25 Gifts for Empty Nesters (Because They Earned It)

When the kids leave the house, empty nesters may feel emotions, from excitement and celebration to remorse and anxiety. Who can blame them? Getting the house back to yourself can seem overwhelming when you’ve been raising kids for so many years. 

But, if you know an empty nester or if you’re leaving your parents behind and want to give them a gift, we’ve got the list for you. These gifts range from sentimental to inspirational, but all have one common goal: putting a smile on your empty nesters’ faces.

Personalized Engraved Photo Locket

Personalized Engraved Photo Locket

Just because empty nesters finally get the house back to themselves doesn’t mean they aren’t sad to see their kids leave. To help them cope with sending their kids off, get them a locket so they can keep a picture of their loved ones close to their hearts. 

These lockets are elegant and simple, so they’ll go with all outfits and occasions. Plus, you can not only insert a photo of the kids who’ve gone into the locket but you can get engraved with a heartwarming sentiment too. So, while the empty nesters in your life start to embrace their new-found freedom, they will always have a reminder of their little ones close. 

Airline Gift Card

delta air lines 50 gift card 48602 regular

It’s time for those empty nesters to fly, and what better way to send them off than with an airline gift card? An airline gift card doesn’t expire, and holders can redeem them for any location. It’s the perfect gift to give to those empty nesters that love to travel or haven’t been able to because they’ve been too busy taking care of the kids. 

So, you can help them get out of the house but still give them the flexibility of choosing a destination and vacationing at a time that works best for them with an airline gift card.

1,000 Perfect Weekends: Great Getaways Around the Globe

1,000 Perfect Weekends: Great Getaways Around the Globe

Piggybacking off the travel idea, why not get the empty nesters a book of must-visit travel destinations to fuel their vacation ideas? This book offers endless opportunities for relaxation and romantic getaways that are ideal for empty nesters looking for a change of scenery and a bit of excitement. 

This gift is ideal for empty nesters because it doesn’t pressure them to hop on a flight out of the country but can encourage them to start planning a vacation.

Tropical Milky Coconut Bath and Body Set

Tropical Milky Coconut Bath and Body Set Skin Care Bath for Women: Coconut Shower Gel, Bubble Bath, Bath Salts, Body Butter, Body Scrub, Body Lotion - Luxury Spa Set

After years of caring for the kids, empty nesters need a break for themselves. That’s where the at-home spa set comes in. 

You can give an at-home spa set with warm scented bath soaps and lotions for your empty nesters to indulge in and relax with for a nice home spa day. Better yet, you can pair this gift with an actual spa gift card, but provide the at-home products as a reminder that it’s ok for them to rest when they need it because God knows they deserve it.

CLEAR Acrylic Empty Nesters Ornament 

CLEAR Acrylic Empty Nesters Ornament

Commemorate the day for your empty nesters with a thoughtful ornament that’s elegant and symbolic of the day all their young chicks flew from the nest. This fully customizable ornament lets you personalize the date, name, and number of birds displayed. 

While it’s a simple gift, it’s sentimental and will give them something to mark the day when all of their little ones have left the nest at last.

Love Between Distance Map of the United States Metal Sign With removable Heart decals

Love Between Distance Map of the United States Metal Sign With removable Heart decals

This one might be more for the mom empty nesters, but it’s a thoughtful gift nonetheless. This metal sign has removable heart decals that the recipient can move and place over the state or area where their kid now lives. You can move the heart wherever you want whenever you want, so you don’t have to purchase a new board when one of the kids moves. 

Plus, it’s a thoughtful gift that serves as a reminder that even though the kids may not live at home anymore, their hearts are still close by.

Empty Nest Gift Box

Empty Nest Gift Box

Give a gift that’ll put your empty nesters in the celebratory spirit. This gift box comes complete with a funny card, a candle, a sweet treat, and a much-needed cocktail mug. Even though the gift box seems like a simple and funny gift to give, it’ll kickstart the empty nesters into the celebratory spirit so they can embrace their new lives as empty nesters.

Welcome to Our Nest Doormat

Welcome to Our Nest Doormat

What better way to say “we’re empty nesters” than with a mat that welcomes guests into the home with a “welcome to our nest” message? This doormat is a small gift for empty nesters to let them know they can reclaim their house as their child-free space. Plus, it’s guaranteed to put a smile on their face. 

