Christmas gift quick picks
For the person who deserves a coffee upgrade: Blue Bottle Coffee Subscription
For the often absent-minded friend: Apple AirTag
For the person who always runs cold: Sunday Citizen Snug Blanket Hoodie
For the on-trend dog owner: Wild One Harness Walk Kit
For the frequent traveler: Away The Carry-On
In years past, the impending gifting holidays may have snuck up on you — but not this year. As the holidays come closer, rest assured that the CNN Underscored team has been prepping to make sure you get the Christmas gifts you need for everyone on your list.
With our ears to the ground and dozens of browser tabs open, we’ve found this year’s hottest gifts and added them to our growing list of tried-and-true products we can’t stop recommending. Using our years of experience as gift guide curators (and real-life gift-givers), we’ve compiled a list of the best Christmas gifts for every budget — along with plenty of other specialized gift guides for every type of person you’re shopping for. Whether you’re looking for an under-$25 steal or a splurge-worthy present, these Christmas gift ideas will have you shopping for your friends and family sooner rather than later.
For more holiday shopping recommendations, check out our other gift guides to see our favorite gifts for women, gifts for men and Amazon gifts.
Best Christmas gift ideas under $25
Legos aren't just for little kids anymore. This actually gorgeous set of Lego plum blossoms makes for an excellent project for your loved one, and it'll truly be flowers that never die. Check out this flower bouquet kit too.
Even if your college days are behind you, a game of pong is a great party activity. And why not take it up a notch more with this set of Fear Pong cards? Combining beer pong and truth or dare, this game is for people who aren't afraid to get a little silly in order to have some fun.
A more minimalist take on your typical portrait, this shop creates a cute, cartoonish drawing inspired by a photo of your choice. You will have to print out the file, but that's the perfect opportunity to pair it with a decorative frame to take your gift up a notch.
If their home office or work bag is beginning to look more like a hoarder’s den, they might need this electronic organizer so they can keep all their cords, adapters and cables all in one place.
Cooking a veggie-forward dish or prepping for the week's meals doesn't have to require tedious slicing, dicing and chopping. Instead, they can save time and energy by relying on this TikTok-viral gadget to do all the hard work.
This pillowcase makes all the difference if you tend to wake up with frizzy hair. Made from polyester satin, the smooth surface helps keep your skin and hair soft. Silk pillowcases have a similar quality; check out our full guide on the best silk pillowcases here.
Best Christmas gift ideas under $50
Know someone who's still clinging to the sourdough starter they got during lockdown? This bread maker not only makes perfectly oval-shaped loaves, but it also doubles as a bowl for mixing and rising, so they'll have less to clean up.
Hey, it's not glamorous, but we all use the bathroom. Even if you're buying this as a gag gift, your recipient will be thanking you immensely — and probably buying you and your friends one in return too.
This Danish dish is intended to warm and melt butter, which makes it a great gift for bakers and bread lovers, but you can also use it to make single-serving tea, hot cocoa or sauces.
Fresh-baked cinnamon rolls are the perfect Sunday morning smell, and this cinnamon roll kit is a great foodie gift for those who might have some little hands that also want to get involved in the kitchen.
All they need to be more mindful in the new year is five spare minutes and this journal. It's the perfect gift for that friend who always says they want to start journaling but doesn't know where to start.
While this bath towel from Onsen is a nonconformist in its design, it’s a game changer in its drying results. Oh, and the streamlined look is going to make your bathroom look like your dream spa, too. Be sure to check out Onsen's robe as well.
This cult-favorite tumbler is bound to be their go-to emotional support water bottle. Its 40-ounce capacity will help keep them on track with their daily hydration goals, and the dozens of fun colors mean it doubles as a statement accessory.
Skin care for men can be challenging, but this set of essentials has everything he needs sans the bells and whistles. Jack Black’s products perform wonderfully on all different skin types — the formulation is gentle while still refreshing and effective — and boast a fresh yet masculine scent.
