Yes, there’s going to be some gender bias in this list; that’s kind of the point of a list of “stocking stuffers for women.” Obviously, not all women will appreciate every item on this list, and some may also appreciate some gifts from the men’s list. Use your judgment. Hopefully, though, this will get your creative juices flowing.
Office Supplies
Writing Supplies
Pens, pencils and/or refills, ink, nibs, etc. make great stocking stuffers. You can go with simple basics, like mechanical pencil refills, or go classy with a special pen or fountain pen ink. Try pens in fun colors that may not be strictly “necessary.” Or, if she’s into that kind of thing, you can include wax seal supplies like wax, a seal, or a melting spoon.
Small Office Supplies
Rubber bands, paper clips, pushpins, etc. are a perfect size for tossing into a stocking. You can go with basic ones, but it’s fun with a gift to go for designer colors or prints.
Memory Cards or Thumb Drive
These come in a variety of styles and configurations. SD and compact SD cards, USB drives… consider her camera, phone, or tablet. Could she use a card for any of these? Of course all-purpose USB drives come in a variety of styles, ranging from fun to funky to fancy to simple and “boring.” Or disguise it as makeup.
Pocket Calendar
This one might be a bit of a gamble, because many women have particular calendar styles they prefer to use. If you already know which one is her favorite, by all means get that! If not, something that’s a reference tool rather than the calendar she’s intended to use on a daily basis might be a better bet.
Small Notebook or Sticky Notes
These provide so many opportunities! A small notebook could be a pocket-size spiral notebook, a small notepad, or a Moleskine-type notebook. Sticky notes come in a plethora of shapes, sizes, and fun designs.
Cards, Stationery, and/or Postage Stamps
Does your recipient like to send notes or letters? Then these might be perfect for her stocking. Notecards, writing paper, and postage stamps all come in a variety of designs. The Best Card Company is one particular seller on Amazon who offers a huge variety of notecard designs. I have/had several of their sets and was pretty happy with them.
Where stamps are concerned, you can buy a standard book of stamps at most supermarkets. If you want to make it a little more special, though, your best bet is to buy them from the post office, where there are a variety of designs available at any given time.
Miscellaneous Useful Things
Flashlight
It seems like no matter how many we have, we can always use another flashlight. Tuck them around the house in case of power outages, keep on in the glove box, one in the purse or diaper bag, etc. Mini tactical flashlights and keychain-style lights make especially good stocking stuffers. If you buy them in bulk, they’re especially cost-effective as stocking stuffers for everyone on your list.
Small First Aid Kit
First aid kits are a bit like flashlights, in that even if you have one, you can usually use another, to stash somewhere else. I like the small ones that come in plastic boxes in the travel section of the drugstore (they look like this), but there are other options, too. For instance, there are sets like this designed for camping, and kits with designer covers like this. If she’s a “crunchy” type who would rather fill her own first aid kit with herbal preparations and/or essential oils, then you could stuff her stocking with something like this.
OTC meds
Of course full-size package of medicine aren’t that large, but you can also toss in travel- or purse-size packages of over-the-counter medicines like ibuprofen, lactase pills, Dramamine, etc. Obviously, consider whether she actually uses or needs these!
Essential Oils
If she’s more into alternative medicine, then essential oils are a great fit. You can include bottles of the actual oil, and/or you can toss in accessories like roller bottles, labels, and/or carrying cases. (Some flash drive cases will also hold small roller bottles.)
Pregnancy Tests
Depending on who you’re stuffing a stocking for, you might find that inexpensive pregnancy test sticks or strips are a good stocking stuffer. (Even dollar store pregnancy tests are well-liked.)
Wooden or Paper Decorative Folding Fans
Folding fans can be a handy-and-beautiful thing to tuck in a purse or diaper bag — and they fit great in a stocking. Wooden ones are generally a bit sturdier than paper, especially if there are little ones in your recipient’s life who are likely to pull at the fan.
Wallets, etc.
Wallets, coin purses, business card cases, cosmetic bags, etc. are all small enough to make good stocking stuffers. Consider what your recipient does or doesn’t need.
