Birthday Email Examples
Last updated: September 25, 2026
These birthday email examples cover the whole birthday flow for an online store: asking for the date, the birthday offer itself, reminders before the code expires, and belated or half-birthday notes. Each has a subject line, preview text and full body copy, plus exact timing so you can set them up as automations once and let them run.
Need subject lines too? Birthday Email Subject Lines
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Birthday Signup Emails
Emails that ask customers for their birthday so the rest of the flow can work. Send them after signup or a first order, and explain what they get in return.
Add Your Birthday Request
Subject:
When's your birthday?
Preview:
Tell us the month and day, and there's a gift waiting for you when it comes.
Hi [first name], We'd love to celebrate with you, but we're missing one small detail: your birthday. Add the month and day to your account and we'll send you [discount] off during your birthday month, plus a little extra if you're a [loyalty program name] member. We don't need the year, and we'll never share it. It takes about ten seconds. [Add My Birthday] Thanks, [Store name]
Send three days after someone joins your list or places a first order, and once more after 30 days if they haven't added a date.
Birthdays Beyond Your Own
Subject:
Whose birthday should we remember?
Preview:
Add a partner, a kid or even the dog. We'll remind you in time to shop.
Hi [first name], Birthdays sneak up on everyone. So we built a small tool to help: add the birthdays that matter to you, and we'll send a reminder [number] days before each one with gift ideas that fit. Yours, your partner's, your kids', even the dog's. Each reminder comes with free gift wrapping on that order. You can edit or delete dates anytime from your account. [Add a Birthday] Happy planning, [Store name]
Send to repeat customers who have bought gifts before, about two weeks after their last gift order, when gifting is still fresh in their mind.
One-Click Birthday Month Picker
Subject:
Quick question: which month is yours?
Preview:
Tap your birthday month below. That's the whole email.
Hi [first name], Just one question today. Which month is your birthday? Tap your month on the calendar below and you're done. No form, no password. When your month comes around, we'll send you a birthday gift from us: [discount] off anything in the store, good for the whole month. [Pick Your Birthday Month] If you'd rather not say, that's fine too. You'll still hear about our sales like always. Cheers, [Store name]
Send to subscribers with no birthday on file who have opened at least one email in the last 60 days. Each month link tags their profile.
Birthday Offer Emails
The main birthday email, carrying the discount, gift or perk. Send it ahead of the day so there's time to shop and for the order to arrive.
Birthday Week Discount Code
Subject:
Your birthday gift is here, [first name]
Preview:
[discount] off anything, all week. Treat yourself before the big day.
Hi [first name], Your birthday is coming up, and we wanted to be early with the gift. Here's [discount] off anything in the store, from now until [date]: Code: [discount code] Pick something you've had your eye on, or something you'd never buy yourself on a regular Tuesday. It stacks with free shipping, and there's no minimum spend. [Choose Your Birthday Gift] Happy almost-birthday, [Store name]
Trigger 7 days before the customer's birthday so there's time for delivery, with the code valid for 14 days to cover the day itself.
Free Gift With Birthday Order
Subject:
Your free birthday gift is waiting
Preview:
Add anything to your cart and we'll tuck a [gift item] in the box, on us.
Hi [first name], Happy birthday month. Instead of a code this year, we're sending you something you can hold. Place any order before [date] and we'll add a full-size [gift item] to the box, free. It's automatically added at checkout, so there's nothing to remember. We picked it because it's the little luxury people rarely buy for themselves. [Claim Your Free Gift] Have a wonderful birthday, [Store name]
Use on the first day of the customer's birthday month for high-margin stores where a gift feels richer than a discount. Check gift stock beforehand.
Birthday Morning Greeting
Subject:
Happy birthday, [first name]
Preview:
A short note from all of us, and a reminder that your gift is still waiting.
Hi [first name], Happy birthday from everyone at [Store name]. We hope today brings good food, good people and at least one unplanned nap. Thank you for shopping with us this year. Customers like you are the reason we get to keep doing this. One small reminder: your birthday gift is still in your account, [discount] off with code [discount code], good until [date]. [Use Your Birthday Gift] Enjoy every minute, [Store name]
Send on the morning of the birthday in the customer's time zone. Mention the code only if it hasn't been redeemed; otherwise drop that line.