Are they the kind of person who is always losing stuff? An Apple AirTag is perfect for slipping into their wallet, or even clipping onto their keys or luggage, to easily track their whereabouts. And if they've got a newer iPhone model, they can even get turn-by-turn directions that make sure they absolutely never lose their daily essentials again.
Tired of not being able to watch in-flight movies with your favorite Bluetooth headphones? Prepare to love the Twelve South AirFly Duo. With a simple setup, this product is a game changer for frequent travelers who want to go totally wireless. We've also got our eyes on this new iridescent version.
Our pick for the best water bottle, the Yeti Rambler is incredibly sturdy and has a fantastic lid that allows you to both drink quickly and easily fill the bottle with ice and water.
If they've got a bunch of trips planned this year, gift them our pick for the best travel pillow. The Cabeau was firm enough to support our head and neck, soft enough to fall asleep on and perfectly portable, allowing you to compress it to half its size.
This all-in-one sandwich maker will give them the extra time they need in the morning while making a delicious breakfast.
With this durable and versatile cast-iron skillet (our pick for the best cast-iron skillet), they'll finally be able to master their steak-cooking technique.
Best Christmas gift ideas under $100
This Sunday Citizen hoodie feels like wearing your warmest and softest throw blanket. You won't want to cozy up for a movie night or reading session without it. If you do need to leave the house, it's still chic enough to pass for street style.
A quality pillow can instantly improve your sleep. This cooling pillow from Slumber Cloud is designed with cooling technology, which makes it perfect for hot sleepers too.
Impress the whiskey lover in your life with this unique bottle that's like a combination of bourbon and cabernet. Another thing that makes it unique is that it comes with a spiral-cut piece of wood in the bottle, which helps add more flavor to the whiskey after aging.
For the fitness maven, the Lululemon Align Pant is our pick for the best workout leggings.
Who needs flowers when you can get them this bouquet of exotic meat sticks? This carnivorous collection features elk, bison and venison so they can snack away to new and interesting flavors.
It might seem like an odd present, but trust us, anyone you give a Tushy bidet will be forever grateful. With easy installation and adjustable nozzle, this simple bidet, which we named the best bidet attachment, will change how you go to the bathroom forever.
Sporting myriad helpful features, the Fitbit Inspire 3 is our top fitness tracker choice for anyone who wants better clarity and more robust data about their health, fitness and wellness lifestyle.
If they don't have room for a full fire pit, check out this portable tabletop one from Flîkr. It uses rubbing alcohol as fuel, so you can roast marshmallows over it.
Cashmere sweaters are a fashion staple, but oftentimes are outrageously pricey. That’s why we absolutely love Naadam’s under-$100 cashmere sweater. Plus, it’s available in over a dozen colors and sizes XXS to XXL.
Never overcook meat again with this nifty thermometer that we named the best stylish meat thermometer on the market. It's very accurate and easy to read to boot.
These Allbirds Runners are some the most comfortable sneakers out there. Particularly flexible and supportive, these sneakers are truly engineered for all-day comfort. They’re the perfect type of shoe for city trekking, day trips or long walks, and they're available in a men's version, too.
Best Christmas gift ideas under $200
Our pick for the best smart mug, the Ember Smart Mug will not only look super stylish in their home office, but it will also keep their coffee or tea at the perfect temp for them to enjoy all morning long.
Traveling can be rough on our luggage, especially for those who travel to more remote areas for adventure. This Patagonia duffel is a true travel workhorse made of durable, weather-resistant fabric. We also love that the straps can be worn backpack style so they won't have to awkwardly lug their gear through airports, hotels or public transit.
As far as hand care goes, Aesop is definitely a splurge. This duet features a hand wash made with rich, aromatic notes of Mandarin, rosemary and cedar, plus a nourishing hand balm to restore moisture for clean, hydrated hands they won't be able to stop sniffing.
