We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.
A lot changes when a man reaches his 30s. I remember starting to care more about my fit — although no one used that abbreviated word back then — as well as paying attention to the health of my skin and my body, beginning to eat better food, and enjoying birds. Why the birds? I don’t know, it just happens to us all eventually.
When it comes to buying the best gifts for men in their 30s, his evolution makes the range of gifts you can buy more varied and interesting but at the same time, selecting them slightly more challenging. After all, he may prefer a practical gift, like a fashionable pair of reading glasses or handsome shoes over something playful like a smartphone-controlled dragon plane. But he’s still a kid at heart and is becoming nostalgic for his youth, so maybe investing in that retro countertop arcade game will bring him tons of joy. So many choices!
Whether you're shopping for a birthday gift for the guy who has everything, the perfect Father’s Day present or need a unique gift for your brother, we’ve got you covered with the most popular gifts and unique experience gifts.
Arcade1UP Mortal Kombat II Countercade Game
Three classic Mortal Kombat games in one handsome countertop arcade game makes this the perfect gift for men in their 30s to put in his basement, office or where I have my Ms. Pac-Man countercade game: smack-dab in the middle of the kitchen table!
I can’t get over how cool, clever and convenient rolling grill baskets are! He’ll be able to easily grill asparagus, peppers, onions and more over an open flame without any food dropping between the grates. And, best of all, they're dishwasher-safe!
Many men would love to have their own indoor putting green with automatic ball return, but no partner wants to see it unfurled 24/7. Thankfully, this clever 8-foot, wrinkle-free velvet green rolls up neatly when not in use, so everyone at home is happy.
RELATED: Best Golf Gifts
Frigidaire Retro Mini Fridge
He’ll love to stock this mini drinks fridge with up to six cans of his favorite IPAs, ciders or craft root beers. It’ll go great in his man cave, fishing cabin, garage or even in the car where it can be charged and stay cool on the way to the beach or campsite.
RELATED: Best Gifts for Boyfriends
This sleek, stylish and super-fast charging station will keep all of his Apple gear powered up on his desk or nightstand. No more missed texts!
RELATED: Best Electronics Gifts to Shop
There are a lot of inexpensive turntable sets and retro suitcase-style record players with built-in speakers on the market today, but the majority of them sound terrible and most need the lid to be propped open for the vinyl to spin. Not so with this vintage record player with a lid that can be shut, which is crucial if he has kids or cats!
Life can get more complicated for men in their 30s — things start to ache, kids get more opinionated and careers become more serious. This means making once easy decisions, like what to eat for dinner, gets more challenging. These hilarious and useful dice will help him decide between Chinese takeout, Mexican, fast food and more.
Help your dude care for his skin with this awesome silicone scrubber and get him an extension handle to scrub that annoying spot in the middle of his back that is always itchy and always just out of reach.
Every single guy in his 30s or 40s will be stoked to build and fly this full-color dragon. He’ll assemble it using slick, laminated stock paper that’s resistant to both water and scratches, and then control it with his phone.
Original Magic Bullet Blender
Whether he wants his healthier side to flourish with protein shakes and fruit smoothies or indulging his sweet tooth with homemade milkshakes, the original Magic Bullet is a powerful blender he’ll use every day. Good Housekeeping Institute experts named it one of the best personal blenders because it has three blending cups and can handle things like chunky salsa and nuts.
RELATED: The Best Personal Blenders
As guys get older, we sometimes clam up and talk less about our lives, experiences and what’s going on in our heads. There are numerous problems with this, starting with the mental health struggle too many men are suffering from. This ingenious ‘game of stories’ encourages us to open up, have fun, be vulnerable, and share bits and pieces about ourselves. It’s a card game but it’s so much more than that, and it could be a gateway to deeper connection and understanding.
Guys of "a certain age" will love this party card game that fuses musical knowledge with actual music played through Spotify (no account needed). Hitster is the best game I’ve played in years because it’s a fun adaptation of Name That Tune that focuses on when songs by Outkast, Bruce Springsteen, Harry Styles, Neil Diamond and even the Glenn Miller Orchestra were originally released. It’s great fun for an unlimited number of music nerds of all ages to play together!
Herschel Novel Duffel Bag
Chances are, he's traveling more than ever now, whether for work or fun. This duffle is the perfect carry-on piece, and it even has a shoe compartment.
RELATED: Unique Travel Gifts for Men Who Love to See the World
He’s over 30 now, so it’s high time he ups his sneaker game. These handsome Aldo kicks are the perfect place to start. They look stellar with a pair of jeans or khakis and are comfortable enough to walk around in all day and night.
RELATED: The Best Walking Shoes for Men
With an ode to General and President Dwight D. Eisenhower, this WWII-style jacket, available unlined or with quilted taffeta insulation, is a workwear classic that can now be worn every day and on nights out on the town with nice jeans and boots. If your guy is in his 30s, he will love this vintage-looking, stand-up-to-anything jacket that’ll last forever.
Window Bird Feeder
We hit our 30s and become a meme because suddenly we're super interested in birds. If this phenomenon is happening to your guy, give him a clever window bird feeder that uses suction cups to attach to the window and provides him (and his cat) with hours of peaceful bird-watching at home. Laugh all you want, but a bit of stillness and peace is needed now more than ever!
Dr. Squatch 'Game of Thrones' Soap Collection
Winter may be coming, but the stink is going away! This trio of soaps with a range of grittiness (helpful as he makes the grown-up transition from smooth to exfoliating soaps) is packaged in a stunning Game of Thrones collector's box featuring a map inspired by the dragons of Westeros. It makes a SCENTsational gift for men over 30 who are migrating away from liquid soaps back to handheld bars.
This super sleek fan pumping out magically cool air will keep him comfortable while working, sleeping, or just hanging out on the couch playing video games. The Good Housekeeping Institute expert found Dreo fans to be super quiet, and they appreciated the convenience of the remote.
RELATED: The Best Fans of 2024
Ticket stubs may be a thing of the past, but his memories of seeing live music can live on forever with this cool concert journal. He’ll note the venue, date, the headliners plus their opening acts, give star ratings for sound quality, audience energy and more, plus write about his emotions and memorable things overheard during each show.
He’ll love the gift that lets him take the weekends off, lay back, and relax in a 2-in-1 water chair and hammock as a floating drinks station drifts around the pool with him.
Jeff is a dad of two daughters, an avid traveler, a photographer, an author and a freelance writer who lives in the suburbs of Philadelphia with his wife and their cats. In addition to Good Housekeeping, he's written for Parents, Fodor's, Food and Wine, Real Simple and Reader’s Digest, among other print and online publications. Jeff is the publisher of the quarterly literary magazine, Stanchion, and his book, Streets Cats and Where to Find Them, will be published by Running Press in the Summer of 2025.
Watch Next
50 Best Kitchen Gifts for the Chefs In Your Life
28 Best 4-Year Anniversary Gifts
The Best Gifts for Men in Their 20s
Unique French Gifts for All You Francophiles
