Christmas has always been my favorite holiday (I’m the girl who plans a whole Christmas trip every year), and Christmas stocking stuffers are my favorite part of it. I grew up in an old farmhouse in Wisconsin with a stone wood-burning fireplace, tall beams and a wide view of the forest.
Every year we’d cut down a 12-foot tree at a tree farm and drag it inside. Then we’d build a fire and watch Rudolph with hot cocoa while it snowed outside.
The stockings were the main event. My great-grandmother hand-knitted one for everyone in the family, personalized with our names and Christmas designs, and they’re HUGE (about 15 inches long). Santa stuffed them to the brim and laid them out on the couch, and coming downstairs to find them was my favorite moment of the whole year. My mom always put an orange in the toe.
I still fill a stocking for my husband every year. Stocking stuffers have also gotten so much better since the ’90s, when mine held little toys and whatever my mom found cheap at Kohl’s. Now there are great small gifts in beauty, wellness, travel, home decor, candles, perfume and snacks.
These are my favorite stocking stuffer ideas, sorted by who you’re shopping for. Every item has a price, a shop link and, for a few, a discount code I’ve got for you.
Jump to a section:
- Best Stocking Stuffers by Price
- Stocking Stuffer Deals and Discount Codes
- Beauty and Fragrance Stocking Stuffers for Women
- Wellness and Style Stocking Stuffers for Her
- Stocking Stuffers for Men
- Stocking Stuffers for Kids
- Stocking Stuffers for Pets
- Stocking Stuffers for Your Partner (Adults Only)
- Foodie Stocking Stuffers
- Christmas Stocking Stuffer FAQs
Best Stocking Stuffers by Price
Shopping on a budget, or hunting for one big splurge? Start with these, then scroll down for my full take on each one.
Cheap Stocking Stuffers Under $25
- Batiste Original Dry Shampoo Mini, $8.49
- Olive & June The Holiday Gel Polish Edit, $10
- Regal Games Card Games for Kids 6-Pack, $12.99
- Megababe Thigh Rescue Anti-Friction Stick, $14
- 24-Pack Clear and Galaxy Slime Kit, $16.99
- Brutus Broth Goat Milk for Cats, $17.98 for a 2-pack
- Gionlion Friendship Bracelet Kit, $23.39
- 12-Inch LCD Drawing Tablet, $23.99
My list of whimsical gifts under $50 has plenty of affordable gift ideas.
Splurge-Worthy Stocking Stuffers Over $100
- Cadence The Starter Set, $117
- L’Epoque Parfums Dreams and Nightmares, $125
- Sterling Forever Pink Sapphire CZ Ring, $159
- ZIIP HALO Microcurrent Facial Device, $399.99
Stocking Stuffer Deals and Discount Codes
A few of these come with codes, so you can stretch your holiday gifts budget:
- ZIIP: WHIMSYSOUL for 10% off at ziipbeauty.com
- Cadence: KARAHARMS15 for 15% off at keepyourcadence.com
- Brutus Broth: WHIMSY20 for 20% off at brutusbroth.com
- Sterling Forever: the pink sapphire ring was $159 when I checked (regularly $199)
- Tarte: the SPOTTED set costs $38 less than buying the two products separately
Beauty and Fragrance Stocking Stuffers for Women
Beauty minis are my go-to stocking stuffers for women, whether you’re shopping for your wife, your mom or your best friend. They feel fancy and still fit in a stocking.
NOYZ Unmute Mini Mylk de Parfum
Price: $45 for 50 mL
Shop it: NOYZ Unmute Mini Mylk de Parfum
I get stopped every single time I wear Unmute. Every time! People want to know what I’m wearing. This version is a pour-on fragrance milk with eau de parfum strength, alcohol-free and made with hyaluronic acid, so it sinks into your skin and leaves a soft sheen. Unmute is warm vanilla and amber, and the mini bottle slides right into a stocking.
Snif Crumb Couture Eau de Toilette
Price: $68 for 30 mL
Shop it: Snif Crumb Couture Eau de Toilette
Snif makes some of the most original, whimsical scents out there. You could tuck one of their candles in a stocking, but I’d go with the perfume. Crumb Couture smells like you walked into a French bakery, with notes of croissant, wild berry jam, toasted vanilla and sandalwood.
