As experienced shopping editors, we’re committed to helping our readers find the best presents to mark the big and small moments in life, whether it’s a thank-you gift for your child’s favorite teacher or a present for a more momentous occasion like a retirement.
Leaving the workforce after years of hard work calls for a special gift worthy of marking this new chapter of their life. That’s why we’ve spent hours curating this gift guide, which includes gift ideas for every budget. Whether they enjoy getting lost in a good book or have a knack for gardening, here are the best gifts for the soon-to-be retiree.
They won't need access to a garden to grow their own veggies and herbs thanks to this indoor hydroponic device. Our writer was able to grow leafy greens and tomatoes from home using the AeroGarden Harvest Elite and found it easy to set up, use and clean.
With no nine-to-five to clock into, your giftee will have a bit more time on their hands to indulge in pastimes like puzzling. Jiggy offers a three-month subscription that lets your giftee receive a new 500-piece puzzle every month. You can also gift one of the brand’s frames so they can transform the completed puzzle into wall art.
If a vinyl turntable is the type of gift you know the retiree would appreciate, the Fluance RT82 comes highly recommended. Underscored’s Dan Toy tested this entry-level record player alongside several other options, and it emerged as our top pick thanks to its incredible sound quality.
If you’re seeking a more unique gift, this adorable bouquet-building kit from Uncommon Goods is perfect for the retiree who loves crafts. After putting all 581 pieces together, they’ll have a beautiful — and lasting — floral arrangement to display in their home.
A great gift for the retiree who loves to drink coffee, the Breville Bambino Plus was our pick for the best compact automatic espresso machine. Featuring an easy-to-use control panel, this espresso maker includes a stainless-steel frothing jug, filter baskets, a trimming tool, a tamper, a cleaning tool, a cleaning disc and cleaning tablets. During testing, our writer appreciated just how easy it was to create a cafe-quality espresso at home.
The Sonos Ace may come with a hefty price tag, but they're worth every penny. Underscored’s senior tech editor Mike Andronico stands by these headphones, which he praised for their sound quality, comfort and high-end look.
Sometimes a mini getaway is just what’s needed, even if it’s just for the day. Through ResortPass, your giftee can secure a day pass at over 1,000 resorts, hotels and spas nationwide so they can celebrate their retirement poolside.
A towel warmer is a little (and underrated) luxury that would make a great gift for anyone, including someone who just retired. This one from Zadro is a favorite of our managing editor Rachel Quigley, who appreciates its attractive design and easy set up.
If you’re seeking a gift for the retiree whose definition of having fun includes playing pickleball, this beautiful pickleball set from Recess would make a lovely gift. The set includes three pickleballs, a pickleball paddle with an embroidered case and a bag to carry it all.
This countertop pizza oven from Granitestone would make a great gift for the retiree who loves pizza and is looking to order in less. A personal favorite of mine, thanks to its compact design and easy-to-use controls, this pizza oven is a more budget-friendly option compared to our best-tested picks.
This handmade docking station can hold practically everything, such as watches, eyeglasses, keys, pens and small electronic devices. It’s crafted from solid ash wood and can be personalized with the giftee’s name or initials.
This custom print is proof that even on a tighter budget, a sentimental retirement gift is always within reach. You can personalize it with a picture and their name, start date, position and any thoughtful (or funny) messages.
To save them plenty of luggage space on their travels, buy them a Kindle. It can hold thousands of e-books in its petite frame and a single charge lasts up to 10 weeks. It's even waterproof, making it perfect for beach or poolside reading.
With all this free time on their hands, a MasterClass Subscription might be just what the doctor ordered. The new retiree will be able to learn anything their heart desires, like cooking, writing and acting, from well-known and highly esteemed experts.
For the whiskey enthusiast, this personalized oak barrel will have them smiling from ear to ear. As well as being a beautiful home décor addition, it can add delicious flavor to their favorite tipple. They can also make their own customized blends.
This Polaroid bundle has everything needed to capture and immediately print special moments from post-career adventures. This smaller, USB-rechargeable version of the popular instant camera features a self-timer and handy selfie mirror, plus plenty of retro charm.
