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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 I did the hard work for you, combing through our archives and asking the Strategist staff for their expert recommendations to round up 59 of the best stocking stuffers under $25, including lots of Strat favorites that we’ve tested and loved ourselves. Below you’ll find delightful goodies for all sorts of giftees, from picky sisters to pet parents, but if you need even more 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.
Update on November 19, 2024: Added new products; updated prices and checked stock for all products.
Food and drink
For the tinned-fish skeptic
These Jose Gourmet sardines soaked in tomato sauce helped convert me to a total enthusiast.
For the kid who loves a surprise
If they love forbidden snack memes, they’ll love these rock-shaped chocolates.
For the unabashed chocoholic
It’s dangerous for me to get within feet feet of a Toblerone bar, because I will polish off the whole thing in an hour. This giftable set of mini Toblerone triangles comes with both milk- and dark-chocolate varieties.
For the uncle who likes his steak very well-done
Vigil’s jerky is endorsed by Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg as something he can’t live without: “It’s really dry so you gotta chew on it for a while,” Buttigieg says. “It’s not the stuff that’s sweetened to make it all chewy and mushy.”
For the culinary-curious tween
These crafty cooking kits create teeny meals like ramen, onigiri, and sushi out of candy. “I get a distinct mad-scientist delight when dispensing tiny droplets into a liquid and watching them turn into candy gummy roe,” says Strategist contributor Yvonne Lin.
For the grandparent nostalgic for ’50s Jell-O dishes
Fancy Jell-O has recently gained favor among food-industry folks and on social media. Updated for the new millennium, Gelée’s trendy jellies come in fun tropical flavors like guava, pineapple coconut, and passionfruit.
For the dad who craves an umami bomb
He won’t be able to get enough of this sizzly sauce that blends salty ocean-grown kelp, mouth-tingling chiles de arbol, and satisfying fried onion and garlic.
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 who already has a bucket of Maldon salt
Jacobsen’s delightful salt discs, each containing ten grams of fine Italian sea salt, take the guesswork out of salting a pot of water for pasta.
For the brother who always gets a jumbo popcorn at the movies
Cheerie Lane’s all-natural popcorn pods come in unexpected flavors — the variety pack includes butter, rosemary garlic, ranch, salt and pepper, and jalapeño.
Self-care and beauty
For the cousin who’s perpetually flaky
Amanda Seyfried swears by this moisturizing shea butter from Eu’Genia, a women-owned company. She even sticks them in Christmas stockings every year.
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 niece growing out her hair
For the younger set, Jenny Lemons’s fanciful hair claws are guaranteed to be a hit. They come in an array of snackable designs, from pretzels to purple cauliflower.
For the friend who’s always immaculately manicured
These cute nail stickers come in plenty of fun patterns, so they can mix up their manicure in minutes.
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 college student pulling all-nighters
Dieux’s thin, lightweight silicone patches help deliver gels, serums, and creams directly to the under-eyes. They’re also reusable and adorned with an angelic design by tattoo artist David Enth.
For the tween who loves a little treat
“Bath bombs are an elegant gift,” say tweens Ruth and Daphne in our tween gift guide. This set from Lush — the OG purveyor of bath bombs — comes with two of the brand’s best sellers: Dragon’s Egg, which gives off a golden luster, and Intergalactic, which has swirls of yellow, pink, and blue.
For the friend who’s not afraid to go bold
NYX’s Fat Oil comes in 14 colorful shades, ranging from bright watermelon pinks to burnt peachy tones. “Because of the extra vibrance in the NYX shades, I also found that the tint tends to stay on your lips for longer, so you don’t need to constantly reapply,” says Strategist beauty columnist Rio Viera-Newton.
For the super-stylish sister-in-law
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 friend trying every blush trend on TikTok
Our top-rated cream blush hits all the right notes: a sensitive-skin-friendly formula, an impactful color payoff, and a versatile shade range, from light peach (Rush Hour) to a rich berry hue (After Hours).
For the mother-in-law who likes to feel a little fancy
Monastery’s plush blue terry hand towels are trimmed with a geometric Grecian border.
Gadgets and gizmos
For the sibling with a penchant for overpacking
With three USB-C ports and two USB-A ports, this Epicka travel adapter has the ability to connect as many as six devices to power from a single outlet, helping them save room for the 5,000 other things they’re bringing along.
For the gadget dad who’s also a neat freak
The silicone tip on one side squeezes into the crevices of earbuds and camera lenses, while the brush on the other side sweeps away crumbs caught in his keyboard.
For the co-worker who can’t sit still
Speks’ line of adult-friendly fidget toys are stress-relieving and nice-looking enough for an office desk. These crunchy, tactile magnetic stones are mashable, moldable, and stackable.
For the friend who can’t abide loose threads
These compact scissors are TSA-friendly and come in handy for nearly everything, whether you’re cutting off price tags, opening packages, wrapping gifts, or removing event wristbands.
