Samantha Schoech is a writer focusing on gifts. She spends her time finding things that combine quality, beauty, usefulness, and delight.
A thoughtful gift needn’t be expensive to be perfect. A practical kitchen tool, a new charging adapter, or even a really good pair of socks can delight at a budget price. Here are the best gifts for $25 or less—note that although we made every effort to confirm that these items meet that threshold, prices can dance around a bit.
If you have a slightly larger budget, check out our guides to the best gifts under $50 and the best gifts under $100.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTGlobal plug
With four plugs that will work in 150 countries, plus 4 USB-A ports, 1 USB-C port, and an AC socket, this adapter is the best all-around choice for anyone traveling out of the country.
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Tiny puzzle
These itty-bitty 70-piece photographic food puzzles are 8 by 8 inches, and you can assemble one in less than an hour.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTTrunk tamer
This two-compartment organizer contains clutter and frees up much-needed trunk space. You can configure it to best fit your needs, and it comes in an array of designs. But the collapsible walls aren’t rigid enough to hold their shape if the bins are overstuffed.
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Fish friend
Designed in Japan, these random-but-cute faux-leather fish pouches are just big enough for a lip balm and some cash and come with a looped metal chain for attaching to bags or wrists.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTGolf buddies
These golf balls from the historic Titleist company are beloved by professional golfers and weekend warriors alike for their renowned consistency and quality control.
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From: Father’s Day Gifts
Design notes
These design-friendly stacks of 3-by-3-inch sticky notes are nearly 6 inches tall and available in five different Pantone colors. A convenient pencil holder is drilled through each one.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTWhat to watch
This scratch-off poster is a great must-watch list of movies from the 20th and 21st centuries and a cinephile show-off piece.
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From: The Best Gifts for Dads
Striped socks
Pendleton’s heritage blankets pay homage to national parks from Acadia to Zion with distinctive stripes; the sock versions are comfy midweight cotton and look particularly dapper peeking from suit pants or cuffed denim.
From: The Best Gifts for Dads
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTBookish cards
Artist Janet Mount is famous for her book-stack paintings. This boxed set contains 50 unique postcards with colorful illustrations of literary stacks, covers, and icons.
Tough tote
Convenient to carry, this reusable tote is surprisingly durable and can hold up to 50 pounds. You can wipe it clean or throw it in the wash after unloading your groceries, and it packs down into a tiny attached carrying pouch.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTForever flowers
These 100% recycled paper flowers decked out in cheerful, colorful vegetable inks look great in a vase and take less than five minutes to assemble.
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Go towel
Whether used for camping, hiking, traveling, or general outdoor adventuring, this microfiber towel is durable enough to handle extended abuse while remaining soft and comfortable.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTPersonal reading light
This chic and compact device offers five brightness levels and three light temperatures, and its power indicator lets you know when to charge it.
From: The Best Reading Light
A bit of bling
With just enough room for cards and cash, this blingy little leather wallet, available in more than 20 metallic colors, is a simple alternative to bulky totes and carryalls.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTTea-lover’s teapot
This teapot’s metal basket fills the whole glass pot, allowing the leaves to expand and steep fully. The short spout makes pouring easy and drip-free.
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From: The Best Tea Steeper
Pretty pour-over
The Kalita Wave’s flat bottom ensures an even extraction and excellent-tasting coffee.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTGrown-up markers
These double-tip pens draw like creamy markers and come in dozens of sophisticated shades. Great for kids, too-cool teens, and industrious adults.
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May be out of stock
Elevated olive oil
Fragrant and grassy, this oil has a fair amount of pungency and a sharp bitterness. Pairs nicely with roasted vegetables, bread, and pasta.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTCompetition-grade cube
This highly adjustable and smooth-twisting cube is a great starting point for novice cubers and can keep up with more-experienced speed solvers.
