50th Birthday Gift Ideas: 15 Experiences for Him, Her and Couples
By Rokas Ramanauskas, Co-founder · · 10 min read
For a 50th birthday, give a day to remember, not one more thing. With an experience gift, they pick one experience from a list. It could be a balloon ride or a chef's table dinner. Then they book a date that suits them.
Below are 15 experience gift ideas from $99 to $539, sorted by budget. You will also find ideas for him, for her, for a couple, and for a 40th or 60th. For every birthday gift in one place, browse Birthday Experience Gifts.
Celebrating 50 years of marriage instead? See our anniversary gifts by year.
What are the best 50th birthday gift ideas?
The best 50th birthday gift ideas give them a day to look forward to. With an experience gift, they also pick the details. Quick answers by budget and person:
- Under $150: Chef's Table & Gourmet Dining Experience Collection, from $99.
- A birthday gift made for the day: Make a Wish, from $119.
- For him: Supercar Driving Experience Collection, from $229.
- For her: Treat Yourself, from $179.
- For a couple: Hot Air Balloon Rides Experience Collection, from $249, or $449 for two.
- A once in a lifetime 50th: Bucket list with helicopter tours and supercar laps, from $539.
Why is an experience a good gift for a 50th birthday?
A 50th is a big day. A day out gives them a new story, not one more thing to keep. It also gives them a plan to look forward to after the party ends.
Research backs the idea that experiences bring people closer. In a 2017 study in the Journal of Consumer Research, Cindy Chan and Cassie Mogilner studied gifts. They found that experience gifts made people feel closer to the giver than material gifts did.
Picking the exact day for someone can still be hard. A 2011 study in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology looked at this. Francesca Gino and Francis Flynn found that people liked gifts they had asked for more than gifts the giver chose alone. A gift where they choose from a list is the next closest thing to asking. That last step is our reading, not the study's finding.
What are good 50th birthday gifts under $150?
Under $150, give a great meal or a birthday gift with a list of fun outings. Both picks below start at $119 or less.
Chef's Table & Gourmet Dining Experience Collection
Chef guided pairings and plated course reveals. Made for the friend who plans trips around where to eat. From $99, or $169 for two, so they can bring their favorite dinner guest. See the Chef's Table & Gourmet Dining Experience Collection.
Make a Wish – lively city outings
Lively city outings and celebratory tastings. It is made for birthdays. It is a good fit for a sibling or a close coworker. From $119. See the Make a Wish gift, from $119.
Two more picks also start under $150. Spa Day Packages, from $149, is in the for her section below. Skydiving, from $99, is in the 40th birthday section. For more food ideas, browse Foodie Experience Gifts.
What 50th birthday gifts cost $150 to $300?
From $150 to $300, you can give a bigger night out or a first big thrill. These two picks cover the range.
Make a Wish – celebratory dining
Its list includes celebratory dining and more ways to mark the day. Give it to the friend who loves a long dinner with a toast. From $209. See the Make a Wish gift, from $209.
Bucket list – jet boat rides and sunrise flights
Jet boat rides and sunrise flights. A fit for the one who says turning 50 is the time to finally do it. From $289. See the Bucket list gift, from $289.
Want more first-time thrills? Browse Bucket List Experiences.
What are the big 50th birthday gifts over $300?
For a big milestone, or when a few people chip in, pick a gift with a grand list. These three start between $359 and $539.
Good Taste
Tasting menu feasts and wine paired dinners. Made for the person who remembers every great meal they have had. From $359. See the Good Taste gift.
Make a Wish – fine dining evenings
Fine dining evenings and other big nights out. Choose it when the whole family wants to give one gift together. From $419. See the Make a Wish gift, from $419.
Bucket list – helicopter tours and supercar laps
Helicopter tours and supercar track laps. This is the pick for a once in a lifetime 50th. From $539. See the Bucket list gift, from $539.
What are good 50th birthday gifts for him?
For his 50th, give him a first time he will talk about for years. A day behind the wheel or in the air beats one more gadget.
Supercar Driving Experience Collection
Track driving and hairpin cornering. Made for the man who still stops to look at fast cars. From $229, or $399 for two, so he can bring a friend. See the Supercar Driving Experience Collection.
