- Just because you paid a cheap price for a gift doesn’t mean the gift itself has to be cheap.
- Below, we’ve rounded up 58 thoughtful and fun gifts under $25 that will do the trick, from a mini waffle iron to a set of sheet masks and hand cream for at-home spa nights.
- If your budget changes, here are our guides to gifts under $50 and gifts under $100. Check out all of our 2019 holiday gift guides here.
- Don’t wait too long to order your gifts, though; shipping deadlines for delivery by Christmas Eve are coming up! See Amazon’s shipping cutoff dates here.
The elements of a good present – being thoughtful, useful, or novel – aren’t restricted to a big budget. And most people on your holiday gifting list don’t expect (or necessarily want) a big gesture.
But the best gifts under $20 are hidden in a minefield of totally expendable knickknacks. To combat that, we’ve raked the internet and curated 58 of the best under-$25 gifts below for you to browse. All of them are things we have or would gladly buy and use in our daily lives.
The top 5 best gifts under $25:
- Their new favorite socks from Bombas
- A Tile Mate to help them find lost belongings
- Super-soft underwear from MeUndies
- A wide-mouth Hydro Flask water bottle
- A scratch-off donation card from LottoLove
Check out all 58 gifts under $25:
A cult-favorite clay mask that basically vacuums out pores
Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay Mask, available on Target, $7.99
The Aztec Clay Mask has been called “the world’s most powerful facial” and it’s also under $10. It can be mixed with water, but it works best with a little bit of apple cider vinegar. You can read a full review here.
Reusable straws that fold up on the go
Food52 Reusable Straw Set, available on Food52, from $25
Food52’s reusable straw sets come in a pretty color palette, and each pack includes carrying cases and cleaning squeegees. They can toss one set in their bag, leave one at work, and keep one in the car.
A set of vegan serums and a facial massager
Versed Twice as Nice Serum Rolling Gift Set, available on Target, $16.99
The Versed Rolling Gift Set comes with two of Versed's best-selling vegan serums for brightening and firming and a facial massager to help improve blood and oxygen flow and de-puff the skin.
Scentsicles that make fake trees smell like the real deal
Scentsicles Tree Ornament White Winter Fir Scented Sticks, available on Amazon, $12.95
This tube comes with six "scentsicles" which smell like a fresh-cut douglas fir to make false trees and wreaths smell indistinguishable from the real deal. Plus, they're designed especially for blending in.
A holiday shave set from a popular startup
Holiday Shave Set, available on Flamingo, $16
Flamingo is the women's brand of Harry's, and it's got the same M.O.: to make better hair removal products for a reasonable amount of money, and to present them in a way that makes them feel special. Its Holiday Shave Set comes in an iridescent pouch with a razor and two blade cartridges, luxe foaming shave gel, a shower hook, and a blank holiday card.
A holiday box filled with bourbon- and beer-inspired soaps
Duke Cannon Jingle Booze Holiday Classics Gift Set, available on Target, $14.99
Duke Cannon is a men's grooming company that donates 5% of its net profits to causes that benefit veterans and active-duty military, and the "Jingle Booze" box contains three giant soap bars with scents like American Bourbon from Kentucky and Fresh Squeezed IPA from Oregon. Find a review of the brand's products here.
A mini griddle that makes individual servings of breakfast foods
Dash Mini Maker: The Mini Waffle Maker Machine, available on Amazon, $9.99
This tiny waffle maker is perfect for single-serving breakfasts, or for meal prep (just freeze your waffles ahead of time). It's compact for confined spaces, heats up in a few minutes, and has a non-stick surface that's easy to clean.
Their new favorite pair of socks
Women's Fair Isle Calf Socks, available on Bombas, $15
Men's Fair Isle Calf Socks, available on Bombas, $15
Bombas are one gift we find ourselves giving friends and family every year. They're the best socks we've ever tried, and they're a little more expensive than someone is likely to spend on sock themselves, making them a great gift.
A lifetime REI membership
REI Membership, available on REI, $20
Perfect for the outdoorsy types, an REI membership offers a lifetime of benefits for a one-time purchase. That includes 10%-back dividends, special offers, access to in-store REI Garage sales, and special pricing on REI classes and events. Find out more here.
