Traditional anniversary gifts by year
| Anniversary | Traditional gift |
|---|---|
| 1 | Paper |
| 2 | Cotton |
| 3 | Leather |
| 4 | Fruit & flowers |
| 5 | Wood |
| 6 | Iron |
| 7 | Wool or copper |
| 8 | Bronze |
| 9 | Pottery |
| 10 | Tin or aluminum |
| 11 | Steel |
| 12 | Silk or linen |
| 13 | Lace |
| 14 | Ivory |
| 15 | Crystal |
| 20 | China |
| 25 | Silver |
| 30 | Pearl |
| 35 | Coral |
| 40 | Ruby |
| 45 | Sapphire |
| 50 | Gold |
| 55 | Emerald |
| 60 | Diamond |
| 65 | Blue sapphire |
| 70 | Platinum |
| 75 | Diamond & gold |
Celebrating the big ones
The 25th (silver), 40th (ruby), 50th (golden) and 60th (diamond) anniversaries are big milestones. Many couples renew their vows, throw a family party or take a special trip.
Frequently asked questions
What is the traditional 50th anniversary gift?
Gold. That’s why it’s called the golden anniversary.
What anniversary is ruby?
The 40th anniversary.
What is the 60th anniversary called?
The diamond anniversary.
Sources
- Traditional US anniversary gift list (Emily Post Institute)
Last reviewed: November 2026 · By the GoldenYearsTools team at XplainedDaily · How we build our tools