The BrewDemon Beer-Making Kit comes with everything needed for your retiring pal to make their own delicious ales in just 15 minutes. Inside the box, they’ll find ingredients for the recipe, bottles and a filling valve so they can get started immediately.
Give the gift of a fully stocked wine rack with a Splash wine subscription. There’s an impressive selection of reds, whites, rosés and even some bubbly from the world’s best vineyards and you can send anywhere from one to 12 bottles a year.
This gorgeous canvas picnic basket is made to last. The split lid opens from either side for convenience, and all the necessary picnicware is included. Plus, there’s plenty of room for food and drinks.
Whether they have skills in the kitchen or not, an online cooking class taught by Sur La Table’s culinary experts is a fun (and memorable) experience to gift. Each class is around two hours long, and there are many different categories and global cuisines to choose from.
If the post-retirement agenda involves extensive traveling, a new luggage set is sure to be a winner. Not only are these suitcases super snazzy, but they also have fully spinning wheels for easy maneuvering, come in eight colors and can be personalized.
Seeing as it revolves around two of everyone's favorite delicacies — melted cheese and melted chocolate — a fondue pot at a party or get-together pretty much guarantees a good time. This Cuisinart model is easy to use (and clean!) and comes with eight fondue forks.
Most of us love a good campfire, but the smoke clouds aren’t ideal for anyone. The Solo Stove Yukon is smokeless, providing a cozy and ambient outdoor fireplace to keep your retiring friend nice and toasty — sans the smog and smoky clothes. S'mores incoming!
This touchscreen digital photo frame is the perfect way for the retiree to display their favorite images and videos. It takes just seconds to send pictures to the frame via the user-friendly phone app. It also rotates images so they’re always the right way up.
Save them the hassle of getting their favorite photos printed with the Kodak Dock that can print pictures in seconds. Simply pop the phone on the dock (it doubles as a charger!), choose the images in the app (you can edit, crop and add filters/frames too) and hit print.
A Book of the Month subscription is quite possibly the best present a bibliophile could ever receive. The books are curated to the reader’s taste and delivered to them directly each month. It also makes a great last-minute gift idea as you can print the “card” yourself.
With its powerful percussion massage, the Theragun Prime is perfect for the retiree who could use some help with mobility and motion range. With five speeds and four attachments for different body areas and needs, this massage gun reaches deep into muscles to relieve tightness, aches and knots.
The fiddle leaf fig plant is loved for its air-purifying qualities, fast growth and, of course, its luscious, large glossy leaves. This one from The Sill comes in five planter styles, each in several different colors. It’s also available as a tree.
For anyone with a green thumb, this sturdy and lightweight gardening set is a dream. It comes with a roomy detachable tote with slots and pockets to accommodate the five included hand tools and other gardening necessities. The best part? It’s also a folding seat.
Seasoned golfers, or those with ambitions to take it up in their newfound free time, will love this golf ball set with their initials or name in one of six colors. Along with a personalized wooden display box, the set includes 12 balls, tees and pencils.
A bouquet of flowers, although a more traditional gift, is always a crowd-pleaser. With a mix of wonderfully bright blooms, including craspedia, roses and eryngium, the Firecracker from UrbanStems — one of our favorite flower delivery services — is a stunner and comes in three sizes, with or without a vase.
Keep coffee connoisseurs happy (and energized) with this gift set featuring 12 single-origin coffees, expertly curated from small-batch global estates and roasters. Choose from freshly ground or whole beans.
To secure an invite to the leaver’s next cookout, opt for this handcrafted, personalized BBQ tools set. It comes with five stainless steel grilling essentials with wooden handles inside a storage box customized with their monogram, name or a fun phrase.
Handmade by a small UK business, this elegant and functional wallet has slots for passports, tickets, cards and other important items the new retiree will need on their travels. Plus, the company donates a portion of sales to Cambodian children in need.
An essential oil diffuser is not typically something you'd want to have on display at all times, but this attractive ceramic option from Vitruvi is giving high-end home décor.