Turning 21 is a big milestone for anyone, and along with a big birthday bash, gift-giving is definitely a requirement. The real challenge is finding the right gift for that well-deserving guy friend, boyfriend, brother or son. But what exactly are the best 21st birthday presents for men? Can you just give him a coffee mug and be done with it?
We fully understand where you’re coming from. It’s no big secret that men are especially hard to buy for! It’s tempting to keep it simple, but a 21st birthday gift should be heartfelt, memorable, and genuinely appreciated. If you get it right, the lucky man who’s unwrapping it should be feeling pretty stoked (and not groaning internally about another daggy gift).
So, how do you know what your partner, son, or grandson really wants for his 21st?
Check out these 21st birthday gift ideas for him – the kind of gifts he actually wants to receive. Our curated list includes tried-and-tested favourites, plus some unique and inventive birthday gifts guaranteed to put a smile on his face. Whatever the birthday boy is into, you’ll find the perfect present below.
Look through our list and you’re sure to find a gift that hits all the right notes on your special guy’s milestone birthday.
Best 21st Birthday Experience Gifts for Him
Drift School Driving Experience
For racing fans and adrenaline junkies, nothing beats the rush of getting behind the wheel of a car and taking it for a joyride. With this drift school gift card from Drift School WA, he can buckle up and experience what it’s like to be a real drift car driver!
Gift Highlights
● Purchase helps support a local Perth business.
● No experience required to hit the tarmac.
● Safe environment to drift away from public roads.
● Helps improve safe driving skills.
How much does it cost?
Prices vary depending on the drift experience you choose. For example, you can get the Drift Experience Gift Card ($99) that lets him ride shotgun with a pro drift driver, or choose from any of the hands-on ‘learn to drift’ experiences for maximum thrills. Not sure what he likes? Starting from $100, you can get a gift card that he can use on any of the courses offered by Drift School WA.
Buy a Drift WA Gift Card
JetPack Perth Experience
This jetpack and flyboard experience from JetPack Perth is the perfect option for young guys who love to be out on the water. Anyone wanting to feel like an international spy for a day will also love this James Bond-inspired experience. JetPack Perth also provides the use of hoverboards and jet bikes for maximum thrills!
Gift Highlights
● Choose from a Jetpack, Jetbike, Flyboard or Hoverboard
● Expert Perth instructors
● 10, 20 or 30 minutes air time
● 15 minutes training
● 3 or 6mm wetsuits included
● One-of-a-kind experience
● Instant booking confirmations
How much does it cost?
Prices vary depending on how long you’d like to stay up in the air on a Jetpack, Jetbike, Flyboard or Hoverboard. You can be up in the air for 10 mins for $99 per session or you can choose the full experience with a combo of 2 devices for 15 minutes for $250. You can also choose individual or group experiences, so there are definitely lots of options to choose from.
Buy a JetPack Gift Voucher
jetpackperth.com.au/buy-voucher
Foodie 21st Birthday Gifts
Up Close and Local’s Low & Slow American Barbeque Food Tour Perth
Up Close and Local offers unique, private food tours for locals, tourists and corporates. Among their local food tours, the Low & Slow Food Tour stands out as an awesome 21st birthday gift. It’s the only American BBQ food tour in Perth and takes you on a special tour around Perth’s best smokehouses. Great for the budding chef in your life or any guy who loves a good brisket.
Gift Highlights
● 4.5 hour guided tour
● Inspired by the famous Franklin Barbecue in Austin, Texas
● Meet-and-greet local Perth chef with a Bachelor of Barbeque Science, trained by world’s most accomplished barbeque chef and pitmaster in Kansas
● Enjoy classic BBQ trimmings like mac ‘n cheese and smoked baked beans
● Drop by a small, hidden bar for cocktails
● Tour points out great “hidden foodie gems” for your future visits
How much does it cost?
Group and private tour prices vary. Contact Up Close & Personal Boutique Tours for the latest price and availability.
Book a Low & Slow BBQ Tour
upcloseandlocaltours.com.au/perth-half-day-full-day-tours/
Tsuki 5-Piece Knife Set and Wallet
For the boyfriend or son who loves to cook, a knife set is always a welcome gift. But what we’re recommending isn’t just another knife set. The Tsuki 5-Piece Knife Set & Wallet includes a Damascus-steel Chef’s knife, Japanese cleaver, Santoku knife, utility knife and paring knife – everything a budding master chef needs in his culinary journey.
Gift Highlights
● Feature two layers of attractive Damascus steel covering the core of the knives to protect against corrosion.
