The Best Retirement Gifts To Send Friends and Family Out of the Workforce in Style

Looking for a few great retirement gifts? Clocking out for the last time is no minor achievement, and while there are plenty of great reasons for retirees to celebrate their newfound freedom, you’re going to want to make sure you get them a gift that’s both original and useful, which is no easy feat.

Fortunately, we’ve rounded up the best retirement gifts. Whether they’re looking to put all that free time to good use by sightseeing, working on their golf swing or simply soaking up the good life by finally getting to slow down and unwind, we’ve sourced some of our favorite retirement gifts to help them celebrate in style.

From scratch-off maps to intriguing puzzles to whiskey stones and more, check out some of the coolest and most universal retirement gifts. After all the work they’ve put in over the years, they definitely deserve something nice.

1. Maps International Scratch-Off Map of The US

Retirement means that you can finally see the world, starting in your own backyard. Since flying is a bit iffy these days, the good old American road trip is even more appealing. This USA scratch-off map is coated in gold; every time your retiree visits a state, they can scratch it off to reveal the state in color and see cartographic details, with National Parks and other attractions highlighted. Measuring 24 by 36 inches, it’s made out of silk art paper.

2. 9GreenBox Zen Reflections Juniper Bonsai

Not heading into a 9 to 5 every day means there’s plenty of time to become a plant parent! A juniper bonsai tree is a great place to start. Homegrown in California, this planet is 6 to 8 inches high and comes in an elegant pot with a divided water pond. Bonsai plants bring luck, plus they’re an ancient form of Feng Shui. They also symbolize harmony, balance, meditation and peace, which are qualities anyone could use in their home! Plus, it’s a plant that’s easy to care for.

3. Herd Mentality

Retirement can quickly become an isolating endeavor when someone is used to going to a busy workplace five days a week, so help the new retiree in your life stay connected with friends. Big Potato’s Herd Mentality is a fun new board game that asks silly questions to get players thinking about outrageous situations, i.e. would you rather have robot arms or robot legs? SPY received a copy of Herd Mentality and we like that the game can easily be played over video chat, making it a great way for friends to stay in touch or grandparents to make memories with their grandkids even when loved ones are far away.

4. My Life Story – So Far

Help new retirees look back on some of their best moments and biggest accomplishments with a book that will quickly become a keepsake. My Life Story – So Far is filled with prompts and organized into nine sections that make it easy for users to reflect on milestones and memories and create a written history for themselves. The book is beautifully bound in cloth and doesn’t require a set schedule for filling out, making it a great item to work on whenever inspiration strikes.

5. Satechi Slim X2 Bluetooth Backlit Keyboard with Numeric Keypad

New retirees may suddenly find themselves without an office computer that was previously used to do most of their correspondence (during breaks … of course). Ditching your office workstation for a tablet or iPad at home may seem like a good idea at the beginning of retirement, but typing emails, taking care of banking, or booking travel can quickly become cumbersome without the use of a full-sized keyboard. SPY received a sample of the Satechi Slim X2 Bluetooth Backlit Keyboard with Numeric Keypad and we like how quickly it can connect to our devices, including laptops (typing on a full-sized keyboard with a numeric keypad is always more comfortable than a laptop). We also like the illuminated backlit keys which feature an adjustable brightness, making it ideal for users who never mastered typing without looking at the keyboard.

6. WFH Desk

Much like losing your office computer, retirees have likely also lost their office desk. Setting up a home office where new retirees can pay bills, send emails, surf the web, chat with friends and maybe even research a new hobby is physically important. Seriously, your kitchen table is not a desk even if you aren’t sitting there from 9-5. SPY received a sample of the stand and sit WFH Desk and loved how easy it was to assemble. Not only that, it’s ideal for homes with multiple users since a few quick adjustments can change the standing or seated height of the desk. Have two retirees in the same home? Now they can share an office without feeling like they’re sharing an office.

7. The Kombucha Shop Kombucha Starter Kit

Getting busy in the kitchen is practically a rite of passage for new retirees, and this one has a nice health kick, too. Help them learn to brew their own kombucha with this starter kit that includes everything they need. It comes with all the equipment — a one-gallon brew jar made from thick American glass, pH test strips, a temperature gauge — as well as kombucha cultures and instructions. The brand’s support team is always on standby to ensure their kombucha turns out delicious.

