The holidays can get hectic, which means a few people on your shopping list may have slipped through the cracks. Fortunately, there are plenty of thoughtful gift ideas that won’t make it seem like you threw something together at the last second. Many brands even list a cutoff date on their site for when to place orders and have them arrive in time for the holidays.
To help you find the perfect last-minute gift for anyone on your list, I rounded up some of our favorite ideas that should arrive in time for the holidays. Keep in mind the closer you get to the holidays, the narrower your timeframe to shop is — most brands’ shipping cutoff dates have come and gone. While we can’t guarantee gifts will arrive based on external factors (like the weather), there are several options with same-day or next-day shipping to give you the best chance at getting them on time.
SKIP AHEAD Best last-minute gift cards and subscriptions | Best last-minute food delivery gifts | Best last-minute flower delivery gifts | Why trust NBC Select?
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Best last-minute gifts of 2024
Below, I rounded up gift ideas across categories like skin care, tech, home and kitchen from brands we previously covered or ones NBC Select editors have tried and loved. I narrowed down picks to only products that have fast, expedited or overnight shipping (some with an added fee), or subscriptions and gift cards your loved one can receive at any time.
Best last-minute gift cards and subscriptions
MasterClass Annual Membership
If your loved one wants to learn more about cooking, acting, writing, photography and beyond, a yearlong MasterClass membership can be a great way to heighten their knowledge. Designed for people of all skill levels, this streaming platform offers hundreds of video lessons taught by more than 180 pros. Each class includes 20 video lessons that average about 10 minutes and a workbook to help them track their progress. They can also watch lessons from a smartphone, personal computer, Apple TV and Fire TV streaming media players. Right now and for a limited time, MasterClass is offering two memberships for the price of one.
Book of the Month Subscription Box
For the bibliophile in your life, a Book of the Month subscription can ensure they have a new book to dive into each month. You can choose from three subscription plans to gift: A three-book, six-book or 12-book membership that delivers a monthly book directly to your giftee. They’ll be able to choose from up to seven new book titles every month and select their favorite to receive.
Alo Moves Gift Card
One of our favorite fitness apps, Alo Moves is a great way for your loved one to exercise without needing to spend on a gym or studio membership. The app has an extensive library of on-demand classes that fall within four categories: yoga, meditation, pilates/barre and fitness (which includes strength training, HIIT and cardio-centered workouts). In addition to the type of exercise, they can browse by class length (some classes are less than 10 minutes long) and skill level.
The Table Less Traveled Virtual Cooking Classes
This virtual cooking class can help your giftee learn new culinary skills while in the comfort of their home. The Table Less Traveled offers small classes of up to 15 people taught by chefs around the world, and you can interact with the instructors and ask them questions throughout the class, according to the service. If you aren’t sure which class will work with their schedule, you can buy them a gift certificate to redeem later.
SpaFinder Gift Card
Give them the gift of a relaxing spa experience with this SpaFinder gift card. You can fill the card with any amount between $25 and $500, and they can use it for thousands of locations across the U.S. A huge bonus: the gift card never expires. You can send a physical card or through email.
Vinyl Me Please Records of the Month
For the music lover in your life, Vinyl Me Please delivers a record to them every month. The subscription service presses a colorful vinyl record with music from multiple genres: “essentials”, jazz, blues, funk and soul, or hip-hop (depending on your giftee’s preferences). Your giftee can also choose to swap their monthly record for a different one if they want. You can gift them a 3-, 6- or 12-month subscription.
Atlas Coffee Club
This monthly subscription is perfect for the coffee enthusiast. Each month, the service sends them single-origin coffees from different regions of the world. You can choose to send whole beans, ground beans or Keurig- or Nespresso-compatible pods, as well as a half bag (6 ounces), one bag or two bags of coffee every three, six or 12 months.
Fly By Jing Gift Card
If your favorite person is a fan of delicious flavors with a kick, consider giving them a gift card to one of our favorite AAPI-owned brands. Known for its bestselling Sichuan Chili Crisp, Fly By Jing offers a variety of sauces inspired by Chinese flavors, as well as gift sets and pantry essentials.
AMC Gift Card
If your giftee is a movie lover, or is simply looking for good date night options, consider this AMC Gift Card, which you can fill with $10, $25, $50 or $100. You can give them a physical card, or send a digital card.
Goldbelly Gift Card
The foodie in your life is sure to love Goldbelly, a curated market of food and meal kits from hundreds of vendors across the country. They can filter their choices by foods, specific regions, restaurants and more. If your loved one wants to try it all, consider Goldbelly’s monthly food subscriptions, which include subscriptions for pie, ice cream, barbecue, bacon and more.
