It’s the little details that leave a lasting impression during the holiday season. That’s why stocking stuffers, which are usually filled with ornaments, candy and small functional gifts, are the perfect way to make your loved ones’ lives easier and more enjoyable. The best stocking stuffers are things your recipient will actually use, and in some cases, they’re more useful and thoughtful than a full-size gift. Plus, they’re usually pretty budget friendly. Below, you’ll find tasty treats for foodies, clever gadgets for tech lovers, cozy accessories for homebodies and useful gear for frequent travelers.
SKIP AHEAD The best stocking stuffers in 2024
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The best stocking stuffers in 2024
To curate this list, we sourced compact, functional items from our favorite brands, NBC Select-editor favorite items, top-sellers from previous coverage and items I’ve personally used and loved. The shopping categories vary to suit all the people on your list and most of them cost under $30.
Dedcool Taunt Air Freshener
Made with essential oils, this recyclable cardboard tag is designed to freshen up the air in your giftee’s car, closet, locker or drawers. It comes in five scents, but the most popular is Taunt: a blend of sandalwood, black pepper, amber, moss and cardamom. “Dedcool makes some of my favorite perfumes and fragrances, so I hope I get a new one of these every year in my stocking,” says NBC Select associate reporter Bianca Alvarez. “It makes my car smell warm and dreamy, which everyone compliments when they get in.”
Touchland Power Mist Hand Sanitizer Spray
“These are the only hand sanitizers I use,” says NBC Select editor Lindsay Schneider. “The bottles are so modern and streamlined, and all the scents smell amazing.” The Touchland sprays have aloe vera in its formula to prevent dryness and they also have 67% ethyl alcohol, which exceeds CDC requirements to effectively kill bacteria, according to the brand. This pack includes watermelon, peach and berry scents, but you can also build your own bundle on the Touchland website.
Uniqlo Chunky Scarf
“I’ve lived in Canada for most of my life, so I’m no stranger to finding chic accessories to get me through the colder season,” says NBC Select associate SEO reporter Ashley Morris, who bought this scarf last year. “It’s become one of my favorite, everyday winter accessories. It’s very soft and warm, and is big enough to wear around my shoulders or wrapped around my head and ears as a headscarf. I also get compliments on it constantly — the first time I wore it around my friend group, two of them instantly took out their phones and ordered scarves of their own once I told them where it was from. For less than $30, I think it’s a great combination of quality and value for money.”
Fellow 12 oz Carter Move Travel Mug
This travel mug holds 12 ounces of coffee and fits compactly in most standard cup holders, according to Fellow. Like the best reusable water bottles, it has a vacuum-insulated design that retains heat for up to 12 hours, a ceramic interior coating to prevent any weird odors from seeping in, a twist-locking lid to prevent leaks and a dishwasher-safe design for easier clean-up, according to the brand. You can get it in over a dozen color options and in two sizes.
Food52 Five Two Wool Dryer Balls
Handmade from 100% New Zealand wool, these wool balls speed up drying time, reduce wrinkles and soften fabric without the need for chemicals, according to the brand. The hypoallergenic balls are also reusable so you can use them on an ongoing basis. “I definitely notice a difference in how quickly my clothes dry when I use these,” says Schneider. “Plus, they hold up really well over time; I’ve had mine for years at this point.”
Jason Markk Essential Sneaker Cleaner Kit
This shoe cleaning kit has an average 4.5-star rating from over 23,000 reviews on Amazon and is one of our favorite solutions for keeping shoes white, though you don’t only have to use it on white sneakers. The biodegradable formula removes scuffs and dirt on leather, suede, rubber, nubuck, cotton and canvas, while the included brush has stiff bristles that scrub off discoloration, according to the brand.
Loops Glow and Reset Hydrogel Face Mask
Loops makes some of the best under-eye patches for puffiness, and this Hydrogel set includes two of the brand’s popular face masks: Double Take and Weekly Reset. The former is designed to brighten, calm and refine while the latter stimulates collagen to rejuvenate your complexion, according to the brand. Both are cruelty-free and don’t have parabens or synthetic fragrances. “These are extremely effective at hydrating, plumping and brightening my skin,” says Alvarez. “They stay on the entire time without slipping or falling, too.”
JBL Go 3 Portable Speaker
JBL makes some of the best Bluetooth speakers, and its Go 3 model is more portable than most. It weighs less than half a pound, measures under 4 square inches and has an IP67-waterproof rating so your giftee doesn’t have to be too precious with it. Despite its small size, it has a powerful sound and its rechargeable battery lasts for up to 5 hours, according to the brand.
