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Best Gifts Under 20 Dollars: 36 Ideas to Inspire You

Best Gifts Under 20

Updated on: Aug 30, 2024

Are you searching for the best gift on a budget? Here are the best gifts under 20 dollars out there! With 45 ideas covering a range of categories, you’re sure to find something for yourself or another adult in this gift list.

Best Gifts Under 20 Dollars: Scents

1. Zodiac Candle

Who doesn’t like nice-smelling gifts? Especially when they have the personalized touch of being for your very own zodiac sign! These beautiful hand-poured candles contain several kinds of essential oils and different gems that go hand in hand with the personalized zodiac card.

2. Essential Oil Diffuser

Diffusers are an awesome gift to help with relaxation and aroma. You can use an array of essential oils that can have purposes other than just a pleasant smell. This cute diffuser has color-changing lights so you can fix the mood however you like!

3. Bath Soak

Bath soaks are great for your friends that love smelling nice and taking baths. Be sure to get a bath soak that has plenty of benefits like hydrating skin and relaxing effects. This is the perfect way to encourage self-care with your friends!

4. Aromatherapy Mist

Show your friends how much you know about them by getting them personalized aromatherapy mists! Just one quick consultation and you will have an individual, handmade aromatherapy mist. They are made with essential oils and crystal essence that do more than just smell nice.

Best Gifts Under 20 Dollars: Electronic Accessories

5. Phone Wallet Case with Card Holder

Phone cases with cardholders in them are a great invention for people who don’t like to carry many things around or are forgetful people. It’s harder to forget important cards, like driver's licenses and debit cards, when they’re connected to our phones. Get your friend this cute, practical gift that they will definitely appreciate!

6. Laptop Stickers

There are a million and one sticker packs on different online websites, but Amazon has a great variety to choose from, like this super cool neon pack! These neon waterproof stickers are a cool way to spice up your laptop or something else like your water bottle.

7. Projector Screen

This gift is a little more unique, which makes it all the more fun! If you are gifting a movie loving friend, this is a quality screen that can make their movie nights all the more special.

8. Phone Grip

Phone grips are a super handy accessory to add to your phone or phone case. They help you avoid pinky pain when holding your phone and even help you make your phone hands free. The style and appearance of phone grips can vary extensively, but these cute geode phone grips are sure to make a statement!

9. Cell Phone Camera Lens

This clip-on camera lens helps you turn your regular camera pics into professional ones. This is a fast and easy way to upgrade the quality of your pictures! If you’re looking for a gift for a photography-loving friend, look no further.

10. Wireless Charger

Wireless chargers are gaining a lot of popularity with the recent introduction of wireless charging on many new phones.

11. Earbud Case

Earbuds have changed a lot in the past few years. Bluetooth earbuds have exploded into the mainstream, but wired earbuds are not yet a thing of the past. Regardless of what kind of earbuds your friend or family has, this is a solid gift that will come in handy. No more tangled wires or lost earbuds when you have a cute earbud case to hold them!

Best Gifts Under 20 Dollars: Electronic Accessories Personal Gifts

12. What I Love About You Journal

This sweet gift is the perfect way to really let whoever you are gifting know how much you love them and what you love about them. This cute journal can also be a scrapbook! You get to choose how you show your appreciation.

13. Mini Photo Book

What’s better than a photo book? A tiny one! These cute little photo books are just like normal photo books, but in a cute, miniature form. Photo books are a great way to give a trip down memory lane and give your friend or family a way to stay connected to the past.

Best Gifts Under 20 Dollars: Games

14. New Phone, Who Dis

This fun game makes for a great gift, especially at a party! Created by the makers of ‘What do you meme?’, this card game is sure to cause many laughs and memories.

15. Drunk Stoned or Stupid Game

This is another great party game that will be a hit with any friend or family member that enjoys hosting or attending parties! Similar to the ‘Who’s Most Likely To...’ game, you can play with (and call out) your friends.

16. Exploding Kittens

Card games never go out of style. This is another great gift to give that will make the receiver the life of the party! Exploding Kittens is an extremely popular game right now, so help your friend stay current with this cool gift.

Best Gifts Under 20 Dollars: Unique Gifts

17. Chia Pet

Chia pets are a super unique gift that you can change up based on who will be receiving the gift! There are several different kinds of themed chia pets, so you can choose whatever you think is best. For example, are you getting a gift for your Marvel-loving friend? Gift them this Groot Chia Pet! The possibilities are endless!

