One’s 18th birthday is a huge deal; it highlights a momentous time when young teens turn into adults. While they are technically still young, a lot of them are regarded as grownups that are ready to take on the world independently. This day calls for an extraordinary gift, wouldn’t you agree?
Birthdays come and go, but the celebrations remain as a constant, pleasant reminder for many of us. While birthdays are usually dreaded by older adults, others embrace the fact that another one has come around. Maybe it’s the free cake and gifts that get us jittery with excitement. Our teen years shouldn’t be a blur of drama, tears, and the sort angst that inevitably define those years.
It should be remembered for all the good times spent with family and friends, barring the bad memories. Make this day memorable for that special someone, by checking out these great 18th birthday gift ideas for both boys and girls.
18th Birthday Gift Ideas for Girls
Delicious Wrist Candy
No teenage girl should be caught without her wearing a timepiece; it isn’t just a mechanism that allows us to keep track of time, but a complementary add-on for any outfit. From ultra feminine pieces to tomboy varieties, we’ve got the lowdown on the best timepieces for teenage girls.
Our favorites:
- Betsey Johnson Lots ‘n’ Lots of Time Expansion Band Watch
- ToyWatch Maya Watch Collection
- Joan Rivers, Simply the Best Hinged Bangle Watch
- Suunto T4
- Timex Easy Reader Leather Strap Watch
- Nixon The Time Teller P Watch
- La Mer Crème Brown Snake Wrap Watch
- Anthropologie Welkin Wrap Watch
- Garmin Forerunner
- Tissot Red Couturier Watch
A bracelet is more than just a piece of jewelry – it’s a fashion must-have for girls who love pretty accouterments. Have her wear this proudly on her wrist, either paired with a classic timepiece, or left on its own.
Our favorites:
- Leather Cord Bracelet with Pavé-Detailed Gold, Paige Novick
- Gold-Plated Chain-Link Bracelet, Kara Ackerman Designs
- Gold Mesh Woven Strands in Matte Bangle by Henri Bendel (Sequin)
- Multicolor bracelet, Bajra Baubles
- Glass-beaded brass bangle, Gerard Yosca
- Melanite Garnet Briolettes, Designed by Dean Ericson
- Leather Wrap Bracelets, Silly Strings
- Sunny Coral Winter White Bracelet, R.J Graziano
- Hessonite Garnet Gems with Wood, designed by Christine Brand
Trendy Footwear and Carryall
A pair of uggs must have a designated place in a teen’s closet, where these oh-so-comfortable boots are a blessing during the winter. Not only are women having all the fun wearing these boots, but teens too. The colors, fabric, and styles these come in, make it every girl’s dream pair of footwear.
Our favorites:
- UGG Classic Cardy Boots
- UGG Crocheted Cardy Classic Boots
- UGG Women’s Classic Short Perf Boots
- UGG Sparkle Boots with Sequin
- UGG Stella Graffiti Boots
- UGG Wahine Boots
- UGG Classic Short Boots
- UGG Classic Mini Graffiti Boots
A teen girl has a lot to lug around when it comes to her essentials; what she needs is a sturdy handbag. We’re not talking about those hideous, shapeless, and lifeless varieties, but big, beautiful bags that will make going outdoors so much more fun.
Our favorites:
- Faux Leather Lock Detail Weekender Bag, Oasis
- Reaction Tote, Kenneth Cole
- Metal-Studded, Gold Cross-Body Strap Handbag, Primark
- Betsy Holdall, Oasis
- Hamilton Large Logo Tote, Michael Kors
- Boucle Crossbody Bag, Awear
- Large Hamilton Pyramid-Stud Tote, Michael Kors
- Layla Spot Lined Tote Bag, Little Woods
Style On the Go
Whether it’s to the beach, plane-hopping to a new city, or backpacking to a new country, a trusty travel bag is truly the best companion. Choose from a host of crazy-cool options right here, that will leave any travel-hungry teen squealing with joy.
