​

Christmas Gift Guide: 36 Gifts Under $25 for Teens, College Students (2026)

We are a reader-supported site and receive compensation from purchases made through these links. See more about our Privacy and Affiliate policies here.

Finding a great gift at a great price point makes us very happy! (Credit: Harrington)

Looking for inspiration for less expensive gifts for your family and friends? Take a look at our Christmas Gift Guide, filled with wonderful presents under $25 that would also be perfect for birthday or Secret Santa gifting.

Christmas gift guide for teens and young adults

1. Body Restore Shower Steamers (6 pack) (Amazon)

Six botanical shower steamers with popular scents – lavender, jasmine, chamomile, bergamot spring, citrus grove and eucalyptus mint – come in a giftable tube. They include essential oils that release a soft aroma in the shower creating a home spa experience.

2. MUID Lying Flat Emotional Support Duck Light (Amazon)

This irresistible duck is both a nightlight – with 3 settings – and a phone stand.

3. Twinings Tea 24 Day Advent Calendar – 48 Pack (Amazon)

If you want to suprise someone early in the holiday season, consider one of an Advent Calendar. This one is perfect for a tea-lover.

4. Chapstick Cozy Countdown 12 Day Advent Calendar (Amazon)

Another popular, practical and well-priced Advent calendar is the 12-Day Chapstick Advent calendar.

5. LEGO Botanicals Mini Orchid Amazon)

it makes us so happy to see how our older kids still love LEGOS. There are so many sets to choose from and this mini Orchid caught our eye.

6. BAGSMART Toiletries Bag for Men (Amazon)

Toiletries bags can make a great gift as old ones get icky over time. This one has been very popular with the Grown and Flown community. The dual zipper construction makes organizing and accessing individual products a breeze. Available in two sizes.

7. The Defining Decade: Why Your 20s Matter and How to Make the Most of Them NOW Revised Edition 2021 (Amazon)

Defining Decade

Meg Jay, PhD, author of this New York Times bestselling book, is a developmental clinical psychologist who specializes in twentysomethings. Her TED talk, “Why 30 Is Not the New 20,” is among the most watched of all time. Dr. Jay is on faculty at University of Virginia and maintains a private practice in Charlottesville. This book has been a very popular book for Grown and Flown parents to give to their emerging adults.

8. How to Start: Discovering Your Life’s Work 2026 (Amazon)

Pulitzer-Prize winning New York Times journalist, Jodi Kantor, has advice for teens and young adults can think about their academic and career goals in a confusing economy. INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER | NATIONAL INDIE BESTSELLER

9. WHATAFIT Resistance Band Set (Amazon)

Here is a great, well-priced fitness idea: these compact resistance bands are a way anyone can work out, even in a small dorm room or apartment. Perfect for anyone who travels.

10. Apollo Tool Kit (Amazon)

dorm essentials

A basic tool kit is a useful part of dorm life, and later, when your teens move into an apartment, they’ll be happy to have one. This one has 39 pieces which come in a durable box storage case. This would be a good gift for a college-bound teen.

 11. grace & stella Under Eye Masks (24 pairs) (Amazon)

 The holidays are a lively period with parties, late nights, and early mornings with work and/or school obligations. These are a very popular Grown and Flown gift.

12. Crest 3D Whitestrips Starter Kit (Amazon)

Crest 3D Whitestrips are a very popular personal care item and this starter kit includes 10 treatments, each with 1 Upper/1Lower, which could be a good way for your teen or young adult to try them out.

13. OCOOPA Rechargeable Hand Warmers (Amazon)

If your family lives in a cold climate, and/or your teen goes to school where a walk across campus is brutal, these rechargeable hand warmers would be a great gift. They are the #1 bestseller in camping hand warmers on Amazon.

14. iBayam Journal Pens (Pack of 36) (Amazon)

Pens for journaling

If your teen likes journaling or color-coding notes and assignments, this best-selling pen set would be a nice gift, especially with new journals.

15. Rugged & Dapper Lip Balm – 4 pack (Amazon)

rugged and dapper

This men’s lip balm provides lasting hydration, with ingredients like beeswax, jojoba oil, and invigorating eucalyptus.

16. Ninja Wallet Multi-Tool (Amazon)

This credit-card-sized tool has 6 Hex wrenches, a can opener, fruit peeler, bottle opener, ruler (standard & metric), letter opener, box opener, phone stand, eyeglasses, Phillips, and Flathead screwdriver. Genius!

17. Laneige Lip Balm (Amazon)

Laneige has a range of products for lips including a fantastic lip balm. I recently bought the Berry one and love it but there are nine others to choose from.

 18. Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask (Amazon)

Another popular Laneige product is their lip mask. This limited-edition flavor is gingerbread, which is perfect for the holiday season. This best-selling lip treatment would be a nice gift for anyone who loves health and beauty products.

19. Qyalie Gold Bubble Letter Necklace (Amazon)

Bubble necklaces are popular with teen girls. This one has a 17″ adjustable chain and is made from copper, plated with 14k gold.

20. Apple AirTag 2nd Generation (Amazon)

Gifts for 18 year olds: Air Tag

Do you have a family member who routinely forgets where their gym bag or backpack is? THIS is the gift for them.

