The 17 Best Gifts for 21-Year-Olds

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Turning 21 is something many of us looked forward to—it meant we could sit back and enjoy a drink with our friends, family, and loved ones legally, but it also opened a new chapter in our lives. For some reason, turning 21 feels like a new beginning, one of the first steps into adulthood.

It's also a birthday that's hard to buy a gift for. Yes, you could get a booze-related gift for the newly legal recipient, but sometimes that doesn't feel right. But who wants new socks or another generic gift card on their 21st birthday? If you're not sure where to start in terms of what to get someone for their 21st birthday, don't fret. We've rounded up 17 gifts that are sure to please.

Read on for the best gifts you can buy 21-year-olds.

Our Top Picks

NPW-USA Drinking Buddies Dice Game at Amazon

You’ll always keep track of your drink.

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Derek Dahl & Sam Buss Mini Flip Cup Game at Amazon

Complete with mini glasses and a portable board.

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W&P Carry on Cocktail Kit at Amazon

A gift for the jetsetter in your life.

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Oster Silver Electric Wine Opener at Amazon

Takes the hassle out and gets you that much closer to unwinding with your favorite bottle.

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Tipsy Scoop Boozy Ice Cream Packs at Tipsyscoop.com

Booze and Ice cream all-in-one.

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Carley Sheehy Sushi Making Kit at Uncommon Goods

Making sushi at home has never been easier.

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Dagne Dover Landon Carryall at Shopbop.com

This neoprene weekender is a durable and sleek unisex bag.

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LETIT.BEER Beer Chiller Sticks for Bottles at Amazon

Pop these sticks in the freezer for 45 minutes before desired drinking time.

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Beeropoly Board Game at Uncommon Goods

The ultimate gift for the beer connoisseur in your life.

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Suchmugs "The One Where ... Turns 21" Mug at Etsy

Perfect for your Friends obsessed pal.

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In This Article

Our Picks
What to Look for in a 21st Birthday Gift
Why Trust The Spruce?

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At any party, there’s always someone guilty of forgetting which drink is theirs. Luckily, with the Drinking Buddies drink markers, you’ll always keep track of your drink. Put these little figures on your beverage to liven up any party.

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This adorable flip cup set makes it easy to play flip cup on-the-go. Complete with mini glasses and a portable board, this game can be played by up to 8 players at once. The best things always come in small sizes.

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If you’re in search for a gift for the jet setter in your life, this cocktail kit says it all. Complete with TSA friendly tools, your favorite drink mixes, and recipe cards, pack this along in your carry-on to take your beverage on board to the next level.

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Oster Rechargeable and Cordless Wine Opener with Chiller

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Sometimes popping open your favorite bottle of wine isn’t as easy as it seems. Fortunately, the Oster Cordless Wine Opener takes the hassle out and gets you that much closer to unwinding with your favorite bottle. Peel off the foil and place the opener over the cork and watch this gadget work its magic.

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What’s better than booze and Ice cream all-in-one? Popular boozy ice cream brand Tipsyscoop’s party packs are a great treat to send your loved one. Featuring four flavors of your choice, add some party accessories to your order to amplify this boozy party.

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Making sushi at home has never been easier. Complete with a rolling mat, rice, recipes, and sushi ingredients, unleash your inner foodie and make your favorite sushi rolls. Better yet, this set comes with suggested drink pairings to go with your homemade sushi.

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This beloved travel staple makes any weekend trip a breeze. Featuring a laptop holder, shoe bag, and mesh electronic case, this neoprene weekender is a durable and sleek unisex bag for them to take along on any trip.

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Nothing is worse than a warm, flat bottle of beer. Luckily with these beer chiller sticks from Amazon, your beer stays cold longer. Pop these sticks in the freezer for 45 minutes before desired drinking time, and enjoy your ice-cold beer. Cheers!

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This is the ultimate gift for the beer connoisseur in your life. Featuring a handcrafted pinewood board and colored bottle cap game pieces, players are taken through a variety of elimination challenges from rhyming, dancing, to chugging. The last player standing must drink beer from the community cup, a cup of beer in the middle of the board in order to claim their crown.

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This themed mug is perfect for your "Friends" obsessed pal. Microwavable, and dishwasher safe—this mug is a gift that will be used for years to come.

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Never suffer from wine stained teeth again with these powerful wipes. These party savers wipe away remnants of even the driest reds, keeping your teeth looking fresh.

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Voluspa candles combine luxury and divine scents at an affordable price tag. Their prosecco rose-scented candle makes the perfect booze inspired gift for your favorite 21-year-old.

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Make high-quality gin in your home with this set from William Sonoma. This set includes aromatic herbs, botanicals, a strainer, and funnel to help you make your own unique bottle of gin. The set doesn’t include the required bottle of vodka, so make sure to pick up a bottle before enjoying it.

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This portable beer pong table takes beer pong to the next level. The set includes a wooden board, 25 plastic cups, two catapults, and two wooden beer pong balls so you can play beer pong virtually anywhere. The wooden table folds up for easy storage on the go.

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Ever wanted to take your drink in the shower? Now you can with the Shakoolie Happy Hour In The Shower Beer Holder. Made of velcro and easy to set up, stick it to your shower wall and keep your drink ice cold during your shower.

County Line Kitchen Cold Brew Mason Jar Coffee Maker

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This gift is the ultimate gift for the coffee lover in your life. Featuring a mason jar and a stainless steel filter, pour in your favorite coffee or tea and pop it in the fridge overnight to enjoy your favorite beverages. Make cold brew anywhere, from the comfort of your dorm room, to at home in your kitchen.

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Stemless wine glasses are a perfect addition to any home bar. Durable, BPA free, and shatterproof, these personalized glasses add a splash of luxury without the steep price tag. Monogram your loved one’s initials and choose their favorite color for the ultimate 21st birthday present.

Final Verdict

21st birthday gifts should reflect the start of a new chapter.

Hopefully, some of our suggestions inspired ideas for what you're going to get your newly-21 gift recipient. Tipsyscoop’s Boozy Ice Cream packs (view on Tipsyscoop) elevate the childhood classic and embrace the newly legal 21-year-old in your life. Or, another great option is the all-grown-up duffel bag, the Dagne Dover Landon Large Carryall (view on Shopbop).

If It's Alcohol-Related

Not everyone is excited for (or interested in) drinking on their birthday. An alcohol-related gift might not be the way to go if this is the case. Consider getting something fun, like a card game or glassware, instead. After all, there's something so "adult" about finally having matching glasses to drink from.

Quality

Sure, a bunch of plastic shot glasses with funny phrases on them will get a laugh, but will they ever be used again? Consider gifting something that's useful and fun, like monogrammed wine glasses or a bar kit. That way, your gift doesn't turn into something they throw away or donate as soon as they're done using it.

Thoughtfulness

It's a no-brainer, but gifting someone something that really speaks to them is the best kind of gift. Just because 21 is a milestone birthday doesn't mean you can't get a little sentimental. Maybe gift them that candle they love or a self-care basket to remind them they need to take time for themselves, too. Like we said, it's the thought that truly counts.

This article was researched and written by Perri Kressel, an associate commerce editor and news and deals writer at Dotdash. Her work has appeared on Refinery29, Swirled.com, Buzzfeed, and more. Additional reporting was done by Katie Pittman, who has more than five years of experience in lifestyle and digital media and is an expert writer for MyDomaine.

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