Norwex Cloth
A Norwex microfiber cloth can be a great stocking stuffer, especially if you choose one of the smaller ones. A travel-sized Envirocloth is always a good choice. (They’re great for carrying in a purse.) But she might also appreciate a baby body cloth (like a mini soft washcloth) or makeup removal cloth.
Tissues, or Handkerchiefs
Pocket packs of tissues, or cases to hold them, are another good stocking stuffer option. Or if she’d prefer a more “sustainable” option, consider a handkerchief.
Keychains
Keychains are, of course, inherently small enough to fit in a stocking. You can get them in styles that play to certain interests, or you can look for functional options, like hooks, purse hangers, flashlights, etc.
Small Reusable Totes
The sort of tote that rolls up into itself is a great size for this.
Straws
You can toss in a box of disposable straws. Or you can tuck in one of the permanent varieties. Reusable straws come in stainless steel, silicone, and glass. (Strawesome makes some beautiful glass straws!) Don’t forget a straw-cleaning brush if you’re going with reusable and don’t already have one.
Carabiners
Carabiners are pretty basic, but they’re widely useful, and there are a variety of options. Colored ones are fun. They come in different sizes, made from different materials, and with different clip styles (e.g. some screw open and closed while others just flip).
Batteries
If you’re giving a gift that requires batteries, the batteries for it can be a particularly suitable stocking stuffer. Pretty much everyone regularly needs batteries, though, so even if that isn’t the case, batteries can be a handy stocking filler. Most people particularly need AA’s and AAA’s, although larger batteries may be used for flashlights, and button batteries are increasingly used for small electronics.
Small Tools
Mini screwdrivers, small wrenches, multitools, etc. go great in stockings. Or you can use tool parts, like drill bits, sockets for a socket wrench, etc.
Adapters
Adapters for various cords, plugs, etc. can make excellent stocking stuffers if your gift recipient needs them. Consider options like dual phone jacks/splitters, cassette adapters for hooking mp3 player to older car stereos, chargers for the cell phone, USB-mini to USB-C, etc.
Car Care Items
If she takes care of her own car, she might appreciate car care items such as car wax, a tire gauge, an air freshener, etc.
Ice Scraper
If you’re in the northern hemisphere, then Christmas is, of course, during the winter (or just before winter weather really sets in). That makes it a perfect time to give your recipient an ice scraper. You can go super-simple with a basic scraper like you can find at the dollar store. Or you can “upgrade” to a version with a padded handle, a brush (maybe a little long for most stockings), or a mitt to keep her hand warm, or even a “newfangled” version like this funnel-style scraper.
Lookin’ Good & Feelin’ Good
Cosmetics
Makeup makes for great stocking stuffers. (Even samples can work for this! It’s a good way to get use out of them.) Or makeup brushes/applicators.
Jewelry
Okay, so fine jewelry is probably a step above most people’s idea of stockings (although there’s always the classic option of proposing by means of an engagement ring in the stocking!), but even if the finer stuff is a bit posh for stuffing your stocking, costume jewelry is still a pretty good fit. (A hint for the guys who aren’t used to buying this sort of thing, when it comes to anything wearable: think about what kinds of things your girl typically wears, and try to pick colors, etc. that seem similar.)
Jewelry offers so many options: necklaces, rings, bracelets, anklets…and, depending on the woman, possibly more unconventional choices like nose rings and belly chains.
Hair Care/Accessories
Combs, brushes, ponytail holders, barrettes, claw clips…hair care and hair accessories provide a plethora of options for stuffing stockings — depending, of course, on the length of the recipient’s hair. (If she doesn’t have hair, scarves — see below — can be a particularly appreciated option.) The dollar store often has a lot of cute hair accessories, but their combs and brushes can be less impressive.
Bath Bombs, Salts, etc.
If your recipient enjoys baths (and has a bathtub), pampering bath supplies make good stocking stuffers. These could be bubble bath, bath bombs, bath milk, or bath salts. (If you’re a DIY-er, bath milk and bath salts are pretty easy and inexpensive to make.)
Lotion and/or Lip Balm
Help her soften up the skin on her lips — and/or everywhere else — with lotion or lip balm in her stocking.
Nail Care
Nail — and hand/foot — care products are also naturally small and fit well in stockings. Nail care supplies include nail clippers, files, buffers, etc. Pumice stones are used for feet. And of course there’s also nail polish and remover, as well as various nail decals and other decorations. (Just be careful not to squish sheets of nail wraps or the like.)
