as well as their berry lip glowy balm that adds the perfect barely-there pink to your lips.
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- 5/43
Cunno Preppy Makeup Bags
No more losing your valuables because you kept misplacing everything in random baggies. These makeup bags help you stay organized and are labeled (stuff, skin, hair, and face) so that everything has a place, making it a lot easier to pack for sleepovers, weekend trips, or even weeks-long vacations.
Save on the best 18th birthday gifts with these Amazon promo codes.
- 6/43
Meaningful jewelry gifts are ideal birthday gifts. We recommend going for a simple yet stunning birthstone necklace that they'll be able to wear forever. For this pick, you can add up to three initials.
- 7/43
Sol De Janeiro Jet Set
You can’t go one day without someone talking about Sol De Janeiro on TikTok or in real life. It makes sense, as the brand is renowned for their scents that leave you wanting more. This gift set is our favorite because it allows you to try their signature body wash, body mist, and body butter.
Save on the best 18th birthday gifts with these Amazon promo codes.
- 8/43
Kitsch Satin Heatless Curling Set
Save on the best 18th birthday gifts with these Amazon promo codes.
- 9/43
For the skincare junkie in your life, a beauty fridge is a must-have for their face creams, serums, and jade roller. We love this one because it’s compact, comes with an LED mirror, isn’t a total eyesore, and is priced under $100.
Save on the best 18th birthday gifts with these Amazon promo codes.
- 10/43
Kate Spade Sticker Pocket
If your teen is notorious for always forgetting their credit card or ID, a sticker pocket for their phone may remedy that problem. The issue is that cellphone wallets often an eyesore, but not this cute heart-shaped one from Kate Spade, which allows them to stay on trend.
- 11/43
Djerf Avenue I Love DA Tote Bag
Matilda is our icon for a lot of reasons; her hair for one, but also her stylish clothing brand. This is the canvas tote bag that launched a thousand ships and is the perfect gift for the Djerf lover in your life.
- 12/43
The Comfy Oversized Microfiber & Sherpa Wearable Blanket
Be forewarned: once you get used to wearing a Comfy around the house, there’s no going back. It’s truly the most comfortable thing one can ever wear, putting all other loungewear to shame.
Save on the best 18th birthday gifts with these Amazon promo codes.
- 13/43
Kendra Scott Butterfly Huggies
These butterfly huggies can be worn daily (the butterfly charm is removable) or on nights when they’re looking to make a statement. Made from 14k gold over brass, they shouldn’t cause any irritation for even the most sensitive of ears, and because they’re hoops, there’s no need to worry about the backs digging into their ears overnight.
- 14/43
Photos last a lifetime, that is, unless they were taken on your phone and you forgot to back them up before it stopped working. This Fujifilm saves you from that fear by allowing you to print physical copies of your favorite digital memories.
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- 15/43
Slip Pure Silk Pillowcase
If they’re always complaining about frizzy hair or creases on their face when they wake up in the morning, they may really appreciate a silk pillowcase. Slip has so many beautiful colors and designs to choose from, and the box itself is cute, so you don’t necessarily have to wrap it.
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- 16/43
Ganni Pink Cardholder
Ganni girls know that the Copenhagen brand is a must to achieve true it-girl status. This bright pink recycled leather card holder features the brand logo on the face so everyone knows, but it isn’t overtly obvious to where it’s tacky. There are technically two card slots, but you can squeeze a few different cards in there.
- 17/43
Stanley Quencher
If you don’t have the energy to wait in line or start fist fighting for a limited edition Stanley, a basic one from Amazon works just fine. It’s the perfect gift for anyone who swears they are trying to drink more water but you’ve never seen them take a sip.
Save on the best 18th birthday gifts with these Amazon promo codes.
- 18/43
IPSY Beauty Subscription Box
If they enjoy trying out new beauty trends on TikTok, this gift will definitely come in handy. In this monthly subscription box, the products are all deluxe or full sizes, depending on which subscription you opt for, and feature high-end and trendy brands like Kate Sommerville, Sunday Riley, R+Co, Tatcha, and Benefit Cosmetics, to name a few. All of the goodies will arrive in an adorable (and sometimes limited-edition) makeup bag.