Our favorites:
- 2-Wheeled Foldable Duffle, Lipault
- Tote of Many Colors, Maggie Bags
- Samsonite ZIP LITE 360 24-in. Hardside Expandable Spinner Upright
- Victorinox Travel Bag, Macy’s
- Three Quilted Gym Bag, Clava
- International Traveler Luggage, Amazon
- Iman Global Chic, HSN
- Environment Duffel Bag, Heather Heron
- Small Car Cabin Upright Travel Bag, Orla Kiely
- Lulu Castagnette Travel Set, Murval Paris
Coddling Goodness
A growing teenage girl needs to take care of her basic beauty needs, which include the occasional trip to the spa. If she’s never experienced going to one, now’s the time to offer her a slice of heaven. Visit the closest spa in your city and buy a gift card that allows you to use it at a later date; you can schedule it for the weekend nearest her birthday if advance appointments are a must. Complete the gesture with a bundle of beauty essentials that she’ll most definitely adore. You’ll find all kinds of products that you can club as one for an unbeatable beauty set.
Our favorites:
- Phisoderm Anti-Blemish Body Salicylic Acid Body Wash
- Jo Malone Vanilla & Anise Scented Home Candle
- John Masters Organics Rose & Aloe Hydrating Toning Mist
- Pacficia Island Vanilla Solid Perfume
- Eos Lip Balm Sphere in Pomegranate Raspberry
- Korres Shower Gel in Vanilla Guava
- Kiss My Face Ultra Moisturizer, Olive & Aloe
- Neutrogena Spectrum + Sunblock Lotion SPF 70 with Helioplex360
- Apivita Express Beauty Mask with Pomegranate
- Walgreens Maximum Strength Benzoyl Peroxide 10% Gel
- The Body Shop Vanilla Body Mist
- Bath and Body Works Aromatherapy Bath Soak in Vanilla Verbena
- OPI Nail Lacquer in Blue My Mind
- Victoria’s Secret Sheer Pink Fragrance Mist
- CLEAR Regular Strength System
- Lush Mint Julips
- Trilogy Rosehip Oil Lip Balm
- Burt’s Bees Naturally Nourishing Milk & Honey Body Lotion
- COVERGIRL & Olay Simply Ageless Sculpting Blush
- Sparklehearts Peace Out No Knots Hair Detangler
- Dermalogica Clean Start Get Glowing Mini Kit
- Urban Decay Naked Skin Beauty Balm
- Good For You Girls Complete Skin Care Kit
- Pro’s Picks Lip Tar Set v2.0, Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics
- The Lip Blockbuster Volume II, Korres
- Baked Bronzer, Urban Decay
- Spring Summer Collection, Nails Inc.
- Gelshine At-Home Gel Color System, Sephora (O.P.I)
Change is Good
Who doesn’t love it when a room is remodeled? Yes, it is painstakingly long to get done, but when you stand back and take in the results, you’ll be pleasantly surprised and delighted. Treat her to a bedroom makeover; first send her away to stay over at a friend’s or usher her to take a holiday for about 10 days, before you have a chance to redesign her room. Remember to use the right colors and interior additions that qualify as age-appropriate. Anything that is a wild contrast to what she’s into, will lead to the sort of reaction you wouldn’t want to witness.
Visit a reputed remodeling company that can do the job in 10 days, prior to her birthday, or check out company websites like The Remodeling Co. and Best Contractors (a search engine is provided to look for the best companies in your locale), for stellar and swift makeover services.
18th Birthday Gift Ideas for Guys
Boys and Their Rides
While you may be a naysayer about getting a bike for an 18-year-old boy, we recommend that you give one to a responsible kid. While most teens should stick to four-wheelers, the good guys deserve a cooler addition that will have chicks glancing twice in their direction. You can never go wrong with cars like the Volkswagen Rabbit or Mini Cooper, especially if the birthday boy in question is just starting to drive. A sports car too is a great alternative, but be sure to check the specs before you buy one. To make it easier, we have our top picks for you when it comes to the best of the best.
