The best Christmas gifts, ranked
24 picks · one clear winner · updated September 2026
The best Christmas gift is the Image3d Custom Viewfinder Reel Plus RetroViewer ($30–50): a retro-style viewer that turns their own photos into little 3D reels they can flip through. If that is not right, the Owala FreeSip Stainless Steel Water Bottle 24 oz ($30–50) is next. Under $25, get the LEGO Botanicals Chrysanthemum Building Set for Adults Ages ($20–25).
- Picks
- 24
- Price range
- $10–20 to $100–150
- Under $25
- 8
- Under $50
- 19
Christmas is the one list everyone shops from, so this ranking is the broadest on the site. These are the gifts that keep landing under the tree and keep getting used in February.
No. 1Image3d Custom Viewfinder Reel Plus RetroViewer
Best Retro ToyA retro-style viewer that turns their own photos into little 3D reels they can flip through.
Not for someone who expects high-resolution digital images or has no interest in physical photos.
"Best Retro Toy" · Also in Glamour, Men's Health and 14 other gift guides
Links go to Amazon. We may earn a commission; it does not change what you pay.
Christmas gifts under $25
The cheapest gifts on this page that still made the cut.
No. 6
No. 7
No. 9
No. 10
No. 14
No. 17Christmas gifts under $50
The strongest picks at fifty dollars or less.
No. 1
No. 2
No. 3
No. 4
No. 5
No. 8Funny Christmas gifts
The ones that get a laugh first.
The full ranking
No. 1Image3d Custom Viewfinder Reel Plus RetroViewer
A retro-style viewer that turns their own photos into little 3D reels they can flip through.
Not for someone who expects high-resolution digital images or has no interest in physical photos.
No. 2Owala FreeSip Stainless Steel Water Bottle 24 oz Orange/Green
Insulated stainless bottle with a spout that works both as a straw and a chug opening. The push-top lid locks the mouthpiece clean, so it is good for a commuter or a gym person.
Not for anyone who will lose the lid or hates tall bottles.
No. 3Cards Against Humanity
Five hundred white cards and a hundred black ones make a party game where the table fills each blank with the worst answer in hand. It fits the stretch of Christmas evening when the plates are cleared, the adults are still sitting there and nobody wants another quiet round of charades.
Skip it if their Christmas table has children at it, the box stays shut all day.
No. 4Asmodee Wavelength Party Game
A party game where teams guess where a hidden target falls on a spectrum, sparking debate and laughs. It works best with four or more people who enjoy talking over winning.
Not for a quiet evening or a group that won't engage.
No. 5Carhartt Soft-Sided Lunch Cooler
A soft-shell lunch bag that keeps their sandwich and drink cold through a shift or a hike. It has sturdy handles and a tough exterior, so it survives the truck, the job site, or the trail.
Skip it if they pack a hot meal that needs reheating, or already own a cooler they like.
No. 6LEGO Botanicals Chrysanthemum Building Set for Adults Ages 18+
A build-it-yourself flower they can keep on a shelf or table, with petals and leaves that move.
Skip it if they have no patience for small parts or hate fake flowers.
No. 7Casofu Burrito Tortilla Throw Blanket 71 inches for Adult Kids
A 71-inch blanket printed to look like a toasted tortilla, so they can wrap up like a burrito on the couch. It is a joke gift that actually gets used, and the double-sided print makes it look the part from both sides.
Skip it if they prefer a blanket that looks like a normal blanket.
No. 8Intelligent Change: The Five Minute Journal
A guided journal that takes five minutes a day, so it fits a busy person who wants to check in with themselves without a big time commitment. It is for anyone who feels stuck in negative thoughts and wants a simple structure.
Not for someone who already journals regularly or hates writing prompts.
No. 9Smilelife 2 Pairs Magnetic Holding Hands Socks
Two pairs of socks with magnets sewn in so the wearers' hands appear to hold when they stand close. It is a silly gift for a couple or best friends who like a private joke they can wear.
Skip it if they hate wearing socks or want something practical.
No. 10Exploding Kittens Party Pack
A card game where players draw cards and try to avoid the exploding kitten, with room for up to 10 people. It is a fast, chaotic game for a family or friend group that likes to laugh and betray each other.
Skip it if the group prefers quiet strategy games or has kids under 7.
No. 11Wepop 40 in 3D Simulation Bread Shape Pillow Soft Lumbar
An oversized baguette-shaped pillow that works as a body pillow, back cushion, or cuddle buddy. It is a funny gift for anyone who likes bread or just wants a conversation-starting piece of furniture.
Skip it if they have no space for a large novelty pillow or prefer plain bedding.
No. 12LEGO Botanicals Tiny Plants
Nine small LEGO plants, arid, tropical and carnivorous types, each built into its own terracotta-colored pot. It suits the long quiet afternoon after Christmas dinner, and what is left afterward is a shelf of greenery that needs no watering.