Socks or Slippers
For those in the Northern Hemisphere, Christmas is at the beginning of the cold season, so encourage your gift recipient to keep her toes toasty by stuffing her stocking with cozy socks or slippers. (If she’s pregnant, diabetic, or otherwise has reason to need to keep circulation flowing in her lower legs, consider some designer compression socks. VIM & VIGR has some cute ones!)
Gloves, Hats, or Scarves
Gloves, hats, and scarves, when taken as a group, of course bring to mind winter gear. These types of gloves, hats, and scarves do make good fillers for stockings. Other versions of these items make good fillers, too, though — like silk headscarves or a beret.
Travel-Size Toiletries
Travel-size toiletries may include small sizes of some of the items already mentioned — like lotion. Also consider basics like toothpaste, shampoo, and soap. Or even small toiletry containers for travel, for refilling with favorites from full-size bottles.
Shoe Polish and/or Shoelaces
Shoe polish tends to be one of those things we don’t think about until we actually need it. Get ahead of the game by tossing a bottle or tin of polish into your recipient’s stocking. The trick is making sure it’s a color that matches shoes she’ll need to polish (or stick with neutral). Shoelaces can also make either a fun or functional stocking stuffer. (You can even get various styles of no-tie laces, if that’s her thing.)
Mirror
Everyone woman use a mirror, right? Either for checking to make sure her lipstick is on straight or for starting a campfire in the woods, depending on your style. 😉 Drop one in her stocking: either a compact, a small hand mirror, or maybe even one to adhere to her phone.
Spa Mask or Headband
A proper “spa mask” is intended to soothe the eyes. A sleep mask is a similar style and is designed primarily to block out the light. Either goes well in a stocking. (This set incudes both.) A spa headband is meant to hold the hair out of and away from the face to make it easier to wash, etc without getting soap in the hair.
Stress Ball/Massager
This category includes any small items that are meant to relieve physical stress. That would include the type of stress balls you squeeze in your hands, and rolling massagers. It could also include things like textured balls meant to massage the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, or whatever else you roll it over, as well as the type of chiming Chinese stress balls (baoding balls) you roll around in your palm.
Purse-Sized Lint Roller
A purse-/pocket-sized lint roller or packet of lint removal sheets is a good stocking stuffer, especially for gift recipients with pets that shed. (Check the dollar store for these! The lint rollers, not the pets.)
Underwear
This particular stocking stuff is obviously a good option or not, depending on who you’re stuffing a stocking for. If it’s wife’s stocking, undies might be a perfect stocking filler. If it’s your mom’s stocking…not so much. I’ll leave you to decide what underwear are a good fit (pun intended).
Sunglasses
We tend to think of sunglasses as primarily a warm-weather accessory, but they’re just as useful in the winter — especially if you live or visit somewhere with lots of snow. If your recipient is one of those who (like me) loses sunglasses regularly or just doesn’t trust herself to have to keep up with an expensive pair and not break them, you can toss in a good-looking pair from the discount store. If she’s a skiier or snowboarder, consider a sporty pair like these goggles. And if she wears regular eyeglasses, be sure to account for those and get a pair that goes over or clips onto her regular glasses.
Selfie Gear
Once she looks good, your stocking’s owner might want to take a selfie. Consider camera accessories like a selfie stick, mini tripod, or (selfie) ring light as fillers for her stocking.
Around the House
Kitchen Gadgets
Kitchen gadgets offer a huge variety of options, ranging from the simple (like can openers) to the specialized (like an avocado slicer). Take care not to put open blades into a stocking (you don’t want her to cut her hand!), and think about whether the foods the gadgets are designed to work with are foods she does, in fact, eat, but with those factors in mind, you have a lot of choices, like garlic peelers, various fruit-cutting devices, bottle openers, fun utensils, and many more.
Magnets
When we think of magnets, most people think of the refrigerator, but magnets can also be used in other places, like on filing cabinets and some exterior doors. You can go with useful magnets, like one to indicate whether the dishes are clean or if there’s something in the wash that can’t be dried. You can go with something fun or beautiful. Or even design your own.