Silicone gloves that keep the other half of the avocado fresh
Avocado Huggers, Set of 2, available on Uncommon Goods, $7.95
These little silicone cups hug the remaining half of an avocado to keep it fresh in the fridge.
A healthy, happy houseplant
Maranta Plant, available on The Sill, from $18
Order them a houseplant for under $20 with The Sill. If you choose one of the company's chic potters, the cost is closer to $30 for small plants.
A milk frother that brings the taste of a cafe closer to home
PowerLix Milk Frother, available on Amazon, $13
A milk frother is an unexpectedly convenient tool to have around the house, and it can make a frothy latte or cappucino that's closer to what you'd buy at the cafe.
Smart outlet plugs that let you turn devices on or off from anywhere
Kasa Smart WiFi Plug Mini, available on Amazon, $14.99
A small but convenient gift, smart wifi plugs let the owner turn their electronics on or off from anywhere with their smartphone thanks to the Kasa app. If they have a smart home gadget, they can use the voice assistant to turn things on and off as well. In the Kasa app, they can also set schedules and "scenes" for controlling many devices with one button.
A cheeky soap-bar stocking stuffer that smells like pine
Duke Cannon Bar Soap in Pine, available on Target, $4.99
If you're not up for an entire holiday box of soap, you can gift a cheeky limited-edition stocking stuffer from Duke Cannon that smells like an "Illegally Cut Pine."
A set of three silk hair scrunchies
Slipsilk Large Scrunchies, available on Sephora, $39
Silk is often used in products like headbands and pillowcases to reduce friction and breakage of hair, and these hair ties serve the same purpose. Designed to keep hair from catching, crimping, and pulling, these hair scrunchies are gentle on strands and around the wrist.
A popular skin-care product that combats blemishes overnight
Mario Badescu Drying Lotion, available on Amazon, $14.45
Mario Badescu's Drying Lotion has acheived just as much cult status over the years as the company's famous facial sprays. It targets pimples with a cocktail of acne-fighting ingredients while you sleep, and it's one product we use daily in our own lives.
A Disney+ subscription
Subscribe for $6.99/month or $69.99/year
It gives you unlimited access to movies and shows from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and 20th Century Fox, and costs just $6.99 a month or $69.99 a year after a free seven-day trial. Read everything there is to know about Disney+ over here.
And if you need some binge-spiration, here are all the new movies available to stream.
An approachable cookbook that's caused a lot of buzz this year
"Nothing Fancy: Unfussy Food for Having People Over" by Alison Roman, available on Amazon, $24.87
This is the cookbook to beeline it to if your recipient loves to host friends for dinner.
Author Alison Roman shuns mild-mannered foods and favors crunchy, citrusy, smoky, and otherwise bold flavors. Expect how-tos for a DIY martini bar, coconut-braised chicken and chickpeas, and pans of lemony turmeric tea cake.
If this isn't the right fit, check out other great options here.
An indoor wireless smart home camera
Wyze Alexa-Enabled Indoor Wireless Smart Home Camera, available on Amazon, $24.49
The popular Wyze Indoor Camera is an inexpensive, Alexa- and Google Assistant-enabled smart home camera that lets you see inside your home from anywhere when using your mobile device. It also has night vision.
Tickets to an event you know they'll appreciate
Live concert and game tickets, available on Stubhub, from $15 per person
Is there a good concert, play, or game coming up in the next few months you think they'd love? It doesn't have to be expensive to be impactful. Grab tickets and make a night of it - or, if you live far away, make sure they get to go with a friend or two.
A cold brew coffee tool that makes a quart of liquid
Takeya Deluxe Cold Brew Coffee Maker, available on Amazon, $19.99
This cold brew maker is as inexpensive as it is convenient, and it saves me hundreds of dollars per year on iced coffee. It easily fits into most refrigerator doors, is simple to use, and makes a good amount of cold brew at once. If they need more than one quart, there's also a two-quart option.
