Christmas List Ideas: What to Ask For This Year

A heated mug that holds coffee at the temperature you pick (120–145°F) for up to 90 minutes, or all day on its charging coaster. The classic thing you'd never buy yourself but use every single morning once you have it.

A 7-inch glare-free screen, weeks of battery and no apps or notifications to pull you away. Worth asking for if you read on your phone and keep meaning to stop.

Over-ear noise-cancelling headphones with plush cushions, for commutes, flights and open-plan offices. A good one to ask for because most people put off buying decent headphones for years.

A slim magnetic battery that snaps onto the back of an iPhone and charges it wirelessly, with a USB-C port for everything else. The thing you'll wish you had every time your phone hits 10% at 4pm.

A 54-by-72-inch throw in a famously soft knit. Pricey for a blanket, which is exactly why it belongs on a wish list rather than in your own cart.

A 14.5 oz three-wick candle in Yankee's classic pine-and-cedarwood scent, with up to 40 hours of burn time. The easiest way to make a living room smell like December.

Sheepskin-lined slip-on slippers. Add your size and color to the list — slippers are the gift people most often get wrong by guessing.

A bedside sound machine and sunrise alarm that wakes you with gradual light instead of a buzzer, plus wind-down sounds at night. A dark-winter-morning upgrade you'd rarely buy for yourself.

A 19-momme mulberry silk pillowcase, silk on both sides. A small luxury that's easy for an aunt or coworker to pick off your list.

A pocket-sized massage gun, under 6 inches long, that runs quietly. Good for sore shoulders after a desk day, and small enough to throw in a gym bag.

Plays on the TV, on a tabletop or handheld, now with a 7.9-inch screen. The textbook group gift: one big thing several people can put money toward.

The standard iPad with the A16 chip and an 11-inch screen. Enough for streaming, reading, video calls and drawing apps; you don't need a Pro to do any of that.

An espresso machine with a built-in conical burr grinder and a steam wand for milk. If you spend $6 a day on lattes, this is the big ask that pays for itself.

The all-metal tilt-head mixer that handles cookie dough, bread and whipped cream. For the person who bakes every December and is still mixing by hand.

Turns a frozen pint base into ice cream, gelato, sorbet or a milkshake, including protein and dairy-free versions. A fun big gift for anyone who tracks what's in their dessert.

A hair dryer that twists into a multi-styler with curling, smoothing and volumizing attachments. The usual answer when someone wants an Airwrap but not the Airwrap price.

Apple's noise-cancelling earbuds, now in their third generation. If you're on an iPhone and your current earbuds are a few years old, this is the upgrade to ask for.

The dressed-up Quencher, sold on Stanley's own site: a snakeskin-textured finish, a purse-style handle and a removable gold charm. For the person who already has the regular one.

The small crossbody belt bag that holds a phone, keys and a card. One of the most-asked-for gifts under $50, and it comes in a long list of colors, so name yours.

The oversized Scuba half-zip, the hoodie a lot of teens and twenty-somethings have on their list. Add size and color; lululemon sizing runs differently from most brands.

The classic all-white leather sneaker. Nike's own page notes it fits large and suggests going half a size down, so put the exact size on your list.

The low-profile white-and-black Samba with a gum sole. Still one of the most-wanted sneakers of the season; list your size and the colorway.

A tiny bottle of very pigmented liquid blush; a single dot goes a long way. An easy under-$25 ask; write down the shade and whether you want dewy or matte.

The pistachio-and-salted-caramel body mist from the Bum Bum Cream family. $26 is the 90 ml size; the big 240 ml bottle is $39.

An adult LEGO set that builds into a red-and-amber bonsai for a desk or shelf. A calm evening project, and it stays out as decor afterwards.

An instant camera with automatic exposure and a selfie mirror. Add a pack of film to your list too — the camera alone isn't much fun on Christmas morning.

A mahogany concert ukulele with a tote bag, a quick-start booklet, a tuner app and online lessons. The ukulele is one of the friendliest instruments to pick up from zero.

A compact cutting machine for vinyl, iron-on, cardstock and stickers, with print-then-cut on most inkjet printers. For the crafter who keeps saying they'll make their own labels.

An electric outdoor oven that reaches 700°F and makes a 12-inch pizza in about 3 minutes, no turning needed. Another strong group-gift candidate.

50 watercolor pans, 8 brushes and a mixing palette in one kit. A low-stakes way to ask for a new hobby to try in the new year.

A waterproof clip-on Bluetooth speaker with up to 12 hours of play. Small enough for a backpack strap, loud enough for a room.

A small 4-liter fridge for skincare, drinks or snacks on a desk or nightstand; it also switches to warming. Comes in lots of colors and prints, so list the one you want.

A wired gaming mouse with 11 programmable buttons, a fast scroll wheel and adjustable weights. A well-reviewed upgrade for any teen who games on a PC or Mac.

App-controlled light strips that show several colors at once. The cheapest way to make a bedroom feel redone.

The ribbed cuffed beanie teens wear all winter. Cheap enough for a stocking, and it comes in dozens of colors.

The brutal UNO: Wild Draw 10, Skip Everyone and stacking penalties. A cheap ask that gets played the same afternoon.

An overnight lip mask with shea and murumuru butter. Comes in several flavors — list the one you like.

Cushioned ankle socks. Socks are a cliché gift because good ones are great; add your size so they fit.

A 4-inch nonstick waffle iron that heats fast and fits in a drawer. Easy win for a dorm, a small kitchen or weekend breakfasts.

A hardcover 5-by-8.25-inch ruled notebook. A good list filler for anyone starting a journal or planner in January.