Even grown-ups deserve Christmas stockings… right?
Whether you’re buying for your kids or your partner, thinking of little surprises that don’t cost the earth can be tricky.
So, to help you, we’ve collected 20 different stocking fillings to provide you with some gifting inspiration.
Skip to:
- Stocking fillers for men
- Stocking fillers for women
- Stocking stuffers for children
- Babies’ stocking fillers
- History of Christmas stockings
- How much to spend?
- The final say
Stocking fillers for men
If you’re needing inspiration for some cheap stocking fillers that don’t compromise on quality, check out our best stocking fillers for him below.
We love a practical gift in our Christmas stocking! Not only do these mini body washes smell incredible, but they’re perfect for someone who’s always on the go – just pop into a gym kit or travel bag.
You’ll find a mini bottle of Grapefruit & Orange, Coconut, and Lavender & Geranium scents.
We’ve got another vegan snack coming up – and it’s a good ’un.
Perfect for vegans who just can’t get enough of the sweet stuff, these Sea Salt Honeycomb bites dipped in dark chocolate are spot on for a delicious but cheap stocking filler.
As well as being vegetarian and vegan, they’re also gluten-free and contain no palm oil.
Help soothe tired, aching muscles with these calming Epsom salts. Arnica and eucalyptus oil help to ease sore joints – perfect in a relaxing bath.
Pop this in their stocking and they’ll see in the New Year feeling revived and ready to go.
Skincare fans will be delighted to see this from Santa.
Mancave Sensitive Moisturiser is specially formulated for dry and sensitive skin. It’s loaded with white tea and shea butter to nourish, white tea to provide skin-friendly antioxidants, and vitamin E for skin protection.
Chocolate and orange: isn’t it the perfect festive combo?
Drop these next to the clementine in your loved one’s stocking and see which one gets demolished first. We’re placing our bets...
These zingy, bite-sized segments are dairy-free and suitable for vegans.
Stocking fillers for women
Is St. Nicholas visiting someone special this Christmas? We’ve put together some stocking fillers for her – and, even better, they’re all under £10.
Oil diffusers are all the rage these days, so why not use them to get your home smelling like a winter wonderland?
The perfect gift for lovers of Christmas, the Miaroma Festive Oil is a 100% pure essential oil blend that adds a comforting festive scent.
With relaxing lavender and jojoba oil, these reusable gel socks from Miaroma are perfect for popping on your feet and sitting back with a cuppa.
Just slip them on for 20 minutes a day for a burst of moisture. And don’t worry about value for money – you can enjoy this treatment up to 30 times per pair.
You can’t have a stocking without some luxury chocolates, right? Enter the Chocolate Orange Jingle Ballers from Doisy & Dam.
Whether you’re vegan or not, these tasty treats are made from natural ingredients – just try not to be tempted to eat them all in one go!
...And maybe a few more chocolates couldn’t hurt.
If you want a luxury stocking without the luxury budget, treat them to this 2 pack of gorgeous truffles from Booja Booja.
Super-smooth vegan ganache meets crispy hazelnut bits in these award-winning treats.
Winter can be brutal on your hair; it's more prone to dryness and frizz in the cold weather.
Gift your loved one these 3 mini shampoo and conditioner bars from Ethique and they’ll be shining through every festive shindig.
In each set you’ll find the Frizz Wrangler and Mintasy shampoo bars and a silky Too Delicious deep conditioning bar.
Stocking fillers for kids
It’s tempting to fill your kids’ Christmas stockings with toys (and for good reason!)
But if you’re looking to get a few practical purchases in there this year, here are a few ideas that they’ll love.
A cosy Christmas afternoon, lights on the tree twinkling, and a festive film on the telly.
The only thing that’s missing...? A big mug of hot chocolate.
Simply stir these vegan chocolate spoons into a mug of warm plant-based milk. Will they choose Milk Chocolate, Dark Salted Caramel, or Dark Chocolate Orange?
This is the perfect treat for a little one to enjoy as they open their stocking – it is Christmas, after all.
The NOMO reindeer is free from dairy products and filled with a creamy cookie dough centre.
Even better, NOMO is Rainforest Alliance certified.
It’s prime dry skin season, so help relieve chapped lips with this lip balm from FRUU.
It’s perfect to keep on hand for school or swimming (or as a pretend lipstick). And what little one could resist the fruity watermelon flavour?
