Stocking Stuffers That Actually Fit in Stockings

November 21, 2025

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Have you ever been walking through the store doing some Christmas shopping and see a bunch of toys labeled "stocking stuffers" and they're in a 10x15 inch box? This is a huge pet peeve of mine (as well as the fact that they're calling a $20 item a stocking stuffer). There's no way that's fitting in anyone's stocking, therefore it is not a stocking stuffer, it's a gift.

Eh-nee-way, I decided I'd make a stocking stuffer guide of things that will actually fit in a typical stocking. Please note, there are a ton of items on this list, but don't feel pressured to buy all of them as stocking stuffers because I sure don't. I just want to give ideas so that you can buy a few things to share amongst your kids and have a good Christmas (hopefully) while staying within your budget.

First off, some things that make great stocking stuffers that aren't specifically on this list: apples, oranges, Pringles or Lays Stax, chapstick, gum, deodorant, a toothbrush. I also love those orange sticks that come out of the woodwork this time of year, but my husband isn't a fan (don't judge him too harshly, it just means that I don't have to share my orange sticks with anyone, and I love him for it) so I have to get creative with his stocking.

So, grab a bag of oranges from the store and one or two items from this list, throw a toothbrush in the mix and you've got a somewhat practical, somewhat fun group of stocking stuffers for your whole family.

Stocking Stuffer Ideas

For nearly everyone

Paper Airplane Squadron - $6.99 for 20 pack. These would make great stocking stuffers for literally any age. Paper airplanes are a timeless toy and this one would be fun to split and put a few in each person's stockings (including Mom and Dad) so you can have some major paper airplane competitions on Christmas morning with the entire family. Even a 1 year old would have fun throwing one.

Dove chocolates - $4.97. Toss a few in each stocking for a tasty treat on Christmas morning.

Ferrero Rocher - $16.15 for 42 count. This is something you'd definitely need to take out of the box before dropping in someone's stocking, but when there's 42 in a package you can split them amongst the whole family (or just fill your entire stocking with them and let everyone else have the cheap toys, I don't judge).

Reusable Plastic Cups - $11.99 for 6 pack. I know you don't have enough cups and water bottles at your house, but these will take up a lot of room in that stocking and it might be fun to have everyone in the family have their own unique cup/lid/straw combo so that your kids can all complain about needing the pink straw with the blue lid and not the orange straw with the purple lid. (Wait ... did I just convince you not to get these? Sorry. My bad.) In all seriousness though, it might be nice to throw out all your old cups/water bottles and start fresh with this set.

Slingshot Chicken Fingers - $8.49 for 12 pack. What is Christmas without some random, silly toys thrown in the mix? Get this 12 pack and gift one to everyone in the family (and possibly some neighbors and friends as well). If chickens aren't your thing, you can buy these Slingshot Ninjas instead.

Chicken Pens - $9.99 for 8 pack. Apparently the theme for stocking stuffers this year is chickens. I just thought these pens were funny and useful and I'm all about useful gifts. Give one to each person in the fam and put any leftovers in a white elephant gift along with something else.

Shower Steamers - $19.99 for 15. These are one that I would split amongst all of the household. Toss a few in each stocking (maybe not next to the food) and have a delightfully fragrant shower on Christmas morning.

Mini Hand Cream - $5.69 for 7 pack. Pop one of these in everyone's stocking and maybe the kids will stop stealing yours.

For babies

Sensory Activity Board - $6.99. This one may take some finagling to get into a stocking, but it'll fit, I promise. Our neighbor brought one of these out at playgroup the other day and I had as much fun playing with it as my 1 year old did, and if my older two kids were there, I think they would've been happy playing with it as well so you could really get this for any age and it would be a great stocking stuffer.

Teether Tube Chew Straw - $8.99 for 6 pack. I've heard good things about these teether toys. Throw them in your baby's stocking with a few of your kitchen spoons and call it good.

Suction Cup Bath Toys - $7.95 for 3 pack. I've never bought these, but the fact that they have suction cups makes me think they'd be a really good toy for babies and young toddlers. You can stick them in the bathtub, on the dishwasher, on the back sliding door, or anywhere that your baby likes to hang out while you get stuff done. Since they suction on, your baby will have to stay in one place to play with them, which might actually keep them from getting into trouble elsewhere in your house while you make dinner.

For kids

Nail Polish - $7.99 for a 6 pack. Split these between all of your daughters' stockings (and your own) and then encourage them to share as they paint each others' nails on Christmas.

Rainbow Colored Pencils - $6.99 for 12 pack. Again, I would totally split these amongst all of my kids' stockings but if you have one kiddo who loves coloring more than the rest, dump all 12 in their stocking. They'll lose their mind with happiness. You can even throw in some paper in their stocking so you don't have to look for it on Christmas Day. You could find a cute "Certified Santa Paper" stamp online and print it on several pages so that the paper feels extra special as a gift.

Colored Masking Tape - $6.39 for 8 pack. If you've got a kid (or several kiddos) who love crafting, just get them this tape already! They will go crazy with excitement on Christmas morning when they find these and figure out what they're for and it's literally just tape. I even give my kids regular old tape in their stockings and they are thrilled by it (Plus then they don't use up all of mine for at least 3 months).