Night Light
Night lights aren’t just for children! They help keep you from stubbing your toes in the dark. They come simple and functional, or even in beautiful designs.
Small Picture Frames or Brag Books
“Brag books” are those small photo albums that only fit one standard photo print per page. They’re somewhat less popular now that most of us are carrying around photos in our phones, but your gift recipient might still appreciate one in her stocking — either for keeping photos on the coffee table, etc., or for non-photo content, like favorite motivational quotes. Small picture frames also make good stocking stuffers, perhaps especially for moms and grandmas who like to show off their children and grandchildren. Both picture frames and small albums are often available at the dollar store.
Small Jars, Vases, or Other Containers
Small jars, vases, trays, tins, etc. can fit nicely into a stocking, and there are a variety of uses for small containers. Whether it’s a tiny vase for dandelions brought in from the yard, a small tin for hair pins or a jar for cotton swabs, sequins, or buttons…almost everyone has uses for miniature containers. (The dollar store, craft store, and even thrift store & flea markets can be great sources for these.)
Drink Accessories
A number of different drink accessories are well-suited to stockings. There are coasters of various kinds for protecting the furniture around the house. There are can cozies to keep sodas (pops) cool. And drink charms for keeping individual beverages separate during a party.
Seeds
Seed packets can make good stocking stuffers. Both flower and vegetable seeds are widely available. You can buy them from Amazon or from specialty seed retailers. Or keep your eyes open for displays at the grocery store, hardware store, dollar store, etc.
Recipe Cards
Recipe cards may or may not be a good addition to a stocking, depending on the recipient. Nowadays, a lot of people store all their recipes digitally and might not have any use for blank recipe cards, although some still appreciate the nostalgia of that (or like the tactile nature of the cards). Even a hardcore digital user, though, might appreciate a card containing a favorite or family recipe from a friend or older family member. You can buy them, or print your own.
Hardware
There are two different types of hardware you can toss into a stocking. There’s the basic stuff: nails, screws, picture hangers, outlet covers, etc. And there’s “fun” hardware like decorative drawer pulls.
Candles
Candles are a little cliché, but they’re cliché for a reason — they’re classic. Votives, tea lights, and travel candles (or other candles in tins) are especially small and perfect for use as stocking fillers. If she likes to spend time outside, citronella candles might also be a good choice.
Just for Fun
Small Games or Game Pieces
Basic game components like dice and cards are good additions to a stocking. If your recipient is an RPG gamer, she might appreciate a special set of gaming dice. Card games and other small/travel games work well, too.
Puzzle Books
Another type of game is the written variety. Books of sudoku puzzles, crossword puzzles, word searches, mixed puzzles, brain teasers, etc. are great in stockings. Check the dollar store for these.
Book or Magazine
Put a fun book or favorite magazine in her stocking. You’re on your own with identifying her favorite magazines, although this might help jog your memory. For books, you might try checking out the award-winners.
Book Accessories
If she’s an avid reader, consider putting reading accessories into her stocking, too. Bookmarks, book covers, reading lights, and a “Thumb Thing” are all examples of small, stocking-friendly book accessories. Of course if she uses an e-reader, you could also go for an e-reader cover, SD card, or charging cable.
Small Craft Supplies
Small supplies for whatever craft your recipient enjoys (or would like to learn) make excellent stocking stuffers. Think hooks, needles, yarn, floss, thread, adhesives, beads, punches, etc.
Somewhat more general supplies, like stamps and/or ink pads and washi tape, also work well. (Michael’s, Target, and the dollar store often have stamps, punches, and small ink pads for $1 each.)
Items to Add to a Collection
Does the woman you’re stuffing the stocking for collect something small, like stamps, coins, or frog figurines? Or does she have a favorite “theme” for which she collects a variety of items — like sloths or hot air balloons? You can add something for her collection to her stocking.
Ammunition
If she likes to shoot, ammunition makes a good stocking stuffer. Target practice uses up ammo in a hurry!
Accessories for mp3 Players or Other Devices
Electronic devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and mp3 players, have become household norms. That means almost everyone can use accessories for these devicues — like earbuds, earbud wraps, cases, etc.
