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Stocking stuffers can be a tricky prompt — they should be thoughtful, useful, and just a little cheeky, plus small enough to fit in a holiday-themed novelty sock. They’re also supposed to be cheap, but you don’t want them to feel cheap. So we did the hard work for you, combing through our archives and asking the Strategist staff for their expert recommendations to round up 50 of the best stocking stuffers under $25, including lots of Strat favorites that we’ve tested and loved ourselves. We’ve got you covered with delightful goodies for all sorts of giftees, from picky sisters to pet parents — and every item is available on Amazon for a speedy delivery. Meanwhile, if you need some assistance in picking out your official under-the-tree presents, we have gift guides for everyone from your hard-to-shop-for husband to teen nephews to your mother-in-law.
Food and drink
For the tinned-fish skeptic
These Jose Gourmet sardines soaked in tomato sauce helped convert me from a tinned-fish skeptic to a total enthusiast.
For the nostalgic grandparent with a sweet tooth
With a distinctly floral aroma and flavor, these C. Howard violet candies were all the rage in New York City in the 1940s, according to actor Debi Mazar. The packaging is adorably retro, too.
For the kid who loves a surprise
If they love forbidden snack memes, they’ll love these rock-shaped chocolates.
For the teen who has explored TikTok Shop
Even if you’ve never heard of freeze-dried Skittles, your teen has definitely seen these crunchy, flavor-packed treats on their FYP and will be thrilled at the chance to try them.
For the kid (or adult) with a more conventional sweet tooth
This colorful six-pack of mini-bars from Tony’s Chocolonely will let the family chocoholic try milk and dark varieties flavored with nougat, almond, hazelnut, and caramel.
For the co-worker whose bakes would earn a Paul Hollywood handshake
For the baker who loves both A Christmas Story and The Great British Bake Off, these vintage leg-lamp-shaped cutters will be a big hit.
For the friend with a fully stocked bar cart
Since they surely have enough bitters to last a lifetime, give them these whimsical olive-shaped cocktail picks.
Self-care and beauty
For the father-in-law who nurses dry hands all winter
Help him heal cracked knuckles with this top-rated cream that can soften the toughest, most calloused hands.
For the brother-in-law who’s a dental-hygiene freak
It’s not the sexiest item, but he’ll appreciate the gift of clean-feeling mouth anywhere he goes. Plus, Cocofloss’s flavors — including coconut, strawberry, and orange — are a bit more exciting than regular old mint.
For the sister who puts toothpaste on her zits
Gift her this pimple-busting Mario Badescu drying lotion instead, which Lala Kent of Vanderpump Rules bought after she heard that Lisa Vanderpump uses it. “It just zaps the blemish,” she says.
For the grandma who wants to upgrade from Nivea
We’ve been recommending Weleda’s thick, balmlike Skin Food since 2017, as a must-have for luminous skin as well as treating rough cuticles, elbows, and heels.
For the tween who loves a little treat
This glossy, berry-scented lip mask was one of our top-selling products in 2022 — and the hype shows no signs of slowing down. I guarantee they already idolize at least one celebrity or TikToker who swears by it.
For the friend who has made “low maintenance” their personality
This shea-butter-infused Jack Black lip balm is unscented and natural-feeling — perfect for someone with an unfussy skin-care routine.
For the posh aunt who’s already daydreaming about sandal season
The real gift comes two weeks later, when sheets of skin start to slowly slough off her toes and ankles. Once the purge period is over, however, it’ll leave her feet looking like “they’ve just received the world’s most expensive pedicure,” says writer Molly Young.
For the boyfriend who won’t stop futzing with his quiff
Finding the right product to style a fresh cut can be tricky, but this barber-approved Layrite pomade will give him a nice hold without cementing it “into a glossy brick,” says chef Buddha Lo.
For the cousin growing out their hair
This set of semi-sheer crêpe scrunchies — a favorite brand of Sex in the City author Candace Bushnell — will complement their ’90s ’fits.
For the mom who’s fully committed to her “mom bun”
These clips have a flat side and a domed top and are meant to be worn sideways, making them comfier than hair ties and regular claw clips, says fellow “mom bun” wearer and Strategist writer Lauren Ro. They’re a nice upgrade from a scrunchie, too.
For the sibling with a penchant for overpacking
This compact travel toothbrush folds down into thirds, with a chamber that protects the bristles from debris without trapping moisture, so it can help them save room for the 5,000 other toiletries they’re bringing along.
For the great-aunt with a cashmere obsession
Help her save on her dry-cleaning bill with Soak’s ecofriendly, plant-derived detergent. It comes in six elegant scents from fig to yuzu, and there’s a fragrance-free option, too.
For the mother-in-law who wants that Christmas-tree smell all year
A stocking-size version of one of our favorite holiday candles.
Gadgets and gizmos
For the certified caffeine snob
We’ve dubbed these Apace scoops the “Rolls-Royce of coffee spoons” thanks to their pleasingly ovoid shape, ergonomically curved handle, and warm, elegant rose-gold shade.
For the high-school senior who could become a TikTok sensation
“I’m not tech-savvy, so this one is really easy. You just plug it into your phone and it works,” says TikToker Christina Najjar (a.k.a. Tinx), who’s made a whole career off her mini-microphone.
For the brother planning to backpack through Yosemite
The marker-size LifeStraw filters out 99.99 percent of waterborne bacteria, parasites, and even microplastics, allowing him to essentially sip directly from a body of water like a stream or river.
For the light sleeper who tosses and turns all night
This headband has a small, flat speaker installed in a pocket on each side, so they can listen to white noise, rainforest sounds, or an audiobook to drift off without disturbing others.
For the uncle training for a half-marathon
This Cyclops-looking beanie comes in more than a dozen colors and is equipped with a built-in light for those long, dark runs in below-zero weather.
