Buying guide
What does £20 buy well?
Something useful from a brand people recognise. At this budget the best picks across our gift lists are small upgrades to daily routines: a travel mug, slippers, a pocket speaker, a rechargeable torch. Novelty items look fun in the basket and end up in a drawer.
Every product on this page was £20 or less when we last checked. Prices move daily, and anything listed near £20 can tip either side, so check the card before you order.
What can I get him for under £20?
Kit for the jobs he already does. The TempPro TP03H meat thermometer tops gifts for dad for under £10, and the RockDove memory foam slippers appear across our lists for men for under £20.
In gifts for men, the Contigo Byron travel mug and the Hoobest slim RFID wallet both come in under £15. The INIU 10,000mAh power bank, in gifts for your brother and gifts for your boyfriend, sits just under £20. For the man who has everything, the Gerber Dime keyring tool fits, in gifts for the man who has everything.
Small extras sit in stocking fillers for men and tech gifts for men. For a milestone, the keepsake cards in 60th birthday gifts for him cost a few pounds and go well with a pair of slippers.
What can I get her for under £20?
Comfort and small luxuries. The Neal’s Yard Remedies Soothing Aromatic gift set, in gifts for women and gifts for mum, is a proper brand at under £20.
Cheaper still, a two-pack of satin pillowcases and a four-pack of soy candles both turn up in gifts for your girlfriend and gifts for your sister. The KATE MORGAN fleece dressing gown, in gifts for your wife, sits right at the top of the budget.
For a milestone birthday, the Joma Jewellery A Little bracelet appears in 40th birthday gifts for her and fits just under £20. For a new baby, gifts for a new mum leads with the Super Sparrow one-litre insulated bottle, because night feeds are thirsty work.
What can I get a child or teenager for under £20?
A small LEGO set, a craft kit or something for their bedroom. The LEGO City Blue Monster Truck leads gifts for 5 year old boys at under £15.
For toddlers, Fisher-Price Baby’s First Blocks in toys for 1 year olds and the LEGO DUPLO box in toys for 3 year olds are both under £20. At eight, the Galt Horrible Science kit and the Nerf Elite 2.0 Commander, in gifts for 8 year old boys, fit the budget. The iClever kids’ headphones in gifts for 10 year old boys cap the volume to protect young ears.
Teenagers mostly want room lighting. LED strips lead stocking fillers for teenagers, and the Cuiwos sunset lamp sits in gifts for teenage girls.
Who suits what at this budget?
| Who it suits | Pick | List | Budget band |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dad | TempPro TP03H thermometer | gifts for dad | under £10 |
| Mum | Neal’s Yard bath set | gifts for mum | £15 to £20 |
| Secret Santa | Anker Soundcore Select 4 Go | Secret Santa under £20 | just under £20 |
| Five-year-old | LEGO City Monster Truck | gifts for 5 year old boys | under £15 |
| Runner | Blukar head torch two-pack | gifts for runners | under £15 |
| Cyclist | Glangeh bike lights set | gifts for cyclists | under £15 |
| Gardener | VOTREK bypass secateurs | gardening gifts | around £10 |
| New home | TTRWIN soy candle set | housewarming gifts | under £10 |
What about hobby gifts under £20?
Buy the things that wear out or get lost. Cyclists lose lights, runners need to be seen in the dark, golfers run out of tees and gloves.
All seven picks in gifts for cyclists fit under £20, from the Topeak saddle bag to a mini pump. Gifts for golfers has an Under Armour glove and a chipping net; check his glove hand and size first. Coffee gifts has a manual burr grinder and a milk frother, and gym gifts has resistance bands and a foam roller. For a football fan, the Amazing Tour rebounder leads football gifts just under £20.
For anyone with a garden, the Crystals kneeler seat in gardening gifts saves knees. For the reader in bed, gifts for book lovers starts with a rechargeable book light at under £10.
What if the Secret Santa limit is lower?
Use the list for your exact limit. Secret Santa gifts under £5 leads with HotHands hand warmers. Under £10 starts with touchscreen gloves, and under £15 with the Contigo Byron mug. For more festive planning, see our Christmas gift guide.
How we pick
We rank from retailer listings, specs and published review research rather than hands-on testing, and we say when a brand is little-known. The full process is on our methodology page. For bigger budgets, browse all gift ideas.