- 19/43
JBL Clip 4 Portable Mini Bluetooth Speaker
Music on the go? Sign us up! This tiny but mighty speaker is perfect for their college dorm room. It offers 10 hours of playtime and Bluetooth streaming. They'll be able to clip it onto any bag and bring it everywhere, like the shower, the pool, or the park!
- 20/43
JW Pei Tessa Crushed Bag
Bags can be quite pricey, which is why we love JW Pei. At $100, you don’t have to sacrifice style or quality for a good vegan leather shoulder bag that can be worn with most outfits.
Save on the best 18th birthday gifts with these Amazon promo codes.
- 21/43
Sephora Collection Makeup Brush Set
A good makeup brush is the key to elevating your makeup routine, which is why we love this brush set from Sephora Collection. It comes with eight essential brushes for liquid, cream, or powder formulations. It’s also affordably priced compared to many other brush sets on the market.
Save on the best 18th birthday gifts with these Sephora promo codes.
- 22/43
Northface Hydrenalite Down Jacket
Stay warm this season without sacrificing style with this down jacket from North Face. It’s puffy but not “they’ve disappeared into the puffy abyss” puffy. It comes in eight different shades, but you could always order a classic black one if you’re unsure which shade suits them best. And because it has a hoodie, it’s perfect for unexpected rainy or snowy days when they naturally forget their umbrella.
Save on the best 18th birthday gifts with these Nordstrom promo codes.
- 23/43
Ouai Chill Pills
Telling your teen they need to chill out; not cool, leads to a huge argument. Gifting your teen a set of calming jasmine-and-rose-scented chill pill bath bombs infused with moisturizing oils; very cool, gift of the year award.
Save on the best 18th birthday gifts with these Sephora promo codes.
- 24/43
Flowers make for a great gift, but they die so quickly that they aren’t always worth the money put into them. Not anymore with these LEGO flowers, which are a real treat to make as well as to keep in your room forever.
Save on the best 18th birthday gifts with these Amazon promo codes.
- 25/43
T3 SinglePass 1.25-Inch Ceramic Curling Iron
If they’re still using your curling wand from the 90s, it's time for an upgrade. This one from T3 has five barrel settings, five heat settings, and is made from a custom-blend ceramic barrel, so there’s way less heat damage. You’ll be amazed at how bouncy and shiny their hair looks every time they use this wonder tool.
Save on the best 18th birthday gifts with these Amazon promo codes.
- 26/43
Rhode The Lip Trio
Hailey Bieber was onto something when she launched her peptide lip treatments. This trio is one of our favorites as you get a little of everything: unscented, watermelon slice, and salted caramel. And if you’re lucky enough, you can pair this gift with her new lip case for iPhones, which we’re currently on the waitlist for.
- 27/43
The thing about Glossier’s perfume is that it smells different on everyone, which is why it’s so beloved. It’s not too overbearing, so it makes for a great everyday scent that’s sure to land them loads of compliments.
Save on the best 18th birthday gifts with these Sephora promo codes.
- 28/43
Drunk Elephant D Bronzi Drops
These bronzing drops are all the rage on TikTok, giving you that “just got back from my tropical beach vacation” glow. While there are plenty of reputable dupes on the market, we’re sure they’ll appreciate the real deal.
Save on the best 18th birthday gifts with these Sephora promo codes.
- 29/43
Aviator Nation Stripe Sweatpants
The most comfortable pair of sweatpants in the world, these are not only durable and get comfier with time, but they’re also a status symbol sprawled around airports and après-ski lovers everywhere.
Save on the best 18th birthday gifts with these Nordstrom promo codes.
- 30/43
Sandy Liang Milano Bag
Bows aren’t leaving the fashion circuit anytime soon, and no one does bows better than Sandy Liang. This taffeta bag features a giant bow on the front and comes in both black and red, so you can really stay on trend if you decide to go with the red option.
