31 Thoughtful Retirement Gifts for 2025

Thoughtful and unique retirement gifts can go a long way to easing the transition into post-work life. After years of hard work, it's time for them to focus on their more personal aspirations. So, whatever gifts for retirement you opt for should celebrate this newfound time and freedom.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Americans 65+ now average nearly seven hours a day on leisure and sports, according to the latest American Time Use Survey, so presents that channel that extra time — into cooking, road-tripping, gardening or learning — actually get used.  Our guide leans into what retirees tell us they want: comfort, curiosity and a little adventure.

We’ve gathered great gift ideas for retirees who plan to travel, tinker and host more often (or simply nap with a smile). And because “practical” doesn’t have to mean dull, you’ll find retirement gifts and thank you gifts with real staying power — thoughtful, useful and a bit playful.

Jump to Section

• Creative Retirement Gifts
• Foodie Retirement Gifts
• Unique Retirement Gifts
• Classy Retirement Gifts
• Traditional Retirement Gifts
• Retirement Gifts for Women
• Retirement Gifts for Men

Creative Retirement Gifts

1. A Day of Painting and Sipping

Paint and sip events combine the elements of creativity, socialization and best of all, wine drinking (or whatever beverage they prefer). They’ll leave with wall-ready art and a story about the day they finally tried oils or watercolor painting for beginners after talking about it for years — good retirement gifts make space for that kind of try-something-new energy.

Check out paint and sip in NYC, Colorado Springs, Los Angeles, or paint and sip near you to find a perfect class and theme for the retiree. If you're unsure which class they want to get, get them a paint and sip gift card so they can choose!

2. Pottery Classes

From pottery classes in Houston to Los Angeles and even Minneapolis, there is a local pottery studio where your favorite retiree can find a wide variety of fun ways to express their creativity. Hands-on time wheel throwing is calming, a little messy, and productive — perfect for someone easing into slower mornings. 

With these retirement gifts for your coworkers, they'll learn how to shape, throw and hand-form clay into vases, bowls and sculptures with the guidance of expert potters. Check out pottery classes near you to find classes for beginners and experienced potters alike.

3. Dance Classes

For many, retirement is a time to take up new hobbies and learn new things. Ballroom for date night, learning how to salsa dance for the cardio, or hip hop dancing just because — classes add rhythm to the weekly calendar and new friends to grab coffee with afterward.

With dance classes in Orlando, Denver, Seattle, local dance classes and even online dance classes, they can learn all the latest steps wherever they are. Whatever they choose to learn, this is one way to thrive in retirement. 

Foodie Retirement Gifts

4. Cooking Classes

For the foodie, there’s nothing better than the gift of cooking classes. The best gifts for retirees often become new rituals and a single session can upgrade their weeknight pasta or unlock a whole new cuisine. Whether it’s cooking classes in Sacramento, Boston or Baltimore, this retirement gift allows the receiver to learn all about culinary topics and cuisines like Cajun, French, Asian fusion, Indian and many more.

Check out cooking classes near you, or even online cooking classes for those who have a gourmet kitchen of their own or just prefer to learn from home.

5. Panini Press

More time at home means more time to experiment with kitchen tools and gadgets. A countertop press turns leftovers into café-level lunches — yesterday’s roast chicken becomes a melty mozzarella panini and tomato soup suddenly has a worthy partner. The Cuisinart Griddler Grill and Panini Press is a wonderful retirement gift for friends and family who appreciate a perfectly pressed panini or gooey grilled cheese sandwich.

6. Shatterproof Wine Glasses

Govino Go Anywhere wine glasses are an excellent retirement gift for boaters, campers, RVers and backyard entertainers. They feel right in the hand (that thumb notch helps on deck or by the fire pit) and keep the vibe elevated without risking shards on the patio.

These stemless glasses are top-shelf dishwasher safe and have a thumb notch and a contoured base designed for swirling. They’re equally adept at holding any refreshing beverage. We see many beach trips ahead with these convenient glasses.

7. Portable Grill

The Weber Traveler Portable Gas Grill is a great gift for those who will be camping, visiting friends, grilling at the beach and tailgating at their favorite football game, NASCAR race or other event. It’s compact but cooks like a full-size rig, so the retiree can roll up, flip the lid, and be serving hot dogs while everyone else is still fussing with charcoal. 

