It’s important that the gift you choose shows him how much you care, not how much money you have. Sometimes homemade gifts can mean much more to a man than something special and expensive.

Birthday gifts for him that reference a funny or special moment in the past, like a joke you shared or a vacation you took together, can be very powerful. They can also strengthen your bond if you are in a long distance relationship.

Choose a birthday gift for him that represents how serious your relationship is. If you are just friends with benefits, a pizza and a six pack can work. But if you’ve been together for four years, it’s probably not such a good idea.

Here’s our list of 15 birthday gifts for him and why they work.

1. Monthly subscription

There are quite a few monthly subscription boxes you can sign up for. Your husband will receive a box of goodies once a month. What is included in the box depends on the service you subscribe to. Some boxes contain clothing. Some contain shaving and grooming supplies. Some have accessories like phone covers and sunglasses. There are boxes with underwear, healthy foods, gourmet foods, fishing accessories or action figures.

The fun part is that he gets a surprise from you every month. So this gift idea works best if you have a long term relationship. Keep in mind that it can be a bit awkward if you are re-dating and the subscription lasts longer than the relationship. So this is best if you already have a long term relationship!

2. Video game

Get him a fun video game to play when he just wants to eat vegetables. He can relieve the stress he is under during the day by playing a racing game, for example. Check out some reviews if you don’t know much about what games guys like, and get him something so he can have fun. He’ll appreciate that you got a gift just for him, especially if it’s not something you’re interested in.

3rd Remote control car

If your guy is a racing fan, check out some racing toys for men. You can get a remote control Ferrari or Mercedes for under $100. You can also find many other RC racing cars from other manufacturers, some of which go more than 70 miles per hour. This gift, like video games, lets your man do something mindless, which can be a great stress reliever.

4. Wireless headset

If your husband is traveling on business, get him a nice wireless headset so he can listen to music on the plane. Wearing such a headset also clearly indicates that he’s not available for conversation with his seatmate, whether it’s a well-meaning grandma or the hot girl he’s not supposed to talk to

5. Running shoes

This birthday gift for him he can wear while running. And if you choose a stylish pair, he can also wear it with his regular wardrobe.

6. Beautiful barware

At some point, drinking out of red plastic beer pong cups gets old. This birthday gift for your friend treats your man to some adult barware. This will add a certain sophistication to the party night.

7. A personalized gift

You can take any ordinary gift and personalize it with his initials or name to make it special. Some popular gifts for men that you can personalize are pocket knives, a picture that has his name on framed letters of the architectural alphabet, coasters that have the bar of [Name] is written, a leather keychain with his name and a monogrammed cutting board ( because if he has you for wine and cheese) and even personalized golf balls.

The thought shows you’re a good friend. Read more here.

8th His day in history

The New York Times Store sells reprints of any date. Pick his birthday and he can find out what the news events of the day were. You can get this framed.

9. A barbecue set

Men often like to barbecue. And if he has just the right barbecue tools, he can bring out his burgers perfectly every time. You can find some nice sets that include tongs, a basting brush and a spatula. This is a gift that you can enjoy together.

10. Beer related gifts

If he loves beer, there are numerous gifts you can get just for that purpose. They range from beer brewing kits to a beer tasting card where he can track his favorite beers from around the country. You can also get him some nice beer glasses or a beer brewer to keep his favorite beer on tap and carry around.

11. The experience gift

You can find all kinds of companies that offer experience gifts. The experience could be riding in a hot air balloon, flying in a helicopter, white water rafting, riding in a race car, or taking golf or tennis lessons with a professional. They make for great date ideas !

If your man likes art, botanical gardens, concerts, theater, sports, or amusement parks, you can buy him an annual membership to any of them. That way, he can go whenever he wants. And he can take you with him.

12. A sleeping bag

If you and your friend like camping, get him a sleeping bag for two. And if you do not like camping, at least with this gift, there is one aspect of the trip that you will like.

13. SMS gloves

He still has to use his phone when it’s cold outside, and taking off his gloves all the time is a hassle, not to mention his hands get cold. Get him gloves that allow him to access his smartphone and keep warm at the same time.

14. Waterproof cover for his phone

If your husband is active outdoors and can’t take his phone with him for fear of getting wet, get him a waterproof phone case. This way, he can use his phone even while white water rafting (if he wants to).

15. Homemade gifts

Give him a birthday gift from the heart by making him one with love. You could bake him a cake and write “I Love You” on it. This post lists many things that need to be written or expressed. Instead of buying him a box of candy, you could learn to make truffles. You could make a poster of all the things you like to do together. Varying the font, font size, and colors will make it look the way you want.

It can be difficult to choose the right gift for your friend. What seems like an easy process isn’t most of the time. And you don’t want to get him anything too expensive or intimate when your relationship isn’t there yet.

And if you’re intimate, you don’t want to give anything impersonal, like something you would give to an acquaintance. So there’s really an art to choosing a gift from the heart. And if you do, you will be remembered and appreciated for it. But don’t stress too much. You may not know (unless he tells you) what he really wants. But as long as you make an effort, it says a lot.

Don’t forget to visit our Christmas gift guide, suggestions for anniversary gift sand ideas for Valentine’s Day gifts, too!

Choosing the right birthday gift for your boyfriend is important. He will appreciate and notice the thought that went into picking just the right one. And if you just can not decide what to bring your boyfriend for his birthday, no man will be disappointed if you wait for him in your sexy lingerie – more ideas for sexy gifts in this post.