8. Cordoba 15CM Concert Ukulele

New hobbies are one of the best things about retirement and you can never go wrong with picking up a new instrument, especially when it’s a crowd-pleaser like a ukulele. This best-seller by Cordoba is ideal for beginners. The handsome instrument is handmade and features a mahogany top, back and sides. The concert ukulele has a rich sound and is also available in soprano and tenor sizes.

9. Walden Original Meditation Cushion

Retirement is an exciting time filled with new possibilities. It’s also a major life adjustment and one that can be difficult to navigate emotionally and mentally. Help your retiree make their transition into retirement with a healthy mindset using the Walden Original Meditation Cushion. A great retirement gift for any meditation practice (get those apps, people), the cushion provides a supportive and comfortable seat during guided and unguided sessions. SPY received a sample of the chic and impressive cushion and like that it pulls triple duty as an attractive décor piece and booster for yoga as well as a meditation seat. Available in several colors, Walden fills their cushions with an all-natural, hypoallergenic buckwheat hull and tops the seat with gel-infused memory foam that makes it uber-comfy for any retiree.

10. Areaware Gradient Puzzle

Is someone actually retired if they don’t have a puzzle going on? The popularity of puzzles has soared lately for good reason – they’re surprisingly addictive and satisfying. The gradient design of this puzzle will keep them busy for quite some time. It comes in three different sizes and in six color combinations, so get the one that will suit them best.

11. Geo Box Culinary Herb Garden Kit

This gardening kit is quite the twofer. In addition to letting the lucky recipient get their hands dirty, they can also grow 10 culinary herbs — basil, parsley, oregano, cilantro, arugula, dill, chervil, fennel, chives and garlic chives — to spice up their meals. They’re super easy to grow and the starter kit has all the necessities, including 10 biodegradable peat pots, 10 expandable soil discs, 10 plant markers, seeds, and an instruction booklet. The seeds are all organic and non-GMO, sourced from local growers in the US.

Read More: Best Gifts For Grandparents

12. Don Pablo Bourbon Infused Specialty Coffee

Retiring may mean no more free coffee in the breakroom, but it also means this is the best time to experiment with new coffee flavors. For a coffee that feels very adult, but doesn’t actually contain alcohol, we like the Don Pablo Bourbon Infused Specialty Coffee for a great retirement gift. The coffee beans are soaked in real Kentucky Bourbon and roasted golden blonde for a smooth and rich flavor. SPY received a sample of the coffee and enjoyed the rich flavor and low acidity of the brew (heartburn sufferers — this is for you).

13. Lodge 6qt Cast Iron Enamel Dutch Oven

Being retired means no more racing home from work to get dinner on the table. Retirees can finally take their time creating their favorite meals and a big helper in the kitchen is a multi-use dutch oven. With the Lodge 6qt Cast Iron Enamel Dutch Oven, those meals can range from a pot roast to a fresh loaf of bread. Marinate, refrigerate, cook and serve all from the same dish, which features a smooth glass surface that won’t hold odor from ingredients. We also like that Lodge makes their dutch oven rust-resistant, includes pot protectors and a matching trivet.

14. Savino Wine Carafe

If the retiree in your life is more of a wine drinker, gift them the Savino Wine Carafe. The elegant glass carafe not only looks great on a table or countertop, but it keeps opened bottles of wine fresh for up to a week, making it easy and delicious to spread out your sipping schedule. Ideal for both red and whites, SPY received a sample of the Savino Wine Carafe and we liked that the drinkware came with an air stopper and didn’t require any pumping to keep the wine fresh. Plus, it’s dishwasher safe for easy cleaning and has a slim design that can fit into a fridge door.

15. Kindle Paperwhite

New retirees will love having a library in the palm of their hand with the Kindle Paperwhite. This excellent retirement gift is waterproof, features an adjustable backlight that makes it easy to read anywhere, and boasts adjustable font size. A subscription to Kindle Unlimited can be added anytime as a secondary gift for new retirees. And don’t worry if the person says they will only read ‘real’ books. Once someone tries out a lightweight, backlit Kindle, they’ll realize a story is just as great whether the page is paper or digital.

16. Nathan Pinnacle 12 L Hydration Vest

For outdoorsy retirees or new retirees who aspire to be outdoorsy, the Nathan Pinnacle 12 L Hydration Vest is a great way to help them stay hydrated and organized no matter where their adventure takes them. SPY received a sample of the Pinnacle Vest and we like the comfortable and adjustable fit, which evenly distributes the weight of water in the vests’ bladder. From low impact sports like walking, hiking, fishing, and boating, to the more intense running and biking workouts, the Pinnacle has plenty of room for water, snacks, personal items, and it features reflective details to ensure the wearer can be seen and stay safe throughout any activity.