Jenny Lemons Mini Red Strawberry Hair Claw Clip
One of the best gifts for teen girls, this strawberry claw clip is made from a plant-based alternative to plastic and hand-painted with strawberry accents, according to Jenny Lemons. “Jenny Lemons sent me a bunch of their fruit clips and I’ve been obsessed ever since,” says Schneider. “They’re different from all the other claw clips on the market and just look so cute in my hair. I’m such a fan.” If strawberries don’t feel right for their personal brand you can get them a pickle clip, a cake clip or even a pizza clip.
Apple AirTag
Apple AirTags are an incredibly compact, reliable solution for people who frequently lose items. Your giftee can attach them to their keys, wallet, suitcase or pet and prompt their phone to ring it or track its location using GPS on the Find My app. It’s water- and dust-resistant and its replaceable battery lasts for up to a year, according to Apple.
Hsefin Leather Key Chain
At first glance, this key chain looks like a decorative accessory. In actuality, it has a quick-release triangular buckle, two circular rings to securely hold your keys and a screwdriver for on-the-go DIY jobs, according to the brand. It’s made from stainless steel with a leather braid that comes in your choice of six colors.
Oxo Good Grips Sweep & Swipe Laptop Cleaner
Oxo makes some of our favorite household accessories, including some of the best dusters, but this compact version is designed specifically for devices. It has a soft, retractable brush on one end and a microfiber pad on the other, so your giftee can sweep crumbs off their keyboard and remove smudges from their screen, according to the brand. They can also use it to clean phones, tablets and other electronics.
“My computer screen is basically always dirty because I never want to take the time to clean it,” says NBC Select senior social media editor Rosalie Sparaco, who received a sample from the brand. “But the microfiber pad on this pocket sized product makes it really quick and simple to do. It easily removes fingerprints and dust, and the brush efficiently gets crumbs and hair out of my keyboard.”
Zippo 12-Hour Refillable Hand Warmer
This pocket-sized heater is powered by lighter fluid and lasts for up to 12 hours, after which your giftee can refill it for continued use, according to the brand. The warmers, which have a 4.5-star average rating from more than 14,000 reviews on Amazon, come in a few colors and are also sleek enough to fit in small pockets, according to Zippo.
Nuanchu Stainless Steel Gua Sha
According to experts, Gua Sha has plenty of benefits, including boosting circulation and reducing inflammation. This tool is made from stainless steel, so it won’t chip or shatter like stone options, according to the brand. It has a long curve for sculpting the neck and face and a U-shaped notch for the jaw, plus it comes in five color options. “I use this every single morning and love how the stainless steel feels in my hand and glides on my face,” says Schneider. “The curve fits my jawline and face perfectly.”
Goodr OG Sunglasses
“These polarized sunglasses are great for walks, runs and hikes because they’re grippy and rubberized — they never slide off my face,” says NBC Select reporter Harry Rabinowitz. “They’re also not super expensive, so I don’t have to baby them or worry if they get a little beat up in a backpack or sudden rainstorm.”
Gaiam Restore Ultimate Foot Massage Roller
This massage ball has a 4.7-star rating from over 2,300 reviews on Amazon. Made from a dense, rubber-like material, it has tiny nodes all over it, so your giftee can roll it under their feet or over their limbs to relieve pain and loosen tight muscles, according to the brand. It’s also pretty compact and lightweight, according to Gaiam, so it should fit in their glove compartment, desk drawer or gym bag.
Fujifilm 2-Pack QuickSnap Flash Camera
Encourage your loved ones to make memories the old-fashioned way with these single-use Fujifilm cameras. Each one comes pre-loaded with 27 exposures and has a fixed-focus lens and a continuous flash, so your giftee can simply press the shutter button to take a picture.
Sk Syukuyu Remote Control Page Turner
Your favorite bookworm probably already has an e-reader, but this remote-control page-turning gadget makes reading even more convenient. To use it, they can attach it to the corner of their Kindle or phone and click a button on the remote to turn the page or take a picture. Each set includes a USB-rechargeable clip that’s compatible with most touchscreens, and a remote with a wrist lanyard. It comes in six color options and has a 4.4-star rating from over 10,400 reviews on Amazon.
Travelambo RFID Slim Wallet
This wallet has a slim profile and RFID-blocking technology, so your giftee doesn’t have to worry about high-tech pickpockets. In addition to an ID window, the wallet, which has a 4.6-star average rating from 12,600 reviews on Amazon, has a bill pocket and five card slots. You can get it in your choice of three leather textures: crosshatch, Napa or vegetable-tanned.
The Woobles Beginners Crochet Kit
This Woobles kit comes with everything they need to learn how to crochet. Available in several animal designs including a penguin, dinosaur, fox and narwhal, the set comes with pre-started yarn, a crochet hook, a needle, eyes, stuffing and access to video tutorials. “Last Christmas my mom gave this to my 13-year-old sister and it was one of her favorite gifts of the year,” says Alvarez. “She’s really into art, so this stocking stuffer was a perfect way for her to learn about crochet. By the time she was done with her creation, she was obsessed and wanted to make more and my brothers even ended up asking for a kit too.”
