Top 30 Gifts for Christmas gifts for friends
1Gozney Arc Lite | Compact Pizza & Outdoor Oven
A compact gas pizza oven that T3 and Tom's Guide praise for fast heat-up and restaurant-style pizza, a big-ticket Christmas gift for anyone who loves cooking ou
£349.99Gozney
3A hand embroidered velvet make up bag that Woman & Home picked for its 2026 beauty gift guide; a keepsake that suits someone who already has the products (chris
£54Elizabeth Scarlett
5Mini Perfume Gift Set | Charlotte Tilbury
A trio of travel-size perfumes, in Woman & Home's Christmas beauty guide (christmas-beauty-gifts, section 4: fragrance and bath time).
£48Charlotte Tilbury
7Oribe's Gold Lust repair set, a Woman & Home Christmas pick for a hair-care splurge (christmas-beauty-gifts, section 5: hair care for the hair they have).
£115Oribe
9Glisten & Glow Rosehip Routine
Woman & Home picks this rosehip skincare routine as a gentle, useful Christmas set (christmas-beauty-gifts, section 1: skincare that is gentle and useful).
£45Neal's Yard Remedies
11A soft ribbed beanie in recycled yarn, picked by HELLO! as a stocking filler under £25 and an easy, safe gift for him (for christmas-gifts-for-him, section 5: s
£24.95Passenger
13Four rubbers decorated as classic novel covers, a small and witty stocking filler for a keen reader.
£14.99Abrams & Chronicle Books
15D'Addario PW-GBMT-01 Multi-Tool for Guitar and Bass
A pocket-sized 10-in-1 tool with hex keys and screwdrivers that a guitarist can keep in the gig bag; Guitar World lists it as a stocking filler.
£16.99Andertons Music Co
17
A five-step skincare set with cleanser, exfoliant, vitamin C and retinal serums, moisturiser and a beauty bag, picked by Woman & Home as a gift she would secret
£99.00Liberty London
19The plant pet that tells you when it's thirsty.
$98.99Plantsio
HintDrop perk: 8% off
21Kapten & Son Card Holder, All Black
A slim card holder for six cards with a zip pocket for coins, made from recycled materials.
£34.90Kapten & Son
23Commissionit Pet Oil Portrait, Hand Painted From Your Photos
Hand painted oil portrait of one pet, up to A4, free UK delivery.
£495Commissionit
25Teapigs Loose Leaf Bestseller Bundle, 5 Teas
Five loose leaf favourites across black, green, mint and chamomile.
£39.99Teapigs
HintDrop perk: 20% off
27Teapigs New Blend Bundle, 4 Teas
The four newest caffeine free blends, from manuka honey to pumpkin spice chai.
£18.99Teapigs
HintDrop perk: 20% off
29Teapigs Adventurous Caffeine Free Bundle, 6 Teas
Six caffeine free blends with unusual ingredients, about 90 tea temples in all.
£22.99Teapigs
HintDrop perk: 20% off
2Westman Atelier Petite Petal Edition (Worth £87.00) | CultBeauty
Marie Claire UK beauty director picks this four piece lip and cheek set in the bestselling Petal pink as a gift to hand over boxed; for christmas-beauty-gifts,
£70Cult Beauty
4PowerCapsule | Magnetic powerbank for smartphones
HELLO! picked it among its useful Christmas gifts for him: a slim magnetic power bank that clips to the back of a phone, for brother-gift-ideas section 2 (gadge
£49.99Twelve South
6
Elemis Melt The Day Away Skincare Gift Set
A cleanser and balm set for winding down, in Woman & Home's Christmas beauty guide (christmas-beauty-gifts, section 1: skincare that is gentle and useful).
£55John Lewis
8Inner Beauty Hydrating Facial Collection (Worth £121) | ESPA
A hydrating facial set from ESPA, chosen by Woman & Home for its Christmas beauty guide (christmas-beauty-gifts, section 1: skincare that is gentle and useful).
£80ESPA
10A silk contoured sleep mask, picked by Woman & Home as a Christmas beauty gift (christmas-beauty-gifts, section 7: presenting it well).
£73Slip
12MV Siren™ Muse Disc Chain Bracelet | Monica Vinader
Which? picks it as engraved jewellery she will wear for years: the gold vermeil disc can be etched with her initials (for christmas-gifts-for-her section 4, dau
£85Monica Vinader
14Ernie Ball 10 ft Braided Guitar Cable in Black with Straight Jack to Angled Jack
MusicRadar loves these tangle-resistant braided cables; a sturdy, noise-shielded replacement that any guitarist or bassist will use at every gig.