21. BAGSMART Toiletries Hanging Bag for Women (Amazon)

A hanging toiletries bag would also make a great gift for any young woman who shares a dorm bathroom and/or who travels and needs a way to keep their must-have products in a convenient place. Available in two sizes and several pretty colors. This is the #1 bestseller in toiletries bags on Amazon.

22. Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza (Amazon)

taco cat goat cheese pizza

With a name like “Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza,” we were instantly intrigued and had to buy this fun and fast-to-learn card game for our families.

23. Clinique Almost Lipstick Tinted Lip Balm (Amazon)

Choose from among three shades of this super-popular tinted lip balm by Clinique.

24. Hanes EcoSmart Fleece Zip-Up Hoodie Sweatshirt (Amazon)

This hoodie zip-up sweatshirt will keep your son warm and cozy during the cold winter months. It’s machine washable and available in loads of colors. This is the #1 bestseller in men’s athletic sweatshirts on Amazon.

25. IRIS WOOZOO Desk Fan (Amazon)

This compact size or the very popular WOOZOO brand is perfect for a dorm or office. Quiet and portable, it can circulate hot or cool air around the room to help keep the temperature uniform. This can be a good gift to give a teen who will be in college next fall.

26. e.l.f 5-Piece Eye Makeup Brush Set (Amazon)

e.l.f. is a very popular brand with a commitment to cruelty-free makeup and beauty tools. This well-priced 5-piece set includes eye makeup brushes.

27. Lamicall Bike Phone Holder (Amazon)

This is an easy-to-install phone mount for bikes, scooters, or motorcycles. Kit includes silicone pads that keeps phones from scratches and vibration. This universal bike accessories cell phone holder works for phones 4.7 to 6.8 inches with thickness up to 0.59“ (15mm, including phone case), including iPhone 18 Pro Max, iPhone 17, iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 15 Plus / Pro /Pro Max, iPhone 14 13 Pro Max, 12 Mini, Xs XR X 8 Plus 7 6s 6, Galaxy S24 23 22, Note 9, LG and other cell phones. Available in five colors. This is the #1 bestseller in Cell Phone Handlebar Mounts on Amazon.

28. Carhartt Mens’ Knit Cuff Beanie (Amazon)

This classic shaped beanie from popular brand Carhartt is durable and well-priced. Available in lots of colors, it is the #1 bestselling brand in the Men’s Skullies and Beanies category on Amazon.

29. 50 States, 5000 Ideas: Where to Go, When to Go, What to See, What to Do 2017 (Amazon)

Here is a guide by National Geographic for your teen or young adult suggesting travel destinations in each state. Included are national parks, Civil War battlefields, dude ranches, beaches, hotels, out-of-the-way museums, and more. This is the #1 bestseller in Family Travel Guides on Amazon.

30. Femuar Car Trunk Organizer – Large (Amazon)

Help your teen stay organized with this trunk organizer: they can keep an emergency kit such as first aid items, snacks, and water. Or, it can be used for sports equipment, school supplies, groceries, and more. It’s a handy solution for keeping a car clutter free. Available in standard, large and extra large.

31. Dr. Squatch Natural Bar Soap -3 Pack (Amazon)

The packaging alone should be a crowd-pleaser with your son. Choose from seven different collections of scents.

32. Brouk & Co. Travel Jewelry Case (Amazon)

For anyone teen or young woman who needs a compact jewelry case in a bedroom, a dorm room, and/or while traveling, this is a great option. With sections for necklaces, rings and earrings, it has a zipper to keep pieces secure. The material is patent leather and it is available in several pretty colors.

33. AUTOMET Women’s Oversized Fleece Hoodie (Amazon)

When she is looking for a comfy sweatshirt, this one may become her very favorite. Available in nine colors and four sizes.

34. Squeeze Please Scented Marshmallow Squishy Toy – PlayMonster Store (Amazon)

This marshmallow squishy is a fun stress reliever for teens and college students. It’s scented to smell like sweet cotton candy and is great for stressful study sessions or whenever they need a little break.

35. Squishmallows Original Micromallows Plush 5-Pack (Amazon)

These mini Squishmallows are only 2.5 inches tall and come in a set of five adorable characters. They’re great for teens and college students who love collecting plushies or decorating their desks and shelves.

36. Emotional Support Pals Cheez-It Relatable Store (Amazon)

This set comes with a basket and five little Cheez-It plushies, each with its own cute face. They’re soft, silly, and perfect for anyone who loves the iconic snack.

Why should you trust us?

We are three moms who have raised 8 young adults and have been working on products lists for over 14 years now, making us experts. When selecting products we survey the Grown and Flown Parents Facebook group of over 300,000 parents of teens, tweens and young adults. We do opinion polls, surveys and ask open ended questions. We search for products that combine reasonable price with high quality and are recommended by our large following.

Prices accurate as of date of publication.

More Great Gift Ideas

Advent Calendars for Teens and College Students

100 Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Teens and College Students

About Mary Dell Harrington

Mary Dell is the co-founder of Grown and Flown, the #1 site for parents of teens, college students and young adults, reaching millions of parents every month. She started the Grown and Flown Parents Facebook Group and is co-author of Grown and Flown: How to Support Your Teen, Stay Close as a Family, and Raise Independent Adults (Flatiron Books) now in paperback.

Read more posts by Mary Dell

Don't miss out!
Want more like this? Get updates about parenting teens and young adults straight to your inbox.