For the gadget dad who’s also a neat freak
One side of this pen-size brush can wipe the camera lens on his phone clean while the other can sweep away crumbs on his laptop keyboard.
For the gadget dad who never says no to a drink
This can opener is designed to remove the entire top of aluminum cans in one go. Going lidless makes it easy to garnish La Croix with sliced orange, add ice to a lukewarm Diet Coke, or mix gin into Schweppes tonic water.
For the husband who works up a sweat while standing still
It doesn’t matter that it’s the dead of winter: He’ll love being able to cool down with a personal, portable neck fan when the radiators are running full-tilt.
For the sister who’s always itching
A great gift for those “mosquito buffet” types, this neat plastic doodad can suck the venom from the bite to help prevent an itchy, painful bump.
Hobbies, arts, and crafts
For the father-in-law relaxing with The Power Broker before bed
Since the hue of this book light is warm and amber-y rather than a cooler blueish-white, bedtime bookworms can wind down without feeling like they’re staring at a screen or disturbing a sleeping partner.
For the aunt who spends all day in the garden
Our kitchen and dining writer Emma Wartzman uses these small, sharp shears to prune everything from tomatoes to herbs, and the red handles make for a nice and easy-to-find pop of color.
For the friend who hosts game night
Just make sure your friend group is strong enough to withstand the chaos that comes with this highly addictive card game.
For the uncle who’s into tabletop RPGs
Polyhedral dice are a great gift for tabletop gamers, and actor and D&D player Ally Beardsley called this multicolored set “the most beautiful object I’ve ever seen in my life.”
For the sister who can’t leave home without her amethysts
This tarot deck features vibrant illustrations of familiar archetypes like the Magician and the Queen of Swords, but updated with a modern sensibility — great for the 21st-century witch-in-training.
For the grandparent who does the crossword in pen
These are 200 of the New York Times’ easiest crossword puzzles: a perfect present for a recent retiree with a lot of newfound downtime.
For the grandma who’s a pro scrapbooker
This handy little dispenser contains 200 double-sided, removable glue dots beloved by scrapbookers and obsessive gift wrappers.
For the brother who likes to tinker
Handy people can always use an extra pocketknife. This one by French company Opinel comes recommended by fourth-generation butcher Cara Nicoletti — she’s owned hers for over nine years and says it’s “the cutest knife I own.”
For the aunt who always sends a (handwritten) birthday card
This classic pen came in second in the fountain-pen category in our 100-pen ranking (it was closely beaten out by one over six times its price).
For the college student getting into calligraphy
These beginner-friendly calligraphy brushes dressed up as pens will let them add all sorts of flourishes to their bullet journal, without the hassle of nibs and ink.
Kids
For the preschooler who’s an avid puzzler
Containing just 48 pieces and beloved by multiple Strategist parents, Mudpuppy’s colorful city-themed puzzles take up a fraction of the space that bigger puzzles do.
For the kid learning how to ride a bike
This cute daisy-shaped bike bell and colorful handlebar streamers will help zhuzh up their wheels.
For the toddler who scribbles on every wall
These washable crayons are designed to be easier for smaller hands to hold, and the colorful container has a better chance of surviving tantrums than the standard Crayola cardboard.
For the first-grader who can’t pick a favorite dinosaur
Lego’s three-in-one dinosaur set lets them use the same bricks to build a triceratops, a pterodactyl, or a T. rex complete with posable joints and ferocious teeth.
For the baby cousin who’s really into trains
City kids graduate from choo-choo-train-obsessed to MTA-obsessed quite quickly. For Ro’s son, this book was “the perfect introduction to the subterranean system” with “simple, rhythmic, and repetitive” language.
For the niece with an eye for style
Klutz’s paper fashion studio kit provides tons of stencils, stickers, and patterned stationery, so she can create all the mini-outfits of her dreams.
For the nephew who has mastered the basic Rubik’s Cube
The more elaborate Ghost Cube involves twisting up all kinds of shapes and provides hours of fun — including the challenge of refitting the pieces into their original cubic form.
For the elementary-schooler trying to save up
A fun twist on a traditional piggy bank, this interactive one features a kitten that pokes its head out and steals the coin. It’s one of Diptyque director Myriam Badault’s favorite gifts for kids.
For the kid casting spells with a chopstick
An intricately carved magic wand made out of real wood that will give their incantations a little extra oomph.
For the teen who vibes with Frog and Toad
A mushroom nightlight that will transform their bedroom into a cottagecore wonderland.
Pets
For the partner whose cat hates you
This banana-shaped sack of high-quality catnip is the perfect shape for cats to sniff, snuggle, and kick — and the cuteness factor of watching a cat snuggle a banana can’t be discounted.
For the couple who just brought home a new puppy
This durable treat dispenser will stand up to a hyperactive puppy that needs to burn off excess energy, and is professional-dog-trainer-approved.
For the cat who meows for dinner as soon as she finishes breakfast
“Cats love this shit,” says curator and cat owner Celine Wong Katzman of Churu squeezable treats, which she compares to cat Go-Gurt. They can also be frozen to make fish-flavored Popsicles.
For the dog who sheds like crazy
This cheerful, ergonomic shampoo brush is a “win-win” — dogs love the gentle rubber bristles, and the brush efficiently removes dander from undercoats, which will help allergy sufferers feel better around Fido.
For the friend who’s thinking about walking their cat
Perfect for the kitty embarking on its first outdoor adventures, this harness-and-leash set is lightweight and breathable, and the elastic bungee leash prevents harsh tugging or jerking.
For the friend who spends hours walking their dog
Wild One’s poop bags are biodegradable and extra thick, and they come with a stylish dispenser that conveniently fastens to a leash or key chain.
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