Celebrate their major milestone with a sentimental retirement gift that’s been made just for them.
After years of dedication to the grind, the time has finally come for a dear friend or loved one to retire and move on to their next chapter. To mark this tremendous feat and happy occasion, you’ll want to gift them with something that’s the equivalent of a standing ovation—something that can adequately applaud all their years of hard work. Whether it’s a special token they can look at and feel proud of their amazing achievement, or something entertaining that they can enjoy now that they have a lot more time on their hands, we’ve rounded up the best retirement gifts for parents, friends, coworkers, and everyone in between.
See our picks for the best retirement gifts:
Best Retirement Gifts for Dads | Best Retirement Gifts for Women | Best Retirement Gifts for Men | Funny Retirement Gifts
Best retirement gifts for dads
Some things are hard to put into words, but we’ve found the best gifts for retiring fathers that perfectly say, “Thanks for all your hard work, Dad!”
1. Personalized grill tool set
SHOP: Engraved BBQ tools from Rustic Craft, from $163
Now that he’s retiring, you can expect the number of family barbecues to be kicked up a notch (yay!). Help your dad become the master griller he’s always dreamed of being with this personalized, hand-engraved stainless steel and rosewood grill tool set, complete with a spatula, fork, tongs, and basting brush.
2. Handmade fish hook
SHOP: Personalized fishing lure from C and T Custom Lures, from $32
If your old man is partial to a bit of fishing, he’ll love this personalized stainless steel fishing lure that you can get engraved with a message or names of your choosing. “Such a cool, unique gift,” wrote one happy buyer. “Good quality, fast production, fast shipping, unique, and I love that it's personalized!”
3. Leather luggage tag
SHOP: Monogram unique luggage tag from Fitzy, from $42
Your father can finally do all that traveling he’s longed to do! To accompany him on all his trips, get him this personalized full-grain leather luggage tag that’s handmade in Toronto, Canada, and features solid brass hardware for extra durability. It’s available in three leather colors, and in a choice of lettering styles.
4. Personalized campfire coffee mug
SHOP: Custom campervan enamel mug from Modish Outdoors, from $14
These personalized camping mugs are the perfect choice for anyone who loves spending time in the great outdoors. Made from metal and available in four styles, one customer wrote, “Beautifully printed, sturdy and also it was SO appreciated that they were packaged so nicely (wrapped in cellophane, tied with twine and in a little box).”
5. "A Welcome Break" greeting card
SHOP: Jack & Marjie greeting card from Country Colour, $4
This greeting card is so beautiful that the recipient will want to frame it immediately. It's an affordable addition to any larger gift, and an excellent way to write all your heartfelt thoughts now that your pops is retiring.
Best retirement gifts for women
Whether you're celebrating your mom, aunt, friend, or coworker's retirement, these gifts are perfect to celebrate the woman who’s achieved so much!
6. Personalized leather zip purse
SHOP: Personalized small leather zip purse from Penelopetom, $42
If she had to commute at any point in her career, she probably had to bring a big bag with her to and from the office. Celebrate the sudden need for less stuff with this fun zip purse. Made from textured leather, you can personalize it with her initials for a sweet and subtle touch.
7. Hiking embroidery kit
SHOP: Hiking embroidery kit from Hawthorn Handmade, $34
If she loves the outdoors, this hiking embroidery kit is the perfect thing to kickstart all the new adventures she's about to have now that she's retired. Once this is complete, she'll have a new decor piece to hang in her home to admire when she's not out in the world doing what she loves.
8. Linen apron
SHOP: Washed linen apron from Magic Linen, $56
If she's excited about all that extra baking she can do now that she’s retiring, then she'll love this handmade linen apron. It’s available in 14 beautiful shades and will make her look effortlessly professional in all those social media feed pics she’ll be uploading with her freshly baked goods.
