150+ Happy Birthday Wishes: Messages, Quotes & Card Ideas for Every Celebration

Their big day has arrived and you’ve got the best gift lined up (a beautiful bouquet of bespoke Birthday Flowers, right?). But now you have to write in the card, and a simple ‘HBD x’ just isn’t going to cut it. Never fear, we’ve got you.

We’ve gathered more than 150 happy birthday wishes — from heartfelt quotes and funny one-liners to thoughtful messages for friends and family. So, whether you’re wishing your bestie the best 30th ever or you want to say something meaningful to your mum, prepare to be inspired.

Happy Birthday Wishes for Every Occasion

A great birthday wish is the first step towards making someone’s day memorable. Here are 15 birthday wishes that work for any relationship:

1. Here’s to a day filled with joy, love, and everything that makes you smile. Happy Birthday!
2. Hope your day’s as blissful as a cuppa on a rainy day.
3. Sending you sunshine, smiles, and endless slices of cake today.
4. Wishing you a day full of laughter and a year full of adventure.
5. May your birthday be as special as you are to everyone who knows you.
6. Hope your birthday’s full of magic moments and happy memories.
7. Happy Birthday! May all your wishes come true this year.
8. Wishing you a beautiful birthday and a year of blessings.
9. May your day be as sweet and lovely as you are.
10. Here’s to celebrating you today. Happy Birthday!
11. Sending lots of love and hugs on your special day.
12. May your birthday be the start of a year filled with good luck, good health and much happiness.
13. Have a fabulous birthday! You deserve the best.
14. Cheers to you and the brilliant year ahead.
15. Wishing you endless cake and bottomless prosecco.

Birthday Messages for Big Milestones

You need an equally BIG message for those BIG birthdays. Our favourite milestone birthday messages have all you need to wish them an inspirational birthday whether 18 or 80. From fun to funny, personal to poignant — we’ve got you covered.

18th Birthday

1. Welcome to adulthood! May your life be full of freedom, fun, and fab memories.
2. You’re officially an adult. ID at the ready, your future awaits!
3. The world’s your oyster now, so here’s to chasing those big dreams. Happy 18th!
4. Woo-hoo, you’re 18! Let the adventures begin.
5. You’re now old enough to know better, but young enough to do it anyway.

Explore 18th Birthday Flowers

21st Birthday

1. You’re young, wild and free. It’s been a privilege watching you grow up and I know you’re going to do amazing things with your wonderful life.
2. 21 and thriving! Hope your day’s full of fun and fizz.
3. Here’s to another 21 years of being fabulous.
4. Happy 21st! Time to pop the bubbly and paint the town red.
5. You’ve come so far, and this is just the beginning.

Explore 21st Birthday Flowers

H3: 30th Birthday

1. Look at you — thirty, flirty and absolutely thriving!
2. The best part of turning 30? A wild night now involves watering the plants and opening the fancy wine on the sofa.
3. Who would have thought we’d get to 30?! Thank you for your decades of friendship. I am who I am because of you.
4. Time to celebrate in style — disco ball and all!
5. We can’t believe how quickly this day has come. It feels like just yesterday we were reading you bedtime stories. Happy 30th to our darling [daughter/son]. We are so proud of everything you’ve achieved.

Explore 30th Birthday Flowers

40th Birthday

1. Happy 20th anniversary of your 20th birthday. You don’t look a day over fabulous.
2. Forty looks fabulous on you!
3. Happy 40th my dearest friend. We’ve experienced so much over the decades. I couldn’t wish for a better person to reminisce about the good old days with.
4. It’s not the years — it’s the stories. And you’ve got some belters!
5. Sip, sip, hooray! It’s time to pop the fancy champagne for your 40th.

Send 40th Birthday Flowers

50th Birthday

1. It may sound cheesy to say, but you really have aged like a fine wine. I can’t wait to celebrate with a bottle and a big cheese board soon. Happy birthday!
2. Life’s better with you in it. Happy 50th!
3. Happy 50th birthday. We love you to the moon and back x infinity. Life wouldn’t be nearly as wonderful without you
4. 50 looks good on you (especially with a slice of cake in hand!).
5. You’ve lit up the world for 5 decades. Here’s to many more years of making it shine even brighter!

Send 50th Birthday Flowers

60th & Beyond

1. Sixty is the new 30 (with a whole lot of added wisdom!)
2. The kids are all grown up, we have the house to ourselves, the world is our oyster! Happy 60th birthday. It feels like life is just beginning again!
3. Happy 60th! Life begins again today.
4. You’ve lived, laughed, and loved for decades. Keep going!
5. 100 candles? You’ve earned every single one. Cheers to you!

