Birthday Gift Card Ideas

September 17, 2025

How Much to Spend on a Birthday Gift Card 

The beauty of buying birthday gift cards online? You can easily explore options to find a meaningful greeting while spending exactly what works for you. Here are a few considerations when choosing how much to spend on your birthday gift card budget. 

Relationship

For family, close friends, or milestone birthdays, $50-$100 makes for a thoughtful gift. However, for a more casual acquaintance, $20-$50 would be appropriate and appreciated. You can, of course, always adjust these ranges based on the formality of the festivities or simplify gifts if you’re sending individual gifts to a larger group.

Personal Budget

Always consider your own comfort level when it comes to what you’re spending. That may be less if you’re giving many gifts or are on a tighter budget, and it may be more if you want to shower someone with extra joy for any reason. Other excellent gift card gift ideas include contributing to a group gift for a larger amount given together or purchasing gift cards online during a special offer period to make your money go further.

How To Choose a Birthday Gift Card

With a wide variety of options, Vanilla makes it easier to find just the gift card for birthday presents, no matter who you’re celebrating. Ponder exactly the person they are as you decide what style to send and then find specific suggestions in the category below.

Their Personality

Does the birthday person have a refined taste? Or are they more light-hearted? There are both sophisticated and playful styles to find one that is right up their alley. If you are less familiar with the personality of someone like a co-worker or neighbor, try one of our classic styles that anyone can appreciate.

Their Location

Are you celebrating in person? You can order in advance to have a physical gift card in hand for their festivities. You can also place a plastic card in a card for a special delivery to their mailbox. For those across the miles, order digital birthday gift cards online to send directly to their inbox.

Their Age

Discover kind-hearted designs that are great for grandparents or treat children to fun-filled animated gift cards. For those in-between, there are traditional gifts that fit people of any age. Read on for some categorized gift card ideas for birthday parties.

Your Preference

Depending on the person, you may want to purchase a gift card and box combination that’s wrapped and ready to go. We’ve paired a handful of Gift Cards + Gift Card Boxes, which are perfectly presented and much-loved for birthdays. 

What Are Popular Gift Card Options for Birthdays?

As stated above, there are several ways to send a gift card and many designs to send cheer to the recipient. That gives you the power to find the right style, customization, and presentation. Keep reading to explore all the options.  

Select the Type

With the choice of eGift, physical, animated, or custom cards, you can find a convenient way to send the gift you want. That means you can deliver a plastic gift card they can have in their hand, send eGift cards quickly, and enrich your gifting with exciting animations or a custom design you create yourself.

Make It Personal

The variety of styles available with your personal message makes each gift card presentation unique. But if you’re searching to add an even more personal touch to your gifting, custom cards are the way to go. In just a few steps, you can place a favorite photo on a card design and prepare it for physical or virtual delivery. 

Schedule in Advance

Looking to buy an eGift card now for a birthday that’s a few weeks or months away? With our scheduled delivery option, you can buy ahead of time and plan the arrival. This allows you to order thoughtful birthday gifts in advance for each of your upcoming celebrations with the confidence in knowing they’ll get their gift right on time.

Add a Gift Card Box

Want to embellish your gift card? Create an impressive presentation with a gift card box. They can be added to any order of a physical gift card, and they make a real splash when they arrive. 

Candles Blowing Gift Card + White Glitter Gift Card Box: Covered with confetti sprinkles, this celebratory style bursts with joy.

Silver Gift Gift Card + Silver Foil Gift Card Box: Speckled with colorful dots, this sleek style bursts with energy.

Script Slate Gift Card + Teal Foil Gift Card Box: This striped wonder makes a special delivery even more delightful. 

Script Silver Gift Card + Blue Foil Gift Card Box: A rich color with a vibrant pattern, this is sure to brighten their day.

Gold Diagonal Gift Card + Silver with Gold Bow Gift Card Box: Gleaming with subtle styling, this gorgeous packaging makes a statement.