Birthday Reminder Emails
Follow-ups for customers who haven't used their birthday offer yet, timed around the expiry date so the gift doesn't go to waste.
Code Expires in Three Days
Subject:
Your birthday code expires [date]
Preview:
Still thinking it over? Here are three ideas under [amount].
Hi [first name], Your birthday gift, [discount] off anything, expires on [date]. We'd hate to see it go unused. If you're not sure what to pick, here are three ideas our team loves right now: [product name], under [amount] [product name], a customer favorite for gifting yourself [product name], new this month Your code is [discount code]. It works on sale items too. [Use My Birthday Code] Warmly, [Store name]
Send three days before the birthday code expires, only to customers who opened the birthday email but haven't redeemed the code.
Last Day to Use Your Gift
Subject:
Last day for your birthday gift
Preview:
Your code stops working at midnight. Your cart is saved if you started one.
Hi [first name], Just a quick one: your birthday code [discount code] stops working tonight at midnight. If you started a cart earlier, it's saved and the discount will apply when you check out. If not, our new arrivals page is a good place to start. No pressure either way. We're glad you're here, birthday code or not. [Use Code Before Midnight] Best, [Store name]
Send on the morning of the expiry date to anyone who still hasn't redeemed. This is the final message in the birthday flow.
Personalized Picks Reminder
Subject:
We picked a few birthday ideas for you
Preview:
Based on your past orders. Your [discount] off is still good until [date].
Hi [first name], Your birthday discount is still waiting, so we looked at what you've ordered before and pulled a few things we think you'll like: [recommended product] [recommended product] [recommended product] If you liked your [past product name], the first one is its natural next step. Use code [discount code] for [discount] off before [date]. [See My Picks] Happy birthday month, [Store name]
Send halfway through the code's validity window to customers with at least one past order, filling the product slots from their purchase history.
Belated and Half-Birthday Emails
Emails for birthdays you missed or want to celebrate twice. They recover customers who joined too late for the main flow and give you a warm reason to reach out mid-year.
Belated Birthday Apology
Subject:
We missed your birthday. Sorry about that.
Preview:
You added your date after the fact, so here's your gift a little late.
Hi [first name], You told us your birthday recently, and it turns out we'd already missed it this year. That doesn't sit right with us. So here's your birthday gift, a little late: [discount] off anything with code [discount code], good until [date]. Belated gifts are still gifts. And next year, you'll hear from us a week before the big day. [Claim My Late Gift] Happy belated birthday, [Store name]
Trigger when a customer adds a birthday that fell within the last 30 days. Skip it if the date is further back than that.
Your Half-Birthday Surprise
Subject:
Happy half-birthday, [first name]
Preview:
Six months until the real one. That felt like a good excuse for a small treat.
Hi [first name], It's been six months since your birthday, which makes today your half-birthday. It's not an official holiday, but we think it should be. To mark the occasion, here's a half-birthday treat: free shipping on your next order, no minimum, plus a small surprise in the box. Use code [discount code] before [date]. [Celebrate Halfway] See you at the next one, [Store name]
Send six months after the customer's birthday to anyone who hasn't ordered since their birthday offer. It works as a gentle, friendly win-back.
Expired Code Second Chance
Subject:
Your birthday code expired. We brought it back.
Preview:
48 more hours, because birthdays shouldn't come with a hard deadline.
Hi [first name], We noticed your birthday code expired before you had a chance to use it. Life gets busy, especially around birthdays. So we've switched it back on for 48 more hours. Same code, [discount code], same [discount] off, now good until [date] at [time]. If there was a reason you didn't use it, like nothing caught your eye, just reply and tell us. We read every reply. [Use It Now] All the best, [Store name]
Send one day after an unredeemed birthday code expires, to customers who opened at least one birthday email. Send it once, never as a routine.
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