● Full set contains: 16.5cm (6½”) vegetable chopper, 20cm (8″) chefs knife, 18cm (7″) Santoku knife, 13cm (5″) utility knife and 9cm (3½”) paring knife, with a Vogue thirteen compartment wipe clean knife wallet for safe and easy transportation.
● Endorsed by the Craft Guild of Chefs
How much does it cost?
$499.90 excluding GST
Buy from Nisbets
nisbets.com.au/tsuki-5-piece-knife-set-and-wallet
Hops to Home Craft Beer Club Gift Pack
Hops to Home Craft Beer Gift Pack is the perfect gift for beer lovers and brewers. You can give him the 1-month or 3-month craft beer subscription, which includes fresh craft beers from Hops to Home and other independent Australian craft breweries. Craft beers are shipped within 30 days of canning date to ensure freshness.
Gift Highlights
● Limited release beers or canned fresh for the very first time
● 100% Independent Australian Craft Breweries
● A handpicked selection of Australia’s freshest craft beer cans some brewed exclusively for Hops to Home
● Seasonal styles including Pale Ales, XPA’s, IPA’s, Stouts, collab’s and limited releases
● Tasting Notes, Froth magazine and monthly podcast to learn about the breweries and beers
How much does it cost?
Price varies depending on whether you’d like to gift a 1-month gift pack at $80 or 3-month gift pack for $199.
Buy a Hops to Home Craft Beer Gift Pack
hopstohome.com.au/pages/giftpacks
21st Birthday Gifts for Men of Style
Bausele Bespoke Watches: The Terra Australis
They say you can tell a lot about a man just by looking at the watch he wears. Mark his 21st birthday in the most memorable way by gifting him with a premium Swiss watch. Our pick is the customisable Terra Australis watch from Bausele.
Gift Highlights
● Premium Swiss-made watch, encased in a lightweight new material created in Australia exclusively for Bausele
● The primary ingredient in the crown of every Terra Australis is Red Earth from Kimberley, WA
● Create your own bespoke timepiece with over 850 possible colour combinations
● Signature five-pronged diamond clasp holding the watch face securely in place
How much does it cost?
$4.850 AUD
Buy the Bausele Terra Australis
bausele.com/collections/terra-australis
Sneakerboy Digital Voucher
Does the 21st birthday boy have sneaker game? Does he love high fashion streetwear? If so, then a gift voucher from Sneakerboy fits the bill. He can use it on all clothing, footwear, and accessories. What’s also great about this offer is that shipping is free on all orders, giving him maximum value on the sweet kicks he chooses.
Gift Highlights
Aside from the obvious benefits of shopping from Sneakerboy’s range of premium sneakers and clothing, when you purchase a voucher, you only need to indicate the recipient’s email address, and he will receive an email that shows the image of the voucher and its corresponding amount and expiry date.
How much does it cost?
The amount ranges from $100 to $1,000, redeemable online or in-store.
Buy a Sneakerboy Digital Voucher
sneakerboy.com/shop-clothing/sneakerboy-SBGC
Sneaker Laundry Gift Card
Some men treat their sneakers like gold. If he likes to keep his footwear in pristine condition, this gift card from The Sneaker Laundry will let him access the ultimate sneaker maintenance kit.
Gift Highlights
● Premium service from Australia’s premier sneaker care company
● Wide range of sneaker solutions, from sneaker organizers to sneaker stain removers
● You are buying from an Aussie business with over 20 years’ experience
How much does it cost?
Vouchers are available in $10, $25, $50, $75 and $100 and can be used on all The Sneaker Laundry products and services, online or in-store.
Buy a Sneaker Laundry Gift Card
thesneakerlaundry.com.au/products/gift-vouchers
Techie 21st Birthday Gifts
Mavic Air 2 Drone
If you’re looking for a gift for someone who flies drones or loves drone photography, you can surprise him with the DJI Mavic Air 2 drone for his 21st birthday.
Gift Highlights
● 48MP Photo | 4K/60fps Video
● 34-Min Max Flight Time
● 10km Video Transmission
● APAS 3.0 Obstacle Avoidance
● FocusTrack
How much does it cost?
From $1,499
Buy the Mavic Air 2
store.dji.com/nz/category/mavic-air-2
Original Prusa MINI+ Compact 3D Printer
Is he an student engineer, budding scientist or just a total tech nut? If yes, then the Original Prusa Mini+ 3D printer is the perfect 21st birthday for the techie guy.
This mini-but-mighty 3D printer is compact enough to fit on a desk but performs just as well as its larger version. It has a full-colour LCD screen that previews the sliced model before it starts printing, a magnetic heatbed, and a convenient one-click printing operation.
