Quick answer: The best stocking stuffers are small things people use: snacks, little self-care items, handy tools and quick games. Good picks around $25 or less include Must Love date-sweetened crackers, a TiCK MiTT tick-removal glove, a Legs Pits Lady Bits shower razor holder, Sweet Paws dog-walk accessories, CryoTone RESTORE body gel, UNO and a Rubik's Cube.
Stocking stuffers have a reputation for being the junk drawer of the holidays: novelty items that are funny for a minute and then disappear. They don't have to be. The best stocking stuffers are small things people actually use, and many of them cost less than a takeout lunch.
Below are practical, fun picks that were around $25 or less on Amazon when we last checked, grouped by the kind of person you're filling a stocking for. Several come from independent brands that the Surprise Selections gift quiz features. Prices change often in the run-up to the holidays, so check the current price before you buy.
A simple formula for a great stocking
If you are filling a whole stocking for one person, try mixing four types of gifts:
- Something to eat, because it always gets used.
- Something useful that solves a small daily annoyance.
- Something to play on a slow holiday afternoon.
- Something for self-care, a small treat just for them.
The sections below follow that formula, so you can pick one from each.
Something to eat
Snacks are the classic stocking filler. These two stand out because they are a little different from the usual candy.
Must Love Cheezy Crackers 2-Pack
by Must Love · Food · around $15
Vegan, plant-based cheezy crackers sweetened with dates, with no added sugar. Two 5 oz packs.
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Must Love Chocolate Graham Crackers 2-Pack
by Must Love · Baking · around $15
Chocolate graham crackers sweetened with dates, no added sugar, great for pie crusts and mini s'mores.
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Kentucky Hot Mix Snack Mix
by A Taste of Kentucky · Food · around $18
A spicy, crunchy family-recipe snack mix made for parties.
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Must Love makes crackers sweetened with dates. Both of these 2-packs come in 5 oz bags and are listed as vegan and plant-based with no added sugar. The cheezy crackers suit a savory snacker. The chocolate grahams are listed as great for pie crusts and mini s'mores, which makes them a fun stocking pick for a family that bakes over the holidays. For someone who likes heat, the Kentucky Hot Mix from A Taste of Kentucky is a spicy, crunchy snack mix made from a family recipe. See more edible ideas in our food gifts guide.
Something useful
Useful stocking stuffers win because they solve a small problem the person deals with every week.
Legs Pits Lady Bits Shower Razor Holder
by Legs Pits Lady Bits · Bath · around $11
Adhesive, rust-free aluminum hangers that keep razors off the shower ledge.
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TiCK MiTT Tick Removal Glove (Pink)
by TiCK MiTT · Pets · around $20
Pink version of the tick glove for gentle tick checks on pets and family.
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Moleskine Classic Hardcover Notebook (Large, Ruled)
by Moleskine · Stationery · around $14
A classic hardcover notebook with ruled pages, an elastic band and a ribbon marker.
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The Legs Pits Lady Bits razor holder sticks to the shower wall with adhesive, is made of rust-free aluminum and holds three razors, keeping them off the shower ledge. For a hiker, gardener or anyone with a dog, the TiCK MiTT glove is a chemical-free way to pick up ticks: you wipe the textured glove over pets or people. It also comes in yellow, blue and orange. And for the planner or journaler, a Moleskine large ruled notebook is a classic.
For dog owners (and their dogs)
Dog owners are easy to delight with small things for daily walks. Sweet Paws makes silicone accessories that fit perfectly in a stocking.
Sweet Paws Poop Bag Holder Charm Duo
by Sweet Paws · Pets · around $12
Silicone charms that carry a used poop bag hands-free on walks.
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Sweet Paws Puppy Teething Rings
by Sweet Paws · Pets · around $12
Food-grade silicone teething rings for small and medium pups.
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The Poop Bag Holder Charm Duo carries a used bag hands-free on walks, with a carabiner clip. The listing shows blush pink and lavender charms, two in the set. The Puppy Teething Rings are food-grade silicone chew toys for small and medium pups, and the listing describes them for puppies up to 6 months old. Planning a bigger gift for a dog lover? Our dog lovers gift guide has more.
Something to play
A card game or puzzle fills the quiet hours after the presents are open. These two are easy to learn and work for a wide range of ages.
UNO Card Game
by Mattel Games · Games · around $11
The match-the-color-or-number card game that works for every age.
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Rubik's Cube (3x3)
by Rubik's · Games · around $9
The original color-matching puzzle cube and brain teaser.
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UNO is listed for ages 7 and up and 2 to 10 players, so it works for almost any family gathering. The Rubik's Cube is the original 3x3 puzzle cube, a brain teaser that can keep a teenager (or a competitive uncle) busy for hours. For bigger game ideas, read our guide to game night gifts.
Something for self-care
Small self-care gifts feel like a treat without being a big commitment.
CryoTone RESTORE Body Gel
by CryoTone · Wellness · around $20
A lightweight 200 ml hydrating body gel with hyaluronic acid and niacinamide.
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Burt's Bees Classics Gift Set
by Burt's Bees · Self-care · around $25
A small set of Burt's Bees favorites like lip balm and hand cream.
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CryoTone's RESTORE Body Gel is a lightweight 200 ml hydrating gel with hyaluronic acid and niacinamide. The Burt's Bees Classics Gift Set is a small set of Burt's Bees favorites like lip balm and hand cream, a safe choice for a coworker or a gift swap. More ideas are in our wellness and self-care guide.
Tips for stocking stuffers on a budget
- Set a per-stocking budget first. For example, $40 per stocking could be one snack, one useful item and one game.
- Buy once, split across stockings. A 2-pack of crackers or a 2-pack of razor holders can fill two stockings.
- Check sizes for the stocking. Most picks here are small, but a notebook or a gift set may need a bigger stocking.
- Order early. Popular small items can go out of stock close to the holidays.
Browse every pick in our catalog at around $25 or less, or answer five quick questions in the gift quiz and choose "Under $25" as the budget.
Frequently asked questions
What are good stocking stuffers for adults?
- Useful items and treats work best for adults. Good picks include Must Love date-sweetened crackers, a Legs Pits Lady Bits shower razor holder, a TiCK MiTT tick-removal glove and CryoTone RESTORE Body Gel.
What are good stocking stuffers for dog owners?
- Small walk and chew accessories are a hit. The Sweet Paws Poop Bag Holder Charm Duo carries a used bag hands-free, and Sweet Paws Puppy Teething Rings are food-grade silicone chew toys for small and medium puppies.
How much should I spend on stocking stuffers?
- There is no rule, but many families pick a per-stocking budget, such as $25 to $50, and fill it with two to four small gifts. Every pick in this guide was around $25 or less when we last checked.
What is a stocking stuffer the whole family can use?
- A card game such as UNO, which is listed for ages 7 and up and 2 to 10 players, gives the whole family something to do together after presents.
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Gift picks sold on Amazon. Products are sold and shipped by their sellers on Amazon; we don’t sell anything directly. Prices are rough guides from Amazon when we last checked, not quotes. Product details come from each product’s Amazon listing.