Skip it if shelf space is already spoken for, this is nine more objects to find room for once the box is empty.
No. 13Storm Cloud: A Weather Predicting Instrument
A storm glass that fills with crystals as the weather shifts, so anyone who checks it gets a small daily forecast without a screen. It is a desk piece with history, tied to Darwin's voyage, and looks like a science experiment that actually works.
Not for someone who wants a precise forecast or lives in a climate with no weather changes.
No. 14Mr. Coffee Mug Warmer for Coffee and Tea
A 17-watt warmer that keeps coffee or tea hot on a desk, ideal for anyone who works from home or in an office. It's small and portable, so they can move it between workstations easily.
Skip it if the recipient drinks their coffee too fast to need it or uses only insulated travel mugs.
No. 15YETI Rambler 42 oz Tumbler with Handle and Straw Lid
A 42-ounce insulated tumbler with a handle, a straw lid and a base that still fits a car cupholder. It is the kind of thing that gets carried every day from December onward, and the double wall keeps ice from turning into water by lunchtime.
Skip it if there are already three insulated cups in rotation, a fourth changes nothing but which one is in the sink.
No. 16Powerup 4.0 Paper Airplane Kit
Turns a sheet of paper into a plane they fly from their phone, with loops and rolls that feel like a real cockpit. For anyone turning 40 who still gets a kick out of folding paper.
Skip it if they expect a ready-to-fly drone or have no patience for folding.
No. 17Taco vs Burrito
A card game where players build tacos and burritos with silly ingredients, so it gets laughs without needing a long rulebook. It suits anyone who likes quick, goofy games at a party or family gathering.
Not for people who prefer strategy games with deep rules.
No. 18Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker Machine
A freezer-bowl ice cream maker that churns two quarts in under half an hour, so the family can have fresh ice cream any evening. The bowl needs to freeze beforehand, so it is for those who plan a little bit.
Skip it if the family does not have freezer space or no one will remember to pre-freeze the bowl.
No. 19Trusco ST-350-B 2-Level Toolbox
A two-level toolbox that keeps their small parts and tools sorted instead of rattling around in a bag. The trays lift out, and the lock is optional if they want to keep it secure.
Skip it if they already have a rolling chest or only use power tools.
No. 20Jall Full-Screen Wake Up Light Sunrise Alarm Clocks for Bedrooms
A sunrise alarm clock that fades the room from dark to bright, which helps heavy sleepers wake up more gently than a blaring beep. It also plays 25 natural sounds and has dual alarms for different schedules.
Skip it if they already have a smart speaker that does the same job.
No. 21LEGO Duplo Number Train
A push-along train with numbered bricks that teaches counting and order as they loads and unloads them. It is a classic LEGO Duplo set, sized for small hands.
Skip it if they already have this exact train or a similar number toy.
No. 22TRX GO Suspension Trainer
Turns any door, tree, or pole into a strength gym, with straps that pack into a small bag. Works for push-ups, rows, and hundreds of variations, and the app gives new routines on demand.
Not for someone with zero bodyweight strength or a fear of hanging straps.
No. 23WS Game Company Scrabble
Three classic board games in one worn-leather-looking case that sits nicely on their shelf between visits. The set opens to real wooden Monopoly tokens and full-size boards, so it is as much a decoration as a game night staple.
Skip it if they already own all three or have nobody to play with regularly.
No. 24VTech Pop-a-Balls Push and Pop Bulldozer
A push-along bulldozer that pops balls out of its chimney as it rolls, with buttons for colors, numbers, and music. It gives a one-year-old a reason to practice walking while chasing the balls, and the motion sensors add sounds on the move.
Skip it if the child is not yet pulling up or cruising and needs a sit-in toy instead.
Nothing in that price band here. Try another.
How to choose a gift for Christmas
Prices on this page run from $10–20 to $100–150; 8 of the 24 picks are under $25 and 2 are over $100. This list leans towards jokes and cosy things. Start from the price band you have in mind, then read the note under each pick: it says who the thing is really for and who should skip it. Where the evidence behind a pick is thin we say so, and at the same price we take the one more guides agree on.
Where this list comes from: we start from the gifts that 219 published gift guides (Glamour, Men's Health, AskMen among them) put forward for Christmas, check each one against the maker's own details and its current listing, and write our own note on who it suits and who should skip it. Anything with a poor record among buyers is out. Commission never touches the order. Price bands come from the prices the guides recorded, checked against Amazon on September 6, 2026; the retailer page is the truth on the day. The full method.
Quick answers
Best gifts to give for secret santa?
The Image3d Custom Viewfinder Reel Plus RetroViewer ($30–50) is the best Christmas gift in our ranking: a retro-style viewer that turns their own photos into little 3D reels they can flip through. Runners-up: Owala FreeSip Stainless Steel Water Bottle 24 oz ($30–50), Cards Against Humanity ($25–30).