Stocking fillers for babies
Of course we’re fans of tiny socks and cuddly toys! But, if there’s a baby in your life, the parents might be just as grateful for some of the essentials.
Nappy rash is no walk in the park for anyone involved.
In comes Burt’s Bees with this softening multipurpose lotion, enriched with zinc oxide and sweet almond oil.
Approved by 96% of testers on Mumsnet, it’ll keep your baby as smooth as...well, you know.
Where there’s a baby, you’ll need a wipe.
But – while they’re handy for new parents – disposable baby wipes don’t break down after use and they’re responsible for more than 90% of sewer blockages.¹
TotsBots offers a more sustainable solution with this pack of 10 reusable wipes. There’s no alcohol, no parabens, no chlorine, and no waste – just disinfect in the washing machine and use again and again.
Not only is this tiny toothbrush extra-cute, but it’s made from biodegradable corn starch!
The soft bristles are ideal for new teeth and the durable handle is comfy for small hands.
What’s more, it’s BPA and PVC free with recyclable bristles.
Who wouldn’t want their bathroom to smell like a sweet shop?
The award-winning Childs Farm 2 in 1 shampoo gently cleanses and detangles hair before your little one can say, “I’m bored”.
History of Christmas stockings
We’ve been hanging up socks on Christmas Eve for about 200 years now! The earliest recorded mention of Christmas stockings was in 1823, but the original story goes much further back.2,3
Legend has it that St. Nicholas – or Santa Claus – lived in Turkey in the 3rd century.
He heard of a nobleman in his town whose wife had died and left him penniless. The man had three daughters but couldn’t afford a dowry to help them marry. With no money and no suitors for his daughters, the family couldn’t afford to survive.
One night, St. Nicholas crept into the family’s house. The daughters’ stockings were hanging by the fireplace to dry, and St. Nicholas slipped some gold into each stocking to pay for the daughters’ dowries.
It’s thought the Victorians began this as a Christmas tradition many centuries later, and even then they’re quite different to the Christmas stockings we know today.
Victorian Christmas stockings might have included fruit, nuts, and some sweets if the receiver was lucky.
Later, in the early 20th century, a child might have found money, chocolate, or small toys...or a lump of coal if they hadn’t behaved!
The tradition of putting a clementine in a stocking came about in America during the Great Depression. Fruit was expensive, and this orange treat was thought to represent the gold that St. Nicholas put in the original stockings.
Today, many people’s Christmas stockings are a little more extravagant – and they’re becoming more and more popular amongst adults. You could find almost anything in your stocking, from chocolates to beauty products, accessories, or small novelty gifts.
How much do you spend on stocking fillers?
According to American Express, Brits were set to spend an average of £45 on stocking fillers in 2020.4
But there really is no expected amount, especially since our spending habits have changed since then. Whether you spend more or less is entirely up to you.
Some people see the Christmas stocking as a main present, whereas for others it’s just a fun addition.
How to choose the best stocking fillers
The pressure of Christmas presents can get pretty overwhelming.
So if you’re struggling to choose stocking fillers for your loved ones, don’t worry. Here are some things to consider to help you find the perfect picks:
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Hobbies
Do your loved ones have a favourite hobby?
Let’s say it’s baking, treat them to a couple of little gifts that allow them to work on it!
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Diet
Have you got kids or a partner who are vegan or vegetarian?
Be sure to drop in some festive treats that are suitable for their diet.
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Practical treats
Not every gift has to be super fancy!
If you know your kids are running low on things like stationary supplies or socks (that don’t have holes in them) there’s no harm in adding these to their stockings too.
The final say
And that wraps up our guide to stocking fillers for under £10!
Feeling inspired to get your Santa hat on and start buying gifts? Just be sure to head back here if you’re ever feeling stuck for ideas.
You can also explore our other guides for Xmas present ideas:
Last updated: 23 November 2022
- https://friendsoftheearth.uk/sustainable-living/wet-wipes-keeping-them-out-our-seas-and-sewers
- https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/the-legend-of-the-christmas-stocking-160854441/
- https://christmas.lovetoknow.com/History_of_Christmas_Stockings
- https://about.americanexpress.com/newsroom/press-releases/news-details/2020/Festive-shoppers-take-stocking-Brits-set-to-spend-873-million-on-Christmas-stocking-fillers-12-09-2020/default.aspx
