We’ve all seen those websites that have gift ideas for a firefighter that are neither good ideas, or safe ideas, to gift to a real firefighter. Sure, they’re cute for a 12 year old obsessed with Firetrucks, but when we’re talking about Men and Women who put their life on the line, we need to have some respect in regards to what they might want (or need) for a gift.
This could be something as simple as a Firefighter Thank you gift, or a Retirement gift ideas for firefighters- Either way, you’ll find quality items that a Firefighter can actually use.
Not that those other lists don’t have some merit- I know the authors put time into research and creating a site. But it’s different when you are a part of this lifestyle and you know what actually works and what is needed.
I also might be slightly bitter because when my Husband first started out with Firefighting he was gifted a ton of very questionable knives and equipment that his mom (very lovingly) purchased from Amazon. No offense to her, but those very gifts could have killed her son if he didn’t have the common sense that these were poor quality items.
It would have been better if she had saved her money on all those items my Firefighter would never use, and instead get a personalized gift for firefighters for the same price (or maybe even cheaper!) . And the same goes for Firefighter Wives who enjoy Firefighter gear.
So the goal of this Firefighter gift guide is to give you some great ideas for actually things Firefighters need or want, and we’ll also talk about some gifts that would be better left unpurchased for a Firefighter.
If you want ridiculous gifts for Firefighters (maybe for a gag gift or what not) then you’ll want to head over to this separate assortment of *interesting* Firefighter gifts!
Are these gifts for Female or Male Firefighters?
While this is an innocent question (and maybe supercharged by the current political climate) it’s important to know that it’s a frequently asked question I hear all the time.
I’ve spoken with a number of female and male firefighters about this topic and it’s very true what they’ve said, regardless of the sex, a Firefighter is tasked with the same jobs with the same tools.
Women Firefighters do benefit from gloves, bunker gear, and shoes that are appropriately sized, but those are also items that are best left to the Firefighter to choose and purchase to ensure proper fit. Instead, you could offer to buy these items, give cash or a gift card, or ask your Firefighter to send you a link to the exact item needed.
You can find this curated list of Female Firefighter gifts if you’d like to browse something that could be helpful, but the gifts below are appropriate for both Men and Women Firefighters.
Volunteer or Career?
As my buddy over at Professional Volunteer states, nobody cares if your career or volunteer- We all have a job to do.
These gifts are great for Firefighters from young to old no matter what the job title is.
When should these gifts be given?
Perfect for Birthdays or Retirements, Baby showers and Weddings- there’s a Firefighter themed gift for all the Holiday’s and special events (no matter how early or how late you order it!)
Firefighters deserve something nice every now and then… most of the time they would be happy with food though!
These Firefighter gifts range from thoughtful, to practical, to predictable- hopefully they are what you are looking for to gift your fireman or firewoman.
This post will contain affiliate links at no extra cost to you, you can check out my affiliate disclosure for more info!
⏳ This post is long! ⏳
Use the table of contents below to sort through the best options for Firefighter gifts.
Table of Contents
🔥 FireFighter Gifts Under 25 🔥
Thoughtful Gifts for Firefighters
🎉Personalized Firefighter Gifts 🎉
Firefighter Gifts useful on the Job
Firefighter Banquet and Crew Gifts
Specific Firefighter Gift Occasions
Best Firefighter Retirement Gift
Best Firefighter Baby Shower Gift
Popular Firefighter Owned Brands
Gifts we don’t suggest
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🔥Firefighter Gifts Under 25🔥
Sometimes we need a cheap and quick gift! I get it! Here’s a great selection of Firefighter Gifts under 25 dollars.
Firefighter Gifts Under 25
Historic Bottle Opener Fire Hose Nozzle Firefighter Gift
The 'open' and 'closed' shutoff handle operates to open any bottle and help put out your fiery thirst! This vintage nozzle weighs an impressive 10oz. and is 6 inches long. Handmade item that can be laser engraved!
IdentiFire Helmet Stickers
Helmet Stickers are the latest rage! And they are so useful when they go into a Fire or Dark building because it can provide either a reflective service or glow in the dark! These popular 5 star helmet stickers are reflective AND glow in the dark!