It has a large grill area that can hold 15 burgers at a time, and it folds flat for easy transport and storage. Wheels make it convenient to move around if needed. It's a good retirement gift that immediately smells like summer.

Unique Retirement Gifts

8. Online Trivia

For fun and games from the comfort of their own sofa, online trivia games make terrific retirement party ideas or employee appreciation gift ideas. Theme the rounds to the retiree’s era — ’70s music, space race, baseball legends — and watch the memories (and answers) fly.

They can show off their mad skills at remembering all sorts of facts and trivia from TV, movies, sports, history and more. It’s an easy, low-prep way to keep a regular social night going, which is why trivia lands among the best retirement gifts for staying connected.

9. Game Night

If you’re looking for going away party ideas, these virtual events are an excellent way to add a fun aspect to any party. From a virtual scavenger hunt to a virtual escape room, virtual game nights are a blast for everyone in the family, friend or colleague group.

Your group can search for clues, solve riddles and join cyber hunts around the world as they try to win the race, escape the room or find all the objects. You can also play board games like Monopoly, Scrabble, Trivial Pursuit and more for a classic game night. The best part is the shared stories that come out of the chaos — exactly what great retirement gifts should spark.

10. Weekender Travel Bag

When you’re retired, you trade in a cubicle for the rest of the world. A well-designed weekender helps to make spontaneous two-day getaways actually happen — grab, zip, go. The avid traveler, or soon-to-be-traveler, will appreciate the storage options and classic good looks of this three-piece bag set.

It comes with a cross-body bag, a cosmetics bag and a large bag with a handle and a zippered shoe compartment on the bottom. The compartment is a great place for storing dirty laundry and wet items. Practical, sharp and road-ready — everything gifts for retirement aim to be.

11. Sewing Classes

Sewing classes might not be the first thing you think of when considering retirement gifts. But they can be a fun and unique experience going away gifts for creative types. There’s a real payoff: perfect hems on travel pants, custom throw-pillow covers and simple fixes that make favorite clothes last. 

They’ll learn how to choose fabric, lay out and cut patterns, hand sew, machine stitch and much more. For hands-on retirement gift ideas, this one turns creativity into everyday satisfaction.

12. Bird Feeder

A bird feeder will have all the feathers flocking to their yard. Morning coffee turns into a front-row nature show, from chickadees in winter to goldfinches in spring. Morning coffee becomes a front-row nature show: bright cardinals on snowy days, quick-darting chickadees testing their landings and goldfinches flashing color when spring returns.

Set it where it’s visible from the kitchen or patio so the day starts with a little calm instead of a calendar alert. For new retirees, the easy rhythm — watch, notice, refill — gives the week a gentle pulse and turns the backyard into a seasonal story. A quiet daily ritual like this is a great retirement gift — simple, calming, and surprisingly entertaining. This is also a sweet gift for grandparents who might enjoy birdwatching.

13. National Park Annual Pass

From the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone to the Everglades, Acadia and the Great Smoky Mountains, retirees with an adventurous spirit have a wide range of scenery and settings to choose from.

An annual pass turns “someday” into real weekends: trail walks at cooler morning hours, ranger talks at dusk and wildlife you only catch when you’re not rushing vacation days. It’s a gentle push to plan off-season trips when crowds thin and sunsets linger. Memories come fast when the entry is already covered.

14. Gardening Set

Gardening gurus will love a gardening tool set. Early retirement mornings hit differently when there’s soil to turn and tomatoes to check; a sturdy tote keeps the trowel, pruners and twine right where they left them yesterday. A fold-out kneeler spares the knees so the “one quick weed” session can drift into an hour of quiet puttering. And when the first herbs make it to the kitchen, the harvest feels like part two of the gift.

15. Theme Park Annual Pass

Maybe they prefer roller coasters to rocks and big boulders. Or maybe they enjoy musical shows, landscaped walking paths, laid-back rides and seasonal festivals (and funnel cake, of course). A theme park annual pass might be just the ticket for thrillseekers and entertainment lovers.

Whether it’s Walt Disney World, Universal, SeaWorld Parks, Cedar Fair or Six Flags, you’ll find theme parks all over the U.S. and likely somewhere near where your favorite retiree lives or visits. Retirees can time visits for weekdays — shorter lines, more shows, and unhurried strolls through the gardens between rides.