Ogee Sculpted Hydrating Tinted Lip Oil Balm
Price: $29
Shop it: Ogee Tinted Lip Oil Balm at Sephora
If someone on your list has dry lips or loves lipstick, Ogee makes some of the best tinted lip oil I’ve tried. It’s a solid stick that melts on with a sheer wash of color, made with certified organic jojoba oil and hyaluronic acid, plus a little peppermint oil that gives it a light tingle. For $29, it looks and feels so high-end.
MERIT x ERDEM Signature Lip Trio
Price: $62
Shop it: MERIT x ERDEM Signature Lip Trio
I love MERIT lipstick. My favorite shade ever is Tiger, a brick red, and I wear it every single day.
This limited-edition set with the designer Erdem comes with three full-size Signature Lip lipsticks, including one new shade made only for the set, all in a box covered in Erdem’s florals. Pro-tip: if you’re shopping for several lipstick lovers, split the set up and give each of them one.
L’Epoque Parfums Dreams and Nightmares Eau de Parfum
Price: $125 for 30 mL
Shop it: L’Epoque Parfums Dreams and Nightmares
This one’s for the perfume nerds. Snif is youthful and approachable, while L’Epoque makes creative, high-quality scents with a little mystery to them.
Dreams and Nightmares is my favorite perfume I’ve gotten this year. It opens with eucalyptus and pink pepper, moves into petrichor and wet earth, then dries down to moss and amber woods. I feel mysterious and alluring every time I wear it.
Tarte SPOTTED: The Icons Best-Sellers Set
Price: $32
Shop it: Tarte SPOTTED: The Icons Best-Sellers Set
About five years ago at a conference, a Tarte rep took one look at me and knew my concealer shade instantly. I wore it the next day and was hooked. This set pairs Shape Tape concealer with Tartelette tubing mascara, and it’s $38 less than buying them separately.
Saie Prep & Set Duo
Price: $44
Shop it: Saie Prep & Set Duo
Saie is one of my favorite makeup brands. I’m obsessed with its Glowy Super Gel in the summer because it’s so lightweight, and I layer it over the brand’s tinted moisturizer to look glowy and ethereal. This duo comes with a full-size Glowy Super Gel in Warmglow, a soft warm gold, and a full-size CitySet setting spray.
Olive & June The Holiday Gel Polish Edit
Price: $10
Shop it: Olive & June The Holiday Gel Polish Edit
I always have an Olive & June color on my nails. This holiday trio was made for stockings: three mini gel polishes in SC, Plaza and The Queen Takes Her Tea with Milk, and the brand says they last up to 21 days. Ten dollars, Y’ALL.
One heads up: gel polish needs an LED lamp to cure (Olive & June’s takes about two minutes). Worth it if she already has a lamp. Skip it if she doesn’t, or pair it with one.
EADEM Mami Wata Ultra-Calming Rescue Mist
Price: $44 for 3.38 oz
Shop it: EADEM Mami Wata Rescue Mist
Winter dries my face out, and I know I’m not the only one. I keep this mist on my desk and spray it once or twice a day when my skin starts feeling tight. EADEM made it for sensitive, stressed skin, and it works right over makeup. The packaging is gorgeous and feels so luxe.
ZIIP HALO Microcurrent Facial Device
Price: $399.99
Code: WHIMSYSOUL for 10% off at ziipbeauty.com
Shop it: ZIIP HALO Microcurrent Facial Device
This is the splurge. I use my ZIIP HALO three times a week to sculpt my face and get a more snatched look, and a treatment takes under five minutes. It connects to an app with guided microcurrent routines for different skin goals. I love how small it is. It fits in a stocking!
Megababe Thigh Rescue Anti-Friction Stick
Price: $14
Shop it: Megababe Thigh Rescue
I’m a curvy girl and my thighs rub together, so I’m obsessed with this one. The balm stick puts a friction-free barrier on your skin without feeling greasy. If you’re gifting someone who deals with chafing, she’s going to love you for this.
