29 Fun Summer Gifts to Keep It Cool in 2025

It’s finally summer, and that means it’s time to come up with some fun summer gifts for your friends and family members so you can all enjoy some fun in the sun. But what are you going to get them? What is a good gift for summer anyway?

According to YouGov, it's the simple pleasures that are appreciated the most. Their research has found that enjoying an ice cream in the sun ranks as the favorite summer activity for Americans of all ages. We're not saying we can beat that feeling, but we do have a few other tricks up our sleeves. The ideas ahead will have you covered for gifts for summer birthdays, gifts for summer holidays or random acts of kindness. We’ve assembled a list of the best gifts for summer that are sure to please. Read on to learn more. 

Jump to Section

• Creative Summer Gifts
• Summer Entertaining Gifts
• Unique Summer Gifts
• Summer Gift Basket Ideas

Creative Summer Gifts

1. Tropical Themed Paint and Sip 

If you want to beat the heat in a creative way, paint and sip classes make great summer gifts. They’re also great summer date ideas if you’re giving them to a partner. Find a paint and sip near you!

You can find paint and sip in Colorado Springs, NYC or San Diego. Whether your recipient is at home or on summer vacation, they can enjoy this fun summer activity and learn some new painting techniques while they're at it. For a lower-effort option, they can also supply their own wine and art supplies and have a paint and sip day in their living room by taking online painting classes. 

2. Make Summer Ceramics

Perhaps pottery is more their speed. Classes at a local pottery workshop make great gifts for the summer holiday. This summer gift idea is perfect for any creative friend who needs a new outlet. The tactile part matters: cool slip on warm hands, the quiet spin of the wheel, and that first kiln reveal.

Pottery is addictive and they'll soon see why. With options for beginner hand-building pottery all the way up to the most advanced wheel-throwing techniques, this is a gift that can grow with them. Whether they’re taking pottery classes in Minneapolis, Chicago or NYC, they’re sure to have a blast learning a new craft with this summer gift for women and men alike.

3. Artsy Gift Cards

Don’t know what to give as a summer gift? You can’t go wrong with a gift card. Pick a creative gift card for your artsy friends. A gift card for artists is a great option. Your friend can use it for classes, supplies, and more. Let them choose a gift they’ll love. Gift cards are one of the best gifts under $50 because they give the giftee options!

4. Travel Watercolor Set

Summer is the perfect time to paint on the go. A travel watercolor set is a fantastic gift for a friend who loves to paint. Slip it into a tote with some specialty paper for a summer gift for women that makes it easy for her to pursue her interests. It also fits neatly inside a summer gift basket built around creative downtime.

They’ll be able to paint sweet portraits and beautiful landscapes while they get through their list of summer bucket list ideas.

5. Friendship Bracelet Kit

Are you looking for summer gifts for best friends? Let’s bring it back to summer camp with a friendship bracelet kit. It will provide everything you need and show you how to make a friendship bracelet from start to finish. You and your friend can make your own custom bracelets and wear them all summer long. 

Finally, you'll be able to bring together your wildest Taylor Swift friendship bracelet ideas. This is also one of the best graduation gift ideas to give to a friend who’s going to be moving away for college. You can both make each other bracelets and use them to remember each other. 

6. Sidewalk Chalk Set

Don’t underestimate the value of sidewalk chalk as a summer gift. Whether you’re giving it to a kid or an adult, you’ll be giving the gift of hours of fun. Sidewalk chalk is the perfect gift for summer lovers who also love getting creative. Throw in a few stencils for a summer gift idea that will bring the whole block together; outline a giant board game and let guests play between refills. It’s simple, it’s social and it costs less than a beach tote.

Summer Entertaining Gifts

7. Mixology Classes

If you have a friend who loves to entertain, you can’t go wrong with online mixology classes. This is more than a good summer entertaining gift! Your friend can learn how to make their favorite summer tequila cocktails and so much more for their next pool party. It’s one of the best gifts for cocktail lovers!