For the posh aunt with a cashmere obsession
A sweater stone helps lift superficial dirt from sweaters and wool jackets and can also be used to remove pilling, balling, and fuzz.
For the friend who’s the designated schlepper
This ingenious bag-within-a-bag charm from Sundae School provides extra storage in a pinch. The charm itself is a plushie version of the brand’s mochi gummies and unzips to reveal a folded-up tote bag inside.
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 brother planning to backpack through Yosemite
When he gets to week three and needs to do laundry, he’ll appreciate this lightweight travel clothesline from Sea to Summit that doesn’t require any clothespins.
For the sister-in-law training for a half-marathon
Made from sweat-wicking polyester, Buffs’ all-purpose “headwear” is useful for staying warm in the winter and dry in the summer during long endurance runs.
For the husband who works up a sweat while standing still
It doesn’t matter if it’s the dead of winter: He’ll love being able to cool down with a personal, portable hand-held fan when the radiators are running full-tilt.
For the sister who’s always itching
A great gift for those “mosquito buffet” types, these bracelets are infused with citronella and lemongrass to keep pesky bugs away.
For the friend who’s a bread head
A whimsical pair of tongs that takes the pain out of extracting hot slices of toast from the toaster.
Hobbies, arts, and crafts
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 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 sister who can’t leave home without her amethysts
This tarot deck features vibrant illustrations of familiar archetypes like the Queen of Swords, updated with a modern sensibility — great for the 21st-century witch-in-training.
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 grandma who’s always gardening
These nitrile gloves come recommended by Marc Hachadourian, the New York Botanical Garden’s director of glasshouse horticulture. They’re “thick enough to protect me” but thin enough that he can still feel the difference between a weed and a real plant, he explains.
For the uncle who’s into online gaming
Help him ward off carpal tunnel with this pad that sits along the edge of your keyboard to provide extra wrist relief. “It makes typing for long sessions far less strenuous, and it’s just as great for extended online matches or all-nighters in their favorite game,” says Strategist tech writer Jordan McMahon.
For the grandparent who does the crossword in pen
Simon & Schuster’s Mega crossword books are bound to keep a recent retiree busy — I’ve been working my way through one for over a year now and I’m still not even halfway through.
For the mother-in-law who’s a pro scrapbooker
This handy dispenser contains 200 double-sided, removable glue dots beloved by scrapbookers and obsessive gift wrappers.
For the great-aunt who always sends a (handwritten) birthday card
Assuming she already has a stash of fountain pens, gift her this shimmery magenta ink that Strategist contributor Iva Dixit says makes her grocery lists resemble the Magna Carta.
For the high-schooler with an elaborate bullet journal
“You haven’t tried a glitter pen until you’ve tried these,” declares Strategist contributor Caroline Weaver. The gel ink and the super-fine glitter are two different colors, making your handwriting “look dimensional and shiny yet still surprisingly legible.”
Kids
For the kid who loves visiting the zoo
These colorful wooden animals have embedded magnets in their hands and feet so they can link arms, hold hands, or climb up the fridge.
For the tween who vibes with Frog and Toad
A color-changing mushroom nightlight that will transform their bedroom into a cottagecore wonderland.
For the preschooler who’s an avid puzzler
Containing just 48 pieces and beloved by multiple Strategist parents, Mudpuppy’s colorful mini puzzles take up a fraction of the space that bigger puzzles do.
For the kid learning how to ride a bike
This easy-to-install bike bell is equipped with a twinkling LED rainbow to help light their way home.
For the kid who’s obsessed with their stuffies
Jellycat’s cuddly bag charms can be clipped easily to a backpack to keep them company at school. In addition to this adorable aubergine, there’s also a frog, a bunny, or a teddy bear.
For the toddler who scribbles on every wall
These delightful rock-shaped crayons are easier and more ergonomic for smaller hands to hold.
For the first-grader who gets bored easily
Lego’s versatile three-in-one sets let them create different builds using the same bricks. With this one, they can make a roller skate, a skateboard, or a boom-box radio.
For the baby cousin who’s a musical prodigy
This fun storybook plays snippets of Mozart when you press a certain icon. “My kids like pressing the buttons more than the story itself, honestly, but I like that they learn about classical music. The illustrations are pretty, too, meaning the books make very nice gifts,” says Ro.
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 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 budding entomologist
This insect magnifier, recommended by Kate Berlant, lets them get a closer look at any spiders, centipedes, or other creepy crawlies they might encounter.
For the nephew with fidgety fingers
Putty is a little less messy than slime, and Crazy Aaron’s — a favorite of tween boys — makes some fun concoctions, including this sticky twist on a Magic 8 Ball.
Pets
For the cat with a nervous disposition
This cuddly sloth toy has a touch-activated purring mechanism that helps to soothe anxious or easily stressed cats.
For the dog with a tendency to wander off
For the friend whose cat has their own Instagram account
These Kitan Club surprise cat caps are extremely cute, even if they might only be tolerated long enough to snap a quick picture or two. (The brand also makes teddy bear, bunny and candy designs.)
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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