Nest Definition Sign

Nest Definition Sign

Sometimes, all a person needs is a few words of reassurance. If your empty nester recipients are a bit put out by their newfound empty nester status, they might just need something to remind them that just because their kids have left, the house doesn’t mean it’s not a home anymore. This sign is the optimal gift to give when those words or reassurance are needed. 

Empty Nest, Full Life Journal

Empty Nest, Full Life Journal

Give the gift of inspiration to the empty nesters in your life. This journal gives empty nesters the space to process their feelings and emotions following their kids’ departure. Sometimes, people don’t want to talk about how down they feel, so this journal is the perfect choice to give them the option to express themselves in a way that’s just for them. 

I Love You Charm Bangle

I Love You Charm Bangle

The ‘I Love You’ charm bangle from Alex and Ani is the ideal gift for the mom and daughter duo. The mom empty nester can get a matching bangle with her daughter or daughters so that each of them is reminded of the other as they embrace their new journeys in life. 

This gift is almost guaranteed to bring a tear or two to a mom’s eye, but they’ll love the sentimental value of the gift.

Dad & Mom Off-Duty Whiskey Glass and Stemless Wine Glass Combo

Futtumy Dad and Mom Gift Set, Dad & Mom off Duty Whiskey Glass and Stemless Wine Glass Combo, Gift for Father’s Day Mother’s Day Christmas Birthday Daily Use Baby Shower for Dad Mom New Parents

Who doesn’t love a good laugh? Give a funny gift to your empty nesters in the form of a whiskey and wine glass set that says “mom off duty” and “dad off duty.” Not only will these glasses get a chuckle out of the recipients, but they’re quality glasses they can use to make a cocktail or for a glass of wine. 

Give a Groupon

groupon

One of the best things about becoming an empty nester is enjoying a ton of free time. Instead of figuring out something to do with the kids during the week or on the weekend, empty nesters can take the time to plan outings they enjoy. 

If you want to give them a boost on the ideas, you can give them a Groupon to local activity, from food tasting to axe throwing or paint and sip nights. This gift will get the out of the house, give them something to do, and let them know they can start enjoying their free time.

Personalized Family Name Wood Picture Frame

Personalized Family Name Wood Picture Frame

For a simple yet thoughtful gift, you can always give an empty nester a nice picture frame so they can keep a picture of the whole family close by. You can get an engravable wooden frame to make the gift more personal. 

With this frame, you can let the family know you’re thinking of them and give them something they can use to remember their little ones flown from the nest.

Create a Photo Book

Personalized Memory Photo Album Book Custom Christmas Family Birthday Gifts for lovers kids friends idols

Commemorate your empty nesters’ time with their families in a custom photo book from Amazon. These books are fully customizable, from the images you choose to the captions and designs you place on each page. Whenever your empty nester feels down, they can pull out their photo book and take a trip down memory lane to put them in better spirits.

Scrapbook

8 x 8 Inch Small DIY Scrapbook Photo Album with Cover Photo 80 Pages Hardcover Craft Paper Photo Album for Guest Book, Anniversary, Valentines Day Gifts (Brown, 8 x 8 inch)

Now that your empty nesters don’t have kids at home, they probably have some free time they’d like to fill. So, give them a hobby for a gift, like a scrapbook. With a scrapbook, they can release their creativity and feel nostalgic as they cut and paste their favorite photos onto the pages. 

Plus, they can use a scrapbook to create plans for the future instead of just focusing on the past. Ultimately, it’s a great gift for creative types in need of something fun to occupy their time.

Extra Large Charcuterie Board Set

SMIRLY Charcuterie Boards Gift Set: Charcuterie Board Set, Bamboo Cheese Board Set - Unique Mothers Day Gifts for Mom - House Warming Gifts New Home, Wedding Gifts for Couple, Bridal Shower Gift

It’s time for those empty nesters to start entertaining again, and there’s no better gift to spark a gathering than a high-quality charcuterie board set. 

Not only can the recipient use this board to create a masterful charcuterie board for themselves when relaxing at home, but they can use it when hosting parties and get-togethers at their house. It’s a nice gift and a considerate nudge to get them together with friends.