Helicopter Tours Experience Collection
Skyline aerial passes and coastline flyovers. A big view for a big birthday. From $329, or $599 for two. See the Helicopter Tours Experience Collection.
For more ideas, browse Gifts for Him or Driving Experience Gifts. If he truly has it all, see our guide to gifts for people who have everything.
What are good 50th birthday gifts for her?
For her 50th, give her time that is all hers. A spa day or a gift with a list of treats lets her choose how to spend it.
Spa Day Packages Experience Collection
Warm massages and facials. Made for the friend who always puts everyone else first. From $149, or $269 for two, so she can bring her sister or closest friend. See the Spa Day Packages Experience Collection.
Treat Yourself
Spa afternoons and tasting dinners. She picks the treat, and she picks the day. From $179. See the Treat Yourself gift.
For more ideas, browse Experience Gifts for Women or Spa Day Gifts.
What can you give a couple for a 50th birthday?
When the birthday person has a partner, give a day for both of them. It also works when two friends turn 50 in the same year.
Hot Air Balloon Rides Experience Collection
Sunrise basket lift offs and valley float overs. A quiet kind of wow that two people will remember. From $249, or $449 for two. See the Hot Air Balloon Rides Experience Collection.
Better Together
Cooking classes and wine tastings, made for couples. Each experience lists how many people it covers, so they can check before they choose. From $239. See the Better Together gift.
For more shared days, browse Couples Gifts.
50th birthday gift ideas compared by price
Here are all 15 picks side by side. The For two column lists the price for two people where a gift has that option.
| Pick | From | For two | Best for | How you send it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chef's Table & Gourmet Dining Experience Collection | $99 | $169 | The friend who loves food | Email or Physical Gift Box |
| Skydiving Experience Collection | $99 | $189 | A 40th with a thrill | Email or Physical Gift Box |
| Make a Wish, city outings | $119 | – | A sibling or coworker | Email or Physical Gift Box |
| Photography Workshops Experience Collection | $139 | $249 | A 60th for a keen photo taker | Email or Physical Gift Box |
| Spa Day Packages Experience Collection | $149 | $269 | Her 50th | Email or Physical Gift Box |
| Treat Yourself | $179 | – | Her 50th, her choice | Email or Physical Gift Box |
| Make a Wish, celebratory dining | $209 | – | A long dinner with a toast | Email or Physical Gift Box |
| Supercar Driving Experience Collection | $229 | $399 | His 50th | Email or Physical Gift Box |
| Better Together | $239 | – | A couple | Email or Physical Gift Box |
| Hot Air Balloon Rides Experience Collection | $249 | $449 | A couple or a shared 50th | Email or Physical Gift Box |
| Bucket list, jet boats and sunrise flights | $289 | – | A first big thrill | Email or Physical Gift Box |
| Helicopter Tours Experience Collection | $329 | $599 | A big view for a big birthday | Email or Physical Gift Box |
| Good Taste | $359 | – | The one who remembers every meal | Email or Physical Gift Box |
| Make a Wish, fine dining evenings | $419 | – | A family gift | Email or Physical Gift Box |
| Bucket list, helicopter tours and supercar laps | $539 | – | A once in a lifetime 50th | Email or Physical Gift Box |
What are good 40th birthday gift ideas?
Good 40th birthday gift ideas match what they love right now. That could be a first jump or a great meal. Any pick in this guide works for a 40th. The two big things are their taste and your budget.
Skydiving Experience Collection
Tandem free falls and scenic aircraft climbs. Made for the friend who has said "one day" for years. They pick the date, so they can work up the nerve first. From $99, or $189 for two. See the Skydiving Experience Collection.
For more ideas with a rush, browse Adventure Gifts.
What are good 60th birthday gift ideas?
Good 60th birthday gift ideas fit the person, not the number. Some people want a quiet day. Others want their first helicopter ride. Start with what they already love to do.
Photography Workshops Experience Collection
Guided camera walks and golden hour shoots. Made for the one who always stops to take a photo of the view. From $139, or $249 for two, so they can bring a friend. See the Photography Workshops Experience Collection.