Classy Retirement Gifts

16. Virtual Wine Tasting

For the wine connoisseur, the gift of a virtual wine tasting session might be the best retirement gift idea ever. They’ll pick up tips and food pairing suggestions from world-class sommeliers while learning about wine regions, grape varieties and more.

Sessions often spotlight smaller producers, so each bottle carries not only a story but also a unique style. It’s a relaxed and fun new experience they can repeat with far-flung friends who join from their own couches. They'll soon be ready to do some field work at the best wineries in Napa.

17. Game Board

Now that they’re retired, they can really take their competitive skills to the next level. The Scrabble Deluxe Edition is made of solid wood with a mahogany finish and gold foil-stamped accents.

It has a built-in turntable to keep the game going smoothly. The game board has a raised grid to keep squares in place while rotating and the top removes for storage underneath. A chessboard with hand-carved or metal pieces is another great retirement gift idea.

18. French Press

Retirement doesn’t mean the end of that daily cup of Joe. If anything, it means they can get more creative and refined with their coffee-making. A well-made press slows the morning just enough to feel like a choice: boil, bloom, pour, pause.

The Aerolatte French Press Coffee Maker is one of the best classy retirement gifts you can give. It has a glass beaker and a built-in filter to ensure debris-free brews every time. Toss in a bag of premium beans and a nice mug for a bonus surprise.

19. Online Mixology Classes

Looking for gifts for cocktail lovers? Budding bartenders will enjoy the retirement gift of online mixology classes. They can learn how to make their favorite mixed drinks and cocktails from expert bartenders and mixologists.

Along the way, they pick up small nuggets of wisdom — how much ice matters, when a twist beats a wedge. Before long, guests are asking for their “usual,” which is exactly the point. All they need is an internet connection and a mobile device to join these fun and interactive classes. They’ll soon be mixing and muddling the best cocktails in town.

Traditional Retirement Gifts

20. Smartwatch

Forego the traditional retirement gifts of a gold watch with a modern take on time-telling. The Fitbit Versa combines all of the time-keeping features of a watch with the digital amenities of GPS, sleep tracking, heart rate monitoring and more.

Daily step goals and gentle nudges give structure to slow mornings, and quick replies keep them chatting with kids and grandkids on the move. Trail maps and walk tracking make new routes feel like little expeditions. For active retirement gifts for men or retirement gifts for women, it meshes with the life they’re building, not the one they left.

21. Gift Cards

Gift cards are always a practical choice, and retirement is no exception. Consider gift cards to a favorite restaurant, a salon, a specialty boutique, a movie theater or anywhere they love going.

Alternative gift cards for experiences like cooking classes, art lessons, and other creative events are other wonderful ideas for a retirement party. You can send a gift card for their retirement or as a fun birthday wish for a colleague, if you want to combine two of their special days into one gift. Simple, specific, and used to the last dollar — exactly what gifts for retirement should be.

22. Fountain Pen

If the retiree on your list is a fan of the written word, why not surprise them with a top-quality instrument like the Pelikan Souveran fountain pen. The weight in the hand, the glide on good paper, offers a quiet joy. Refilling ink feels like a small ceremony that slows the day in the best way. 

They can write letters or sign the lease for that new condo in Boca in style. Classic, personal, and quietly one of the best gifts for retirees.

Retirement Gifts for Women

23. Virtual Flower Arranging Classes

For unique, creative and thoughtful retirement gifts for seniors who may not be able to get out, go with virtual flower arranging classes. Expect practical insight, such as how to balance focal blooms with light, airy filler. Calm, beautiful results on the table make this one of the best retirement gifts for hands-on creatives. A relaxed hour with petals and color does wonders for mood, which is why this stays near the top of good retirement gifts.

24. Moccasin Slippers

Cozy gifts make thoughtful and functional retirement gifts for anyone on your list. Dearfoams Fireside slippers are water-resistant and made of super cozy, all-natural sheep shearling that provides moisture-wicking comfort.

Temperature regulation keeps feet cool in summer and warm in winter. These cozy slippers have durable indoor/outdoor soles for getting the mail or taking a walk around the neighborhood. Comfort that shows up daily easily qualifies as a good retirement gift.