Gift Highlights
● Smart – Starter Printer
● Affordable – Secondary Printer
● Reliable – Print Farm Workhorse
Buy the Original Prusa MINI+ from Technology Hub
technologyhub.com.au/product/original-prusa-mini-australia/
21st Birthday Gifts for The Off-Roader
Adventure Kings Roof Top Tent
This rooftop tent from Adventure Kings is a convenient, safe and practical gift option for the guy who loves the outdoors. In less than three minutes, it can be assembled up on top of a vehicle, and it can be stowed in the 600 GSM protective bag just as quickly.
Gift Highlights
● Absolute convenience – sets up in under three minutes!
● Tough-as 320 gsm Poly Cotton Ripstop Canvas construction
● High-density open cell mattress – moisture dries super quick!
● Fully water and insect-proof design – perfect for the tropics
● Stronger, longer ladder designed for lifted 4WDs
How much does it cost?
$899.00
Buy the Adventure Kings Roof Top Tent
au.adventurekings.com/camping-and-outdoor/rooftop-tents/adventure-kings-roof-top-tent
Hema HX-1 Navigator: On & Off-road GPS
If you’re looking for the perfect 21st gift for a camping and 4WD enthusiast, then you’ve hit the jackpot. The Hema HX-1 Navigator is a reliable travel companion not only for camping and caravanning trips but also for everyday use. Packed with handy features, this GPS system helps him hit the trails with an added layer of safety. Preloaded with premium 4WD maps, he’ll be ready for his next adventure.
Gift Highlights
● Find camping sites & caravan parks fast
● Preloaded with Hema’s Premium 4WD Maps
● Reliable street GPS navigation
How much does it cost?
$699 RRP
Buy a Hema HX-1 Navigator
shop.hemamaps.com/collections/hema-hx-1-navigator/products/hema-hx-1-navigator
Buy a Hema Maps E-Gift Card
shop.hemamaps.com/products/hema-maps-egift-card
Fitness Enthusiast 21st Birthday Gifts
Elite Fitness Home Bench Press With 120kg Weight Package
The Elite Fitness Equipment Home Bench Press Package makes a great addition to his home gym. It comes with an adjustable backrest, extendible and reversible barbell holder, leg developer, and safety spot bars – everything he needs for a full-body workout!
Gift Highlights
● Backrest adjustable for decline, flat & 2x incline positions.
● Extendable and Reversible Barbell Holder (rated to 120kg)
● Leg developer for extensions & curls.
● Thick & durable upholstery.
● Safety Spot Bars (rated to 100kg)
How much does it cost?
$549.97
Buy the Elite Fitness Home Bench Press
elitefitness.com.au/product/strength/gym-fitness-equipment-packages
Vital Health Fitness Supplements Gift Certificate
Are you shopping for a gym buff? Help him stay fit and strong by giving him a gift certificate from Vital Strength. You can purchase any amount ranging from $1 to $1,000, and it will be sent directly to his email.
Gift Highlights
The Vital Strength gift certificate is valid for any Vital Strength product, from their protein powders, strength boosters, and pre-workout shots to merchandise such as towels, protein shakers and gym singlets.
Buy a Vital Strength Gift Certificate
vitalstrength.com/giftcertificates.php
Sonic Elite Outdoor Complete Volleyball System
Forget basketball – Volleyball is the most exciting sport for the under-30 crowd, whether it’s played at the beach or in the backyard. The All Volleyball outdoor volleyball net system is a guaranteed ace for the aspiring or seasoned volleyball player, and it makes for a great social game along with a beer and a barbie, too.
Gift Highlights
The package includes:
● Two aluminium volleyball poles
● Weather-treated steel cable volleyball net (36 x 32 inches), boundary lines with bungees and stakes
● Net tightening ratchet
● Storage bag for the net and accessories. The net and pole system is suitable for sand, beach and grass courts.
How much does it cost?
$789.95
Buy the Sonic Elite Outdoor Complete Volleyball System from All Volleyball
allvolleyball.com/product/sonic-elite-outdoor-complete-volleyball-system
Related Questions
How much should you spend on a 21st birthday gift?
While there is no hard and fast rule when it comes to choosing how much to spend on a 21st, it will depend on your financial means and how close you are to the recipient. Buying an expensive gift is not at all bad if you want to make a big impression – after all, you only turn 21 once. But of course, the joy of gift-giving doesn’t depend on the gift’s monetary value, so spend what you can and the recipient will definitely understand.
What are good virtual gifts?
Some great virtual gifts that you might want to consider are the following:
o An experience gift voucher emailed direct to the recipient
o Wine delivery or beer subscription
o Streaming service membership for movie buffs
o A video message from their favourite celebrity
o An audio book or book subscription
o Cooking lessons or local foodie tours for aspiring chefso A spa gift card or virtual gym membership