PEZ Dispensers - $13.41 for 3. I've tried to get my kids off the PEZ bandwagon but they lose their minds when they get a PEZ dispenser and these Christmas ones are adorable, even if I don't like buying candy.

Stuffed Animal Keychains - $19.99 for 12. These are a bit pricey for stocking stuffers IMO, but if your kids are obsessed with stuffed animals these would be so fun to give to them. Plus, they're keychains and when are keychains ever not a good gift for kids? They can hook them to their backpacks to have some toys to play with wherever they go.

Pull Back Cars - $9.99 for 28 pack. Alright all you boy moms out there, this one is for you. 28 cars for $10 means you can fill your kids stockings on a budget and call Christmas complete. I could see this entertaining kids for hours on Christmas and it's just a stocking stuffer.

Jump Ropes - $9.99 for 3 pack. These are a great stocking stuffer because they can twist and bend to fit into tight spaces. Perfect for an elementary aged kid or for anyone who wants to start working out more (we all know that jumping trend has been huge this year).

Sensory Fidget Misc Package - $16.95 for 35 pcs. I haven't bought this one specifically, but from the picture it looks like all of these would fit inside a stocking. If you have multiple kids who love fidget toys this would be a great package to buy. You can stick a few in each child's stocking and then have them share once the newness of the toys has worn off.

Parachuter Toys - $5.69 for 6. Split these amongst all the kids and let them play together on Christmas morning while you eat breakfast.

Pop Tube Robots - $8.54 for 4 pack. Put one in everyone's stocking and then they can play robots together in the morning. I like that these have suction cups on the end so they can stick them on windows and mirrors for even more fun.

Multicolor Pens - $5.69 for 6 pack. I love these pens because even though the mechanics sometimes get a little jammed, they have so many colors all wrapped up in one spot so I don't have to track down 6 different crayons on our way out the door.

Magnetic People - $7.89 for 10 pack. Some people have magnetic personalities, and then some people are just magnetic. The magnetic people are so fun for kids to play with so split them between all of yours and let them have fun playing together.

For Teens

10 FT iPhone Charging Cable - $7.39 for 3 pack. Buy this 3 pack and have a stocking stuffer for yourself and your two favorite kids (hah, joke!). But seriously, the charging cords your phone comes with are like 1 foot long and nobody wants to sit right next to the outlet to let their phone charge. My husband has a 10 ft charging cable and I get jealous sometimes because mine is only 3ft. This is a luxurious gift wrapped in a cheap price tag.

Nail Polish - $7.99 for a 6 pack. Split these between all of your daughters' stockings (and your own) and then encourage them to share as they paint each others' nails on Christmas (idyllic and completely unrealistic, I know, but we can hope there will be peace in our households on Christmas Day).

Magnetic People - $7.89 for 10 pack. These are fun for teenagers to use in their lockers or even just to have some funny magnets to play with when they're bored.

Sleeping Queens - If you don't know what else to get your preteen or teenager, try out this card game. I've been told it's a hit among this age group.

Monopoly Deal - $5.59. I know we all have unresolved trauma from playing Monopoly growing up, but this card game version is nothing like the board game. It's a 15 minute game and so much less stressful so you can gift it to your kids without worrying about the strain it'll put on your family relationships.

Leather Heart Bookmarks - $6.99 for 6. These are great for any readers in the family. The go on the corner of the page so you can easily tell where you're at.

Dude Wipes - $21.56 for 6 pack. If you've got lots of grown (or almost grown) boys, stick a pack of dude wipes in each of their stockings. They're surprisingly useful to have on hand, but they're manly because they're dude wipes.

Bracelet Keychain - $4.99. Great for a new driver or someone who is always losing their keys.

Satin Scrunchies - $6.39 for 5. These are great for holding ponytails or buns without causing major creases in your hair. I think the whole box will fit inside a stocking, or you can unwrap them to make room for other things.

For Women

Cloud Socks - $9.99. Lets face it, this and some chocolate are the only things in your stocking anyway so you go ahead and buy the $10 socks (I know you're buying your own stocking stuffers).

SET Card Game - $7.49. This is a card game I actually enjoy playing and I like that even my somewhat younger kids can have fun trying to find matches so our whole family can be together while we play.

The Bears and the Bees - $15.99. This is a fun, simple card game that takes about 15-30 minutes to play. If you haven't noticed, we like a lot of Grandpa Beck's card games.

Shower Steamers - $19.99 for 15. These are one that I would split amongst all of the household but they can just be given to Mom/Grandma/Wife. Toss a few in each stocking (maybe not next to the food) and have a delightfully fragrant shower on Christmas morning.

Flower Hair Clips - $8.99 for 6. These are a fun addition to your hair supplies and would be great to split between all the women/girls in the family.

For Men

Skull King - $15.99. Like you, your husband probably doesn't have much in his stocking, so getting him a $16 card game isn't too pricey since there's nothing else to get him.

Bananagrams - $14.99. If you've got a word whizz in the family, this game would be a great stocking stuffer. Just be prepared because someone's gonna have to play against them and it'll probably be you.

Travel Utensil Set - $6.99. Great for taking to work everyday or for traveling. Includes a spoon, fork, knife, and chopsticks. It's long and thin so it'll fit perfectly inside a stocking.

Don't forget to check out my $5 Gift Guide and my $10 Gift Guide for other budget friendly ideas to make this Christmas season a success.