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From: The Best Speed Cubes
Handiest screwdriver
This manual screwdriver combines smooth ratcheting action with excellent bit storage and a uniquely comfortable handle. It’s the most well-rounded, capable tool of its kind.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTSpeedy word game
This word-building game is similar to Scrabble but is played at breakneck speed with no board, and it’s fun for groups of all ages.
Party game
This interactive wordplay game, which asks players to find the spy in their midst using single-word clues, is fun for large and small groups.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTArtsy puzzle
At first glance, the bird-theme puzzle can seem repetitive, but upon closer look, each section proves to be full of subtle variation—perfect for puzzling.
From: Jigsaw Puzzles We Love
Classic coffee cup
This ceramic cup replicates the classic Big Apple to-go design from 1963.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTRainbow pencils
These artist-grade pencils lay down vibrant color, blend nicely, and are easy to sharpen.
From: The Best Colored Pencils
Cute potato
When you pat this USB-rechargeable potato lantern on the head or tummy, it emits a soft glow in one of three brightness levels.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTCitrus squeezer
This citrus juicer has a geared hinge that lends better leverage when you’re pressing cut citrus and prevents seeds from falling into drinks.
From: The Best Citrus Juicer
Superior citrus juicer
This juicer is one of the very few models we’ve found with built-in pulp control and a self-contained pitcher.
From: The Best Citrus Juicer
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTGreat grater
With its razor-sharp teeth and narrow face, this stainless zester allows cooks to reach every nook and cranny on a lemon or a cheese rind. Grab it in one of more than a dozen colors.
From: The Best Grater
Iconic ice cream scoop
A favorite among ice cream shops, this liquid-filled scoop warms in your hand to cut smoothly into hard ice cream and produce perfect spheres. It’s also easier to clean than scoops with moving parts.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTBurn prevention
The silicone exterior on this oven mitt is not only heatproof but also grippy, easy to maneuver, and water resistant, while the polyester-cotton lining adds extra protection and comfort.
Pretty press
We love the classic lines, the low price, and the consistent cup of coffee this French press produces. It also comes in a handful of great colors.
From: The Best French Press
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTAn everyday apron
Constructed from thick cotton, this affordable bib apron comes in a wide variety of colors and can be personalized.
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Perfect popcorn
Munchers can make and eat their popcorn in this single collapsible bowl made of microwave- and dishwasher-safe silicone.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTSpicy sauces
This trio of mini jars includes the company’s three flagship condiments: Sichuan Chili Crisp, Zhong Sauce, and Mala Spice Mix. You can also opt for three of the wildly popular Sichuan Chili Crisp.
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Worldly snacks
This subscription box offers an exciting selection of sweet and savory snacks from a single country.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTGrown-up hot cocoa
Just add hot water or milk to this 70% single-origin cacao mix to produce a profoundly rich, creamy beverage.
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Stylish sunnies
A budget-friendly pair in the style of Ray-Ban Wayfarers, these sunglasses look good on just about anyone–and they stay put during workouts.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTBike bling
Made with reflective 3M Scotchlite material for better visibility, these spoke clips snap on easily and make dusk bike trips safer.
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Tiny lantern
This lantern fits in the palm of your hand and has two fold-up handles for hanging. Powered by three AAA batteries, it casts a strong, cool-white glow.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTCool water bottle
Shaped like a plastic drink bottle but made of double-walled, insulated stainless steel, this small-mouth, tapered container is a pleasure to hold.
From: The Best Water Bottles
Cozy hands
Zippo’s 12-hour hand warmer runs for an average of 21 hours but requires lighter fluid and can’t be turned off—once it’s been started, it runs until it’s out of fuel.
From: The Best Hand Warmer
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTFashionable fanny pack
This sturdy, good-size fanny pack has two zippered pockets and comes in plenty of colors and patterns.
From: The Best Fanny Packs
Everything tool
This light, titanium-coated stainless steel multi-tool includes a pry bar, a wire stripper, two flathead screwdrivers, one Phillips screwdriver, and a bottle opener. Plus, it’s TSA-friendly.
