Journal · 5 min read
Stocking Stuffers for Grandparents: 18 Small Things That Get Used
What do you put in a grandparent's stocking?
Small things that get used up or used every day: unscented hand cream, a large-print puzzle book, grip socks, a book of stamps, a deck of big-number cards, the candy they already buy. Add one thing that carries the family, like a few photos with names written on the back. Skip scented bath sets and fancy food they'll save for company.
Why small works for grandparents
A stocking is the one part of Christmas that's allowed to be small. For grandparents who say they need nothing, that's the opening.
Most of them have stopped collecting things. What still gets a welcome is what gets used up, used daily, or fits in a drawer. So that's the whole list.
Prices below were checked on 9 October 2026 at the store named. Ideas without a price are ones we couldn't verify, so we didn't guess.
Stocking stuffers for Grandma
1. Unscented hand cream
Winter hands, every day. Unscented on purpose, because scented sets are the toiletry most often passed on. O'Keeffe's Working Hands, 3 oz, is $7.29 at Target.
2. A lip balm she doesn't have to think about
One for her coat pocket, one for her bag. Burt's Bees is $3.79 at Target.
3. A large-print crossword book
Puzzles she can do without hunting for her glasses. About $9 to $15 at Target, depending on the series.
4. Grip socks
Soft socks with grippy soles for hard floors. Gripjoy sells a pair for $14.49. Skip cashmere unless she enjoys hand-washing.
5. A lighted pocket magnifier
For restaurant menus and pill bottles. The Carson MiniBrite slides open with an LED and runs about $10 to $15.
6. An amaryllis bulb kit
It flowers in January, when nothing else does, and then it's done. Boxed kits with a pot ran $19 to $33 when we checked.
Shopping for her main present too? The Christmas gifts for Grandma guide is sorted by age.
Stocking stuffers for Grandpa
7. A book of Forever stamps
Plenty of grandfathers still mail things, and a book of stamps saves him the trip. A book of 20 is $16.40 at the USPS store, including a Christmas cookie design.
8. A small pocket knife
The Victorinox Classic SD has a blade, scissors and a nail file in two inches. $24 from Victorinox.
9. A good flashlight
Grandpas like flashlights, and they show them off. A plug-in one that doubles as a night light earns its keep the first time the power goes out.
10. Cotton handkerchiefs
If he carries one, he'll use a new stack. If he doesn't, skip it.
11. Big-number playing cards
Bicycle Jumbo Index decks are easier to read across a table, and cards bring company. $4 to $6 a deck.
12. The candy he already buys
Not the fancy box. The bag he buys himself, or the brand he grew up on. Werther's Original sugar-free is $7.39 at Target.
13. A spare pair of reading glasses
One for the car, the kitchen or the bedside. Peepers readers run $25 to $38. Check his strength first.
If he insists he wants nothing at all, there's a whole guide to gifts for Grandpa built around that.
Stocking stuffers for both grandparents
14. Their everyday tea or coffee
The kind they drink, in a generous amount. Premium tins get saved for company. Harney & Sons tins of 20 sachets are $12.50.
15. An IOU with a date on it
Gutters cleared, a lunch out, a Saturday visit. Write the date on the slip so it actually happens. It costs nothing to fit in a stocking.
16. An audiobook credit
Good for long drives and bad eyes. Pick one book you know they'd like rather than an open-ended membership.
17. A few printed photos, with names on the back
A handful of this year's photos, printed small. Write who's in each one and the year. Unlabeled photos are the ones that get thrown out later.
If the grandkids want to make something instead, here's what a child can make that survives the post.
18. Photo postcards from the grandkids (ours)
This one's ours, so weigh it against the other seventeen. You build a Christmas photo postcard from your own photos and see the finished card before you pay; we print and mail it. Four cards are $29.99 with free shipping, enough to tuck one in the stocking and send the rest through winter.
If the family will keep sending, a Postcard Club year is $48.00 and every card is then $1.49, postage included. It renews each year until you cancel.
Sending for a birthday or a holiday? Please allow up to 15 days. USPS can run a little slow, especially in December.
Skip it if you need the gift in the stocking on the 25th and it's already mid-December. Print a photo instead.
Stocking stuffers for grandparents by price
| Budget | Ideas |
|---|---|
| Free | An IOU with a date on it |
| Under $8 | Lip balm, big-number playing cards, unscented hand cream, the candy he already buys |
| $9 to $17 | Large-print crossword book, lighted magnifier, everyday tea, grip socks, a book of stamps |
| $19 and up | Amaryllis bulb kit, pocket knife, spare reading glasses |
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What to leave out
- Scented bath and lotion sets. Fragrance allergies are common, and these get passed on.
- The fancy edible. It goes in the cupboard for company and is still there at Easter.
- Another “#1 Grandpa” mug. Most grandparents already own the set.
- Hats and scarves in a color you picked. People like to choose their own.
Buying the main present for both of them? The Christmas gifts for grandparents guide sorts by whose it is.
If a grandparent lives in a care home, space and rules change the list. Here are gifts for nursing home residents that fit both.
Frequently asked questions
- What do you put in a grandparent's stocking?
- Small things that get used up or used daily: unscented hand cream, a large-print puzzle book, grip socks, stamps, big-number playing cards, the candy or tea they already buy, and a few labeled family photos.
- What are good stocking stuffers for Grandma?
- Unscented hand cream, lip balm, a large-print crossword book, grip socks, a lighted pocket magnifier or an amaryllis bulb kit. Most cost $4 to $15.
- What are good stocking stuffers for Grandpa?
- A book of Forever stamps, a small pocket knife, a flashlight, big-number playing cards, the candy he already buys or a spare pair of reading glasses.
- What is the 5 gift rule, and the 7 gift rule?
- The 5 gift rule caps Christmas at five presents: something they want, something they need, something to wear, something to read and something to do. The 7 gift rule adds two more, which vary by family (often something to share and a small treat), and both were made for children but work for any adult who wants fewer, better things.
