Stocking stuffers should be fun, festive and inexpensive. These small gifts should serve as the appetizer or dessert for the main course of the presents under the tree. The holiday season is here — which means the shopping season is here — so now is the time to brainstorm ideas for what will fill your stockings.

                By                    Caitlyn Moorhead
  • Toys and Games
  • Art Supplies
  • Tasty Treats
  • Accessories and Beauty
  • Self-Care
  • Décor
  • Electronics Accessories
  • Pocket Tools

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Stocking Stuffer Ideas for $5 and Under

Stores like Dollar Tree, Dollar General and Family Dollar all sell an amazing array of affordable holiday items and gift ideas. Here are 55 items that make great stocking stuffers and don’t cost more than $5.

Toys and Games

Art and Creative Supplies

  • Art supplies: Dollar Tree offers a myriad of art supplies, such as brushes, paints, stencils and palettes all under $5.
  • Coloring activity books: Keep the children entertained with these assorted superhero coloring activity books that are just $1 each at Family Dollar.
  • Composition book: Great for students or office workers alike, composition books always serve a purpose. Office Depot has them for $1.99.
  • Erasers: Walmart has fun Pen + Gear 3D erasers in the shapes of all kinds of treats such as cupcakes and popsicles for $4.97.
  • Note pads: For all office supply goodies, Staples is a stop that makes sense. It carries note pads and memo pads in an assortment of colors, starting at $3.23.
  • Pencils: Fun for school or the office, Dollar Tree has Dr. Seuss pencils for $1.25.
  • Scented markers: Consider this fun gift to spruce up arts and crafts. Dollar Tree has scented marker packs for $1.25.
  • Stampers: Fun for party favors and stocking stuffers, stampers are great to give to every kid at the party. Walmart has 8-packs of stampers for $2.12.
  • Stickers: A perfect stocking stuffer for all ages, festive stickers are available at Dollar General for $1.

Tasty Treats and Kitchen Items

Accessories and Beauty

Self-Care

Festive Décor

  • Cinnamon-scented pinecones: The stockings are hanging from the fireplace, so you might as well help the fire smell nice. Joann stores have cinnamon-scented pinecones for just $3.99.
  • Magnets: A fun fridge decoration to stuff in someone’s stocking are magnets. You can find a huge variety of different themes and colors at Dollar Tree for $1.25 each.
  • Tea candles: A cheap and cheerful decoration ideal for anyone’s stocking. Target has 12-packs of scented tea candles for $4.
  • Air fresheners: A seasonal option from Febreze is “Pumpkin Patch,” which comes in at $3.24 at Walmart.

Electronics Accessories

Pocket Tools

Final Thoughts

You don’t have to spend a fortune to have a full and meaningful stocking. Quality presents for your friends and loved ones can come in under $5 — so you don’t have to overspend your holiday budget.

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Prices are accurate as of Nov. 28, 2022, and subject to change.

  • What is the most common stocking stuffer?

  • Stocking stuffers can vary by region and household. Classic gifts used to include things such as oranges, walnuts or candy, but now, you will find toys or functional items, such as batteries, to be more common.

  • How much should a stocking stuffer cost?

  • There is no hard and fast rule as to how much you should spend on stocking stuffers. It’s more important to get something in your budget that the recipient will enjoy than to spend a lot of money. Many wonderful gifts are cheap and cheerful, so it is easy to set and stick to a budget.

  • Stocking stuffers can vary by region and household. Classic gifts used to include things such as oranges, walnuts or candy, but now, you will find toys or functional items, such as batteries, to be more common.

  • There is no hard and fast rule as to how much you should spend on stocking stuffers. It’s more important to get something in your budget that the recipient will enjoy than to spend a lot of money. Many wonderful gifts are cheap and cheerful, so it is easy to set and stick to a budget.