The Best Gifts for Friends to Show Them You Care
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For some reason, searching for unique gift ideas for the people you love the most is always a fete. Finding the best gifts for friends specifically is like trying to go a day without texting them something stupid that only they would respond to — nearly impossible.
To spark some creativity, we put together a list of the best gifts for friends to show your besties just how much they mean to you. From birthday gifts and TikTok-viral products to Swiftie essentials and activity books, we included a range of goodies to impress any friend on any occasion.
Our gifting experts included presents with personal touches, like a personalized Spotfy plaque that showcases your bestie anthem, a long-distance bracelet that lights up when touched, and a DIY dumpling kit that'll make the next movie night together super delicious.
Here, you'll find editor-tested and approved gift ideas for friends that are just as cool as they are. Check 'em out below.
Everywhere Belt Bag Large 2L
Spare your pal from juggling their keys, phone, and wallet in their hands and too-small pockets no matter where they go with this Lululemon belt bag. Made of water-repellent material, this bag has an adjustable belt, zipper closures, and enough space to hold all their essentials and more.
‘Why You’re My Bestie’ Fill in the Love Book
You can never say you love your bestie too much. This fill-in-the-blank book gives you plenty of opportunities to hype them up and tell them all the reasons why they’re your favorite friend in the world.
This little book becomes a little more personal with each response you fill in, making it the best gift for friends if you’re looking for something truly meaningful.
More: Gifts for Her That Are Sure to Impress This Year
Coffee Mug Warmer
Cold coffee got your work bestie running back and forth to the microwave? This nifty kitchen gadget is the perfect gift for them. Its three temperature settings, spillproof design, and automatic shut-off after 4 hours will be a godsend for the friend who always forgets their hot cup of joe.
Our editors dubbed this model the Best Overall coffee mug warmer in our review of different popular models. "After 4 hours of continued use, the auto-shut-off feature gets to work and the power button will flash red until the warmer cools down to 97 degrees Fahrenheit," wrote our tester Sheilah Villari. "Though a mug doesn’t come included, we like the freedom of using whatever mug we have clean at the moment."
Card Game
Even if you’ve known them your whole life, there’s bound to be something new you can learn about your friend. With this gift, you’ll not only have fun asking each other questions like, “What do you admire most about me?” or “Why do you think we met?” but it’s a great opportunity to dig deep and strengthen your connection.
Long Distance Connection Bracelets
In a long-distance friendship? Gift your bestie (and yourself) these connection bracelets to fill some of the void. These are great before you two head off to different colleges or cities post-grad. When you tap your bracelet, your bestie's will light up and know you're thinking of them. It's so much more meaningful than a text.
Personalized Spotify Plaque
If there's a song out there that you and your bestie love to scream-sing, gift them this personalized plaque that'll showcase not only your favorite picture together but also that song title. It's meaningful and makes for a great bedside lamp.
Clay Beads Bracelet Making Kit
Whether you and your BFF are going to the Eras Tour or not, y'all can enjoy some fun bonding time with this 7,200-piece bracelet-making kit. It comes with all of the essentials — letters, gold accent charms, scissors, yarn, and more.
Related: The 32 Best Taylor Swift Gifts for All Tortured Poets Out There
Let's Get Deep: Friends Edition
Think you and your bestie are as close as can be? Just wait until you two get together and go through these deep questions — from icebreakers to seriously meaningful questions. Pair this deck with some wine or snacks and you've got yourselves a cute night in.
ARTisan Gourmet DIY Dumpling Kit
If your friend's love language is quality time (and good food), gift them this DIY dumpling kit that you can use together. It comes with bread flour, a dough cutter, a roller, four naturally colored powders, and instructions, of course!
Embroidery Kit for Adults
You don't have to be super crafty to perfect embroidery and this beginner's kit proves that. Senior Editor Summer Cartwright says "It's easy to get the hang of and actually looks fabulous once completed. It doesn't take a ton of time, either."
The set of three is great for a trio of friends looking for a wholesome night in.
Fluffy Slime Kit
ICYMI, slime is all over TikTok, and it's not just kids playing with it. This kit will help you and your bestie craft your own slime with minimal effort — and minimal mess.
Bonsai Starter Kit
If you and your bestie are green thumbs, grab this bonsai kit and plant four different species — rocky mountain pine, royal Poinciana, blue jacaranda, and Norway spruce — together.
Candle Making Kit
This is a unique gift both you and your bestie can enjoy. If you give her this DIY candle kit, she’ll be able to make her own candles (with you!) and also create the scented oasis of her dreams.
This kit includes soy wax, aromatic oils, candle tins, dye blocks, and even a melting pot.
AirTag
Give your friend the joy of knowing the location of all their Apple devices with this water-resistant tracker. Our senior tech editor Stefan Vazharov likes its quick activation, best-in-class security features, and overall ease of use — not to mention it’s a nifty luggage tracker.
"My favorite feature about AirTags is that they don’t require you to download a third-party app, create an account, and remember yet another password in order to work," he explained in his AirTag vs. Tile comparison. "After a week of living with several AirTags and accessories for them, I can confirm that they are way cooler, more intuitive, and infinitely more fun to use than any Tile offering."