Explore 60th Birthday Flowers

Funny Birthday Messages to Get Them Laughing

Amuse them with a joke and share a laugh or two with some of these fun-filled favourites. Our funny birthday wishes are sure to put a smile on their face.

Age is merely the number of years the world has been enjoying you. Cheers!

1. You’re not growing old… you’re just getting more refined with age.
2. Another year, another grey hair. Don’t worry, you wear it well.
3. Birthdays are nature’s way of telling us to eat more cake!
4. Getting older is mandatory; growing up is optional.
5. It’s your birthday, cake calories don’t count today!
6. You’re not old, you’re just well-seasoned.
7. Happy birthday! May your social media be filled with people you barely know wishing you well.
8. Don’t worry about the future, I’m sure you’ll have a bright one. Don’t worry about the past, you can’t change it.
9. Don’t worry about the present, I don’t have one for you!
10. Woo-hoo, you’re still younger than you will be next year.
11. Warning! I think your postman is stealing all the money I put in your cards…
12. On your birthday I’m going to share the secret to staying young: lie about your age.
13. You’re not 40, you’re 18 with 22 years of experience.
14. Don’t count the candles,  just enjoy the glow.
15. Let’s toast to you and your questionable life choices. Happy Birthday!

Heartfelt Birthday Messages for Best Friends

Celebrate your ride-or-die with these happy birthday wishes that honour your special bond:

1. Happy Birthday to my soul sister/brother. Life wouldn’t be the same without you.
2. Thanks for always being the friend who knows just what to say (and just when to bring snacks).
3. To my partner-in-crime, the one who’s stuck with me through thick and thin. Happy Birthday!
4. You deserve a day as incredible as you are. Let’s celebrate you.
5. Thanks for another year of laughter, love, and questionable decisions.
6. Happy Birthday! You’re more than a best friend, you’re family.
7. I’m so lucky to grow older with you. Here’s to many more crazy memories.
8. Happy birthday to the one who makes life a little brighter every day.
9. Life is better with friends like you. Hope today is amazing.
10. You know all about me, I know all about you. We’re best friends, blah, blah, blah. So happy birthday!
11. Hope your birthday is as wonderful and extraordinary as you are, bestie.
12. Don’t ever change! Stay just as amazing as you are, my friend.
13. Here’s to another year of laughing at our own jokes. Love you!
14. May your birthday be filled with champagne and sass.
15. You’re the Monica to my Rachel, the peanut butter to my jam. Happy Birthday!

Keep it short, sweet, and meaningful with these 15 simple birthday greetings:

1. Happy Birthday! I hope it’s brilliant.
2. Wishing you lots of love on your special day.
3. Hope today brings you everything you’re wishing for.
4. You’re an absolute star, so shine all the brighter on your special day.
5. Another year wiser. Happy Birthday!
6. Sending hugs and good vibes today.
7. Here’s to another trip around the sun!
8. Have the loveliest day — you deserve it.
9. A little older, a whole lot more fabulous.
10. Wishing you good times and happy memories.
11. Don’t forget to make a wish!
12. It’s your day, so enjoy every second.
13. Happy Birthday, my lovely friend.
14. So glad you were born!
15. You’re simply the best. Happy Birthday!

Birthday Messages for Family

Family means everything, but finding the words to express that isn’t always easy. Whether it’s a sibling, parent, or a member of your extended family, here are 15 birthday messages to help capture that special kind of love.

1. Happy Birthday, Mum/Dad. Thank you for everything, you mean the world to me.
2. To my amazing brother/sister, you’re not just family, you’re a best friend.
3. Every year I’m more grateful for the love and lessons you’ve given me.
4. Happy Birthday, Gran. You’re a true gem.
5. To the best auntie/uncle ever. Hope your day is as lovely as you are!
6. Happy birthday to the world’s coolest cousin.
7. You’ve always had my back, and I’ll always have yours. Happy Birthday!
8. Happy Birthday to our darling daughter. We are so proud of everything you’ve achieved.
9. You’re the glue that holds this family together. Have a lovely birthday!
10. I’m so lucky to be part of your family. Hope your day is filled with love.
11. Wishing you a birthday full of peace, love and tea.
12. Happy Birthday to the heart of our home.
13. You always put others first, but today is all about you.
14. May your birthday be full of family, laughter, and the most delicious cake.
15. You’re more than just a relative — you’re someone I admire deeply.