Want a 60th with a big view? The Hot Air Balloon Rides and Helicopter Tours picks above work too. Still not sure? Try the Everwow gift finder.
How does an experience gift work for a birthday?
You buy now. They choose one experience and book it when ready.
- Choose the gift and its format. Pick a Digital eVoucher or a Physical Gift Box at checkout. You do not need to choose the exact experience or date.
- Choose whose inbox gets it. Send the Digital eVoucher to the birthday person. Or send it to yourself so you can print it for a card. It is emailed instantly or on your chosen date, such as the morning of their birthday.
- Add your message. Add an optional personal text message after checkout.
- They choose one experience. Each one lists where it takes place, how many people it covers and what is included.
- They book when they are ready. No expiration date. Ever. Experiences and booking dates depend on availability.
The wait can be part of the gift. Amit Kumar, Matthew Killingsworth and Thomas Gilovich reported on this in Psychological Science in 2014. People enjoy waiting for an experience more than waiting for a material purchase.
Full refund within 30 days of purchase, before the recipient activates the gift. To request one, see the Everwow refund policy. Real people help you and the recipient, from delivery to booking.
Can they choose an experience near them?
That depends on where they live. Each experience lists where it takes place, so they can check before they choose. Experiences and booking dates depend on availability.
If they live in a big city, you can browse experiences near them before you buy. For a 50th in New York, start with New York experience gifts. In Texas, try Houston experience gifts. On the West Coast, see San Francisco experience gifts.
How we chose these 50th birthday gift ideas
Every pick is a live Everwow gift, priced on the live store when we wrote this guide. We sorted them by budget. We mixed food, thrills, calm days and gifts for two. There is a fit for most people turning 40, 50 or 60. Everwow is a new store. So this guide sticks to what can be checked: the price and how each gift works.
Choose their 50th birthday gift
Pick a budget, pick the kind of day, and set the email for the morning of their birthday. They choose one experience and book it when they are ready.
Ready to choose? Browse Birthday Experience Gifts.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good birthday gift for someone who turns 50?
A day they will remember. An experience gift lets them pick one experience from the gift's list, like a chef's table dinner, a spa day or a balloon ride, and book a date that suits them. The picks in our 50th birthday guide start at $99. See Birthday Experience Gifts.
What is a traditional 50th birthday gift?
There is no single set gift for a 50th birthday. Gold is the traditional gift for a 50th wedding anniversary, and some people borrow that idea for a 50th birthday. If you want the gift to mark the milestone, a day out they choose themselves is a modern take. See anniversary gifts by year.
What is a symbolic gift for someone's 50th birthday?
A gift that marks the start of what comes next. A first time they have talked about for years, like a helicopter ride or a skydive, turns the birthday into a story. With an experience gift, they choose the exact experience and the date, so the moment is truly theirs.
How much should you spend on a 50th birthday gift?
There is no set amount. Spend what feels right for how close you are. The picks in our 50th birthday guide run from $99 to $539. If a few friends or family members chip in, you can give one bigger gift together. Prices were read on the live store when the guide was written.
Can a group chip in for one 50th birthday gift?
Yes. Agree on a total, let one person buy, and the others pay that person back. Send the Digital eVoucher to the birthday person, or to the buyer to print for a card everyone signs. Add an optional personal text message after checkout and sign it from the whole group.
Can I give an experience gift at the birthday party?
Yes. Send the Digital eVoucher to yourself, print it, and tuck it into a card. Or choose a gift-ready Physical Gift Box at checkout. Either way, there is something to open at the party, and they still pick the day. You can also have the Digital eVoucher emailed to them on the morning of their birthday.
What is a good 40th birthday gift?
A gift that matches what they love right now. For a thrill, the Skydiving Experience Collection starts at $99, or $189 for two. For a food lover, the Chef's Table & Gourmet Dining Experience Collection starts at $99. They choose one experience and book it when ready. See the Skydiving Experience Collection.
What is a good 60th birthday gift?
A gift that fits the person, not the number. Start with what they already love to do. For the one who always takes a photo of the view, the Photography Workshops Experience Collection starts at $139, or $249 for two. They choose one experience and book it when ready. See the Photography Workshops Experience Collection.