Olaplex N°.3PLUS Complete Repair Treatment
Price: $34 for 100 mL
Shop it: Olaplex N°.3PLUS Complete Repair Treatment
“Oh my God, your hair is healed.” That’s what my stylist said after three months of Olaplex No. 3, and we’d spent a whole year trying to get my hair healthy. It’s a three-minute treatment you use before shampooing, and the bottle is small enough for a stocking.
Batiste Original Dry Shampoo Mini
Price: $8.49
Shop it: Batiste Original Dry Shampoo, 1.6 oz
Batiste has been my go-to dry shampoo since college, and it has never failed me. It soaks up oil between washes and adds some volume. The 1.6-ounce travel can is tiny and cute, which makes it one of the easiest cheap stocking stuffers on this list.
Wellness and Style Stocking Stuffers for Her
These are the stocking stuffer gifts for your wife (or sister, or girlfriend) that go beyond makeup.
Wellbel Women Hair Supplement
Price: $72 for a one-month jar
Shop it: Wellbel Women Hair Supplement
If you want to grow your hair out fast, these are the vitamins I’d point you to. I took them for three months and was impressed by how fast my hair grew. The vegan formula was developed by a physician for women 18 to 44, and you take three capsules a day.
I gifted a jar to a friend with thin hair, and she was so excited. Nobody expects vitamins in their stocking.
Organic Olivia Liver Juice
Price: $33
Shop it: Organic Olivia Liver Juice
This one’s for the wellness girly. I’ve taken Organic Olivia’s Liver Juice every day for four months, and I swear it helps keep my skin clear. I drink a lot this time of year, so I like knowing my liver is getting extra support. It’s an herbal blend with milk thistle and dandelion root, and you add a dropper to water or tea.
Club Magic Hour Joy & Peace Sampler Set
Price: $33
Shop it: Club Magic Hour Joy & Peace Sampler Set
Club Magic Hour makes my favorite witchy teas, and a cup every night is part of my bedtime ritual. I rotate through their seasonal blends (right now it’s Pumpkin Chai). This holiday sampler has three pouches, Pecan Pie Chai, Peppermint Bark Pu-erh and Apple Almond Nog, plus a free tea strainer, so you can split it across a few stockings. Heads up: the teas contain tree nuts, and Pu-erh has caffeine.
Sterling Forever Midi Elongated Cushion Pink Sapphire CZ Ring
Price: $159 (regularly $199)
Shop it: Sterling Forever Pink Sapphire CZ Ring
Sterling Forever makes fun cocktail rings that work as statement pieces. I wear an emerald one every single day. This one has an elongated cushion-cut pink stone and comes in gold or silver.
Hansel from Basel Ethel Sheer Crew Socks
Price: $32
Shop it: Hansel from Basel Ethel Sheer Crew Socks
Hansel from Basel has the cutest, most whimsical socks, and I love styling socks with shoes for a little personality. This sheer crew pair is covered in big colorful flowers and made in Japan.
Velvet Caviar Candy Cane Bows iPhone Case
Price: $40
Shop it: Velvet Caviar Candy Cane Bows iPhone Case
Velvet Caviar makes fun, high-quality phone cases (if you know a Snoopy fan, they have great Snoopy designs). This limited-edition one has candy cane bows and white snowflakes on a glossy burgundy base, and it’s MagSafe compatible. It’s one of my favorite stocking stuffers for young adults because they can swap it on Christmas morning and show it off all day. Pair it with one of my free aesthetic Christmas wallpapers for the full look.
Stocking Stuffers for Men (and Guys Who Say They Don’t Need Anything)
Most of these come straight from my husband’s own favorites, so they’re husband-tested stocking stuffers for guys.
Ranger Station Santalum Candle
Price: $39
Shop it: Ranger Station Santalum Candle
Ranger Station is my husband’s favorite candle brand. A shop near us carries it, and he keeps bringing home the diffuser for our bathroom. Santalum smells like sandalwood, amber resin and leather, and the candle fits easily in a stocking.