1. Happy Birthday! Hope today’s meetings are cancelled and cake is mandatory.
2. To my desk buddy — thanks for always making work bearable. Have a brilliant day!
3. Who knew spreadsheets could be fun with the right company? Happy birthday!
4. Wishing you a stress-free, empty inbox kind of day.
5. You bring more than just skills to the team, you bring smiles too. Happy Birthday!
6. Even though you make a terrible brew, you’re still my favourite workmate.
7. Thanks for being the calm in the chaos. Have a cracking birthday.
8. You make Mondays manageable. Enjoy your special day!
9. Work wouldn’t be the same without your banter. Cheers to you!
10. Here’s to birthday cake in the breakroom and no deadlines today.
11. You’re proof that hard work and humour can go hand in hand.
12. Wishing you a year full of success, laughter and well-earned holidays.
13. Your professionalism is only rivalled by your lunchtime snack game.
14. To a colleague who feels more like a mate — happy birthday!
15. Here’s to hoping HR turns a blind eye to the birthday wine.

Celebrating a Birthday from Afar

Even with miles of road and sea between you, a thoughtful birthday wish can feel like the tightest hug. Whether friend, family member or loved one, bridge the gap with our selection of international birthday wishes.

1. Wish I could be there to give you birthday bumps, don’t worry I’ll save them up. Tons of love!
2. Toasting to you from over here. Happy Birthday!
3. You might not be near, but you’re always dear. Enjoy your special day!
4. So sorry I can’t be there, I’ll make it up with wine. Lots of it.
5. Distance means nothing today, you’re right here in my heart. Happy birthday!
6. Cheers from afar to someone who’s always close in spirit.
7. Your birthday vibes have made it across the miles.
8. Can’t wait to celebrate when we next see each other.
9. We might be far apart, but I’m raising a glass to you today.
10. Miss you loads! Sending hugs and high fives from afar.
11. Hope your day’s full of love, even if I’m not there to share it.
12. One day soon, we’ll be celebrating together. Until then, happy birthday!
13. Here’s to all the Zoom calls, WhatsApp messages and virtual birthday cheer.
14. Thinking of you and wishing you the best birthday ever.

Birthday Quotes for Cards & Social Media

Sometimes, only something timeless and quotable will do. Whether you’re crafting a hand-written card or the perfect Instagram caption, these famous birthday quotes never fail to make an impact.

1. “In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count, it’s the life in your years.” – Abraham Lincoln
2. “Today you are you! That is truer than true! There is no one alive who is you-er than you!” – Dr. Seuss
3. “As you get older, three things happen: the first is your memory goes, and I can’t remember the other two.” – Norman Wisdom
4. “If life gives you lemons, make lemonade — and find someone whose life gave them vodka!” – Ron White
5. “Nature gives you the face you have at twenty; it’s up to you to merit the face you have at fifty.” – Coco Chanel
6. “Age is strictly a case of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” – Jack Benny
7. “Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.” – Walt Disney
8. “The more sand has escaped from the hourglass of our life, the clearer we should see through it.” – Jean-Paul Sartre
9. “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” – C.S. Lewis
10. “Let us celebrate the occasion with wine and sweet words.” – Plautus
11. “A birthday is just the first day of another 365-day journey around the sun. Enjoy the trip!”
12. “Count your life by smiles, not tears. Count your age by friends, not years.”
13. “Birthdays are good for you. Statistics show that the people who have the most live the longest.”
14. “Don’t just count the candles — see the light they give.”
15. “You’re only as old as you feel, and I hope you’re feeling 21!”

Top Tips for Writing Your Own Birthday Message

Want to wordsmith your own moving or funny birthday message? These tips should help:

• Start with the good stuff – A cheerful “Happy Birthday!” is always a winner.
• Add something personal – A shared joke or memory makes it feel authentic.
• Keep it short (unless you’re feeling poetic) – A few kind words go a long way.
• Be honest – Sincerity is better than sounding clever.
• Mix humour and heart – If you can make them laugh and cry, you’ve nailed it.
• Think about tone – Formal for colleagues, warm and cheeky for friends.
• Don’t overthink it – Just say what you’d like to say in person.
• Finish strong – Sign off with love, hugs, or your signature phrase.
• Skip the thesaurus – Plain English works wonders.
• Write like you talk – Because you’re brilliant just as you are.

Wrap Your Birthday Wishes Up With A Bloom

So, there you have it — over 150 happy birthday wishes, ready to help you say it just right. Whether you’ve found the perfect pun for your best mate, a heartfelt line for your mum, or a thoughtful note for someone miles away, we hope you’re feeling inspired (and maybe even a little emotional).

Now that you’ve nailed the words, why not pair them with something just as meaningful? Explore our Birthday Flowers to find a stunning bouquet that says more, hand-crafted by your local florist and delivered with care.

And if you’re still looking for the perfect present to go with your message, our Birthday Gift Inspiration Guide is packed with ideas to suit every kind of celebration.

Because when it comes to birthdays, a beautiful message and a thoughtful gift go hand in hand.