Jolly Monogram Ornament
These ornaments are made from felt with festive accents and come in every letter of the alphabet. If you buy a few at once, you can also use them to spell out a custom message.
Malin + Goetz Essentials Starter Kit
This Malin + Goetz essentials starter kit comes with our editor-loved vitamin E moisturizer and hand and body wash, both of which are lightweight, gentle and hydrating. The set also includes the brand’s bestselling grapefruit face cleanser, vitamin b5 body moisturizer, peppermint shampoo and cilantro hair conditioner. The 1-ounce tubes are great for travel and let your giftee try out the brand before committing to a larger size.
Uniqlo Colorful 50 Socks
Available in 50 color options, these Uniqlo socks are made from a cotton-blend material and tested for durability, according to the brand. They fit men’s sizes 8 through 11 and have ribbed spandex cuffs for a secure but non-constrictive fit that reaches up the calf. “I almost exclusively buy socks from Uniqlo because of these,” says NBC Select commerce editor Cory Fernandez. “I love that they’re thin enough to wear with everyday shoes but still warm for particularly cold fall days. They also hold up well after years worth of washes.”
Dr. Kbder Fidget Spinner Cube
This fidget spinner cube has a 4.5-star average rating from more than 1,300 reviews on Amazon. It’s made from metal and has a stainless steel bearing for a smooth, quiet spin that keeps going for minutes, according to the brand. You can get it in several color options and the spinner comes out for use as a top.
Octobuddy Suction Cup Mount
With rows of suction cups on both sides, your giftee can use these phone stickers to mount their phone to glass and mirrors. That way, they can film makeup tutorials, watch a movie on the train, record themselves at the gym or make hands-free video calls from virtually anywhere. It comes in over a dozen color options, too.
Jisulife Handheld Mini Fan
Fernandez loves this handheld fan because it’s quiet but powerful, despite its small size. Barely bigger than a bar of soap, it fits in your pocket and has a rechargeable battery that lasts up to 19 hours, according to the brand. It also has three speed settings with a built-in flashlight and it doubles as a power bank for your phone.
Baggu Reusable Bags
Baggu reusable bags are some of our favorite eco-friendly products. Each one is made from recycled ripstop nylon that holds up to three plastic bags’ worth of groceries and supports up to 50 pounds, according to the brand. They’re also machine-washable and come in tons of fun colors and patterns, so they’re a statement piece as well as a sustainable accessory.
Tony’s Chocolonely Chocolate Bar Variety Pack
Culinary experts want you to know about Tony’s Chocolonely, and this bright sampler box includes six of the brand’s top flavors: milk chocolate, dark chocolate, nougat, caramel, hazelnut, almond and sea salt. Drop a bar in each stocking or gift the whole box to one lucky person. “All of Tony’s chocolate is creamy, smooth and super flavorful, so you really can’t go wrong with any of the brand’s flavors (my favorite is almond & sea salt).” says NBC Select reporter Zoe Malin. “The bars are easy to break up into smaller pieces, so they’re great for a little snack or to share with others. Sometimes I chop up the milk or dark chocolate bars into chunks and throw them into cookie batter, too.”
Food Huggers Food Savers
One of the best produce preservation products and a staple in my own kitchen, Food Huggers create an air-tight seal to keep sliced fruits, veggies and citrus fresher for longer. They’re made from BPA-free silicone that’s dishwasher-safe, and this set of five includes all different sizes to fit everything from bananas to grapefruits. You can also use them to cover cans, jars, glasses and bottles.
Higherhuman Tabasco Sauce Keychain
With a 4.6-star average rating from more than 1,600 reviews on Amazon, this Tabasco sauce keychain is a fun, lighthearted gift spice-lovers. It includes a 3.7-milliliter bottle of McIlhenny Tabasco sauce and a silicone sleeve with a carabiner clip, so your giftee always has a spicy serving on hand.
Ototo Baby Nessie Tea Infuser
The Baby Nessie infuser has a perforated body that can hold herbs and loose-leaf brews. It has four legs that keep it upright in cups and an adorable head that pokes out of the mug for easy retrieval. Available in green or turquoise, it has a 4.6-star average rating from over 8,400 reviews on Amazon.
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Why trust NBC Select?
I’m an e-commerce writer and editor who’s curated hundreds of gift guides for Bustle, Elite Daily, Food & Wine, The Zoe Report, CNN and Food & Wine. This is my third year writing holiday shopping content for NBC. To find the best stocking stuffers for 2024, I sourced editor-favorite products, bestsellers from last year, and items I’ve used and loved.
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