Our Favorite Birthday Gift Cards for Anyone

These universal gift card designs present timeless options for everyone, from colleagues to close friends and family.

Puffy Balloons Gift Card: Full of energy and sprinkled with joy, this style is a spectacular choice.

Birthday Balloons Gift Card: Send a colorful burst of happiness with this charming image.

Cake Stand Gift Card: Put a cheerful wish on display with this decorative design.

Candles Blowing Gift Card: Make their wishes come true with this bright and beautiful choice. 

Birthday Gift Cards for Kids

Look no further for gift card birthday ideas for younger people. Our collection of youthful-themed styles delivers pure joy.  

Stars Pink Gift Card:  This bright pink pick is a fun birthday gift card option for kids who want to choose their own gift.

Birthday Controller Gift Card: For those who love gaming, this fun design is a winner. 

Pink Leopard Gift Card: This lively pattern in a rosy color is a favorite for little fashionistas.

Monster Truck Gift Card: Crush gifting with this giant wish for a great day.

Birthday Achieved Gift Card: Get a high score in gifting with this video-game inspired style.

Birthday Sports Gift Card: If they have a passion for sports, this pick is perfect.

Animated Gift Cards for Birthdays

When you buy a digital birthday gift card online at Vanilla, you can enhance it with an animation. These video presentations add an extra dash of fun for anyone to open their birthday surprise when they pop up in the recipient’s email.  

Birthday Balloons Animation: Send an uplifting wish with a bunch of colorful balloons.

Gift Box Animation: Let them “unwrap” delight with this gift box that keeps on giving.

Birthday Cake Animation: Present them with a singing cake and a sweet wish.

Birthday Mission Animation: Treat them to a deliciously cute card with this darling dog.

Birthday Circles Animation: Send a simply charming birthday greeting with this lively choice.

What Are the Benefits of Digital Birthday Gift Cards?

They’re great for long-distance loved ones. Find a style and send it in a flash to those hundreds of miles away.

You can schedule them up to six months in advance. Never miss another birthday! Simply pull out your calendar and pre-schedule upcoming birthdays. And if you did forget? They’re great for last-minute gifting. 

You can add them to your mobile wallet. This makes them a favorite for recipients who want to access their funds easily when spending on the go.  

You can buy them from the convenience of your home. Shopping for birthday gifts online has never been so simple and convenient. With just a few clicks, you can find a perfect present for your recipient.

How To Send a Digital Birthday Card

Ready to send an eGift card for an upcoming birthday? It’s a snap—just follow these quick steps:

• Search our birthday gift cards and pick out an eGift card
• Select your card value
• Enter the recipient’s email
• Add to cart
• Personalize with optional features: Add gift message or schedule delivery

How To Personalize a Gift Card for Birthdays

Make your birthday gift cards unique for each recipient with options for personalization. 

Custom Gift Card

You’re just a few steps from a truly personal birthday gift card with our custom gift cards. Available as physical or digital gift cards, this option is not only unique, but also a streamlined process. Simply upload a picture of a memory—one that might make them laugh or cry happy tears—and get ready for a treasured gifting experience. 

Personal Gift Message

When purchasing each gift card, you have the option of adding a gift message. This is your opportunity to craft a greeting just for them as you honor their big day. Take a moment to enhance your gift with a few words of love and friendship.

Birthday Gifting That's Simply Joyful

Are you ready to surprise someone with a birthday gift card? Use this guide to get inspirational ideas, from choosing how much to spend to selecting just the right style from our festive collection. Whether you want to hand-deliver a gift card in a gift card box or enjoy the convenience of sending it virtually or enhance your egift with animation or a custom design, Vanilla offers options for an exceptional presentation. With some careful thought, you can discover and deliver a cherished gift for their birthday. 

Need more birthday gift card ideas? Shop our entire selection of physical and digital birthday gifts for a celebration bundled with joy.