9. Gardening gloves
SHOP: Lavender gardening gloves from My Little Belleville, $23
Does she have a bit of a green thumb (or want to cultivate one)? Get her these beautiful lavender-inspired gloves to wear while she tends to her garden. They’re sturdily constructed and washable, and one happy buyer wrote, “They are even more beautiful in person! This is such a perfect gift.” Another satisfied buyer added, “They look just like the pictures and the quality was good! Packaging kept everything neat and the gloves are good quality.”
10. Seed organizer
SHOP: Handmade leather seed organizer from Undercover, $51
If the gardening enthusiast already has her own beloved gardening gloves, another great retirement gift idea is this handmade leather seed organizer. It comes with a leather index of months and weeks to help her arrange a planting schedule, a pencil with ruler markings, and is available in two colors: slate gray and bamboo.
11. Personalized wooden pen
SHOP: Personalized wooden pen with your name engraved by laser from Atelier Mumu, $17
Made by hand in a small workshop in Paris, France, this wooden pen features a laser engraved personalization and comes in a black velvet pouch. This is a great option for a teacher retirement gift, and buyers call it “perfect and very pretty,” “magnificent,” with great “beauty and workmanship.”
Best retirement gifts for men
Whether he loves fishing, grilling, or traveling, these superb retirement gift ideas for the men in your life will get them so excited for what's to come.
12. DIY BBQ sauce kit
SHOP: Artisan BBQ sauce making kit from Grow and Make, $55
If he's into cooking and meal-prep, this DIY BBQ sauce set will allow him to make three bottles of delicious and gourmet grilling sauces and seasonings. A happy buyer who gifted this to her husband explained, “He loved the thought and was eager to get started. He created his first batch of sauce and it tasted wonderful! He is a BBQ sauce fanatic and I am excited to enjoy his creations for years to come.”
13. Weekender travel bag
SHOP: Canvas duffle bag from Canopy Verde, $185
Send him on his merry travels with one of these weekender duffle bags that are available in either navy and black, or olive green and espresso. Handmade from organic cotton canvas and vegan leather, these bags have plenty of room for all his long weekend travel essentials, with pockets both inside and out. One buyer described it as “the perfect carry-on,” adding, “Everything I needed fit in the bag, including my laptop. And it was easy to put into overhead baggage and take down to disembark. Love it!”
14. Handcrafted wooden chess board
SHOP: Handmade 16-inch chess board from AP Woodcraft, $124
One of the most popular board games in the world, chess is an excellent way for him to pass the time. Whether he's a lifelong player or is just getting into it for the first time, his jaw will drop once he unwraps this gorgeous handmade wooden chess board.
15. Gone fishin' pint glassware
SHOP: Gone fishin' pint glasses from vital, $32 for two
He'll love sipping his favorite beverage from one of these pint glasses while casting a line. These glasses come in sets of two, and you can choose the fish design you'd like on each from cod, haddock, halibut, and mackerel.
Funny retirement gifts
There's nothing better than celebrating one of life's biggest milestones with a laugh. Whether they're a big jokester or you two have always shared laughs when you're together, these funny retirement gift ideas will have them in stitches.
16. Retirement pint glass
SHOP: Finally retired pint glass from Everything Etched, from $19
They can toast to their new life every time they use this funny "finally retired" pint glass. You can add a personalization like a name or year or opt to leave off any part of the design so your gift is really catered to them.
17. A legendary greeting card
SHOP: The legend has retired greeting card from Joli Coon, $5
Celebrate the legend that they are with this funny greeting card to send them off in style. The font is handwritten and hot foil stamped in rose gold, and the card comes complete with an envelope and wax seal.
How do we pick the best retirement gifts?
As Etsy Journal editors and contributors research and curate shopping guides for some of the best-loved items on Etsy, we thoughtfully consider the creativity, customization, and craftsmanship that go into each product. We also consider buyer reviews, item ratings, and customer service, and tap the expertise of our in-house merchandising and trends experts to uncover high-quality finds for every budget. You can find more information about each item in the seller’s listing details and can take a look at their individual shop policies and reviews, too.
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