17. Pratico Outdoors Extra Large Picnic Blanket & Outdoor Beach Blanket

It’s time to trade their lunch al desko for dining al fresco! This oversized picnic blanket will surely do the trick. The versatile blanket works on any outdoor surface, making it great for the beach or watching their grandchildren’s soccer games. Though it opens up to 60 in. by 80 in, it folds up super compact to the size of a purse and is lightweight with a handle, making it easily portable. The cushioned backing is water-resistant to keep you dry on grass and sand.

18. I Llove Llamas Coloring Book

Adult coloring books are still all the rage — as well as llamas — and this one is sure to put a smile on your retiree’s face. Author Jen Racine is all about whimsical images and this coloring book is no different. It’s filled with pictures of all sorts of llamas, so they’ll certainly want to stay inside the lines.

19. Whiskey Stones Gift Set

No more Monday morning meetings; no more late-night work sessions. What better way to help them celebrate their retirement than by helping them usher in the new era with this stunning whiskey stones gift set. Complete with two elegant bourbon glasses, the stones are made from 100% natural basalt, these stones are odorless, tasteless, and pretty darn cool. Best of all, it all comes in an elegant carrying case, which is sure to be a hit.

20. 101 Fun Things to Do in Retirement

For better or worse, retirees are going to have a lot of free time on their hands now. Instead of spending time sitting idly around the house, help them expand their horizons with this fun and fascinating book. Easily one of the more practical retirement presents, it offers tons of great ideas, tips, and one-liners to help retirees soak up the good life.

21. JBL Charge 4 – Waterproof Portable Bluetooth Speaker

For the retiree who loves to rock out, this JBL waterproof speaker makes the perfect companion for all their soon-to-be adventures. Weighing roughly two pounds, it’s small and lightweight enough to fit nicely into most bags without ever being a burden, and its clever design and simple functionality make it easily accessible for even the least savvy Bluetooth users. It features up to 20 hours of nonstop playtime, and it’s waterproof, so you won’t need to worry about it getting wet.

22. Blast Golf Swing Analyzer

Now that they’ve got plenty of time on their hands, retirees probably want to work on their golf swing. Luckily you can help them improve their game with this awesome golf swing analyzer. Great for newcomers and experienced golfers alike, it uses state-of-the-art smart motion technology to capture, check and evaluate your swing. Best of all, you can use it to help up your long game, short game, bunker and putting abilities. Click here if you’re looking for more golf gift ideas.

23. 50 States, 5,000 Ideas

Is your retiree looking to hit the open road now that they’re off the clock? If so, this book is a must-have. Brought to you by the travel experts at National Geographic, it includes awesome suggestions and hand-picked details for every state. From parks to beaches to hotels to must-see monuments, it even includes a nifty section on the Canadian territories, you know, just in case they’re planning to hit the great north.

24. MLVOC Travel Pillow 100% Pure Memory Foam

Retirees are probably going to be traveling a whole lot more now that there’s time to spare, and what better way to celebrate newfound freedom than by helping them stay comfy on all those grueling flights? This ultra-comfy travel pillow is made from 100% pure memory foam and is specifically designed to help support your neck and relieve that nagging travel soreness. It even comes with its own handy carrying pouch, making it the perfect carry-on.

25. Samsonite Expanding Golf Trunk Locker Organizer

Another great golf gift, this Samsonite trunk organizer is the perfect gift idea for the cluttered golf lover. All those clubs, shirts, shoes, hats, and tees can take up a surprisingly large amount of space, which is why this locker is so sweet. Made from durable ripstop polyester, it features different organizer pockets to help your dad easily store all their golfing essentials. Best of all, it’s super compact and extremely easy to carry on the green.

26. Finally Retired Novelty Beer Glass

OK, this one might not be for everyone, but really, who wouldn’t love to celebrate retirement by taking a sip of an ice-cold beer out of this hilarious glass. Whether you’re looking for a fun(ny) gag gift or are simply searching for a retirement gift that’s sure to leave a lasting impression, you really can’t go wrong with this one. This 16 oz glass features an extremely detailed graphic that won’t wear out or fade over time.