Houseplant Droplet Ash and Scent Set
Price: $85
Shop it: Houseplant Droplet Ash and Scent Set
My husband burns Houseplant incense every single day. Seth Rogen’s home brand makes colorful, delicious-smelling scents, and this set comes with a solid marble incense burner that doubles as a catchall, plus 64 incense droplets in four scents inspired by a trip to Grasse, France. It’s a little wide, but it fits.
Olauto Root 66 Car Air Freshener
Price: $33
Shop it: Olauto Root 66 Car Air Freshener
I’m obsessed with this car freshener. It looks so chic clipped in our car, and it smells like one of those boutiques where you wonder how the girl behind the counter looks so cool. Root 66 is sandalwood, orris root and cactus water. Anyone with a car needs one.
Lineage Provisions Grass-Fed Beef Sticks
Price: $59 for a 3-pack
Shop it: Lineage Provisions Grass-Fed Beef Sticks
We take long road trips around California, and we always want a high-protein snack in the car. These are 100% grass-fed beef with no sugar or seed oils, and they’re third-party tested. They taste delicious, too. The single flavors were sold out when I checked, so grab the Variety Pack.
Cadence The Starter Set
Price: $117
Code: KARAHARMS15 for 15% off at keepyourcadence.com
Shop it: Cadence The Starter Set
These leak-proof magnetic capsules hold my shampoo, conditioner, moisturizer and sunscreen on every trip, and not one has ever leaked. They’re easy to find in a bag, and I get to bring my favorite products without lugging full bottles. This set comes with three medium and three small capsules with magnetic labels. For the full rundown, read our Cadence Capsules review.
Stocking Stuffers for Kids
I spend a lot of Christmas parties with friends and family who have kids, so these are the things I’d add to a kid’s stocking. Some of my favorite Christmas gifts growing up were crafts and games I could do on Christmas Day, toys that kept me occupied all day long.
Regal Games Card Games for Kids 6-Pack
Price: $12.99
Shop it: Regal Games Card Games for Kids
This pack comes with six classic card games, like Go Fish, Crazy 8’s, Old Maid and War, made for ages 4 to 12. Since it’s a pack, you can split the cards between all the kids in your family and everyone gets a game. The listing says the exact games may vary.
Gionlion Friendship Bracelet Making Kit
Price: $23.39
Shop it: Gionlion Friendship Bracelet Kit
This is the ultimate friendship bracelet kit: 5,000 pony beads in 144 colors across seven boxes, plus 800 letter beads for spelling out names. I know so many kids who love making friendship bracelets, and this kit has enough beads to last way past Christmas. The beads are small, so save it for kids past the everything-goes-in-my-mouth stage.
24-Pack Clear and Galaxy Slime Kit
Price: $16.99
Shop it: 24-Pack Clear and Galaxy Slime Kit
Slime was made for Christmas Day. This 24-pack of clear and galaxy slime is listed for ages 3 and up, and with that many, you can stuff a few into every kid’s stocking.
12-Inch LCD Drawing Tablet
Price: $23.99
Shop it: 12-Inch LCD Drawing Tablet
This drawing pad is not an iPad, and that’s the point. It’s affordable, it’s made to survive kids (it’s listed for ages 3 and up), and it helps them learn to draw without going through a stack of paper. When they’re done, wipe it clean and start over.
Stocking Stuffers for Pets
Brutus Broth Goat Milk for Cats
Price: $17.98 for a 2-pack
Code: WHIMSY20 for 20% off at brutusbroth.com
Shop it: Brutus Broth Goat Milk for Cats
Okay, hear me out. Growing up, our pets had their own little stockings full of treats and toys so they could unwrap something too. Our cat has one now, and this is going in it. Brutus Broth’s pure goat milk is easy for pets to digest and shelf-stable until you open it. She drinks it up so fast.
Stocking Stuffers for Your Partner (Adults Only)
Coconu Oil-Based Personal Lubricant
Price: $26.99 for 3 oz
Shop it: Coconu Oil-Based Personal Lubricant
This one goes in your partner’s stocking. I tried Coconu’s oil-based personal lubricant and was impressed. It’s USDA Certified Organic, made with coconut oil and shea butter, and a little goes a long way. One thing to know: it isn’t compatible with latex condoms.
Obviously, only give this to your partner or a very close friend. It would be an awkward one to hand your mother.