A spray that protects your shoes from stains
Jason Markk Repel Spray, available on Amazon, $17
This Jason Markk spray repels water and oil to keep your shoes free of stains and water spots. It's water-based, so it's okay to use on a variety of materials - from suede to nubuck leather to canvas and others. It sprays a fine mist that covers large areas both quickly and evenly.
Soft, cozy underwear that comes in holiday patterns
MeUndies Holiday Boxers, available on MeUndies, $24
MeUndies makes some of the most comfortable underwear and loungewear for men and women that we've found at Insider Picks. And, beyond that, we love their festive patterns.
Because they're pricier than most people are willing to pay for their own underwear, these make a great and surprisingly luxurious gift.
Coasters made from reclaimed vinyl records
Upcycled Record Coasters, available on Uncommon Goods, $18
These upcycled coasters are made from reclaimed vinyl records and sealed against moisture. Each set includes a variety of music genres.
A thermos that keeps drinks hot for up to six hours straight
Hydro Flask 16-Ounce Wide Mouth Coffee Thermos, available on Urban Outfitters, $25
Hydro flask's cult-favorite thermos keeps hot drinks hot for up to six hours, and cold drinks cold for up to 24 hours.
Playing cards that pay homage to musical giants
Genius Music Playing Cards, available on Amazon, $9.76
Two jokers (Björk and David Bowie) and 52 playing cards featuring music's greatest legends - from Madonna and Prince to Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, and Amy Winehouse - make up a fun pack of cards.
Fast-absorbing, moisturizing hand sanitizer
Touchland Hand Sanitizer, available on Touchland and Amazon, from $15.95
Touchland makes hand sanitizers that aren't sticky or drying. We like them because they're fast-evaporating, moisturizing, and effective.
An eco-friendly utensil set for eating on the go
United by Blue Utensil Kit, available on United by Blue, $24
Perfect for eating on the go or at a campsite, this utensil kit comes with two stainless steel straws, one silicone straw tip, one straw cleaner, one stainless steel spork, and one pair of stainless steel chopsticks.
United by Blue is an eco-friendly outdoors retailer, and the carrier is made from 100% recycled polyester ripstop with a water-resistant finish.
A protective case for your airpods
Incase Airpods Case, available on Incase, $29.95
Incase probably makes either your laptop case or phone case, but they also have covers for your AirPods. It's lightweight, adds another layer of protection, and keeps your charging case from getting scuffed or scratched.
A cult-favorite $15 cast iron skillet
Lodge 10.25-Inch Cast Iron Skillet, available on Amazon, $14.88
This affordable 10.25-inch cast iron skillet is another wunderkind plucked from the depths of Amazon. It has over 12,400 five-star reviews, and Lodge has been making cast iron cookware since 1896, so they've learned a thing or two about what makes it great.
A water bottle with a built-in filter system
Brita Premium Filtering Water Bottle, available on Amazon, $18.69
The Brita water bottle has a built-in filter that can improve the taste of water by reducing its chlorine content and smell. It can replace an estimated 1,800 single-use plastic bottles each year.
A membership to unlimited reading
Scribd Membership, available on Scribd, $9.99/month
Enjoy unlimited access to hundreds of thousands of books, audiobooks, and magazines for less than $10 a month with Scribd. (Or $13 per month for access to Scribd and the New York Times). If they aren't a bibliophile already, Scribd will make them one.
A cult-favorite fidget toy
Speks Classic Magnet Balls, available on Speks, $24.95
Speks are one of our all-time favorite fidget accessories. They're tiny magnetic balls that you can break apart, reconfigure, and otherwise mold, mash, and build with. They help us divert just enough energy to remain productive throughout the day.
Spicy, fragrant cinnamon sticks
Williams Sonoma Cinnamon Sticks, available on Williams Sonoma, $15.95
Are they a whiz in the kitchen, or a big fan of apple cider? Switch it up with these elevated cinnamon sticks. They're made with Korintje cinnamon renown for its intense spicy flavor and curled "quills" of dried evergreen bark that hails from the volcanic soil on the slopes of Mt. Korintje. They'll be on the receiving end of a delicious convergence of spice and fragrant essential oils.
