Ideas by person
Five ideas each to get you started.
For mum
- A framed family photo or a photo book
- A cosy dressing gown and slippers
- A cookery class or a cookbook from a favourite chef
- Hand cream and a scented candle set
- A day out together, booked in advance
For dad
- A good book in the genre he already reads
- Tickets to a match or a gig
- A quality tool or a gadget for his hobby
- Coffee or tea from a local roaster
- A warm scarf and gloves
For a partner
- A weekend away or a dinner booked for January
- Personalised jewellery or a watch
- A star map or a print of a place that matters to you both
- Matching pyjamas for Christmas morning
- A handwritten letter to go with any gift
For kids
- A building set or a craft kit
- Board games for family nights
- Books chosen for their age and reading level
- Outdoor toys: a scooter, a ball, a kite
- An experience: a trampoline park or a cinema trip
For teens
- Wireless earbuds or a phone accessory
- A gift card for their favourite shop or game
- Room lights or a small speaker
- Hoodies and trainers in their current style
- Concert or event tickets
For friends and coworkers
- Fancy chocolates or a biscuit tin
- A plant that is hard to kill
- A nice mug with good hot chocolate
- A desk calendar for next year
- A small candle or a festive ornament
How to plan your gifts
- Write the list. Everyone, including teachers, neighbours and Secret Santa.
- Set a budget for each. Use the planner so the total stays in check.
- Buy the hard ones first. Things that need shipping or personalising take longest.
- Watch the sales. Black Friday and Cyber Monday are on the shopping days page.
- Wrap as you go. Christmas Eve is for carols, not sticky tape.
How to choose a good Christmas gift
The best Christmas gift ideas come from paying attention, not from spending more. Before you shop, ask three questions about the person: what do they do in their free time, what have they mentioned wanting this year, and what do they use every day that could be a little nicer? A gift that answers one of those almost always lands well.
Use the ideas above as a starting point, then add them to the budget planner so the total stays in check.
Christmas gift ideas for women and for her
- A cashmere or merino scarf in a colour she already wears
- A personalised necklace with an initial or birthstone
- A pamper set: bath oil, a candle and a soft robe
- Tickets to a show, concert or comedy night
- A beautiful notebook and pen for someone who journals
- A cooking, pottery or flower-arranging class
For your wife or girlfriend, add something only you could give: a photo book of your year, a framed print of a place that matters to you both, or a night away booked for January.
Christmas gift ideas for men and for him
- A good pair of wireless earbuds or a portable speaker
- A quality wallet or a leather keyring
- A grooming kit or a classic fragrance
- Tickets to a match or a gig
- A gadget or tool for his hobby, from cycling to cooking
- Coffee from a local roaster and a simple pour-over set
Christmas gift ideas for mom and dad
For mom: a framed family photo, a digital photo frame loaded with pictures, a cosy dressing gown, or a day out together. Many mothers say the gift they want most is time, so book something you can do side by side.
For dad: a book in a genre he already loves, a warm jacket, a smart garden tool, or a "dad and me" day. Handwritten letters from grown-up children are the gift that ends up kept in a drawer for years.
Gift ideas for kids and teens
Kids: building sets, craft kits, books matched to their reading age, board games, and outdoor toys. For a 9-year-old boy, a science kit, a remote-control car or a first chess set is a safe bet.
Teens: for a 13-year-old boy, think gaming gift cards, a hoodie in the current style, or a desk lamp with colour lights. For teen girls, wireless earbuds, a polaroid-style camera, or concert tickets. When in doubt, a gift card for their favourite shop beats a guess.
Christmas gift ideas for coworkers and gift exchanges
Keep coworker gifts small, equal and easy to enjoy: good chocolate, a plant that is hard to kill, a mug with hot chocolate, a desk calendar for next year, or a nice pen. For an office gift exchange or Secret Santa, agree a price limit first and choose something anyone could use, such as a candle, a cosy pair of socks or a puzzle.
Homemade and gift basket ideas
Homemade Christmas gifts are often the most remembered: a jar of cookie mix with the recipe tied on, spiced biscuits from our Christmas recipes, a photo calendar, or a playlist of songs that remind you of the person.
A Christmas gift basket lets you mix small things into one big present. Try a film-night basket (popcorn, sweets, a blanket and a list of classic Christmas movies), a baking basket, or a self-care basket.
Christmas gifts on a budget
- Set a price limit per person and stick to it.
- Draw names for Secret Santa in big families.
- Give experiences you can share at home: a cooked dinner, a games night, a picnic.
- Shop with a list on Black Friday. See shopping days until Christmas.
Need to send it? Check the Christmas shipping deadlines first, and browse our Christmas shop for decorations and stocking fillers.
More Christmas guides
Once your gift list is sorted, the rest of Christmas is easier. Browse our Christmas guides for recipes, traditions and planning, or our free Christmas tools for the budget planner and calendar.
Questions people ask
Quick answers about this countdown.
What is a good Christmas gift for someone who has everything?
An experience or your time: a meal out, a class, or a day trip together.
How much should I spend on coworkers?
Keep it small and equal. Many offices agree a Secret Santa limit so nobody overspends.
What are good homemade Christmas gifts?
Cookies or cookie-mix jars, photo books, handwritten letters, knitted items, and playlists.
What should I get my mom for Christmas?
Something personal or shared: a photo gift, a cosy item she will use every day, or time together.
When should I buy Christmas gifts?
Start six to eight weeks out, and buy anything that ships or needs personalising first.
Keep exploring
More countdowns, tools and Christmas reading on Christmas Days Left.