Funny birthday gifts for men: 12 ideas that get a laugh and get used

Gift ideas · Ippos Beard

A good funny birthday gift for a man gets a laugh when he opens it and is still in use a month later. Here are 12 tested ideas, from €0 to €40, for a friend, a brother, a colleague or your boyfriend.

A birthday is the moment when everyone watches the present being opened. So you want it to get a laugh. The trouble is that the joke gadget often ends up in a drawer the very next day. The rule here is simple: every idea has to get a laugh in front of the cake, and then be good for something. We have added rough prices and who each idea suits best.

01The Beard Sponge, the sponge that picks up beard hair

The gift that makes the whole table laugh, especially the person who shares his bathroom. It is a small sponge that picks up beard hair from the sink in one swipe, and it is reusable. It costs €9.99, it has passed 7 million views on TikTok and it is rated 4.8/5 across more than 1,300 reviews. With the buy 2 get 1 free offer on the product page, you have one for him and two in reserve for the next birthdays. Who it suits: any man with a beard and a sink. See the Beard Sponge.

02A barbecue apron with a message about him

Not the stock phrase you see everywhere. An apron with his nickname, his favourite line, or the name of the dish he always ruins. Expect €15 to €25 from an online printer. It gets a laugh when he puts it on in front of everyone, and it comes back out at every barbecue all summer. Who it suits: the man who thinks he is a chef the moment something is on fire.

03A trophy for being the best at something

Best snorer, best at losing his keys, best teller of stories that go on too long. A small engraved cup or medal costs €10 to €20. Hand it over with a speech, that is where it gets funny. After that it sits on a shelf or a desk and brings the joke back every time someone visits. Who it suits: the friend who can laugh at himself.

04The clean sink pack

For a birthday where you want to spend a little more, the clean sink pack brings together the Beard Sponge, the beard bib with suction cups and a pouch, for €29.99. The bib sticks to the sink and catches the hair while he trims, and the sponge finishes the job. It gets a laugh because everyone understands the message, and it really does fix the problem. Who it suits: the man who trims his beard at home. See the clean sink pack.

05A candle with an unlikely scent

Wood fire, old books, popcorn or garage. Candles with odd scents cost €10 to €20 and always land well, because everyone at the table wants a sniff. Just check the reviews, some of them smell of nothing once lit. Who it suits: the colleague or brother in law you do not know well but want to make smile.

06A giant sweet

The one kilo gummy bear, the chocolate bar the size of a pillow, the three kilo jar of chocolate spread. Between €15 and €30. It is silly, it is impressive, and it gets shared with the guests. No chance of it ending up at the back of a cupboard. Who it suits: the man with a sweet tooth, and anyone who is impossible to buy for.

07A beard brush engraved with your inside joke

A good beard brush is a serious object. Unless you have it engraved with his nickname, a date, or the line he says all the time. At Ippos Beard the brush costs €39.99 and the engraving is done by hand in our workshop in France, so you choose exactly the words you want. He smiles when he sees it, then he uses it every morning. Who it suits: the bearded man who looks after his beard. See the engraved beard brush or all the personalised accessories.

08The newspaper front page from the day he was born

A reprint of a newspaper front page dated the day he was born. Expect €15 to €30. Everyone laughs reading the prices, the adverts and the headlines of the time. It is also a real keepsake that he can frame. Who it suits: the big birthdays, 30, 40, 50, and dads who like to say things were better back then.

09A mini desk game

A mini basketball hoop for the bin, mini bowling, mini magnetic darts. Between €10 and €20. It sits on a desk and comes in handy during meetings that drag on. Pick a sturdy one, the flimsy versions break within a week. Who it suits: a colleague, or a friend who works from home.

10A homemade book of vouchers

Good for one breakfast in bed, good for choosing the film with no debate, good for one evening where he is right about everything. A few sheets of paper, a pen, a staple. It costs next to nothing and it is often the gift people talk about most afterwards. Add an expiry date for fun, then keep your promises. Who it suits: your boyfriend, your brother, your best friend.

11A tee with his birth year on it

The classic of the genre: his birth year presented like a limited edition or a fine vintage. Expect €15 to €25. Choose decent cotton and a fit he already wears, otherwise he will only sleep in it. Which is still a win. Who it suits: the 30th, 40th and 50th, when age becomes something to joke about.

12A birthday survival kit

A jar or a box that you fill yourself: sweets, coffee, earplugs, a sleep mask for naps, and a handwritten label for each item. Between €10 and €20 depending on what goes in. The more specific the labels, the funnier it gets. Who it suits: the man who takes turning a year older with a bit of bad grace.

Looking for more ideas beyond birthdays? We have also put together 12 funny gift ideas for men in another article.