Stocking Stuffers That Aren't Junk: Small Gifts Worth Giving

A good stocking stuffer is small, genuinely useful or genuinely pretty, and not something the recipient would have to find a home for. Washi tape, vinyl stickers, gift tags, and small kitchen textiles all pass that test. The failing category is novelty: things bought to fill space rather than to be used.

Every year the same thing happens. You get most of the way through holiday shopping, you feel good about the main gifts, and then you remember the stockings.

So you panic-buy a bag of small plastic objects at the checkout, and by February they are in a drawer or a landfill and nobody remembers what they were.

The fix is not spending more. It is applying one filter: would this person have bought this for themselves and been pleased about it? Everything below passes.

What Makes a Good Stocking Stuffer?

Four things, and a gift needs at least three of them.

• Small enough to fit without being crushed or sticking out awkwardly
• Consumable or genuinely useful, so it does not become an object that needs storage
• Nice to look at, because that is half the pleasure of a small gift
• Not a duplicate of something they already own six of

The consumable point is the one people miss. A stocking full of small permanent objects creates clutter. A stocking full of things that get used up creates a pleasant year.

Washi Tape for Anyone Who Writes Things Down

Washi tape is close to the perfect stocking stuffer. It is flat, it is cheerful, it gets used up, and it suits journalers, planner people, teachers, scrapbookers, and anybody who wraps gifts.

Moth Bow Tie Washi Tape is the crowd pleaser, colorful moths on crisp white. Over the Rainbow Washi Tape is the one for kids and classrooms. Ribbons Galore Washi Tape is the striped one that goes with everything.

If you want to hand over more than one, Your Favorite Washi Tape Box bundles a set together, which turns a stuffer into something closer to a real gift.

Browse the full washi tape collection for more.

Vinyl Stickers for Laptops, Water Bottles, and Everything Else

Stickers are the sleeper stocking stuffer. Three by four inches, waterproof, scratch resistant, with a peel-off backing that comes away without residue.

Fall Bloom Vinyl Sticker is orange, yellow, and blue flowers on deep green. Sweet Home Vinyl Sticker suits anybody who just moved. Little Lady Love Vinyl Sticker is the one that ends up on a kid's water bottle.

The sticker collection has plenty more, and they are flat enough to slip into a card if the stocking is already full.

Gift Tags That Get Used Next Year

This one sounds boring and it is not. Nobody buys themselves nice gift tags, which is exactly why they make a good small gift for anybody who wraps.

Dancing Bugs Gift Tags and Garden Bed Gift Tag are both good year-round choices. The gift tag collection has seasonal options too, and seasonal favorites sell quickly, so if you see something you love, grab it.

Are Small Kitchen Things Good Stocking Stuffers?

Yes, if they are the kind of thing somebody uses daily but never upgrades for themselves. A tea towel folds down small and comes with a belly band already, so it needs no extra wrapping.

Look at the tea towel collection for something in their kitchen palette. It is a bigger gesture than most stuffers, which is useful when one person on the list needs a little more.

Fill the Stocking With Things That Get Used

The test at the top holds up. Would they have bought it for themselves and been pleased? If yes, it belongs in the stocking. If it is only there because the stocking looked empty, leave it at the store.

Start with the washi tape and stickers, which are the easiest wins.

For more, read Colorful Gifts Under $20 That Don't Feel Cheap and Unique Christmas Wrapping Paper That Doesn't Look Like Everyone Else's.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a good stocking stuffer?

Small enough to fit, useful or consumable so it does not add clutter, nice to look at, and not a duplicate of something they already own. A gift that meets three of those four is a safe bet.

Is washi tape a good stocking stuffer?

Yes, one of the best. It is flat, it gets used up rather than stored forever, and it suits journalers, planner users, teachers, crafters, and anyone who wraps gifts. Rolls are 10 meters long, so one lasts a while.

How big are the vinyl stickers?

Three by four inches. They are waterproof and scratch resistant with a peel-off backing that removes without residue, which makes them fine for laptops, water bottles, planners, and notebooks.

What should you avoid putting in a stocking?

Anything bought purely to fill space. Novelty plastic items, duplicates of things they already own, and objects that need to be stored rather than used are the three biggest offenders.

Can gift tags be a gift on their own?

Yes, for anyone who wraps regularly. Nice gift tags are one of those things people never buy for themselves, which is exactly what makes them a good small gift. Pair a set with a roll of wrapping paper for a bigger gesture.