8. Wine Tasting

Do you need a gift for wine lovers in your life? What could be better than a classy summer wine tasting? A virtual wine tasting is an awesome summer gift idea. Gather your friends, buy some wine, and enjoy a day of relaxation. Don’t forget to prepare your favorite charcuterie board ideas to practice your pairings.

9. Flower Arranging Classes

Does your friend or family member love decorating for parties? Help them take their bouquets up a notch by giving them the summer gift of fun and unique flower-arranging classes. Virtual flower arranging classes are so much fun and they’ll teach the giftee a brand new skill. This is one of our favorite host or hostess gift ideas.

10. Cooler for Parties

What’s a summer beach party without a good cooler to keep all of the drinks cold? If you need a summer entertaining gift, look no further. You should get an awesome cooler. A wheeled YETI cooler is perfect for outdoor parties and camping trips, making it an awesome summer gift. This gift for summer keeps ice frozen overnight, saves backs on long walks and doubles as a prep surface beside the grill. 

11. Serving Bowl or Board

Is one of your friends always the person who’s throwing parties? A serving bowl or board is a fantastic summer gift for them. Find one that fits the summer theme and give it to your favorite party host or hostess. There are countless options, but this surfboard-shaped option from Southern Garage is one of our favorites. It’s so fun!

12. Lawn Party Games

What’s a summer party without summer party games? Yes, you have your standard drinking games, but lawn games can truly make a party special (and they’re family-friendly). These giant Yard Dominoes nail the summer party theme and offer boundless fun to an outdoor party. What’s your favorite yard game?

13. Comfy Outdoor Chairs

You can’t have a good party without plenty of places to sit. Let your favorite host ditch the uncomfortable plastic lawn chairs in exchange for some comfortable and stylish outdoor seats. The Sunflow Chair is an awesome gift for summer that’s perfect for pool parties or days at the beach. It locks into multiple reclining angles and dries quickly, so they can soak up every bit of sunshine.

14. Portable Campfire

What’s a summer party without a fire to roast marshmallows over? No fire pit? No problem. A portable campfire is so easy to set up that it can be ready for your friend’s summer party in minutes. It makes an excellent gift for hosts and gift for beach lovers who want a safe and easy way to stay warm during a late-night beach party. It's a great gift for the summer holidays when open-fire rules are strict, but no one wants to miss the sunset.

Unique Summer Gifts

15. Funky Funboy Floats

Your average pool float may not be the most unique summer gift, but these eccentric pool floats certainly are! These Funboy floats come in all shapes and sizes, from pink convertibles to surfboards and other unique designs. With one of these, you're sure to be the hit of every pool party of the summer. 

16. Beach-Ready Books

What’s a beach trip without a book? Books make excellent beach gifts as well as summer gifts for teachers. There are so many options to choose from. We recommend Meet Me at the Lake for a summer romance theme, but you should choose a book that you know your friend will love and appreciate while they’re basking in the summer sun. 

17. Beachy Jewelry

Beachy jewelry can make any outfit look more summer-ready and glamorous. That makes it an excellent summer gift for women. The Pura Vida summer gift box is filled with dainty and darling summer jewelry pieces. Plus, every purchase helps give back to artisan communities and charities.

18. Tropical-Print Shirt

Tropical shirts can sometimes be vintage and kitschy, but the right pick can still be super stylish. They’re so uncool that they’re cool, you know? They make awesome summer gifts, especially if you then throw a tropical-themed party where your friends can wear their new shirts. 

You can buy them used for genuine vintage vibes, but it’s far easier to find cool new ones at shops like Urban Outfitters. Pick something made from breathable cotton-linen for a summer gift for men that will keep him cool in the summer sun. 

19. Summer Vacation Photo Frames

Help your loved ones document their summer fun with this summer gift! Summer vacation photo frames can be so cute. They’ll encourage your friends to actually print and display their photos. You can even find options with mats, so their instant camera pics slide around.

20. Bluetooth Boombox

What’s a summer party without some music? You can kick it old school (with a modern edge) by giving the summer gift of a Bluetooth boombox so your giftee can pump up the jams. The JBL GO 3 looks super cute and it's easy to use. It’s also small enough to move around without hassle, making it perfect for camping trips or outdoor parties.