Spiral hair ties that don't leave kinks in their hair
Invisibobble Hair Elastic Set, available on Ulta, $14
Inivisibobble makes popular spiral hair ties that apply even pressure to a ponytail, providing a strong but comfortable hold. This set comes with six hair ties in two limited-edition colorways.
Chip-resistant, vegan nail polish that comes in over 40 colors
Smith and Cult Nail Polish, available on Smith and Cult, $18
Smith & Cult's rich, chip-resistant nail polish comes in 46 colors and the kind of beautiful bottle you leave out on the vanity because it's just that nice to look at. The formulas are vegan, cruelty-free, and don't have potentially harmful ingredients like formaldehyde or camphor, among others.
An advent calendar of 24 herbal teas
Pukka Advent Calendar, available on Amazon, $13.44
This pack of 24 tea bags in different varieties supplies a full month of daily spontaneity and self-care. According to Pukka Herbs, all its teas and supplements are ethically and sustainably sourced.
Charitable lottery tickets that donate money to a deserving organization
Scratch-off Donation Card, available on LottoLove from $5
When you scratch off a card from LottoLove, you won't win any money. Instead, you "win" a charitable prize that's donated to someone in need. There are four possible prizes, which help provide clean water, solar light, nutritious meals, or literacy tools. To date, LottoLove and its charitable partners have impacted lives in over 60 countries.
A set of travel-friendly perfumes
Pinrose Good Intentions Sampler Kit, available on Sephora, $25
Perfume is often expensive, and scent is very personal, but samples let the wearer live with the scent for a few days before committing. Pinrose's Good Intentions Sampler Kit makes that possible, with eight mini bottles of its signature scents. They can find their favorite and keep the others for travel.
Lip gloss that's moisturizing and not sticky
Tower 28 Beauty ShineOn Jelly Lip Gloss, available on Sephora, $14
Tower 28 makes soft lip glosses with subtle color and a non-sticky, moisturizing formula with ingredients like raspberry seed oil and rosehip oil. Pick it up in four colors.
A set of glasses that have a how-to diagram for Bloody Marys
Bloody Mary Diagram Glassware, Set of 2, available on Uncommon Goods, $25
These cute Bloody Mary glasses make a playful science out a truly perfect spicy and savory Bloody Mary.
Reusable beeswax sandwich wraps
Beeswax Reusable Sandwich Wrap, available on Uncommon Goods, $11
Beeswax Sandwich Wrap is made from cotton infused with beeswax and natural oils. It acts as an eco-friendly substitute to plastic sandwich bags, and which can be reused over and over and over again.
A hair towel that cuts down on drying time by as much as 50%
Aquis Original Microfiber Hair Turban, available on Amazon, $20.99
Aquis' cult-favorite hair towels have inspired a slew of rave reviews online, including one from our own team of product reviewers.
The towels are made from a proprietary fabric called Aquitex that's composed of ultra-fine fibers (finer than silk) that work to reduce the amount of friction that hair experiences while in its weakest state. Plus, it speeds up drying time by as much as 50%.
Gourmet flavored syrups that are perfect for coffees and teas, and even cocktails
Monin Mini Coffee Syrup, available on Amazon, $21.21
Did anyone - anyone at all - say cocktails? Monin's coffee collection has everything needed for café-inspired drinks, be they cocktails, lattes, coffees, or teas. It includes five syrups ranging in flavors from amaretto to Irish cream. Plus, Monin has a recycling initiative that works to improve the health of bee populations.
A smart chip that helps you find items you've lost
Tile Mate, available on Amazon, $18.99
How nice would it be if every time you lost something, you could find it within a few minutes? Use your smartphone to make the Tile Mate ring aloud, and you'll be able to locate your keys or wallet using the sound.
Lavendar lotions and masks that help you relax
Tony Moly I'm Lavender Cracker Box Set, available on Macy's, $14
This Tony Moly Lavender set is made to soothe irritated skin and bring about instant relaxation. The set is comprised of two sheet masks, a sleeping mask, and hand cream.