Stitch Fix Gift Card
Stitch Fix is an NBC Select editor-favorite personal styling service that lets your giftee receive clothes and accessories tailored to their specific style preferences and taste. They can choose to receive a box every 2-3 weeks, every month, every other month or every three months. You can load up the gift card with amounts ranging from $20 to $1,000. The service offers clothes in sizes XXS to XXL and in maternity, petite and plus sizing.
Best last-minute food delivery gifts
Boarderie Happy Holidays Cheese & Charcuterie Board
There are few things better than a delicious charcuterie spread delivered right to their door. This holiday-inspired one from Boarderie comes with a variety of meats and cheeses in three spread sizes: small (serves up to three people), medium (serves up to five people) and large (serves up to 10 people). The small box has 19 artisan cheeses, meats, dried fruit, chocolates, nuts and olives, along with a box of rosemary and olive oil crackers. Each spread comes with an acacia wood serving board and a bamboo cutlery kit for serving.
Baked by Melissa Holiday Cheer Cupcakes
Baked by Melissa cupcakes are my go-to treat to send during a special occasion or holiday — they’re adorably bite-sized, beautifully crafted and delicious. The Holiday Cheer sampler comes with 25 cupcakes in four of the brand’s most popular holiday flavors: Christmas sugar cookie, vanilla fluff, snowcap and brookie (which is stuffed with cookie dough and topped with a blondie and nonpareils).
Shari’s Berries Gourmet Drizzled Strawberries
Delight your loved ones with these delicious chocolate-covered strawberries, which are another favorite of mine to send for any special occasion. You can choose to send a half dozen, full dozen or two dozen strawberries dipped in milk and white chocolate. If you want to be even more festive, Shari’s Berries has a holiday-inspired mix and a reindeer-decorated option.
Cheryl’s Cookies Best of Buttercream Cookie Box
This Cheryl’s Cookies gift box comes with 12 delicious buttercream-frosted cookies in the brand’s bestselling flavors, including classic vanilla, triple chocolate, butter pecan, key lime white chocolate and lemon burst. You can choose between same-day (in select areas when ordered before 1 p.m. ET) or next-day delivery.
Best last-minute flower delivery gifts
BloomsyBox Bloomsy Original
BloomsyBox sends monthly blooms straight to your loved one’s door. The Bloomsy Original monthly plan delivers a hand-tied bouquet of 22 to 24 stems of seasonal flowers and arrives within five days of being picked, ensuring they’re fresh, according to the brand. The box also comes with plant food and an informational card. You can choose the month-to-month plan or a three-, six- or 12-month prepaid plan.
Urban Stems The Frost
Spruce up your loved ones table decor with this winter-inspired bouquet that has flowers like mini gerber daisies, mini carnations, alstroemeria, delphiniums, veronica and greenery. It doesn’t come with a vase, but you can add one for an additional fee. Urban Stems offers next-day delivery on most orders placed before 3 p.m. ET, as well as same-day delivery in select cities. You can also choose to get double of this bouquet for an extra cost.
The Bouqs Flower Subscription
With The Bouqs subscription, you can send your loved one farm-fresh flowers directly to their door. Choose between three sizes of florals: grand (30-45 stems), deluxe (20-32 stems) and original (10-16 stems). You can choose to send bouquets weekly, every other week, monthly or every other month. Plus, there’s no shipping fee to worry about.
Teleflora Luxe Winter Tree
Like most options on this list, Teleflora offers a wide range of bouquets and centerpieces for the holiday season, many of which you can choose for same-day or next-day delivery (for an additional fee). Surprise your loved one with this unique, elegant tree bouquet, which has white roses, mini carnations and chrysanthemums. The tree comes neatly packaged in a gold mirrored cube.
Farmgirl Flowers Jingle Belle
This festive bouquet comes with a mix of warm pink and red stems, including roses, peonies, ruffled roseliles, fresh eucalyptus and evergreen foliage. Flowers arrive by Dec. 24 and ready for a vase — your giftee will just need to give them a quick trim once they unbox them.
FTD Joyful Greetings Bouquet
FTD offers several holiday-themed bouquets and centerpieces, some of which include extras like desserts, candles and festive vases. The Joyful Greetings bouquet comes with roses, lilies and carnations. FTD offers same-day delivery for most orders placed before 3 p.m. ET, as well as next-day delivery.
Why trust NBC Select?
I’m an updates editor at NBC Select who has rounded up gifts for a variety of loved ones, including moms, sisters and music lovers. For this guide, I researched dozens of products on the market and compiled highly rated and NBC Select staff-favorite gifts that have fast shipping.
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