21. Temporary Tattoos

Temporary tattoos make awesome gifts for the summer holiday and additions to any summer gift basket ideas. When you get real tattoos, you can’t really enjoy summer fun until they’re healed. Swimming is terrible for fresh tattoos and you shouldn’t expose them to too much sunlight.

Temporary tattoos from Inkbox are the perfect alternative. They last for around 10 days and they’re great for summer parties! All the perks, none of the hassle. There's a reason they're one of the best gifts for summer.

22. Soothing Beachy Candles

Who doesn’t love relaxing with a nice beachy candle? Candles are awesome gifts for summer lovers that last all year long. When your friend wants to remember their summer of fun, all they have to do is light their candle. 

There are countless candles to choose from, but we love the candles from Arbor Made! They're refillable and make a great summer gift idea for the eco-conscious. If you're feeling a bit more adventurous, dive into candle-making yourself. Or, take a candle-making workshop with your friend and come out with your own uniquely scented candles.

Summer Gift Basket Ideas

23. Tasty Party Gift Basket

Do you want the perfect summer gift basket ideas for a party? Look no further than a basket full of delicious snacks. Bring it to a party so everyone can enjoy it or give it as a housewarming gift for the giftee to enjoy alone. 

This Wine Barrel Gift Basket is an excellent option for a classy summer soiree. You truly can’t go wrong when you combine wine and cheese in one delicious basket. Snack baskets aren’t just good for parties. They’re also some of the best summer gifts for teachers, especially pre-made baskets like the ones from Harry and David.

24. Children’s Beach Toy Gift Basket

Do you have a friend with a little one who will be having their first beach trip soon? A children’s beach gift basket is so much fun to assemble, and they’re sure to appreciate it. 

So what goes into the basket? Assemble summer gifts that you think the child will like and use. Consider adding some sand mold beach toys alongside a child-sized beach towel and a children’s book about a trip to the beach. 

25. Comfy Beach Towel Basket

Beach towels are the ultimate summer gift items because you can never have too many. Give a friend a comfy set of stylish beach towels so they can enjoy their next beach trip with friends. 

Mix and match different styles. This Slowtide beach towel pairs well with this much simpler Kassatex Amalfi beach towel despite their contrasting looks. Find a few you love and gather them all together in one basket.

26. Summer Skincare Gift Basket

According to many studies published by the National Library of Medicine, the sun can speed up skin aging! There’s nothing wrong with aging skin, but why not help your friend protect their skin with this summer gift idea? It’s the perfect summer gift for beach lovers who spend maybe a bit too much time in the sun. 

Include some reef-safe mineral face sunscreen and a few other skincare products that you know your friend loves. They’ll have glowing and healthy skin all summer long.

27. Summer Spa Gift Basket

Looking for gifts for summer lovers who deserve some pampering after a long day at the beach? Give them a spa gift basket! This is also one of the best gifts for someone looking for staycation ideas because they can have an at-home spa day.

Include a spa dress from Cozy Earth, a few DIY bath bombs, along with some beauty products and candles. Arrange an at-home spa day for them so they won’t forget these thoughtful summer gift items.

28. Beverage Gift Basket

This is one of the handiest beach gifts around. It’s a gift basket full of beverages and accessories for them. Include your friend’s favorite adult beverage. Add in some neat accessories, like this Beer Preserver koozie or this On the Rocks set. Give your friend whatever they need to enjoy a day in the sun with a relaxing drink.  

29. Rainy Summer Day Gift Basket

Uh oh, the rain is ruining a summer day! No worries, this summer gift basket is here to help. Assemble a basket full of rainy day activities. This can include summer gift items like books, summer-themed puzzles and games to keep your friend entertained. This is one of our favorite family gift ideas for the summer season.

So, which of these summer gift ideas speaks to you? You have the whole season to give summer-themed gifts to your friends and family members! Choose summer gifts that match the setting — beach, porch, park — and the way the recipient spends warm afternoons. We’re sure they’ll be a hit.

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