Pair it with a key ring holder or other Apple AirTag accessories for a gift duo your friend will find just as thoughtful as it is useful.
De-Tox Hydra-Gel Eye Patches
Add a cooling step to your bestie’s Sunday self-care routine with these eye patches. Made with ingredients like cucumber extract, aloe, and niacinamide, these masks work to improve the appearance and feel heavenly around the eyes.
“I’ve used these under-eye masks for a year and they’re well worth the price. Infused with cucumber extract, the gel formula contours to my eyes while visibly nourishing, hydrating, and de-puffing this delicate area,” says our beauty editor, Nicole Saunders, in our roundup of the best under-eye masks.
Organic Tea By Mood Gift Set
If your best friend is not a fan of coffee, give them something else to sip on with this gift for tea lovers. From chamomile lemon to aged Earl Grey to rooibos chai, it includes eight flavors of tea with different caffeine levels to match any of your recipient's moods.
Bistro Tile Monogram Old Fashioned Glass
Give your bestie’s bar cart a fancy upgrade with this monogrammed old-fashioned glass. For under $20, it will add a bit of Parisian charm and glimmer to their next at-home happy hour with its gold accents and mosaic detailing of their initial in the most stylish way.
3-in-1 Smart Stainless Steel Water Bottle
Not only will this vacuum-insulated stainless steel water bottle keep drinks cold for up to 24 hours, but it also features a portable Bluetooth speaker so your bud can play their favorite tunes on the go.
Also pretty useful: The bottle glows once an hour to remind them to drink up and stay hydrated.
Airtight Cold Brew Maker
The price of cold brew everywhere seems to be steadily climbing, meaning that your friend’s daily caffeine habit is probably costing them a fortune. Splurge on their behalf for this brilliant steeper carafe. Users love its sleek design and that it makes one mean cup of iced joe (or tea!).
More: 36 Best Gifts for Coffee Lovers Every Caffeine Fiend Needs
Elaina Gold Adjustable Chain Bracelet
Surprise your friend on the one day a year dedicated to them with a little sparkle they’ll want to wear every day. This 14-karat gold plated bracelet from Kendra Scott has an adjustable chain and sliding bead closure, and is available in different birthstone options, making it the perfect birthday gift for her.
Real Brush Pens
The self-proclaimed artist of your friend group will be totally impressed by this pen set. It includes 96 water-based ink pens with flexible brush tips. These highly pigmented pens can also be used with the included water brush pen for water coloring without the mess, so they can skip the cup of water.
Personalized Book for Best Friend
You’ve been friends through all the highs and lows of life, so celebrate your bond and let them know why they’re the best with this custom gift.
This gorgeous handmade book can be personalized with your names, appearance, and dedication message for a meaningful, one-of-a-kind gift your bestie will cherish forever.
The Exercise Dress
This is one you could go halfsies on with another friend to keep things budget-friendly. The OV exercise dress is popular for good reason, and for the best friend who does it all, it'll pay for itself in no time.
It has a built-in bra and shorts (which have pockets!), so there won’t be any wardrobe mishaps in a workout class or while she's running errands.
Cartwright says the black option is "perfect for the summer since it hides sweat, wicks away moisture, stays comfy, and looks awesome no matter how it's styled."
3-in-1 Charging Station
Organize the ultimate Apple user with a 3-in-1 charging stand that conveniently keeps their iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods all in one place. To prevent wires from poking through, cables feed through the bottom of this durable silicone station which results in a clean exterior that fits any minimalist vibe.
Vegan Leather Passport Holder
If she’s all about catching flights (and not feelings), this passport holder will keep her from missing any. In addition to having space to safely store her passport, it has three slots for her IDs, credit cards, and money. This vegan leather holder also comes in a variety of patterns, but we love this pink one.
Unbiological Sister Best Friend Necklace
This handmade necklace makes the perfect gift for the best friend who’s basically your sister. It’s dainty, plated in white gold, and features two interlocking circles to represent your strong bond.
You can also buy one for yourself for a matching necklace moment with your closest pal.
Lip Sleeping Mask
This Laneige lip sleeping mask will have her waking up with smoother lips and is a must-have beauty gift for your bestie. It's loved by celebs like Kendall Jenner and Sydney Sweeney for its seriously nourishing capabilities.
Our former beauty editor, Jennifer Hussein, says, "Laneige's Lip Sleeping Mask gives me the smoothest, softest, and sexiest pout possible — all without me having to do anything other than sleep. Plus, it helps me crack a smile without cracking through my bank account."
My Life Story So Far Journal
We all have a friend blessed with the gift of gab. This memory book lets them pour all of their most fascinating and fabulous life stories into one convenient place. The idea is to slowly fill it up over time since, after all, the rest is still unwritten.
Heated Throw Blanket
One side is silky and the other side is sherpa, so any way your bestie wants to cuddle with this heated throw blanket is a win. This plush pick from Sunbeam is equipped with three different heat settings and an auto-shut-off function and is conveniently machine-washable. It’s also available in other decor-friendly colors.
Breast Cancer Support Beaded Stretch Bracelet
Remind her of the boss she is and support a good cause with this gift. The bracelet not only serves as a daily affirmation but is part of a bigger movement that the Little Words Project has created to encourage others to not only be kind to one another but understand the weight that words carry.
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