18. Aztec Healing Clay

If your friend, family, etc is a fan of skincare, this is the perfect gift! This Aztech Healing Clay has rave reviews and is very popular these days. The clay is more than just for your face; you can also use it on your hair and body!

19. Passport Case

Passport cases are not something people usually think of when they consider buying gifts. However, this is a gift that will be very useful especially for any of your frequent-flyer buddies. Passport cases are a great way to have your important documentation in a safe spot!

20. Whiskey Stones

These chilling stones are great for chilling your drinks. Think of them as ice cubes that never melt. This is a great gift that your friends or family will actually use and enjoy!

21. Feather Pen

This is definitely a unique gift, but it may be just what you were looking for! If this is something your friend could enjoy, it is definitely worth purchasing. There is no better way to make boring activities fun than adding a little flair, and that’s exactly what this feather pen does!

Best Gifts Under $20:Accessories

22. Trendy Purse

Looking for a cute accessory that’s in your budget? This cute tote bag from Dreubea definitely fits the requirements. Whoever receives this trendy purse will appreciate the stylish gesture.

23. Personalized Leather Keychain

Keychains are a great gift as it is something people don’t usually think to buy for themselves. Add in a little personalization with the receivers name or initials, and you’ve got a killer gift!

24. Wristwatch

Wristwatches are another cool accessory that won’t disappoint. It’s a great way to show off how well you know your friend/family member's style. This gift is a classic, and you can still find a way to stay in budget like with this nice wristwatch!

Best Gifts Under 20 Dollars: Cooking

25. Mini Waffle Maker

If you are gift-buying for a friend who loves breakfast foods, this mini waffle maker is a must. It’s compact and lightweight, making it easier to travel with and store. Plus, you can use it for more than just waffles, like eggs, pancakes, or grilled cheese!

26. Loaf Pan

Loaf pans are a useful gift that can show whoever you are gifting that you understand their passion for cooking. This cooking utensil is a must in every kitchen, so be the hero in your friend or family members life and get them one!

27. Dash Egg Cooker

This Dash Egg Cooker is the best quick and easy way to cook up to 6 eggs. Gift this to someone who cooks often to help them cut down their cooking time. This way they can all spend more time enjoying their creations than actually creating them!

28. Tasty Cookbook

Tasty Cookbooks are filled with awesome recipes that are sure to be a win! Gift this to the chef in your friend group or family to encourage their love of cooking. With 75 recipes, this cookbook is bound to make your friend smile.

Best Gifts Under 20 Dollars: Décor

29. Fleece Throw

Fleece throws are the perfect decoration/blanket. This will make a great cozy gift that any friend can appreciate. To make it even more special, you can even get the throw monogrammed!

30. Modern Concrete Tube Vase

If whoever you are gifting likes a more modern vibe to their décor, get them a cool concrete tube vase. These vases scream modern and simplistic and make awesome housewarming gifts!

31. LED Curtain String Lights

Curtain string lights are so popular right now, so this gift will definitely win you some brownie points. These Twinkle Star lights have 8 different lighting settings to change up the mood and cast a nice warm light ambience around the room!

Best Gifts Under 20 Dollars: Clothing

32. Face Masks

In these trying times, you can never have too many face masks. Gift your friend, family member, etc a set of face masks to remind them you care about their wellbeing! You can even decide on a style or print to show how well you know their style.

33. Fuzzy Crew Socks

Fuzzy crew socks are never the wrong move. If cold times are coming, help whoever you are gifting stock up on their warm socks; they’ll be thanking you before you know it!

34. Hanes Fleece Sweatshirt

These cozy sweatshirts are the perfect mix of low-cost and high-quality. They make great gifts for both men and women and are very highly-reviewed.

35. Beanie

Beanies are a trendy fashion statement that many people wear no matter the season. Gift this cute Carhartt Beanie to a friend or family member that likes to accessorize or likes to keep their head warm!

36. Joggers

Joggers are a must in every closet. They make a cozy, stylish gift for friends. You can never have too many sweats, so go on and get your friend a pair of these comfortable joggers.

Best Gifts Under 20 Dollars: Conclusion

Now that you have read our comprehensive list of ideas for the best gifts under $20, we hope you have found your perfect gift! We understand gift buying can be a difficult process and that’s why we brought together 45 of the best options out there. If you found this list to be helpful, check out our blog for other gift ideas, birthday party ideas, and event articles with more tips.

Written by Mayenssi Montiel; Contributor: Allison Knowles

Allison Knowles

University of Central Arkansas

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Mayenssi Montiel

Arkansas Tech University

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