Our favorite bikes:
- KTM 1290 Super Duke
- BMW R1200GS
- Ducati Monster 1100 EVO
- Aprilia Caponord 1200
- Ducati Hypermotard
- Moto Guzzi California 1400
- Triumph Daytona 675/R
- Kawasaki ZX-14R
- BMW S1000RR
- Suzuki V-Strom 650 ABS
- Zero S/DS
Our favorite cars:
- Volkswagen Jetta
- Honda Accord Coupe
- Volkswagen GTI
- Nissan Cube
- Scion TC
- Ford Mustang
- Hyundai Elantra
- Nissan Altima Coupe
- Ford Focus
- Jeep Liberty
Gadget Mayhem
Boys and their toys, right? Either check out for the latest gadgets to hit the market, or do a little research on an upgrade that he’s dying to get his hands on. Whether it’s a touchscreen phone, tablet PC, or the latest gaming console, we’ve got a list of must-haves for teenage guys.
Our favorite tablet PCs:
- Amazon Kindle Fire HD
- iPad Mini
- Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1
- Blackberry Playbook 2
- Apple iPad 2
- iPad 4
- Microsoft Surface RT
- Asus Transformer Pad Infinity
- Google Nexus 10
- Asus Padfone Infinity
- Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0
Our favorite touchscreen phones:
- Samsung Galaxy S3
- HTC One X+
- Samsung Ativ S
- iPhone 4S
- Samsung Galaxy Note 2
- Song Xperia S
- Google Nexus 4
- iPhone 5
- Nokia Lumia 920
- Blackberry Z10
- Sony Xperia Z
- Nokia Lumia 900
- Motorola Razr i
Our favorite video game consoles:
- Nintendo Wii U Deluxe Set
- Sony PlayStation 3 Super Slim (250GB) Uncharted 3 Limited Edition Bundle
- Mircrosoft Xbox 360 S (250 GB)
- Wii Fit
- Xbox 360
Our favorite handheld gaming consoles:
- Nintendo DSi
- Nintendo 3DS
- Nintendo DS Lite
- PSP 3000
- Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY
- Sony Playstation Vita (Wi-Fi)
- Nintendo 3DS XL
Music Junkie
We all love music, who doesn’t? To make the music experience nothing short of spectacular, do check out the following a-la-mode selection when it comes to earphones, earplugs, and headphones.
Our favorite music accessories:
- Sony MDR1R (Black) Headphones
- AKG K 350 Earphones
- Beyerdynamic Custom One Pro Headphones
- V-Moda Crossfade M-100 (White Silver) Headphones
- Phiaton PS 210 BTNC Ear Buds
- Monoprice 8320 Enhanced Bass Hi-Fi Noise Isolating Earphones
- Phiaton Moderna MS 200 Ear Buds
- Harman Kardon NC Noise-Canceling Headphones
- Apple’s EarPods
- Radius Atomic Bass (Black) Ear Buds
- Sony XBA-S65 Earphones
- Shure SE215 Sound Isolating Earphones
For guys who play the guitar, whether electrical or acoustic, company websites like Steve Clayton and Seven Kings make all sorts of personalized picks that you cannot even imagine (glow in the dark too!). Compared to the ordinary store-bought kind, these will hold more sentimental value. Also, a set of picks that he can alternate between, can be quite cool.
Vegas is Calling
How about providing a chauffeur-driven limo for the birthday boy, all the way up to Vegas? It can pick him up right after school before a weekend, where the whole family can take a trip to Sin City. Book for tickets in advance to avail of holiday discounts or packages, and spend an entire two-day weekend doing the things that Vegas-goers do best – sightseeing and indulging in harmless casino fun. You won’t hear the end of his ‘thank yous’.
These 18th birthday gift ideas can combine two or more suggestions as a combined offering, or it can provide a platform where you can explore alternatives. Look for the gift well in advance, so that you aren’t hurriedly running about for it at the eleventh hour.