Cooking for Two Cookbooks

The Complete Cooking for Two Cookbook, Gift Edition: 650 Recipes for Everything You'll Ever Want to Make (The Complete ATK Cookbook Series)

Since cooking no longer means feeding more than two mouths, you can give your empty nesters a gift book full of recipes for two people. This cookbook allows cooks to embrace their culinary skills and create dishes that won’t lead to stacks of leftovers in the fridge. Plus, they can use some of the recipes in the book as inspiration for sweet date nights at home. 

Mixology Bar Set

Bokhot Bartender Kit, Mixology Bar Set Cocktail Shaker Set with Stand - Bar Tools Set: 25 oz Martini Shaker, Jigger, Muddler, Ice Tongs, Strainer, Liquor Pourers, Spoon, Corkscrew, Cocktail Brochure

Becoming an empty nester can be a fun experience. Empty nesters finally get the house to themselves, they have more free time to explore activities they probably couldn’t do before, and they can start embracing new hobbies. 

The mixology bar set combines celebration with exploration as it allows empty nesters to test their cocktail-making skills and have a toast to their newly empty nest lifestyle.

Kindle

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (8 GB) – Now with a larger display, adjustable warm light, increased battery life, and faster page turns – Black

With more time comes more availability to read. If your empty nester still doesn’t have time to travel or take a vacation, let them explore new worlds and places through books. The kindle is a small gift but gives the user access to an extensive library of new and old books. 

Plus, they won’t have to make a trip to the bookstore to get something new. Instead, they can have a new book in seconds with the touch of a finger.

iRobot Roomba

iRobot Roomba 694 Robot Vacuum-Wi-Fi Connectivity, Personalized Cleaning Recommendations, Works with Alexa, Good for Pet Hair, Carpets, Hard Floors, Self-Charging, Roomba 694

Give the gift of a hands-free clean home with the iRobot Roomba vacuum. This gift lets empty nesters know they won’t have to constantly clean the house since the kids aren’t home. 

Better yet, they won’t have to vacuum since the Roomba vacuums for them. Instead of cleaning the house on the weekends, the Roomba frees up their time so they can have some fun instead.

Essential Oil Diffuser

Essential Oil Diffuser, YIKUBEE Oil Diffuser, 500ml Humidifier, Diffusers for Home, Aromatherapy Diffuser with Remote Control, Diffusers for Essential Oils Large Room

Without the kids at home, it’s time for those empty nesters to start enjoying and relaxing in their homes again. The essential oil diffuser makes a home smell nice and can act as an aromatherapy source. When they’re feeling stressed or exhausted, the user can drop some essential oil into the diffuser, breathe deep, and relax.

The Ultimate Game for Couples

The Ultimate Game for Couples, Great Conversations and Fun Challenges for Date Night - Perfect Romantic Gift for Couples

If your empty nesters are wondering what to do at night or on the weekend without luring the kids around to friends’ houses or sports, you can get them a game. This game is designed for a couple and for having fun. Without kids in the way, partners can get to know one another again through this game and have a good time doing it.

Empty Nester Ceramic Coffee Mug

LookHUMAN Empty Nester Happy Robin White 11 Ounce Ceramic Coffee Mug

Your gift for an empty nester doesn’t have to be sentimental or inspiring. Instead, you can get a simple gift like the empty nester coffee mug to let them know you’re thinking about them without being over the top.

A Daily, Weekly, and Monthly Planner 2023

Anecdote 2024 Planner. A Daily Planner, Weekly and Monthly Planner 2024. Achieve Your Goals With This Weekly Planner, A5 size, Hardcover Agenda. Start Anytime.

A planner might sound like an odd, tedious gift to give someone, but writing in a planner and deciding on the day, week, or month’s activities can feel quite therapeutic. Plus, a planner will give an empty nester the space to plan and decide what they want to do with their new allotted free time. Here, they can plan vacations, new outings, and other adventures they want to take.

Final Thoughts

There you have it, the ultimate list of gift ideas for the empty nesters in your life. From sentimental frames and jewelry to inspiring journals and adventure-seeking books, there’s no shortage of good ideas here. All you need to do is choose.