Firefighter Keychains With Dog Tag and Maltese Cross with Personalization
The listed picture is a sample of what you can purchase. ANY message can be put on the dog tag and ANY name or number on the cross, as long as it fits.
Firefighter Candle-Whiskey
The candle was poured into a repurposed, reused and recycled fire hose coupling- the scent is WHISKEY.
Firefighter Ornament/Fire Department Ornament
Wooden Ornament. Option to customize with your or your loved ones Department name and district, Fire Station Number, and Firefighters name.
Engraved Wallet Card
It's lightweight, yet SUPER durable and strong. It will never bend, scratch, fade, rust, or deteriorate in any way. Your new wallet insert will last for a lifetime because the engraving will NEVER wear off. It makes a truly unique gift that is sure to be treasured for years to come.
Thin Red Line Firefighter Silicone Wedding Ring Band
Hypoallergenic, Medical Grade, Food Grade, Silicone, Rubber, Pure Silicone, Non Conductive, Non Toxic, Waterproof, Heat Resistant, Eco Friendly Materials, Flexible, Fire Resistant
Firefighter Engraved Whiskey Glass
The Fire Department Maltese is beautifully laser engraved onto this stylish whiskey glass. The engraving is permanent so the graphic will not peel or fade! Be sure to ask about our bulk discounts on 12 or more glasses!
Thin Red Line Flag
This Flag is under 25 dollars and is made of high quality UV resistant material. This is not a "cheap knock off" flag. We have two of these- one hangs in our house and the other we use for photoprops. BABY NOT INCLUDED 😜
Firefighter FireHose Coasters
Get some authentic firehose coasters as a cute (and subtle) way to show your love of firefighters without it taking over your house (unless it already has, then call for help!)
Thin Red Line Ax Sticker
Amazon's Choice- Thin Red line Sticker (and it's under 10 dollars!) with 5 stars! Lord knows that Firefighters love stickers- it's the perfect gift to slip in a card or smack on a tumbler and call it a day!
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Thoughtful Firefighter Gifts
Let’s start with the most thoughtful gifts of the group. I always like to start with these because sometimes the sentimental gifts are the ones we value the most.
These would be appropriate for any holiday, but especially for ones like graduations and weddings!
Custom Ax are a really popular item now a days, and the best part is that they are readily available on the internet!
You might even get lucky to find someone local that can help you with a custom order. Check out these ones on Etsy!
Another thoughtful (and somewhat practical) gift is a custom watch. These items can be individualized from different colors to different smart capabilities. The thoughtfulness is getting the qualities that they might need (durability, water proof, weather proof) and getting something inscribed on the back.
If this Firefighter is near and dear to your heart, I would definitely suggest a love token. Traditionally given from a wife to her husband, love tokens have expanded to parents, siblings, and partners. It’s all about letting your Firefighter know you care!
Personalized Firefighter Gifts
These Bad Boy Custom Raptor Shears are from Leatherman– a top quality brand among Firefighters. These are an absolutely essential item for First Responders and will never get misplaced at work with personalization by having their name engraved.
Another Fun idea is a customized leather strap! These come in both personalized straps for gloves and also for the radio. Many of these are made by firefighters, like this glove strap!
This is a top seller on Etsy and comes with so many raving reviews. Definitely one of the top things to consider on your list if you want something useful, personalized and budget friendly.
Nothing says personalized like a custom last name blanket meant to look like Turnout Gear! Best part is that if they took it to the station, they couldn’t loose it!
Firefighter Gifts that are Useful on the Job
Firefighters are used to using some pretty great equipment, and wether they are on the job or off, it’s helpful that they have the right tools when they need it most.
EDC items, or Everyday Carry Items, are always a big hit for firefighters, especially because its a thoughtful gift that will get put to good use.
These 6 in 1 Leatherman Raptor Shears are a great find for your EDC crew- useful for all kinds of events they are Amazon’s Choice and rated with 5 stars.
Another Very Useful gift for Firefighters is a quality light.