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From: The Best Multi-Tool
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTAffordable earbuds
These affordable earbuds hook over your ears to stay in place, have good water resistance, and sound surprisingly decent for the price. But they lack features such as noise cancellation and a hear-through mode.
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Use promo code FORYOU15
Tension reliever
OPTP balls have a dense, slightly spongy texture that’s still firm enough to roll out tight muscles or painful feet.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTSleep mask
Lightweight and contoured, this mask comfortably fits a variety of face shapes, and it blocks light well. The deep eye cups allow the eyes to flutter during sleep.
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From: The Best Sleep Mask
Tub tray
This simple bath tray looks lovely and is easy to use. It isn’t adjustable, though, so mind the dimensions.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTLuxe notebook
This minimalist, lie-flat, lined notebook has a creamy texture that makes writing, sketching, or doodling delightful.
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Clear the air
A long way from those cloying pine trees, these subtle cardboard car fresheners are scented with fancy, elevated scents.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTSimple vases
Lab-style test tubes supported in an unfinished block of wood make a no-frills and highly effective propagation station or vase.
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Brass spritzer
If your pal has plants that prefer a light misting over a good soak, this handsome brass mister is just the ticket. And it holds up for years.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTEveryday hoodie
It doesn’t get simpler or more classic than this cotton-blend, zip-up hoodie with front pouch pockets. It’s available in men’s and women’s sizes and tons of colors.
Eau de California
This charcoal-based incense burns for about an hour and smells like Big Sur in the summer, with notes of wild sage, eucalyptus, sea salt, redwood, and palo santo.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTSeed packets
Each of these pretty, pest-proof reusable tins is stocked with 10 packets of organic seeds for themed gardens. And if the seeds don’t flourish, the company will replace them.
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We love finding gifts that are unusual, thoughtful, and well vetted. See even more gift ideas we recommend.
This article was edited by Hannah Morrill and Jennifer Hunter.
Meet your guide
Samantha Schoech
Except for the time she gave a boyfriend her mother’s old toaster for Christmas, staff writer Samantha Schoech has a reputation as an excellent gift giver. She lives in San Francisco with two teens, two cats, a geriatric betta fish, and a bookseller husband. Her first book of short stories, My Mother’s Boyfriends, is coming out in 2024.
Mentioned above
- We tested over a dozen travel plug adapters to find the best to bring on a trip overseas. Nothing can cover you everywhere, but check out these four good options.The Best Travel Plug Adapter
- Here are Wirecutter’s seven favorite reusable shopping bags and totes for when you want to BYO bag.The Seven Best Reusable Shopping Bags, According to Wirecutter Staff
- We spent 60 hours testing travel packable towels and we are convinced these are the best options for drying off.The Best Packable Travel Towels
- These reading lights are bright and adjustable, so you can keep reading even if you share a bed with a light sleeper.The Best Reading Light
- After more than 30 hours researching dozens of tea steepers, we’ve found these to be the best ones for most people.The Best Tea Steeper
- We’ve collectively tasted more than 350 cups of coffee over the years to find the best easy-to-use dripper for making pour-over coffee.The Best Pour-Over Coffee Makers
Further reading
15 Great Bridal Shower Gifts
At her shower, a bride should feel pampered and celebrated. These gifts—from a luxe body oil to comfy bridal shoes to sexy lace thongs—will do just that.
The 32 Absolute Best White Elephant Gifts Under $25
Quirky and quippy Wirecutter-approved gifts for laughs, not landfills.
The 38 Best Gifts for Teens
As teens near adulthood, they’re ready for more grown-up gifts. But they may also appreciate items that help them relax and still feel like a kid.
The 31 Best Gifts for 1-Year-Olds
Some of the best gifts for 1-year-olds are those that engage kids’ rapidly developing motor skills, sensory exploration, and boundless curiosity.
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