Free tool

Anniversary gifts by year, 1 to 80.

Pick any anniversary year and see the traditional gift, the modern alternative, and a handful of real ideas in each. The whole list, not just this year.

Pick an anniversary year

Year 5

Traditional

Wood

Modern

Silverware

A few gift ideas

  • A handmade wooden cutting board
  • A teak table or stool
  • A set of inherited-quality silver flatware

About this tool

A free reference for anniversary gifts by year. Choose any year from the first to the eightieth and see its traditional symbol (paper, cotton, leather, and on up), the modern alternative, and a few specific gift ideas for each. Use it to shop, to write the card, or just to settle whether year five is wood.

Common questions

What is the traditional gift for each anniversary year?

The traditional list runs paper (year 1), cotton (2), leather (3), and on through wood (5), tin (10), crystal (15), china (20), silver (25), and gold (50). Pick a year above to see it with the modern alternative and gift ideas.

Traditional or modern, which should I follow?

Either. The traditional list is older and the modern list was added in the 1930s. Pick whichever gives you the better idea for this person.

Do you have a tool for which year I am on?

Yes. If you want to enter a wedding date and find the upcoming year, use the anniversary year calculator. This page is the full by-year reference.