How to Surprise Your Boyfriend on His Birthday

Last Updated: March 13, 2021

Your boyfriend’s birthday should be a special day that makes him feel loved and important, and a surprise can be a great way to show him that you care! Planning a surprise activity or gift requires attention to detail and patience. Luckily, you can use your boyfriend’s interests, hobbies, and personality to organize a great birthday on any budget!

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Planning a Birthday Activity

1
Choose an activity that he wants to try so you can spend the day with him. Pick a time on or near his birthday when you’re sure you’re both free, and select an activity that he likes or has mentioned wanting to do, such as skiing or go-karting. Purchase any necessary passes or tickets in advance, and don’t tell him where you’re going until you get there!^{[1]
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- For example, you can take your boyfriend to the batting cages to hit baseballs, or go see a movie that he’s been dying to see.
- If he likes outdoor activities, you might plan a trip to a local state park for a day of hiking and biking as well as a picnic.
- On a rainy day, you might have to stay inside. If that's the case, opt for a day at the museum, visit a new restaurant, or have a movie marathon at home.
2
Plan an outing with his friends for the day if you’re busy. Send his close friends a quick message and let them know that you want to plan a surprise for him. Invite them over for a day of movies or sports, or plan an outing for them that includes dinner and an activity that they like to do together. Handle all of the details so they’re only in charge of getting him to the surprise!^{[2]
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- Remind his friends that the day is going to be a surprise, so they shouldn’t say anything to him about it.
Remember: Even if you aren’t interested in the activity, stay positive and engaged throughout the day to make sure your boyfriend has a good time!

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3
Prepare a romantic dinner for a nice night at home. If your boyfriend works or goes to school all day on his birthday, get home before he does and make a special meal for him. Choose all of his favorite foods, light some candles, and get dressed up. Send him a text in the middle of the day to let him know that you’re making dinner for his special day so he has something to look forward to!^{[3]
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- It might be helpful to check beforehand to make sure that he doesn’t have any plans that evening. If you know he doesn’t, you can keep it a surprise until he gets home!
- Try to select a meal that you know he likes, or pick a type of cuisine that you both love to eat. For a great Italian dish, you can make chicken parmesan, or chicken alfredo.
- If he likes spicy food, try making some Thai food or a new Indian curry dish.
- If you don’t live together, make dinner at your house and transport it to his house, or plan with a roommate or family member to let you into the house so you can prepare dinner there.
4
Put together a scavenger hunt for an inexpensive date during the day. Get a map of a park or urban area, and decide where exactly you want to go. Make up clues for your boyfriend to figure out that lead to “treasure” or other small activities. You might choose places that are significant to your relationship, or just do a small hunt around your home for gifts.^{[4]
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- Make sure the clues are clear enough that he can figure them out, but not too easy! If you need help, try looking up pre-planned scavenger hunts for your city that you can do together.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Getting Creative with Gifts

1
Pick one of his interests to base your gift around if he has a specific hobby. If your boyfriend has a special hobby or interest that he spends a lot of time doing, pay attention to what he needs. If you’re not sure what to get, try asking one of his friends with the same interests what he would be interested in, since they’ll have a bit more insight.^{[5]
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- For example, if he likes to listen to music, you could invest in a pair of high-end, noise-cancelling headphones. If he likes cooking, you can get him a professional set of knives and a cookbook.
Tip: If you’re planning to buy a gift for a hobby, ask him questions about where he gets his supplies about 1-2 months before his birthday, so he doesn’t suspect anything.
2
Choose an item that he’ll use a lot if he likes practical gifts. Opt for a utility item, like a wallet, a backpack, or a tool if your boyfriend likes gifts that he can use over and over. Select a durable item that gets great reviews, and ask for recommendations from friends and family. He’ll be reminded of you every time he uses that item, and you know he’ll be able to enjoy it for a long time.^{[6]
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- For instance, you could get a leather belt for your boyfriend if he has to wear business clothes to work. If your boyfriend travels often, you could get him a durable piece of luggage or a duffle bag.
3
Make a scrapbook or love coupons if you’re on a budget. Compile pictures from your relationship, as well as ticket stubs and other small items, and organize them into a memory book. You can also include “coupons” in the book for things like a movie night, a massage, or an offer to get out of a chore for free. Let your boyfriend know he can use them any time!^{[7]
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- This is a great way to give a thoughtful gift without breaking the bank, since you only need pictures, cardstock, markers, and a scrapbook.
4
Put together a gift basket for a personalized gift. Go to the grocery store and pick up his favorite snack foods, like popcorn, soda, chips, and candy. Then, get a few other items to go with them, like fuzzy socks, a hat, a new video game, or movie. Then, put them all together for a fun, personal gift.^{[8]
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- Try making the basket themed, like a “movie theater” theme with popcorn, movies, and a fuzzy blanket to cuddle under.
5
Set up small surprises for him throughout the day if you can't be with him. Leave him small notes in his pockets or record a memo on his phone to wish him a happy birthday. If you know that he’ll be at work or school, get flowers or food delivered to him along with a birthday message.^{[9]
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- This will help make his day special, even if he’s busy and you can’t be with him all day.

Expert Q&A
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Question

How can I make my boyfriend feel special on his birthday?

Maya Diamond, MA
Relationship Coach
Maya Diamond is a Dating and Relationship Coach in Berkeley, CA. She has 13 years of experience helping singles stuck in frustrating dating patterns find internal security, heal their past, and create healthy, loving, and lasting partnerships. She received her Master's in Somatic Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies in 2009.

Maya Diamond, MA

Relationship Coach

Expert Answer

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Make the day surprising! To celebrate your boyfriend's birthday, you could plan a fun date, get him something he's been wanting, or create an experience for him. One of those can be your surprise, or you can plan a surprise party for him.
Question

How can I make my boyfriend feel special on his birthday?

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Take the time to get him a thoughtful gift or card and tell him how much he means to you! You could also take him out on a fun date or cook his favorite meal for him. Even if you can’t get him anything or don’t have time for a celebration, just wishing him a happy birthday and letting him know how much you care will help him feel special.
Question

How can I surprise my boyfriend on his birthday in school?

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If you know his locker combination, you could leave a surprise gift or card inside! If not, try arriving early (or staying a little late the day before) so you can decorate the outside of his locker or tape a birthday card to it. You can also conspire with his teachers and classmates to surprise him with a card or small gift in each class.