Quick plan: choose a stocking budget, then fill it with 5 to 8 small items: one treat, one cozy thing, one useful thing, one fun thing and one surprise. Five items at about $5 each is a $25 stocking.
Stocking stuffers under $5
- Fuzzy socks
- Lip balm
- Hot cocoa packets
- Hand warmers
- Mini notebook
- Fun pens or gel pens
- Hair ties or clips
- Candy canes or chocolate coins
- Stickers
- Deck of cards
- Travel-size hand lotion
- Keychain
- Bath bomb
- Mini puzzle or brain teaser
- Phone screen wipes
Stocking stuffers under $10
- Small card game
- Cozy beanie
- Flavored popcorn or snack mix
- Small succulent
- Reusable straw set
- Face mask sheets
- Phone stand
- Mini flashlight
- Gourmet coffee or tea sampler
- Cable organizer clips
- Silicone baking cups
- Nail polish set
- Mini sketchbook and pencils
- Fun mug
- Lottery scratch-offs (adults)
Stocking stuffers under $25
- Wireless earbuds case or charging cable
- Insulated tumbler
- Portable phone charger
- Book or gift card to a bookstore
- Bluetooth tracker tag
- Cozy slippers
- Movie theater gift card
- Small LED string lights
- Manicure kit
- Desk plant
- Board game for two
- Scented candle
- Kids’ craft kit
- Water bottle
- Streaming or app store gift card
For kids
- Bubbles
- Play-dough
- Bath toys
- Glow sticks
- Small action figure
- Coloring book and crayons
- Mini building-brick set
- Toothbrush with a favorite character
- Slime kit
- Flashlight
For teens
- Phone grip
- Lip gloss
- Sticker pack for a laptop
- Earbuds
- Snack box
- Hair claw clips
- Gift card for food delivery
- Mini skincare set
- Instant camera film
- Fun socks
For adults (men and women)
- Good chocolate
- Mini hot sauce set
- Cozy socks
- Hand cream
- Multi-tool
- Coffee shop gift card
- Car phone mount
- Wine stopper
- Jar opener
- Reusable shopping bag
How much to spend on a stocking
| Items | About $3 each | About $5 each | About $10 each |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | $15 | $25 | $50 |
| 8 | $24 | $40 | $80 |
| 10 | $30 | $50 | $100 |
Add your stocking total to your Christmas budget as its own line. Stocking items are easy to overbuy because each one feels cheap.
Tips
- Buy multi-packs of socks, lip balm or candy and split them between stockings.
- Check percent-off and “buy 2, get 1” deals with the discount calculator.
- Prices vary by store and change during sales; the price groups above are typical, not exact.
Questions
What do you put in a Christmas stocking?
A mix of small things: a treat, something cozy like socks, something useful like lip balm or a charging cable, something fun like a card game, and one small surprise.
How many items go in a stocking?
Five to eight small items is typical. Kids often get a few more very small things.
How much should I spend on a stocking?
Many families keep stockings between $15 and $50 per person. Choose an amount, multiply by the number of stockings and add it to your Christmas budget.