The Best Thoughtful Christmas Gifts for Your Best Friend

Our favorite gifts from Artifact Uprising, Uncommon Goods, and more

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The Best Thoughtful Christmas Gifts for Your Best Friend

The Spruce / Michela Buttignol

There’s a reason your best friend has earned a permanent spot in your life and they absolutely deserve a Christmas gift that's just as special as they are.

We researched tons of brands that offer gifts that are wallet-friendly, but also practical and sure to get tons of use. Our list includes a custom photo book from Artifact Uprising, a sentimental book from Amazon, and so much more.

Here are the best Christmas gifts for your best friend.

Our Top Picks

Softcover Photo Book

Softcover-photo-book

Artifactuprising

If you and your best friend have tons of photos floating around from the many trips and adventures you've shared, why not turn those flicks into a gorgeous book that can be displayed? Artifact Uprising's Softcover Photo Books are completely customizable, so you can select the book size (there are seven options to choose from) and the number of photos to include. With more than six different layouts for each page, the options are endless!

Price at time of publish: $17

Gift Box Love Co. Life Would Succ Without You Gift Box

Life Would Succ Without You Gift Box

Courtesy of Etsy

Who doesn’t love a good pun—especially when it’s one as sweet as this. Send your most loyal friend this cleverly assembled care package. Each box comes complete with the ultimate recipe for a night of relaxation: a live potted succulent, four ounce vanilla scented candle, a box of themed matches, delicious sea salt caramels, and a personal greeting card filled in with your very own message. 

Price at time of publish: $39 for no add on

Uncommon Goods Neighborwoods Map Coasters

Neighborwood Coasters

Courtesy of Uncommon Goods

Did you and your best friend meet when you attended college together in the Windy City? Or maybe you hit it off at a parenting class in Brooklyn? Wherever your friendship first started, consider celebrating with this personalized gift. Each etched cedar coaster in the set of four features an important snippet of that special urban grid of your choosing.

Why You're My Bestie: Fill in the Love Book Gift Journal

Knock Knock Why You're My Bestie Fill in the Love Journal

Amazon

Of course, you could always go the sentimental route—this is your best friend we’re talking about. This fill-in-the-blank style book has 112 pages with just as many prompts for you to describe why this person you’ve picked to be your number one totally rocks. 

Price at time of publish: $12

If you can’t take your bestie out to a wine bar for the holidays this year, why not treat them to a drink anyway? Winc, a popular wine subscription service, allows you to gift anyone their very own subscription—on your terms. Based on your budget, choose a one, two, or three month subscription, and the company will do the rest, mailing some delicious wine for your friend to try out.

Price at time of publish: $100 for two months

YnM Weighted Blanket

4.2
YnM Weighted Blanket (15 lbs, 60''x80'', Queen Size)

Amazon

For the person who always comforts you when you need a shoulder to cry on, here's a gift that’ll help you return the favor. This super cozy accessory has seven layers and is weighted to help promote relaxation, but is designed with temperature control in mind. That means it's easy to stay cool and comfortable. 

Price at time of publish: $70

Uncommon Goods Long Distance Friendship Lamp

Uncommon Goods Long Distance Friendship Lamp

Uncommon Goods

Even if you're thousands of miles away, this lamp is a sweet way to show each other you care. Simply touch your lamp and the other person's lamp glows (from 30 minutes to 24 hours), as a way to say you're thinking about them. The 5.5 x 5 x 5.25 inches lamp is sold solo or in pairs and if several of your friends have the lamp, everyone can essentially be assigned a different color.

M&G Signature Gold Disc Silk Bracelet

M&G Gold Disc Bracelet

Courtesy of Mark & Graham

Who doesn’t love getting a pretty piece of jewelry for a special occasion? Mark this holiday with a personalized bracelet your best friend is sure to adore. The simple, yet sophisticated piece features a single gold medallion that’s hand-knotted onto an adjustable silk cord. But the most special part? The disc engraved with an initial to add a personal touch that lets her know how special she is to you.

All-Clad Sous Vide Professional Circulator

4.2
All-Clad Sous Vide

Amazon

If your friend loves to experiment in the kitchen, they'll be excited to try out this fun gadget. It's designed to cook restaurant-quality food by slowly cooking vacuum-sealed food in a water bath, bringing it to temperature gently. This process helps prevent overcooking, plus preserves the tender textures of meat, vegetables, and grains. 

Price at time of publish: $210

Jeremy Exley Yard Dice

Yard Dice

Courtesy of Uncommon Goods

While this is definitely a gift for your friend, it’s one you can enjoy, too—you know, since you spend so much time together. The jumbo set of handmade solid pine dice comes with rules for four fun games, all of which are perfect for backyard get-togethers, picnics, beach excursions, and more. 