- 31/43
Gisou Honey-Infused Hair Oil
Hair oil may not be the first thing you think of when searching for gift ideas for an 18-year-old girl, but the teens in our life let us know that Gisou is definitely something they’ve been wanting. With a delightful honey scent, this hair oil from Gisou helps them better their strands and adds some much-needed shine back to their hair.
Save on the best 18th birthday gifts with these Sephora promo codes.
- 32/43
Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez
Soft Pinch Liquid Blush
All it takes is a few tap-tap-taps of this viral liquid blush to give you a beautiful glow. There are both radiant and matte options to choose between, so you aren’t limited to one makeup aesthetic forever.
Save on the best 18th birthday gifts with these Sephora promo codes.
- 33/43
Swarovski Matrix Tennis Bracelet
The tastemaker in your life definitely has a tennis bracelet on their wishlist. And while you might not be able to splurge on the highest quality diamonds, these clear crystals on a rhodium-finished band version from Swarovski shines just as bright.
Save on the best 18th birthday gifts with these Amazon promo codes.
- 34/43
UGG Classic Ultra Mini
UGGs are timeless and make a great gift for any age, any gender, any aesthetic because comfort transcends all fashion boundaries. The platform minis are some of our favorites because they give you a bit of height over everyone around you and pair nicely with most items.
Save on the best 18th birthday gifts with these Amazon promo codes.
- 35/43
Bala Bangles
The first step to a hot girl walk? Having all the right gear. Thankfully, all you need is your emotional support water bottle and a cute pair of weights like these strappable one-pound ones from Bala that come in a variety of cute colorways.
Save on the best 18th birthday gifts with these Amazon promo codes.
- 36/43
Dyson Airstrait
If they already have every hair tool under the sun, we guarantee they’ll be impressed by the Dyson Airstrait. A hair tool that straightens wet hair — it sounds like a work of science fiction, but we promise it works.
Save on the best 18th birthday gifts with these Amazon promo codes.
- 37/43
One of the best gifts a parent could give is something expensive that’s been on their wishlist forever, like AirPods Max. The only downside is that they have noise-canceling abilities, so they may never listen to you speak again.
- 38/43
Steve Madden Graya Slingback Pointy Toe Flats
If the iconic Ganni flats are out of your budget, these Graya flats are just as comfortable and mimic the look of the original — a dupe, some might say.
Save on the best 18th birthday gifts with these Nordstrom promo codes.
- 39/43
Boy Smells Slow Burn Candle
This warm and spicy candle from Boy Smells has a burn time of up to 50 hours, allowing you to really enjoy it for quite some time. We owe it to Kacey Musgraves — she really knew what she was doing with this woody scent.
Save on the best 18th birthday gifts with these Sephora promo codes.
- 40/43
Catan Adventure Board Game
A perfect gift for both friends and parents as you can challenge them all to a friendly (or not so friendly) game of Catan whenever the opportunity strikes. Don’t blame us if everyone breaks out into a years-long feud!
Save on the best 18th birthday gifts with these Amazon promo codes.
- 41/43
Apple Ipad Pro Pencil
For both your son and your daughter, might we suggest a gift that can also be used to further their education? This iPad Pro Pencil can help them take notes in class as well as doodle and pursue any other hobbies they may have.
Save on the best 18th birthday gifts with these Amazon promo codes.
- 42/43
Casely Power Pod
No more blaming their phone being dead for not calling you back. This portable phone charger solves all of their problems and yours, so there are no more excuses on their end.
Save on the best 18th birthday gifts with these Amazon promo codes.
- 43/43
Golden Goose Superstar Sneaker
The cream of the crop when it comes to leather sneakers, we’re sure your teen has been coveting Golden Goose. There are so many designs to choose from, so we recommend asking them which ones they love the most. But if you don’t want to spoil the surprise, this pair makes for a great option. There are also many dupes to choose from if you understandably don’t want to spend that much on a pair of “dirtied shoes.”
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