Getting that perfect pour is no small feat, but it's instantly easier to dial in on your pour-over precision with this gooseneck kettle. It heats water quickly so they can get their hot sip fix whenever they need it.
Brooklinen took all the coziness of a cable knit sweater and turned it into a chic blanket that's perfect for keeping warm on their bed, couch or even porch. Senior lifestyle editor Tamara Kraus was recently gifted this and she's been reaching for it every night.
The Aura Frame makes an amazing gift for moms, grandmothers or any family member who lives long distance. You can upload photos from your phone instantly in just a few clicks and share access to the frame across family members so everyone's special events get a chance to be front and center.
This celebrity-loved facial wand combines microcurrent, therapeutic warmth, vibration and red-light therapy for maximum youth-preserving benefits.
An Underscored editor favorite, this body pillow feels like it's hugging you back.
This rain jacket outperformed all the others we tested in key areas. It's ridiculously waterproof, keeping you bone-dry in the worst rain while still being extremely breathable.
Nintendo’s Switch Lite gives kids an easy, handheld way to play their favorite games all day long. From Mario to Pokémon, they’ll be endlessly entertained with the Nintendo Switch Lite. And if you need some games to unwrap on Christmas morning, check out our list of favorites.
The cult-favorite Always Pan is a gorgeous and versatile nonstick pan that claims to replace eight different kitchen tools. When we tested the original version, we quickly found out it’s much more than a pretty pan.
Whether you're looking for a sturdy slipper to wear inside the house or a comfortable shoe to get all your errands done in, these Ugg slippers will keep your feet cozy without sacrificing style. They make a great gift for men or women, especially during the colder months when warmth is a must.
Stay cozy all winter long with this plush and soft weighted blanket from Bearaby, our favorite weighted blanket brand. Built with organic cotton and available in four different weights, this blanket can help keep you comfy and calm.
The most portable (and affordable) Theragun massage gun out there, the Mini still offers up powerful percussion to help melt away aches and soreness. It's a fantastic holiday gift for your favorite fitness-lover too.
Best Christmas gift ideas over $200
Though it's not the newest Apple Watch model, this 2022 Apple Watch SE still has all the features they'll need to stay synced with their messages, fitness goals and more.
They'll be able to whip up all types of frozen desserts, from custom ice cream flavors to refreshing sorbet, smoothies and slushies with this Ninja Creami maker.
The Sony WH-1000XM5 are the best over-ear headphones you can buy, with a slimmer design than their predecessors and refined noise-canceling microphones.
If they're really into fire, gourmet pizzas or enjoying time in the backyard, an Ooni pizza oven (which we named one of our favorite pizza ovens of the year) makes an excellent Christmas gift. We tried out the larger Ooni Karu 16 for ourselves and found it to be an extremely simple and delicious way to cook up a pizza.
If their headphones need a serious upgrade (or if they're still stuck using corded ones), Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 feature noise cancellation, excellent sound quality and a transparency option that can help heighten the sounds around them (a fantastic feature for someone who’s experiencing any sort of hearing loss as well).
If their bed needs an upgrade, these linen sheets, which we named the softest linen sheets of the year, are such a dream. While you may think linen equals itchy, these are impossibly soft and get softer with each wash. We love all the calming shades they come in, too.
When we tested stand mixers, the KitchenAid 5-Quart Artisan Series Tilt-Head Stand Mixer delivered the best performance. With more than 20 available colors and a classic profile, you’ll want to keep this tilt-head mixer on display in your kitchen.
If they've got some trips coming up, this carry-on from Away will be a lifesaver. We even named it the best carry-on of the year, largely due to its durable build, thoughtful organization, smart features and chic design — at a fair price point to boot.
The Dyson Airwrap is the ultimate luxury present to get this year. While its price tag is intimidating, we tried it ourselves and think it’s worth it. When you purchase through Dyson, you receive three additional gifts totaling $125 as well.