Gift Guides 2025: Stocking Stuffers

Stocking stuffers come in many varieties — funny gifts, whimsical gifts, sentimental gifts, etc. None of those are my strong suit (unless we’re talking about immediate family gifts). When I think about stocking stuffers, I think about price and utility. I like a useful gift. The kind of gift that has almost-zero initial wow factor, but that you will find yourself recommending to others because it becomes an essential tool for daily tasks.

So let’s talk about a few stocking stuffers that cost less than-$50, but have outsized utility.

Pretty Picture Frames // Grandparents, friends, even kids, adore new pictures of their loved ones.  I have so many on my phone, and I would like to have more of them in real frames.  These gorgeous frames from Anthropologie would make a fabulous gift.  I bought two for myself.  I also like these vertical frames that are perfect for a Photo Booth strips of photos.

Crafty Gifts // Interactive gifts aren’t just for kids.  This watercolor book is a great option for adults who just need to take ten minutes for themselves sometimes, or for people who are trying to spend less time on their devices.  Needlepoint kits are also popular.  

Personalized Luggage Tags // Imminently useful, a luggage tag, especially a cool, personalized one, is a great gift.  I gave a pair of these to an intern in 2012, she still has them on her luggage today.  For something a bit more modern, try this CALPAK option.

Bougie Hand Sanitizer // Need a quick stocking stuffer for any girl/woman over the age of 12?  Grab one of these Touchland hand sanitizers and maybe a case to go with it.  They also make one that won’t dry out your skin.

Also in this family, I think fancy lip balms make a great stocking stuffer.  Same same, for great hand creams, whether you like them unscented or smelling like the bathroom at a Michelin-star restaurant.

Great Socks // Want to get my toddler a stocking stuffer everyone will love?  Grippy, cozy socks.  And while you’re at it, grab me a sleeve of my go-to white socks also.  If your loved ones are complaining about getting socks for gifts, they’re missing out.

The Wine Glass Cleaner // My first year of law school, one of my study group friends cut his hand open while washing a wine glass.  Ever since, I refuse to buy any wine glass that I need to hand wash.  However, this is Washington, and most of our friends are wine drinkers with glasses far too nice for a trip through the dishwasher.  This flexible, soft-bristled brush from Williams Sonoma will not scratch your glasses and will clean every crevice of your decanter, your champagne flutes, and your larger glassware.

An Arc Lighter // I put some version of an electric lighter on this gift guide every year.  I have a truly irrational fear of fuel-powered lighters, and these ones from Molti are the best ones I’ve found.  Maybe throw in a Hotel Lobby candle or the uber popular Flamingo Estate tomato candle.  Personally, I’d rather my house smell like chocolate chip cookies, but to each their own.

Fancy Olive Oil // Graza isn’t as “fancy” as it was when it was new on the scene, but an olive oil that you can use in a hot pan that comes in a convenient squeeze bottle is still pretty useful.  They sell refills in cans, so you can reduce plastic waste.  And if you, like me, love a sprayed olive oil for baking dishes and cookie trays, they also make one of those.

Looking for something a bit fancier?  A friend received these Heraclea infused oils from a client as a holiday gift and can’t stop talking about the lemon infused one.

The Nail Clipper // I know, it’s a nail clipper. Just a nail clipper.  But…a better nail clipper.  The curved edge mimics the shape of natural nails, and the blade cuts the nail sharply.  Additionally, the design makes it impossible to cut your nails too short.  I love a shorter baby nail, and this clipper always cuts them the perfect length.  I’m also told it’s easier to use if you have issues with your hands due to the ergonomic design.  A great gift for an older relative.

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