A popular lip mask that creates a protective seal to lock in moisture overnight
Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask, available on Sephora, $20
Laneige's hyper-successful Lip Sleeping Mask uses a combination of vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, minerals, antioxidants, and fruit extracts to form a protective layer over the lips to lock in moisture overnight. It has over 7,000 ratings on Sephora, and an average rating of 4.5-stars out of five.
A reusable shopping bag that comes in tons of fun colors
Baggu Standard Reusable Shopping Bag, available on Amazon, $12
Baggu bags are popular for a reason - they come in tons of fun prints and can fold down to pretty much nothing even though they can hold 50 pounds of stuff.
A slip-resistant armband to keep their phone in place on a run
Tribe Cell Phone Armband, available on Amazon, from $10.98
If you're going to buy an armband for a runner, you're probably going to wind up buying this version from Tribe. It has over 18,000 reviews on Amazon (with a 4.2-star rating overall) and, while it's not the most perfect out there, it's frequently recommended for its water-resistant and no-slip design.
Knee-high socks from one of the best loungewear companies online
Tommy John Knee High Casual Sock, available on Tommy John, $18
Tommy John is another company responsible for some of the very best loungewear and underwear on the internet. Their knee-length socks have light compression to support blood flow, and the "comfort cuff" design means you should be able to peel them off without finding marks left over.
An adjustable phone stand for their desk, dinner table, or kitchen counter
Lamicall Adjustable Cell Phone Stand, available on Amazon, from $11.99
Whether they use it as a desk accessory or to prop up their YouTube search for "how to chop onions" while they cook at home, a lightweight, adjustable phone stand comes in handy more often than you'd expect.
One of the best new books of the year
"The Night Tiger: A Novel" by Yangsze Choo, available on Amazon, $13.49
If you're looking for a good book to gift, look no further than the reading lists already on Amazon - form the best books of the month, to the best books of the year, to the 100 you should read in a lifetime. We loved "Circe," "Educated," and "On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous" this year. Find nearly 30 books the Insider Picks team recommended last year.
All the tools you need for a delicious, fast avocado toast
Avocado Toast Breakfast Set, available on Uncommon Goods, $10
This set of breakfast tools makes a thoughtful gift for anyone who wants a delicious meal faster, which is never a bad thing in the morning.
A photo book with some of their best memories
Custom Softcover Photo Book, available on Artifact Uprising from $15
For a sentimental gift under $25, we recommend these beautifully designed photo books that look like a personal magazine, curated by you for them.
Bath salts that are the perfect excuse for relaxation
Herbivore Botanicals Calm Bath Salts, available on Amazon, $18
Herbivore Botanical's bath salts include nutrient-rich Pacific sea salts combined with ylang-ylang and vanilla essential oil. They'll moisturize the skin and provide a deeply relaxing, calming effect on the brain to decrease anxiety and restlessness.
The best hair mask you can buy
It's a 10 Miracle Hair Mask, available on Amazon, $17.90
Perfect for color-treated, heat-styled, and otherwise damaged hair, It's a 10's hair mask deep-conditions strands with a blend of moisturizing ingredients like oat kernel extract, apricot kernel oil, sweet almond oil, and linseed extract. We ranked it the best hair mask you can buy.
A cute, bunny-shaped loose-tea infuser
Fred & Friends Brew Bunny Tea Infuser, available on Amazon, $10.54
Gift them some relaxing time spent sipping their favorite tea (which you could pick up as an accompanying gift).
The makeup remover tourists stock up on in French pharmacies
Bioderma Sensibio H2O Makeup Remover, available on Amazon, $10.90
Bioderma's makeup remover is a cult-favorite among makeup artists, celebrities, the average person, and the Insider Picks team. We've ranked it the best makeup remover you can buy, and it's one of the many beauty products tourists are known to stock up on when visiting a French pharmacy.
Looking for more gift ideas? We've got you covered.
- Our master list of every gift guide you'll ever need
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- Thoughtful gift ideas under $50
- Clever gift ideas under $100
- Unique stocking stuffers they'll actually use
- Cool stocking stuffers on Amazon
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