How much to spend on a birthday gift

Birthdays are fun, but many of us struggle to think of a great gift every year. How much should we even be spending on a birthday gift anyway? Should you spend less on a gift for a colleague than on a gift for a loved one?

In 2024, we surveyed thousands of people across the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Germany to find out exactly what people spend, and why. The result is a clear picture of real spending habits across Europe, broken down by relationship, so you can stop guessing and start giving with confidence. In this guide, you'll find the survey numbers, the factors that shape a fair budget and practical ways to set one that works for you.

How the budget is determined

There's no single "correct" amount to spend on a birthday gift, and that's actually good news. Our 2024 survey across the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Germany showed that spending habits vary a lot depending on who the gift is for.

A few things tend to shape that number the most:

• How close you are to the person. A partner, child or parent usually gets a bigger budget than a colleague or acquaintance.
• The type of birthday. Milestone birthdays, like turning 18, 30 or 50, often come with a slightly higher budget than a regular year.
• Your own financial situation. A gift is a gesture, and the size of that gesture is entirely up to what feels comfortable for you.
• Local gifting habits. Our survey found that respondents in different countries had slightly different comfort levels around spending, though the overall pattern stayed consistent: closer relationships mean bigger budgets.

How much to actually spend on a birthday gift

Our first question was simple: how much do people usually spend on a birthday gift? Over 30% told us they spend between €15 and €25, with nearly as many spending less than €15.

So for most people, €25 is the ceiling rather than the norm. Who the gift is for, and how close you are to them, makes the biggest difference.

For your children

Parents tend to loosen the budget here. Over 38% spend between €25 and €50, and 33% go above €50.

For siblings or parents

Around 40% spend between €25 and €50 on close family, while 38% find €15 to €25 plenty for the occasion.

For in-laws

Budgets ease off slightly for in-laws: 40% spend between €15 and €25, and 28% go up to €50.

For good friends

More than half of our panel spends between €15 and €25 on a good friend, and 24% stretch a little further to €25-€50.

For an acquaintance

Almost 70% keep it to €15 or under for an acquaintance, with a smaller group willing to go up to €25.

For a colleague

Most people spend €15 or less on a colleague's birthday gift. One easy way to make that budget go further is to chip in as a group: ask everyone to contribute by a set date, send a reminder as it nears, and you'll land on a solid combined budget without anyone having to chase reimbursements later.

So, how much should you actually spend?

There's no obligation to spend big on a gift. Your budget is entirely your own, and it depends on what feels comfortable for you. What matters most is the thought behind it — a small, meaningful gift holds just as much value as an expensive one.

Our favourite gifts for a smaller budget

If you’re looking for a great gift for a smaller budget, take a look at these fantastic options:

Practical tips to set up your budget

Knowing the averages is a great starting point, but turning that into your own comfortable budget takes a bit more thought. Here are five ways to approach it.

Set a personal range before you start shopping

Decide on a minimum and maximum before you start shopping. Having a range, say €15 to €30, gives you room to pick something you genuinely like without the temptation to overspend once you spot the "perfect" gift.

Match the budget to the relationship, not the occasion

A gift for your best friend's birthday and a gift for a work acquaintance's birthday don't need the same budget, and our survey confirms most people naturally scale their spending this way already. Use the ranges above as a guideline rather than a fixed rule.

Pool budgets for group gifts

Buying for a colleague or a group of friends? Chipping in together turns several small budgets into one meaningful gift. Ask everyone to contribute by a set date and send a friendly reminder as it approaches. This way, you know your total budget upfront and no one is left waiting to be paid back.

Prioritise meaningful over expensive

A thoughtful, personalised gift, like a mug with an inside joke or a photo book of shared memories, tends to mean more than the price tag suggests. Our tone of voice as a brand is built entirely around this idea: it really is the thought, and the moment, that counts.

Keep a running "gift fund"

If birthdays sneak up on you throughout the year, setting aside a small amount each month keeps your gift budget ready to go. It also takes the pressure off any single month when several birthdays land close together.

Quick tip: if you're buying for several people this year, list their birthdays and rough budgets at the start of January. It turns twelve small decisions into one easy plan.