Wims Unflavored Pocket-Tonic THC Drink Mix
Price: $32 for 10 packets
Shop it: Wims Unflavored Pocket-Tonic
I LOVE Wims. A couple of months ago, my friend and I hosted a seven-course dinner, and we stirred the unflavored packets into our cocktails. You couldn’t taste it at all, and it made a long, multi-course night feel extra fun. It’s my pick for nights when you don’t want to drink but still want something fun in your glass.
Each little packet has 4mg of hemp-derived THC and 4mg of CBD. You snap it in half, squeeze it into your drink and stir, and since it’s unflavored, it disappears into whatever you’re already sipping. It also comes in Ginger Lime and Lemon Basil.
Foodie Stocking Stuffers
Brightland Rapture Balsamic Vinegar
Price: $26
Shop it: Brightland Rapture Balsamic Vinegar
Brightland’s balsamic comes in a small bottle that sits nicely in the bottom of a stocking, and it tastes so good. Rapture is made from California zinfandel grapes double-fermented with Triple Crown blackberries, so it’s deep and fruity with a bright tang. Give it to the friend who loves to cook and host.
Freestyle Snacks Olive Variety Pack
Price: $28 for a 5-pack
Shop it: Freestyle Snacks Olive Variety Pack
I know, olives in a stocking. Foodies get it.
Freestyle Snacks makes the best packaged olives I’ve had. This pack has all five flavors, from Lemon Garlic to Hot & Spicy, and the pouches are liquid-free, so nothing leaks. Put one in each stocking for the martini-at-home crowd, and they can snack on them Christmas morning.
Dandelion Chocolate 70% Three-Bar Gift Set
Price: $42
Shop it: Dandelion Chocolate 70% Three-Bar Gift Set
Dandelion Chocolate is based here in San Francisco, and it’s the best chocolate maker I’ve found on the West Coast. Every bar is single-origin and made with two ingredients, cacao and sugar, and this set lets you taste three origins side by side. Put one bar in each stocking. My mom’s orange in the toe was great, but chocolate is a worthy upgrade.
Christmas Stocking Stuffer FAQs
What are good stocking stuffers for adults?
Small things they’ll use every day. Beauty minis, fragrance, a good candle, gourmet snacks and travel gear all work. My favorites this year are the NOYZ Mini Mylk de Parfum and Freestyle Snacks olives.
What are the best stocking stuffers for women?
Fragrance and lip products are the easiest wins, because they feel luxe without a big price tag. The Ogee Tinted Lip Oil Balm ($29) and the Olive & June Holiday Gel Polish Edit ($10) are two of my top stocking stuffer ideas for women. For a bigger stocking stuffer gift for your wife, the ZIIP HALO is the splurge.
What are good stocking stuffers for men?
Things that make his space smell good or his trips easier. The Ranger Station candle, the Houseplant incense set, the Olauto car freshener and Lineage beef sticks all come from my husband’s real rotation.
What’s a good children’s stocking stuffer that isn’t candy?
Crafts and games they can start on Christmas morning. A friendship bracelet kit, slime, a drawing tablet or a pack of classic card games will keep kids busy longer than a candy cane.
How much should you spend on stocking stuffers?
There’s no rule. I like mixing a few cheap stocking stuffers under $25 with one splurge, so the stocking feels full without blowing the budget.
Why do people put an orange in a Christmas stocking?
The tradition goes back to a time when fresh citrus in winter was a rare, expensive treat. Plenty of families (mine included) still tuck one in the toe.
My Favorite Christmas Stocking Stuffers This Year
Stocking stuffers used to be whatever you grabbed at checkout. Now they’re my favorite part of holiday shopping, because a $10 polish trio or a $14 anti-chafe stick can turn into something someone uses every day until next December.
If you’re still shopping, I’ve also got Harry Potter gifts for the Potterhead on your list and Harry Potter Christmas decorations for decking your halls. And if you’d rather give a trip, start with my guide to Christmas in Leavenworth or the best places to visit in December. You’ll find everything else in my holiday archive.
What’s the best thing you’ve ever found in your stocking? Drop a comment below and tell me. I want to hear about it!