These lights can be used for hard to see situations during the day and for lumination at night. This tactical and Durable Light is a must have for EDC’ers (and everyone really! It lights up a room!).
This 5 star rated Amazon’s choice streamlight is a great addition to your everyday carry. And if you can find it under 40, it’s a steal!
Wallets of all shapes and sizes are necessary for Firefighters so that they can always have their certifications on hand! In fact, I know many firefighters that have two wallets (one for work and one for home so the important stuff doesn’t get lost!) – so it’s definitely a great gift idea! find this awesome wallet for firefighters
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Firefighter Banquet and Crew Gifts 👨🏿🚒👨🏾🚒👩🏽🚒👩🏼🚒👨🏻🚒
Looking for some affordable group gifts for firefighters? Or Maybe Christmas Gifts for the crew?
Check out this selection of items that can be mixed and matched to provide group gifts for firefighters of all shapes and sizes!
First things first, most Firefighter Banquets have an award or recognition section. There are lots of different options for neat mementos to celebrate Firefighters!
Looking for a raffle gift or a gift for Firefighter of the year? Helmet Light to the rescue! This budget friendly helmet light comes with 5 star reviews and is sure to be useful for the career and volunteer Firefighter!
An easy and quick gift for a Firefighter Crew gift are these Thin Red Line Keychains! This pack of 5 comes ready to gift, and with great reviews you know it will be a winner!
For Under 20 dollars you can get a group of 6 Thin Red line Coozies for the gang! Printed in USA and with a 5 star rating, these are a quick and easy gift for the crew.
Specific Firefighter Gifts
Best Firefighter Retirement Gifts
This Beautiful Custom Canvas Print is a fantastic Gift for a Retiring Firefighter!
You Can’t go wrong with an (almost) accurate Coffee Mug!
Best Firefighter Baby Shower Gifts
This absolutely ADORABLE baby Turnout gift set is made by a Firefighter owned company- so you know that you are getting quality! Made from all new materials, and customized with the name, this is a cherished baby shower gift!
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Popular Firefighter Owned Brands
I love to support Firefighter Owned Business! Here is a great selection of Firefighter Owned Companies and the products they make.
Recycled Firefighter has a whole line of really cool items– Firefighter made of course! From Wallets and Belts to Bags!
You know what Firefighters love? COFFEE! And their is a Firefighter Owned coffee company called, ” Fire Dept. Coffee!” Support Firefighters and give your Firefighter something you KNOW they will put to good use!
Does your Firefighter have a mustache that could use some TLC?! This Firefighter owned Business took things a step further and made some mustache wax! This is especially useful on the job for keeping all the hairs where they need to stay!
Don’t forget to check out this list of Fire Wife Owned Businesses if you didn’t find what you were looking for!
Gifts we don’t suggest
This section is an addition I’ve added after several emails from fellow Firefighter readers thanking me for a gift guide with quality items on it.
So why would I add a ‘what not to buy a Firefighter’ section? Because sometimes people don’t find what they are looking for and they decide to grab something cheap off amazon so they don’t show up empty handed.
Consider if your gift for your Firefighter is actually useful- is it rugged? Will it hold up? Is it something they’d like to put on a shelf and decorate with?
If not, consider leaving it unpurchased .
Here’s a list of items not to buy a firefighter:
- a cheap knife
- thin/decorative phone case
- generic wall decor/house decorations
- paracord bracelet
- generic hat
When in doubt
If in doubt about what to get a firefighter friend, Firefighter family member, or Firefighter you want to say thank you too, consider a gift card or making a donation in their name!
Ironically food from the public isn’t always as welcome because we aren’t sure how its been cooked. Nothing against you, but could you imagine some bad guy giving the entire Fire Department a stomach bug, or worse, poisoning?
If you want to know how to thank a firefighter you aren’t related to, I have 5 easy ways to thank a firefighter!
Conclusion
There are so many great Firefighter themed gifts on Amazon, Etsy and Ebay- Plus a score of other firefighter sites. If you are interested in some recycled Fire Hose gifts, check out this FireHose DIY and Gift guide.