25. E-Reader

Now that she’s not spending days poring over documents, proofing paperwork, grading tests and other such tasks, she’ll have time to read for leisure. A Kindle Paperwhite is a terrific retirement gift idea for women who are readers.

With its glare-free display, they can take it to the beach, use in a dimly lit airplane or even prop it up in the kitchen for easy recipe reading. Fill it up with mysteries, comedy, drama and thrillers for hours of entertainment. It’s one of the best gifts for retirees that will get used night after night.

26. Spa Gift Box

Spa gift boxes are wonderful retirement gifts for teachers or women who enjoy a day of pampering. She’ll love the relaxing array of scented candles, body lotions, hand creams, DIY bath bombs and other luxurious products.

Coordinated scents make the whole bathroom feel calmer and rich textures — salts, creams, balms — signal it’s time to slow down. It's a reliable retirement gift for women that offers instant serenity without the need to schedule a full spa day.

Retirement Gifts for Men

27. Woodworking Classes

Woodworking classes make great retirement gifts for men who like to work with their hands. Even if they’ve never worked with their hands, these classes provide the opportunity to create something and learn a new skill.

They’ll learn basic safety tips and how to sand, saw and cut wood to make fun and unique birdhouses, sculptures, candlesticks and more. This retirement gift idea for men delivers rewarding and useful results.

28. Glass Blowing Classes

Watching molten glass gather on the pipe, then coaxing it into a vase or sun catcher, feels like magic. Instructors handle the heat and safety, so the focus stays on color, form and that triumphant final reveal in the annealer. 

The finished piece will serve as a souvenir from a brand-new chapter, which is why this ranks as one of the best retirement gifts. It’s equally satisfying for first-timers and seasoned crafters, making it a smart pick in retirement gift ideas for women and men alike.

29. Skydiving Experience

Just because he’s retired, don’t think for a second that he wants to sit around and read the paper all day. Skydiving is one of those bucket list items many retirees might be looking forward to trying. For the retiree who lights up at a dare, a tandem jump delivers the whole arc — nerves in the plane, the rush at the door, and a panorama so wide it quiets everything else. 

If you don’t think he’s up to the traditional daredevil antics of jumping out of a plane, check out an indoor skydiving venue for a thrilling retirement gift for him.

30. Personalized Bourbon Flight

A rustic wood personalized bourbon flight makes a unique and thoughtful gift for bourbon, whiskey or scotch connoisseurs. You can easily add a set of sparkling whiskey glasses as part of this retirement gift idea.

It encourages slow evenings, good conversation and a little palate training, which checks every box for great retirement gifts. For collectors and curious beginners, it’s one of the best gifts for retirees because it grows with the hobby.

31. Pickleball Set

Searching for retirement gifts for dad that will appeal to his athletic side? Pickleball has become quite the craze in recent years. This combination of tennis, badminton and ping-pong is a sport he might want to get into.

The Helium pickleball set comes with four paddles with a durable honeycomb core, four balls and a storage bag. It’s social, lighter on the joints and sneaky-good cardio, which is why we think it's one of the best retirement gifts for men and one of the great gift ideas for retirees across the board. 

Retirement Gifts FAQs

What Is an Appropriate Retirement Gift?

Retirement is a big deal and deserves a special nod of recognition. Choose thoughtful gifts based on anything from their hobbies and interests to future endeavors such as traveling, boating, RVing and gardening.

How Much Do You Spend on a Retirement Gift?

The best retirement presents come from the heart. Whether you spend $20 or $200, your gift shows friends, family or colleagues that you’re proud of their accomplishments and wish them the best in their future plans. You can find lots of thoughtful gifts under $50 for the retirees in your life.

Do You Give Gifts for a Retirement Party?

Retirement gifts are always appreciated. It doesn’t have to be a grand gesture. Even a small token of your appreciation, thoughtfulness and admiration is welcomed.

What Do You Give Your Colleagues When You Retire?

Retirement gifts range from thoughtful tokens like gift cards, gardening gear and travel products to fun experiences like culinary classes, game nights, mystery dinners and more.

Pet products even make terrific gifts as they’ll be spending much more of their time with the four-legged members of their family.

Retirement is a time to celebrate achievement and the start of a new chapter. Whether you’re searching for thoughtful gifts, small mementos or experience gifts that offer adventure and stir the imagination, the above list is a great way to get started and find the perfect retirement gift.

For even more fun gift ideas, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!