Uncommon Goods Skin Renewing Masks

Skin Renewing Masks

Courtesy of Uncommon Goods

Someone who works as hard as your BFF deserves a little pampering. You don’t have to splurge on a spa gift card (though how nice would that be?!)—there are plenty of great at-home options, too. Take this set, for example. Each kit comes with enough ingredients to make 15 nourishing face masks. All of the ingredients are organic and each of the five types of masks targets a different skincare need. 

Bokksu Make Your Own Tofu Kit

Bokksu Make Your Own Tofu Kit

Bokksu

Here's a truly unique gift for the foodie in your life or the friend who just appreciates a fun present. Bokksu's tofu kit lets recipients, you guessed it, make their own tofu. The kit comes with everything they'll need to make two blocks of tofu. They'll just have to add soybeans. Your friend will love this gift and it can even be a part of a night in for Netflix and chill or an activity in between playing board games.

Vahdam Weekend in Singapore - 8 Tin Caddy Set

Vahdam-weekend-in-singapore---8-tin-caddy-set

Vahdam

Have a friend who appreciates a good cup of tea and/or loves to travel? Vahdam's Weekend in Singapore tea set is a great pick. The beautifully packaged box includes eight tins of chai, herbal, and green teas. The fun variety of the loose leaf teas will make them feel like they've been transported to a far off location, even if they're just at home. Other tea sets are inspired by cities like Paris, New York, or London.

Price at time of publish: $40

Idle The Short Robe

Idle The Short Robe

Idle

There's a chance your friend already has a robe, but maybe it needs to be replaced or you want to gift them a bit of luxury. Idle's silky soft robe is made with plant-based materials and comes in almost a dozen colors. The sizes range from XS to 3X and each robe even includes a matching scrunchie. Anyone will love the luxe feel of this robe after getting out of the tub or shower.

Price at time of publish: $142

Craft A Brew Homemade Hard Seltzer Kit

Craft A Brew Homemade Hard Seltzer Kit

Courtesy of Amazon

If your pal is more of a DIYer, let them try their hand at brewing one of the trendiest beverages around—hard seltzer. The all-in-one fermentation kit comes with everything you need to make your own at home. The best part? It only takes four simple steps and four weeks of patience to reach the finish line. 

Price at time of publish: $40

What to Look for in a Gift for Your Best Friend

Trends

While trends do come and go, they can also make for a really great gift. If you've seen a cool gadget on TikTok or Instagram that you think your friend will enjoy, go for it! Or, if your best friend is always on top of the latest and greatest trends, get them that thing they've been eyeing.

Cost

No one wants to break the bank for any gift, but if you and your friend are exchanging gifts, it can be important to talk about just how much you want to spend on each other. Spend too much and they may feel bad, get them a dinky gift and they may have gotten you something more expensive. In the end, it shouldn't really matter how much you spend, but how much thought you put into the gift — but it's better to avoid an awkward situation if you can.

Use

Gag gifts are worth a good laugh, but will your friend ever use that thing you got them? Sometimes it's better to get your friend something useful that solves a common issue for them (like overcooking food) rather than a cheap toy. Plus, if their gift is useful, chances are they will like it more! It's always nice to open up a gift from a friend that is something you both wanted and needed.

FAQ
  • How do I know what my best friend wants for Christmas?

    One way to know what to buy your best friend for Christmas is to simply ask. This way you don't have to second guess your gift selection and they'll get exactly what they want. However, if you want the gift to be more of a surprise, take into account what your friend might need (easy meal delivery, home decor, etc.) or want (a new plant, cozy robe, etc.).

  • How much should I spend on a Christmas gift?

    The amount you choose to spend on a Christmas present should be dictated by your budget and desire. If your funds allow, you can easily spend a bit more money to purchase a gift you know your friend will love. But it's also possible to buy a present that costs less than $50 and still wow the recipient.

  • When should I start shopping for a Christmas gift?

    The earlier the better tends to be the rule when buying a gift. This ensures the present has time to arrive. Also, if the gift has personalized or custom elements, you should certainly order at least six weeks before Christmas.

Why Trust The Spruce?

This roundup was updated by Patrice J. Williams who writes gift guides for The Spruce. She researched notable brands and top-rated products that accommodate all budgets and are sure to impress any friend on your holiday shopping list. Additional reporting was done by Katie Pittman, who has more than five years of experience in lifestyle and digital media and is an expert writer for MyDomaine.

Updated by
Katherine Pittman
Katherine Pittman, writer and editor
Katherine Pittman is a lifestyle writer and editor and home expert at The Spruce. She has worked in the lifestyle, fashion, and beauty space for over five years.
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