Pop the confetti! The first big birthday of adulthood deserves a whoppa of a celebration. It also puts the gifting pressure on... but our curated collection of 18th birthday present ideas is like a gifting treasure trove.
If you want to buy a gift for a soon-to-be 18-year old, then you may find that you end up with a bit of a dilemma. Buying the right gift can be a challenging task, but there are things that you can do to try and make it easier on yourself. To start with, consider their personality and get to know their interests - you will soon find that choosing the right gift becomes much easier. The 18-year-old will likely be relishing their newfound independence, so a gift that gives them the chance to enjoy their freedom even more is a winner in our book. Read on for some helpful tips on finding the best 18th birthday present ideas.
Tips for Uncovering The Best 18th Birthday Present Ideas
If you get a chance, ask your teenager about any interests they may have (and yes, we know teens are not the best conversationalists, so perseverance is key!). Find out their favourite hobbies, what they are passionate about or even what they like to do at the weekend.
Become a detective
Try to avoid asking questions that warrant a one-word answer. If you can avoid the ‘yes/no’ conversation entirely, then finding the perfect 18th birthday gifts will be a breeze. To eke out the info you need, start with basic questions like; “What’s your favourite colour?” or “Have you got your ears pierced?” Sure, they might give you the classic teenage side-eye and wonder what you're up to, but they’ll probably grunt out an answer that you can work with. So whilst talking with a teen can be hard work, you’ll gain lots of useful tidbits with a little determination. The moment you see their face light up with your gift, you’ll realise your efforts were worth it.
And if you’re buying for your niece or nephew, shortcut the whole ‘conversation struggle thing’ and ask your sibling for some tips instead.
Look at their social media for clues
If the birthday boy or girl will let you follow them on social media (a feat unto itself!), you’ll find out lots of useful things about what they like to do, simply by scrolling through their feed. For the best 18th birthday present ideas for a male, you’re sure to discover his favourite sporting team or weekend activities by perusing his account. If he’s always at the beach, he’ll love a cool handplane for bodysurfing. And if he’s a keen sportsman, a personalised football or monogrammed leather golf glove is sure to get his vote. Hitting the pub already? In this collection of 18th birthday present ideas you’ll also find beer tankards that can be engraved with his name, cool bottle openers that can be personalised with his initials and mixed cases of craft brew to enjoy with his crew.
Ask their mates
If the above two points have led you to a dead-end, it’s time to bring out the big guns and go directly to their mates. Suggest your teen has a few buddies over for a gatho, then before you make yourself scarce, covertly ask his or her besties what 18th birthday gifts to buy.
Best 18th birthday presents - what gifting options are available?
It doesn’t matter whether you’re trying to find the best gift ideas for an 18th birthday girl or whether you are seeking 18th birthday present ideas for a male, because there are some things that crossover between both. Following are some ideas.
Food, glorious food
The way to a teenager’s heart is food, so why not take the opportunity to help them hone their cooking skills with a foodie-inspired present. In these pages, you’ll find ‘punny’ personalised aprons, original baking accessories such as personalised cooking bowls and wooden spoons, and beautifully-crafted cast iron skillets and pans for the perfect hangover fry-up. Consider adding a favourite recipe (like Nan’s famous brownies, vanilla cupcakes or - everyone’s favourite - flapjacks) to the gift card for an 18th birthday present idea to remember. Not only will your teen gain valuable life skills, they’ll also have a gift to share with their friends.
Farshun, sweetie
The best gift ideas for an 18th birthday girl are always items of clothing or fabulous new accessories. In our Women’s Fashion department, we have some gorgeous, ready-to-party dresses plus chic loungewear, activewear and co-ord sets for those chill out days at home with nothing but a sofa and Netflix. We also have a huge range of on-trend cross-body bags and belt bags - perfect for teens on the go. And in our Women’s Jewellery department, you’ll discover unique pieces that can be made more special, such as a beautiful gold bangle with a meaningful message engraved on the inside.
Shopping for the best 18th birthday presents with Hardtofind.
It doesn’t matter whether you want gift ideas for an 18th birthday girl or whether you want 18th birthday present ideas for a male because when you shop at Hardtofind, you’ll find something unique. We’ve curated the best small creative businesses from Australia and around the world to bring you a truly original collection of the best 18th birthday presents.
Delight the birthday girl with a piece of beautiful keepsake jewellery, a coconut cocktail mug (for her first legal piña colada) or a bespoke photo canvas to look back on all the memories already made. And while 18th birthday gift ideas for her might be a breeze, we know gifting for guys can be a bit tougher (what does an 18-year-old guy want these days?!) – Well, we've got the lay of the land and we're pretty confident that a personalised beer glass, set of top-notch wireless earphones or retro-style record player, should deliver a gifting win.
With more than 50,000 genuinely different gift ideas, you’ll find the perfect 18th birthday present within our collection. And you can count on our sellers to help you with any questions you may have, or if you simply need some guidance when it comes to the personalisation of your item. Simply click the ‘ask seller a question’ link on any product page.