£24.99Andertons
1654% Dark chocolate flakes | Blend
Grazia picks Knoops' 54% dark hot chocolate flakes as a stocking filler; a cosy, easy treat for anyone who likes proper hot chocolate. For stocking-filler-ideas
£13.50Knoops
18Makeup Organiser Makeup & Beauty Stackers
HELLO! suggests this stackable organiser for a teen with a growing makeup collection.
£55Stackers
20Kapten & Son Water Bottle, Steel Black, 0.75L
A leak proof stainless steel bottle that keeps drinks hot or cold, swapping out a lot of single use bottles.
£34.90Kapten & Son
22Commissionit House or Wedding Venue Portrait, Painted From a Photo
Watercolour or acrylic portrait of a home or venue, up to A4, free UK delivery.
£395Commissionit
24Teapigs On The Go Bundle, Tea and Travel Cup
Tea temples, a taster pack, a travel tin and a leak proof travel cup.
£29.99Teapigs
HintDrop perk: 20% off
26Teapigs Big Best Sellers Bundle, 6 Large Boxes
Six best selling teas in large 50 tea temple boxes, a generous stock for a tea lover.
£71.99Teapigs
HintDrop perk: 20% off
28Teapigs Great Taste Bundle, 6 Teas
Six award winning teas, 15 tea temples of each, from everyday brew to chamomile.
£28.49Teapigs
HintDrop perk: 20% off
30Venchi Assorted Chocoviar London Mini Book, 120g
A collectible London themed tin shaped like a little book, holding 120g of Chocoviar in pistachio, blood orange, raspberry and more.
£15Venchi
Sort your friends into tiers first
Not every friend needs the same gift, and pretending otherwise leads to overspending or hurt feelings. A simple three-way split works: your closest few, the wider group you see regularly, and the people you only see once or twice a year.
Closest friends get something personal. The wider group get something small and nice. The occasional friends get a card, or a treat to share when you next meet.
For the friend you know inside out
This is where the in-joke gift lives. A mug with a reference only the two of you understand, a print of somewhere you travelled together, or the exact snack they always steal from you. Specific beats expensive every time.
If you have been friends for years, you can also afford to be useful. Quality socks, a good water bottle or a decent umbrella are not glamorous, but people love them.
Small, safe and still thoughtful
For a wider circle, aim for something almost anyone would be glad of: good chocolate, a nice hand cream, a scented candle, a pack of quality tea or coffee. They are low risk and sit in a comfortable £10 to £20 range.
Look for something a little less ordinary than the supermarket version. A small independent brand makes it feel chosen rather than grabbed.
Gifts to share
Friends often get the most from something enjoyed together: a card game, a food hamper to open at your next evening in, or a voucher for somewhere you both like. It doubles as a plan for the new year.
A hamper or a game also works when you are not sure of their taste, because it is meant to be shared rather than judged.
Friends who live far away
Posting a gift to a friend in another city or country is easiest when it is flat, light and unbreakable. A good book, a tin of tea, a small print or a letter with a few photos all travel well and arrive looking like you made an effort.
Send it a week or two before Christmas so there is room for delays, and add a note so it feels like more than a parcel.
Agree a limit with the group
If you have a big circle who all buy for each other, suggest a cap or a Secret Santa. Most people are relieved. It stops the quiet competition and lets everyone pick something properly good instead of lots of mediocre things.
Make it easier for the next one
Ask your closest friends to start a list on HintDrop, and start your own. When Christmas arrives, you can each look at what the other has saved, and nobody has to guess.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I spend on a friend at Christmas?
For a close friend, most people spend somewhere between £15 and £40. For a wider circle, £5 to £15 is common. What matters is that it is in line with what you think they will spend on you.
What is a good gift for a friend I do not know that well?
Something consumable and widely liked, such as good chocolate, tea, coffee or a candle. It is hard to get wrong.
Should I buy for every friend?
No. Prioritise your closest friends and send a card to the rest. A group Secret Santa is a good way to keep things fair.
What are good last minute Christmas gifts for friends?
Food and drink, books, candles and games are quick to buy and rarely miss. Starting early still gives you more choice.
What can I give a friend who has everything?
Try something that disappears, such as a nice meal, a bottle of something good, or time together booked in for the new year. Experiences and consumables suit people who already own plenty.
Buying for a group this year? Draw names with our free Secret Santa generator: private emailed matches, a budget, and wishlists so nobody has to guess.
Ready to actually find something?
Browse Christmas gifts for friends