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40 Unique Holiday Gifts Everyone Will Be Talking About This Year

Quirky gift ideas they’ll never see coming.

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unique christmas gifts

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Just like that, it’s the holiday season. This year, surprise everyone on your list with something completely unexpected—the kind of gift that makes them gasp as they unwrap it. Unique gifts shouldn't be merely silly or funny (although they can be); they should be practical and feel meaningful. Imagine a gift your recipient would never think to ask for, but can’t wait to use.

Our top picks:

Shoppers will find thoughtful picks for him (even if he's impossible to shop for), like a film camera that he’ll break out on special occasions, a funny bottle opener that’ll bring him back to childhood, and an eye massager he can reach for after long days. As for one-of-a-kind gift ideas for her, there’s a propagation station that doubles as stained glass for her home, playing cards with watercolor paintings of her favorite city, or a custom portrait of her pet in a vintage gold frame. As for teens, there’s the latest plush collectible with a ugly-cute look, and a travel jewelry case shaped like a sardine tin.

Sardines are randomly trending right now, and now she can store her favorite jewelry into a faux sardine tin. It’s ideal for travel—she can wrap her delicate chains around the fish spine and poke her earrings through the holes.

Move over Labubus, Fugglers are the hottest plush collectible this year. With human-like teeth and random eyes, they’re meant to be so ugly that they’re kind of cute. With this set, they’ll get three 5" Fugglers with a key ring, so they can hang them from a bag or purse.

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Everyone’s talking about analog hobbies—A.K.A. anything that doesn’t require a screen. This beginner-friendly paint by number kit features a black cat reading a newspaper on the toilet. When they’re finished, it’ll be hilarious hung in the bathroom.

Attention LEGO lovers, this seller will turn you (and your bestie, partner, or pet) into a mini figure. Choose from hundreds of faces, hairstyles, outfits, and accessories. You can order up to 10 figures at once, in case you want to build the whole family.

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Small but mighty, this machine can toast bread, cook thinly sliced bacon, and fry an egg all at once. “The griddle's nonstick properties exceeded our expectations as fried eggs were released smoothly," said Eva Bleyer, Kitchen Appliances Lab Reviews Analyst at the GH Institute.

Nostalgia is trending, and this army man will take him right back to childhood. Now, he can open his beers with military-style precision.

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The next time they serve seafood or iced tea, they’ll be eager to show off this adorable kitchen gadget. Simply insert a lemon or lime wedge and squeeze.

No matter their next adventure—hiking, kayaking, or off-roading— this lockable dry box will keep their essentials safe. It’ll even float if dropped in water.

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With this reusable film camera, they can capture everyday moments in vintage filters. It’s popular among pros, but it’s easy enough for beginners—just point and shoot.

LEGO lovers can arrange and stack pieces as they sip their morning brew or afternoon tea, and they can build a brand-new design every day. Just note the mug can’t go in the microwave or dishwasher.

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Everyone loves a good back massage, but did you know eyes can hold tension too? This product claims to relieve puffiness, dry eyes, and dark circles with its two compression modes. It's also heated for ultimate relaxation.

This handmade candle looks like a bowl of Lucky Charms cereal. There’s a three-wick soy candle that looks like milk, plus wax cereal and marshmallow pieces to add on top, plus a real spoon to sell the authenticity.

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Vintage is trending, and while this wood speaker looks straight out of the ’70s, it actually plays music via Bluetooth. It also connects to FM and AM radio stations.

For a gift that's as dino-mite as they are, give them this color-changing light that can transform into four dinosaur designs: T-Rex, Triceratops, Velociraptor, and Pterosaur. It's 3-D, which means it also doubles as a small (but mighty) desk buddy.

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It’s vintage-style home decor, a suncatcher and plant propagation station in one. They can drop a cutting of their favorite houseplant into the water-filled tube and wait for it to grow roots—it’s honestly easy, trust me.

Encourage them to relive their childhood with this grown-up version of a popular gadget. Compile photos of their favorite memories and create their very own reel by using the reel redemption code.

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Give their pet a permanent place in their home, whether displayed on a mantel, bookshelf, or entryway table. All you have to do is upload a photo of their cat or dog, then choose the frame size and background color.

Made to look like an ancient greek statue, this ceramic candle is the perfect gift for collectors. Plus, the wood wick creates a calming crackling sound as it burns.

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For frequent travelers, these colorful luggage tags are the accessory they didn’t know they needed. You’ll get two, each resembling a vintage stamp.

This gift may seem silly, but it was a hit among our kid testers. “She loves it and said it was the best toy ever!” said one parent of a 10-year-old. The set comes with five plush pickles, each with a different emojilike expression.

Headshot of Alyssa Gautieri
Alyssa Gautieri
Senior Gifts Editor

Alyssa Gautieri (she/her) leads Good Housekeeping’s gift guide strategy. She writes and edits commerce content, where she analyzes lifestyle trends, shopping data, and works closely with the Good Housekeeping Institute to recommend top-tested products. Previously, she was the associate lifestyle editor for GH and wrote for publications including ELLE Decor, BobVila.com, and Unique Homes Magazine. When she’s not tracking down buzzy products, you can find her walking her dog, Skye, around Jersey City.

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