Stocking Fillers Under $25 That Won’t End Up in the Bottom Drawer

The stocking is where Christmas budgets go to die. You start with good intentions, a few sensible bits and pieces, and somewhere around 11pm on 23 December you’re standing in a chemist aisle holding a novelty keyring shaped like a prawn, wondering whether it counts as a present.

It doesn’t have to be like that. The best stocking fillers under $25 are small things people would quite like but rarely buy for themselves: the good lip balm, the hair treatment they keep meaning to try, the socks that make a seven-year-old feel fancy. We’ve rounded up 11 that are worth the space, all at or under $25, with options for kids, teens, mums, babies and that colleague you drew in Secret Santa.

Prices below are recommended retail in Australian dollars at the time of writing, so check before you buy, especially as the sales start to bite in December.

Stocking fillers under $10

Carmex Lip Balm, $6

If you’ve ever had a tube of Carmex, you know it ends up everywhere: the car, the handbag, the bedside table, the pocket of a jacket you won’t wear again until winter. At $6 it’s the definition of an easy stocking filler, and the summer heat and sun of an Australian Christmas means dry lips are almost guaranteed. Buy a few and hand them out like lollies.

Carmex Shimmers, $10

For teens and tweens who are deep in their Y2K phase, the Carmex shimmers add a hint of sparkle to the familiar formula. It’s a beauty gift that feels grown-up without being expensive, and it’s an easy way to make a stocking look a bit more exciting when they tip it out on Christmas morning.

Stocking fillers for kids

Poss & Soss Heart Socks in Fiery Red, $14

Socks get a bad reputation as a gift, mostly because they’re usually boring. These aren’t. The bright red heart pattern is cheerful, festive without being covered in reindeer, and they’ll still get worn in March. For little ones who love an outfit moment, socks they picked out of their own stocking somehow become their favourite pair.

Poss & Soss Bows in Candy Stripes, $14

For the kid who insists on accessorising, a candy-striped bow is a small thing that gets a lot of wear. It also pairs nicely with Poss & Soss’s matching Candy Stripes dress if you’re planning a bigger gift from the same brand. Pop it in a stocking with the socks and you’ve got a mini set.

The Sunday Kit Aqua Bag Charm Kit, $25

This is the stocking filler that buys you an hour of peace on Boxing Day. The Sunday Kit makes bead and charm kits designed for kids, teens and adults, and you don’t need any experience to use them. You open the kit and start making. The Aqua Bag Charm Kit is at the top of our budget at $25, and it’s a lovely pick for tweens who are hooking charms onto everything from school bags to drink bottles.

The brand was started by Siena, a 23-year-old university student, and her sister. They secured their first stockist within a week of launching, which tells you something about how much people like the product.

Stocking fillers for babies

BIBS Gift Set, from $16.99

If there’s a baby on your list this year, especially one having their first Christmas, a BIBS gift set is practical and pretty at the same time. BIBS is now available at Priceline, which makes it easy to grab while you’re doing the rest of your shopping. New parents will thank you for a gift that actually gets used every day.

Stocking fillers for teens and mums

Sunescape Tan To Go, $19.95

This one is great value. For under $20 the pack includes an instant self tan mousse, an illuminating body tint and a hydrating body butter, plus a free gradual tan extender, applicator mitt and gold cosmetic bag. That’s a whole summer glow kit in one stocking, and it’s ideal for teens heading into formal season or mums who would rather fake it than bake it.

Revlon Professional UniqOne Hair Treatment, $24.95

UniqOne is one of those products hairdressers have quietly loved for years. It’s a leave-in treatment that claims 10 benefits in one bottle, including repairing dry hair, controlling frizz, detangling, heat protection and boosting shine. It works on wet or dry hair and suits all hair types, which makes it a safe bet when you’re not sure what someone’s hair routine looks like. You’ll find it at Chemist Warehouse, Adore Beauty and Oz Hair and Beauty.

Balmydays Lip Sno. Lip Exfoliant, $25

Lip care has quietly become a whole category, and Australian-made Balmydays is one of the more interesting brands in it. Lip Sno. is a gentle sugar scrub with mango seed butter and vitamin E that lifts dry, flaky skin. It comes in Berry Pavlova and Vanilla Bean, and if a flavour called Berry Pavlova doesn’t belong in an Australian Christmas stocking, we don’t know what does. It’s also vegan-friendly.

Stocking fillers for Secret Santa and the hard to buy for

MUSERA Sport Nylon Zip Tote from SHEIN, $21.95

Secret Santa is a special kind of pressure. You need something that suits almost anyone, costs under the limit and doesn’t look like you grabbed it on the way in. A simple nylon zip tote ticks all three. It works as a gym bag, beach bag or the bag that lives in the car for all the stuff that doesn’t fit anywhere else.

Millefiori Milano Car Fragrance Refill, $21.95

Millefiori Milano car fragrances are made in Milan, and they come in 28 colours and finishes with scents that last around eight weeks. The refill is $21.95, which makes it a clever stocking filler for anyone who already has the diffuser. If they don’t, the full car fragrance is $44.95 and features in our Christmas gifts under $50 guide.

How to fill a stocking without blowing the budget

A good stocking has a bit of rhythm to it. Here’s the formula we use:

1. Something useful. Lip balm, a hair treatment or a tote. The things they’ll reach for in January.
2. Something fun. A craft kit or a bow. The bit that gets opened first.
3. Something a little bit fancy. A self tan kit or a lip scrub. It feels like a treat because they wouldn’t buy it themselves.
4. Something edible. Grab their favourite chocolate from the supermarket. No stocking is complete without it.

If you stick to one or two products from each step, you can fill a stocking for $40 to $60 and it will still feel generous.

Stocking filler ideas by budget

Frequently asked questions

What are good stocking fillers under $25 for adults? Beauty and self-care products work well for adults because they feel like a treat. Revlon Professional UniqOne ($24.95), Balmydays Lip Sno. ($25) and Sunescape Tan To Go ($19.95) are all under $25 and useful well past Christmas.

What can I put in a kid’s stocking that isn’t plastic junk? Go for things they’ll use or make. Poss & Soss socks and bows ($14 each) get worn, and The Sunday Kit’s bag charm kit ($25) is a creative activity that ends with something they made themselves.

What’s a good Secret Santa gift under $25? Pick something that suits almost anyone. A nylon zip tote ($21.95), Carmex lip balm ($6) or a Millefiori Milano car fragrance refill ($21.95) are safe, useful choices.

When should I buy stocking fillers? Earlier than you think. Popular small items sell out in December, so aim to have the stocking sorted by early to mid December.

More Christmas gift guides

Looking for something a little bigger? See our Christmas gifts under $50, Christmas gifts under $100, Christmas gifts for pets and educational toys for Christmas guides.

Disclosure: Products in this guide were chosen independently by the Parenthood360 editorial team. No brand paid to be included.