Decorative Baking Supplies
Decorative baking supplies can be an awesome stocking stuffer — for the right person. Don’t add these things to a woman’s stocking if they’re going to look like a hint to “go cook!” But things like cookie cutters, food colors, sprinkles, decorative cupcake liners, etc. can be a lot of fun.
Small Kaleidoscopes or Teleidoscopes
What’s the difference between a kaleidoscope and a teleidoscope? A true kaleidoscope contains small bits of something, which form the pretty patterns, by means of interior mirrors. A teleidoscope (telescope-meets-kaleidoscope) is essentially a tube with a faceted lens at the end; it produces patterns from whatever you look at through it. Both are fun for all ages.
Maps or Pocket-Style Nature Guides
Not everyone needs paper maps, but if they’re fitting, you can tuck into a stocking a map of a favorite location/destination, whether that’s a general geographical area, or an “event”-type location such as a local zoo, park, hiking spot, etc. (Or give a map of someplace you’re going to go, as a fun hint toward an outside-the-stocking gift.) Pocket-style nature guides can also make great stocking stuffers — either small pocket paperbacks, or the laminated pamphlet-style guides put out by Waterford Press.
Cosplay
Cosplay seems to be growing increasingly popular, and for good reason — we’re starting to figure out that growing up doesn’t have to mean we stop having fun! Not all cosplay items will fit into a stocking; in fact, the main part of most costumes probably won’t. But many cosplay accessories, like steampunk goggles, elf ears, and Star Trek badges, will.
Music Accessories
If your recipient is a musician, music accessories can serve as stocking stuffers. Of course, this will depend on which instrument(s) she plays, but to give you some ideas, think about guitar picks or pick holders, capos, replacement strings, rosin, tuners, reeds, valve or key oil, polishing cloths, etc. (Small instruments can go in a stocking, too, like a harmonica, small rhythm instruments — or a pitch pipe for the singers.)
Consumables
Food
Snacks are a fabulous — and traditional — stocking stuffer. Candy is an obvious choice, and both traditional options as well as special personal favorites (such as, perhaps, a “luxury” brand of chocolate) work well. But you can go a little healthier, too (and your recipient might appreciate that if she’s trying not to blow a diet): try fruit, power bars, small bags of granola, nuts, crackers, jerky. Protein cookies like Munk Pack are another good, less-conventional option. For the most part, these are probably fillers you’ll want to pick up locally.
Gum/Mints
I’ve grouped gum and mints together because they’re both “breath-freshening” options. 😉 Pick a favorite brand, and make note of whether she prefers “spicy” (like cinnamon) or “cool” (like peppermint).
Beverages
Unfortunately, you probably can’t stuff her favorite cup of coffee down into a stocking. But you can include a bag of coffee beans. If coffee’s not her thing, hot cocoa packets, tea bags, or water flavoring packets work well, too.
Other Stuff
Ornaments
Given that’s it’s Christmas, tree ornaments make great stocking stuffers! Pick a theme she likes, or just choose something cute, beautiful, fun, or funny.
Cash
Cash is obviously always welcome. You can do change for the parking meters, or small bills. You can make just a few dollars a little more special by jazzing up the presentation. Try your hand at dollar bill origami. Tuck it into a cash envelope. Or put it in one of the previous gifts — hidden away inside a change purse or used as a bookmark in a book, for instance.
Gift Cards
If you’d rather not do cash, gift cards also make great stocking stuffers. For most people, low-denomination cards are going to make for the best fillers, so you’ll want to think about what locations people may spend just a few dollars at. Starbucks, fast food restaurants, Hobby Lobby or Michaels, and Amazon are all good choices. (Most stores have $5 cards, but if you want anything under $25, you’ll usually have to go into that store to pick up a card.)
Personal Note
A personal note is an uncommon stocking stuffer, but always welcome. Depending on who you’re stocking the stuffer for, you could consider a love letter, a note telling what you appreciate about her, an encouraging card, etc.
Coupons
The final stocking stuffer suggestion is also a personal one — personalized coupons to be exchanged for “together” activities later. (If you have a very quiet, to-herself sort of family member, a coupon for time alone might also be appreciated.) You can buy blank coupons to fill in, get a book of premade coupons, or make your own entirely from scratch.
</div?
